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Dear Mr. xxxxxx,
I wanted to pass along my latest update on what I have been doing to fight for you, Texas’ 21st Congressional District, and our country as a whole:
Tren de Aragua Raid in TX21
The Biden Administration’s open-border policies, led by impeached former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, brought a historic number of criminal aliens and dangerous actors into our communities. Texans – including those in TX21 – have suffered as a direct result, from dozens of fentanyl related deaths to human trafficking, and now an enormous gang operation. The Venezuela-based prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) - among the worst groups that have infiltrated the nation - was operating right in the heart of suburban Austin in Hays County, Texas, where I call home.
I commend the Hays County Sheriff's Office, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for apprehending these foreign gang members from our streets. The people of Texas' 21 Congressional district – and the nation – are safer thanks to the teamwork of these agencies.
While South American gangs engage in murder, extortion, human trafficking, and terrorism - activist judges and radical progressive Democrats continue to impede the President and Republican leaders from removing these criminals from the United States. There should be unanimity of purpose among all our nation’s leaders to bolster enforcement efforts against all illegal aliens, criminal gangs, and cartels until every last member is incarcerated and deported. I look forward to working with my colleagues and members of law enforcement to ensure this happens, as well as working to codify the Trump Administration’s efforts to label these evil actors as the rightful terrorists they are – legislation I first introduced in 2019.
Proxy Voting
Recently, there has been much discussion regarding the idea of “proxy voting”. I believe we, the members of YOUR House of Representatives, should be showing up to do what it is you’ve elected us to do. Americans across the country have to deal with the struggles of traffic to get to the job site to work all day in the sun to support their families. As representatives for the 330.5 million American citizens who have voted us in to be here, we should fulfill our duty to all Americans by being present in our work and showing up to Washington, DC, to get the job done.
Since time immemorial, there have been reasons to be absent. Since the very beginning of our Congress, representatives have been physically ill, they’ve expected children, they’ve had to face the death of spouses and loved ones, and countless other presence-impeding factors. However, the 435 people chosen to represent every American should be fulfilling that duty to their fullest capacity, and should they be unable to do so in person, then they should allow the whip to take that under consideration.
It is not unheard of to have to get work done without everyone present, and that’s okay. In those instances, we should engage in debates about quorum to work around these issues, the way it has been done by all the people who have served in this body before us. This is an issue about integrity, and, by compromising on voting by proxy, we compromise the future of this institution we have worked for centuries to uphold.
Trump Tax Cuts Require Spending Cuts
For decades, the Republican party has branded itself as the party of fiscal responsibility. Every Republican administration and Congress since Reagan have echoed this message. The prevailing wisdom here in Washington is that tax cuts are necessary—and that, over time, the benefits will express themselves in the pocketbooks of everyday Americans. I agree with that principle. But for far too long, Republicans have taken the easy way out. Yes, taxes have been cut—but no serious effort has been made to reduce overall federal spending. Instead, what we’ve seen is a ballooning deficit under the assumption that tax cuts alone will solve our problems. In practice, it’s become a free lunch mentality: benefits now, payment later. This must stop.
Many of my constituents constantly tell me how concerned they are about the national debt. And they’re right to be concerned. Because here’s what unchecked spending means: higher interest rates, rising inflation, and more taxpayer money going to service the debt instead of growing our economy. This is why I am standing firm on what I believe to be a pretty modest proposal for our budget: $200 billion dollars a year in spending reductions. Let’s be clear—this isn’t austerity. This is a reduction in the growth of spending. Both discretionary and mandatory spending have exploded over recent years. All we’re asking for is just a basic measure for restraint. The administration has taken some first steps targeting improper payments and trimming unnecessary programs—but that's not enough. Congress must act with seriousness and discipline to root out waste, reform broken systems, and protect the American taxpayer. As a Representative of Texas’s 21st district, I will stand and fight in Congress on those principles.
Wall Street Journal Interview
Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Rich Rubin at the Wall Street Journal to discuss tax cuts and policy, Medicaid, budget reconciliation, and working with President Trump. You can watch the exclusive interview here or below.
Here are some other news articles of what I’ve been up to lately:
If you have any concerns that my office can help out with, please don’t hesitate to call or email through the “email me” portal on my website. If you feel so inclined, you can also just send an old-fashioned letter to my Washington or district offices.
If your friends, relatives, or neighbors would also like to sign up for these weekly updates, they can do so by sending my office a quick email or simply by signing up here. For more up-to-the-minute updates, you can follow my press team on Facebook and Twitter.
Sincerely,
Chip Roy
Member of Congress
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