Howdy Texan –

I'm flying back home to Texas, so I thought it would be a good time to share an update on what's happening in Texas' 31st district.

ON THE DOCKET:

Hearing from the Navy and Marine Corps
Welcoming TX-31 App Challenge Winner
What do you think?
Water Issues Impacting Texas Agriculture

THE BRIEF:

The House will delay delivery of the impeachment articles for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas until next week, House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office said, as Senate Republicans try to counter Democratic efforts to quickly dismiss the case.
The cost of consumer goods and services rose a sharp 0.4% in March, capping off a third straight month of elevated inflation readings that will make it hard for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates soon.
An Afghan national who is on the U.S. terror watchlist is back in custody Friday, the Department of Homeland Security said, after he was previously captured at the U.S.-Mexico border and released twice onto American soil.

HEARING FROM THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS

This week, I chaired a hearing with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to discuss their military construction and family housing-related requests for the upcoming fiscal year. While these issues are a small portion of the budget, they have an immense impact on America's military. From recruitment to safety, family housing impacts the quality of life for our service members and their loved ones. Thoughtful military construction projects ensure service members can do their jobs to protect the homeland effectively. As chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, hearing from these witnesses helps me as we craft the 2025 funding bills.

APP CHALLENGE WINNER

This week, I welcomed our TX-31 Congressional App Challenge winner, Aariv Modi, from Round Rock High School to Washington for the #HouseofCode STEM Expo. Aariv created the app SpellSmart to help students practice their spelling in a fun, interactive way. While in DC, Aariv got to see his app displayed at the U.S. Capitol and demo it at the expo. The Congressional App Challenge happens every year in the late fall, so stay tuned for details about the next challenge!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

In a recent Telemundo poll, Latin support for border wall construction and deportation of undocumented immigrants jumped 10 points since 2021. I want to know what you think about this topic. Let me know below.

Do you believe the United States should deport all undocumented immigrants?

Yes

WATER ISSUES IMPACTING TEXAS AGRICULTURE

I met with a representative of Texas sugar growers to discuss how Mexico is failing to fulfill its end of the 1944 Texas-Mexico Water Treaty. Under the treaty, Mexico is obliged to deliver an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water per year over a five-year cycle. Mexico's consistent failure to comply has resulted in water shortages and an excessive burden on many Texas farming operations. Water is Texas' most precious resource and making sure Mexico complies with the treaty is paramount for the success of many Texas farmers.