** HYR Weekly
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** Political Update
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** A NEWSLETTER FROM THE HOUSTON YOUNG REPUBLICANS
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** MAR. 16
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Welcome to this week’s newsletter—and Happy Selection Sunday to those who celebrate!

If you want to get in on the March Madness fun, join the HYR bracket group here ([link removed]) ; the password is: HYR25.

In Washington, agencies within the Trump administration are effectively making full use of the powers at their disposal. Congress managed to pass a last minute resolution to keep the federal government operating–paving the way for the Trump-endorsed budget package in coming months.

In Texas, our State Comptroller is headed to Aggieland–and a few people are already eyeing his soon-to-be vacated position.

We break it all down below.


** Matt Murphy
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** Political Director
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** President Trump’s Cabinet Cracks Down
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The Department of Homeland Security has repurposed what was known as the CBP One App. The original app, implemented and administered by the Biden White House, was used to facilitate the passage of “asylum seekers” across the southern border, ~40-50k of them every month.

In a fun twist of events, the app, which collected massive amounts of personally identifying “migrant” information, has been rebranded as the CBP Home App–and will now be used to deport the untold number of illegal aliens who abused and skirted American immigration law.

Update: President Trump is expected to invoke the Alien Enemies Act to hasten deportations.
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Secretary Noem’s warning to any illegal aliens in the country.


** The Department of Education
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Education Secretary Linda McMahon took her first steps to make good on President Trump’s campaign promise of strengthening school-choice powers for American parents, announcing the halving of her department’s workforce.

President Trump has stated his intent to abolish the Department, which may ultimately require an act of Congress to do. However, it’s worth noting that since the inception of the Department, America has gone from first to worst in most metrics of educational competency amongst civilized nations. 54% of American adults read below the equivalent of a 6th grade level.


** The EPA
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Administer Zeldin announced the EPA will be taking 31 different measures ([link removed].) to deregulate existing federal rules and policy. The move is the largest single deregulatory action in American history.

Lee Zeldin’s order aims to save taxpayers trillions of dollars, supercharge job growth, unleash American energy, lower cost of living, and return power to the states from the federal government.


** Nominations Continued: The Land of Oz
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Former Celebrity Doctor and Republican candidate for Senate, Mehmet Oz [R-PA], has been tapped to lead the CMS (Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services). He faced his first confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Friday. Predictably, Oz was grilled by Democrats over his personal taxes, and characterized as an evil Republican who wants to take away healthcare from the elderly and financially vulnerable.

Former Rep. Dan Bishop [R-NC-8], President Trump’s pick for second in command at OMB, advanced out the Senate Budget Committee on an 11-10 vote. His final confirmation vote may prove as contentious as his prospective boss, Russell Vought.

In a widely bipartisan vote, Lori Chavez-DeRemer was easily confirmed to serve as Labor Secretary by a 67-32 margin.


** Shaheen Stepping Down
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Senator Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH] has announced she’s stepping down from her seat instead of seeking reelection in 2026. Shaheen has faced questions over her age for a couple years, but her timing was particularly suspect given the announcement came the day after former Governor Chris Sununu [R] publicly stated he was reconsidering a run against her. Polling had Sununu up anywhere from 8-10 points over Shaheen; here’s hoping he can flip the seat red.


** Budget Drama
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Congress managed to keep the federal government open and funded by the skin of their teeth–passing a continuing budget resolution hours before the start of midnight shutdown Friday evening.

Speaker Johnson [R-LA-4] pulled off an uncertain budget victory, whipping the House GOP conference into shape with an incredibly slim voting majority. The Senate was another matter. Senate Democrats initially prevented the House-approved budget from moving forward–budget proposals require a 60-vote supermajority in the upper chamber.

The biggest hurdle to approving the continuing resolution (i.e. still operating under the same flat funding and financial guardrails implemented in the last month of the Biden administration) vehicle was Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer [D-NY]–who was rightfully called out for obstructing and hypocritically flip flopping on shutting the government down over a budget proposal ([link removed]) in the span of a few months.

What comes next? This CR keeps the federal government financed for another several months, giving Congressional Republicans time to finalize a budget reconciliation package in line with the White House. GOP Congressional leadership needs to reach a consensus on strategy, but has signaled they intend to have a formal proposal for President Trump some time in May.


** Self V. McBride
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Chaos erupted at a House Subcommittee hearing this week, chaired by Texas’ own Keith Self [R-TX-3]. Self (correctly) referred to Tim McBride [D-DE-At Large] as “mister.” Tim, the god-given name of the first transgender elected to US Congress, insists upon being called “Sarah” and claims the pronouns of a biological woman. McBride has already stirred up plenty of controversy ([link removed]) regarding bathroom policies in the Capitol.

Another member of the subcommittee got offended on the behalf of McBride ([link removed]) for being “misgendered.” Self wasn’t entertaining any grandstanding, and immediately adjourned the hearing–before McBride even got a word in.

