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Good morning,

Benjamin Franklin's portrait is currently on the $100 bill, but a Texas congressman wants to change that.

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Catholic Charities of Fort Worth Sues Over Federal Funding Pause

• Catholic Charities of Fort Worth has filed a lawsuit against the federal government following the Trump administration putting a pause on funding for organizations that provide services to illegal aliens. Will Biagini has the details.
    
• In order to get spending in alignment with national security goals and other priorities, the Trump administration ordered federal agencies in late January to "temporarily pause" all financial assistance programs.
       
• In response, Catholic Charities of Fort Worth filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The "charity" is upset that because it cannot access $36 million in federal funds it has been forced to lay off staff members and cut various programs.
       
• CCFW has been accused of enabling the flow of illegal aliens throughout the state.
      
• Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French has been an outspoken critic of Catholic Charities for months. He said the lawsuit filed by CCFW will only serve to delay "the reckoning that is coming."

Multiple Texas A&M Courses Center on Gender Ideology

• Texas A&M University-College Station is offering several courses focused on gender ideology. Valerie Muñoz reports that course offerings will have to be re-examined in light of a presidential order and recent action by the university's board of regents.
   
• Last week, the Texas A&M System regents passed a resolution prohibiting drag shows on all 11 campuses. They also acknowledged President Donald Trump's recent ban on the use of taxpayer dollars to promote “gender ideology extremism.”
      
• A review of the Spring 2025 course catalog finds numerous offerings that conflict with the presidential directive and regents' resolution. One course, Human Sexuality, focused the month of February on “gender identity” and “sexual orientation.” Students are encouraged to write a “Sexual Self-Analysis” paper on aspects of their own sexuality.
       
• Another course, Introduction to Gender and Society, teaches students to “recognize how gender intersects with race, class, nationality, ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation.” The course description lists its aim for students is to understand that “gender is a social construct.”

Texas Lottery Commissioners Keep Executive Director, Begin Work on a Courier 'Ban'

• Texas Lottery commissioners have decided to keep their embattled executive director and are moving forward with a ban on illicit ticket resellers. As Luca Cacciatore reports, the "ban" comes just weeks after the commission told lawmakers they had no authority to address the issue.
       
• With investigations ordered by both the governor and attorney general into the lottery's practices and facing stern criticism from the lawmakers, commissioners nonetheless decided on Tuesday to keep Ryan Mindell on as their executive director. 
   
• Commissioners have also taken the first step in banning the illicit resellers, known as "courier services." These businesses allow online customers to purchase lottery tickets from brick-and-mortar stores without being physically present at the store, despite state law requiring ticket sales to be done in person with cash.
      
• The practice only started in Texas around a decade ago. These couriers seem to be at the center of several controversial jackpot winnings. In one instance, a foreign gambling syndicate was able to work with the lottery commission to rig the winnings. In another, the lottery sent a check for $1 million to an anonymous winner in China.

Trump on the $100 Bill?

• In a move designed to honor the incumbent president, North Texas U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill (R) has introduced the Golden Age Act of 2025. As Brandon Waltens reports, the legislation would replace Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill with a portrait of Donald Trump.
      
• “There has been no one who has done more to bring America into the golden age than President Trump,” said Gill. “Featuring him on the $100 bill is a small way to honor all he will accomplish these next four years.”
      
• Under the proposal, the Treasury Department would be required to release a preliminary design by December 31, 2026, and all newly issued $100 bills would feature Trump’s image by December 31, 2028. The legislation has already been co-sponsored by Texas Republican Troy Nehls. 

Quote-Unquote

"I will never forsake Texas or her cause. I am her son."

– José Antonio Navarro​

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