| November 17, 2023: Weekly Newsletter | My Thoughts on the Continuing Resolution | With the government funding deadline approaching, this week, the House passed a “continuing resolution” to fund the government through January 19, with a few agencies funded through February 2. I voted against it. Continuing Resolutions are no way to govern and, in this case, extended the massive overspending and woke policy initiatives of the last Pelosi omnibus without any serious reforms attached. This week’s CR offered nothing to address the many issues plaguing our country right now, including fixing inflation, securing our border, and reining in the bureaucracy in Washington. I simply cannot support a continuation of the status quo without real spending reforms or policy fixes. In spite of this, I still have hopes that we can fund the government properly through single issue spending bills like we promised hardworking taxpayers we would do. We will work to continue that mission. Between now and then, it’s important we get an aggressive game plan for January’s deadline to quickly–and responsibly–cut spending and fund our government the way the American people deserve. | NOTICE: Offices Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving In observance of Thanksgiving, our offices will be closed on Wednesday, November 22nd, Thursday, November 23rd, and Friday November 24th. We will reopen at 9 am on Monday, November 27th. | I was honored to speak at the USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi on Veterans Day. I also presented flags to two veterans – Donald Larson and Richard Prewett. Mr. Larson had an impressive 20-year career on active duty, serving on four ships and completing two global tours with the US Navy, which serves as a testament to his character and commitment to freedom. Mr. Prewitt bravely fought and served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army during World War II, the Korean War, and three tours in Vietnam, preserving the blessings we enjoy as Americans. Each and every veteran has his or her own amazing stories of courage. Many of them could have easily chosen to fulfill other obligations or pursue other goals, but instead they chose to defend us. What a blessing indeed – and we owe these men and women an unpayable debt of gratitude. It's important we honor and respect the sacrifice of these heroes who came before us and paid the price for our liberty and prosperity. My office is also a resource to help our fellow Texans navigate the federal bureaucracy, and my staff and I have worked with many local veterans to resolve claims, track down records, and even obtain long-overdue medals and commendations. While we cannot guarantee a specific outcome, we will work our hardest to make sure you are receiving the care and attention you deserve. If you or a veteran you know needs assistance dealing with the VA or another federal agency, please call (361) 884-2222 or contact me at cloud.house.gov, and my team and I would be honored to take up your case. To the men and women who served: Happy Veterans Day! May you and your families be blessed. | Holding the Chinese Communist Party Accountable | I joined Newsmax this week to discuss President Biden meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping at a conference in San Francisco. The reality is, China is a bad actor attempting to undermine the U.S. at every turn. At the same time, the Biden administration has turned a blind eye to China’s abuses and has made our country become increasingly reliant on Chinese supply chains and renewable energy materials. This administration should be ensuring that China cracks down on the fentanyl supply chain coming across our borders, confronting China’s growing aggression on the world stage, and pressing China on its appalling human rights record. The Biden administration should also be taking action to secure the immediate release of Americans who are being wrongfully detained by Communist China for capital for political bargaining. This includes Luling native, Mark Swidan, who has been unjustly detained for over 10 years and has been subject to physical and psychological abuse by Communist China. You can watch my full interview on Newsmax above. | Meeting with Counsel General of India | It was a privilege to meet with Consul General Manjunath and discuss key issues on how to strengthen the US-India relationship and how it benefits Texas. It’s so important that we continue to work on the economic and strategic partnership between our two countries and discuss the opportunities that are ahead. Thank you for hosting us! | Attending the Victoria Fine Arts Jazz Brunch | I had a great time attending the Victoria Fine Arts Jazz Brunch! It is always great to see familiar faces and friends. Thank you to the Victoria Fine Arts Association for hosting a great event and promoting the arts in our community! | Rep. Michael Cloud Member of Congress | Sign up for my newsletter to get updates on this issue and others! | Corpus Christi Office:
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