Later in the week, McBride arranged a photo-op at an elementary school ([link removed]) in Delaware; why is it that transgenders only ever read books to little kids?


** Floor Action
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The House took up two particularly notable bills this week.

First, the Subterranean Border Defense Act, which would combat the use of underground tunnels by cartels to traffick drugs and humans across the southern border. The legislation received unanimous support, with the lone exception of Rashida Tlaib [Hamas-MI-12]. Really wondering what her angle was here…

Additionally, with a 295-127 vote margin, the House passed the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act, which extends the statute of limitations for which people can be prosecuted for fraudulent use of Covid relief funds; some have estimated over $100 billion in unemployment fraud occurred during the pandemic. Every single Houston-area Republican supported the legislation, every single Houston-area Democrat opposed.

In Other News

* DNI Gabbard revoked security clearances for several high ranking members ([link removed]) of the Biden Administration.
* A thought: where was all the Democrat hate for DOGE whenObama proposed his own version? ([link removed]) Unsurprisingly, it never accomplished much of anything, because Joe Biden was in charge of it.
* Rosie O’Donnell was dunked on ([link removed]) (again) from the Oval Office this week.
* We’re bringing the astronauts stranded ([link removed]) at the International Space Station back home.
* Tiger Woods is reportedly dating Vanessa Trump, ([link removed]) the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. Drive for show, putt for dough champ.
* We here at HYR love our Gen-Z members, however, when you’re the 82-year old Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, you might want to better vet your Gen-Z-ran comms shop, so they don’t post trainwrecks like this ([link removed]) .
* This is why nobody takes climate activists seriously. ([link removed])
* Illinois Governor Pritzker is eyeing a run at higher office in 2028. ([link removed]) The morbidly obese Governor might want to consider eyeing a run on a treadmill sometime before then.
* The price of a dozen eggs, which admittedly’s been on a wild ride in the early days of the Trump administration, has now fallen by ~30 cents ([link removed]) since Inauguration Day–a speedy course reversal ([link removed]) given the complex economics ([link removed]) of chicken and egg farming.

* The active inflation index has plummeted ([link removed]) to ~1.32%; for context the record high during the Biden administration topped out at ~11.6%. Tariff uncertainty made for a difficult week on Wall Street ([link removed]) , but early economic indicators of the Trump administration look increasingly strong.
* A center-right party has claimed victory in the general election ([link removed]) in Greenland this week–their coalition favors independence from Denmark, perhaps marking a step towards becoming an American state…
* Former Rep. Katie Porter [D-CA-47]--who repeatedly domestically abused her husband, on one occasion by dumping a ceramic bowl of scalding hot mashed potatoes on his head ([link removed]) , has entered the race to succeed Gavin Newsome as California Governor.
* Not to be controversial, but… ([link removed])



** Race for Comptroller Kicks Off as Hegar Heads to Texas A&M
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WRITTEN by Mark McCaig, The Texas Voice

The 2026 election season began in earnest last week with the announcement that State Comptroller Glenn Hegar will soon vacate the post he has held for the last decade. On Friday, the Texas A&M Board of Regents announced ([link removed]) that Hegar was the sole finalist to take over as Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.

Hegar, who served as a State Representative and State Senator prior to his election as Comptroller, is a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 1993.

Within minutes of the announcement that Hegar will be heading to Aggieland, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Christi Craddick and former State Senator Don Huffines both announced their candidacies for Comptroller.

Craddick, the daughter of State Representative and former Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick, was first elected to the Texas Railroad Commission in 2012. She was re-elected to the Railroad Commission in November, defeating her Democrat opponent by 16.6 points.

Dallas businessman Don Huffines, who served as a State Senator from 2015-2019, was also quick to jump in the race. Huffines ran for Governor in the 2022 Republican Primary against Greg Abbott, coming in third place with 12%. Huffines says he has committed $10 million of his own money to his latest campaign.

“I’m committing $10 million to this race on Day 1 because Texas taxpayers deserve a Comptroller who fights for them—and I’m in it to win. As comptroller, I will DOGE Texas by exposing waste, fraud, and abuse in government to increase efficiency and put every penny we save into property tax relief,” said Huffines ([link removed]) .

Brad Johnson of The Texan has also reported ([link removed]) that State Senator Tan Parker is mulling a potential candidacy.

Governor Abbott will make an appointment to fill the remainder of Hegar’s term as Comptroller when the office becomes vacant.

HOWDY HOUR

Mar. 18 - Consulate General of Israel Networking Event.

Free RSVP → ([link removed])

GENERAL MEETING

Mar. 25 - March General Meeting with Amy Peck.

Free RSVP → ([link removed])

HCRP Capitol Day

Mar. 26 - Day of Legislative Action at the Capitol.

RSVP → ([link removed])

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mailto:[email protected]

Author: Matt Murphy, Houston Young Republicans Political Director

Editor: Courtney Trevino, Houston Young Republicans President

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