May 17, 2024

National Police Week

I was honored to deliver remarks and present flags flown over the U.S. Capitol to families of fallen law enforcement officers at the opening ceremonies for National Police Week alongside the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office.

Law enforcement officers willingly put themselves in danger each day protecting our communities. Let us all take time this National Police Week to honor our law enforcement heroes and continue the legacy of those who have fallen in the line of duty.

EPA Administrator Dr. Nance Tours the Permian Basin

The EPA has threatened to redesignate the Permian Basin as a nonattainment area for ozone—a move that would severely hamper oil and gas production in the region.

In an effort to showcase the good work happening in the Permian Basin, I hosted Dr. Earthea Nance, Region 6 Administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for an oil and gas site visit and producer roundtable. I was joined by State Representative Brooks Landgraf, State Senator Kevin Sparks, and the Mayor of Midland Lori Blong—along with numerous energy producers and stakeholders from the Permian Basin.

It was critical for Dr. Nance to visit the region and hear from industry and community leaders who would be gravely impacted by a redesignation.

Our energy producers continue to reduce emissions while increasing production to fuel our country and decrease our allies' reliance on energy from foreign adversaries. The redesignation of an ozone nonattainment area would harm our economy, stifle innovation, and steal the livelihoods of the hardworking men and women of our community.

The visit was a crucial step in letting the world know the Permian Basin fuels the world.

EPA Administrator Regan Needs to Visit the Permian Basin

Immediately following Dr. Nance’s visit to the Permian Basin, I had the opportunity to question her boss, EPA Administrator Michael Regan, in an Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing.

It is clear to me that Administrator Regan does not understand the importance of the Permian Basin or the devastating impacts that his policies could have on our community. Watch here or below to see our full exchange. I will always stand up for the men and women in the energy industry who fuel our nation.

The EPA has threatened to declare the Permian Basin as a nonattainment zone for ozone--a move that would devastate the oil & gas industry. I questioned Administrator Regan if he had met with small or local producers to see how detrimental this move would be to American energy. My message for Administrator Regan: Visit the Permian Basin. Click here or below for my full line of questioning. 

CongressRAM Pfluger Dedication Ceremony

I am excited to invite the Texas-11 community to a dedication and unveiling ceremony for CongressRAM Pfluger, a new art installation that will sit outside of our San Angelo Congressional office. The art piece highlights the pillars of the 11th District of Texas—energy, agriculture, and national security. Student submissions from the 2024 Congressional Art Competition will also be on display. I hope you can attend!

CongressRam Pfluger Dedication

Monday, May 20^th, at 10:00 am CT

135 W. Twohig Avenue, Suite B

San Angelo, TX 76903

The U.S. Must Continue to Support Israel

Israel has the inherent right to defend its citizens from acts of terror and aggression. Unfortunately, President Biden is blocking critical weapons and support from reaching Israel. This legislation underscores our unwavering commitment to Israel's security and sends a powerful message that we will not tolerate acts of terror against our allies. Click here or below to watch my full floor remarks.

American Companies Deserve Protection Abroad

This week I introduced the Defending American Property Abroad Act, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at protecting American companies operating abroad, particularly in the Western Hemisphere.

The need for this legislation has been underscored by recent actions taken by the Mexican government, which threaten the property rights of American companies. For example, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's plan to seize control of a quarry and port owned by Vulcan Materials Co. in Mexico poses a direct threat to American economic interests.

American companies operating abroad should not have to fear arbitrary government actions that undermine their property rights. Click here to read more.

Supporting Law Enforcement with New Technology

I co-led a hearing in the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee alongside Rep. Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY) to examine how emerging technology, like unmanned ariel systems, also known as drones.

Drones are one of today's fastest emerging technologies, with domestic use in the U.S. expanding. Federal and local law enforcement are increasingly utilizing drones for various purposes like search and rescue operations. Unfortunately, most drones are manufactured by communist China, which poses a security risk to Americans. We must continue to equip our men and women in blue with the latest technological advances to help protect our communities while also prioritizing the privacy and security of Americans. Click here to watch my full opening statement. 

Police Our Border

I spoke on the U.S. House Floor in support of the Police Our Border Act, which would require U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to submit a report to Congress detailing the effects the border crisis has had on law enforcement.

Since President Biden took office, over 9 million illegal immigrants have crossed into the U.S. through the southern border, placing a strain on local law enforcement and resources. We need to continue to ensure our men and women in blue have adequate resources to keep our communities safe. Click here to watch my full floor remarks.

Book Summer Capitol Tours

If you are visiting Washington D.C. this summer, my office is pleased to offer tours of the U.S. Capitol—and we can also request tours of the White House for you and your group. Visit https://pfluger.house.gov/forms/tourrequest/ to book your tour today. The earlier you can get your request in the better.

2024 Congressional App Challenge

My office is now accepting submissions for the 2024 Congressional App Competition. The competition is open to all 6-12 grade students in the 11th Congressional District of Texas and is an opportunity for students to develop their skills in computer science and STEM.

The deadline is October 24th, 2024 at 12:00 pm ET. Students can register and upload their app here.

PRIZES

• The winner from the 11th Congressional District, chosen by a panel of expert judges, will be featured on the House of Representatives website, House.gov, as well as on CongressionalAppChallenge.us. The winning app will also be displayed in the U.S. Capitol among other winners from across the country. Additional sponsor prizes to be announced.

RULES

• Students will create an application (aka app) for PC, web, tablet, robot, mobile, etc Any programming such as C, C++, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, or "block code" will be accepted.
• There are NO LIMITS on the application theme or topic.
• Students may work individually or in teams made up of no more than four.

Students are highly encouraged to review the competition’s complete rules and regulations on the Congressional App Challenge's website. For more information, please visit congressionalappchallenge.us/ or contact Kathy Keane in the San Angelo Office at [email protected].

Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily updates.

Rep. August Pfluger

Member of Congress