Will the Government Shutdown?

The House has passed a clean bill that extends government funding through November 21. If the Senate follows suit, the government will remain open while Congress continues its work to pass appropriations bills.

For the first time since 2019, regular appropriations bills are advancing to conference committee. The House has already passed:

Agriculture, saves $1.1B from FY25
Energy & Water, $800M saved from FY25
Interior, $3.0B saved from FY25
Legislative Branch, level with FY25
Military Construction–Veterans Affairs
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development

The CR itself includes important provisions:

Rescinded funds remain rescinded, ensuring taxpayer savings are locked in.
Prevents the expiration of Disproportionate Share Hospital payments that support rural hospitals, including in TX-27.
Extends the United States Grain Standards and the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Program—critical for Texas agriculture.
Continues funding for homeless veterans and financial assistance for low-income veteran families in permanent housing.

The clean bill sits in the Senate, where it will require 60 votes to pass. This is an opportunity for Congress to help keep the government open without giving Washington a blank check, while allowing us the time to complete the work of restoring regular order and accountability.

Coastal Bend to DC

There’s an old saying that decisions are made by people who show up. I want to thank all those from our Coastal Bend community who made their way to DC to make the case for all the great things happening in our region. The presence of these South Texas leaders helps ensure the great work being done back home stays forefront in the minds of policy makers in DC.

Together we’ve been able to advance:

$60 million authorized for the Corpus Christi Army Depot Powertrain Facility;
$7.65 million for operations and maintenance improvements along the Ship Channel;
And $1.94 million in federal funding for the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority.

These investments strengthen jobs, expand infrastructure, and position our region to lead for years to come.

Oversight of the District of Columbia

Our nation’s capital has faced rising crime rates for decades, but under President Trump’s direction, the National Guard was deployed to confront it head-on. In just the first three weeks of that deployment compared to the same period last year, the results are astonishing:

Homicides are down 38%.
Sex abuse cases are down 44%.
Burglaries are down 47%.
Robberies are down 62%.
Carjackings are down 87%.

During that time, D.C. went 12 straight days without a homicide. Nearly 1,500 people have been arrested, including members of MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, both designated foreign terrorist organizations. Federal agents also seized nearly 120 firearms and dismantled a fentanyl and cocaine trafficking ring.

If these trends continue, projections show that as many as 50 lives could be saved in a single year—50 families spared the heartbreak of losing a loved one.

This is a dramatic improvement from just a few months ago, when areas were surrounded by homeless encampments and crime was escalating. My staff members have even faced threats at gunpoint, and one staffer was forced to move after being targeted in their apartment complex.

Texans know what it takes to combat crime, whether it’s securing the border, stopping cartels from flooding our communities with fentanyl, or protecting our families. The same principle applies here in Washington, D.C. Our Founders established this city as the seat of the federal government, not as a state, to prevent undue influence. That’s why decisions made here must always prioritize security and ensure the American people have safe access to their capital.

National Defense Authorization Act of 2026

The House advanced the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a yearly bill that reinforces national defense, improves how our defense resources are managed, and delivers key priorities for our nation.

In the bill, we secured $60 million for the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) Powertrain Facility. This funding ensures that the CCAD will continue to be a cornerstone of our nation's military readiness and modernization.

We also ensured that CCAD will now receive the same workforce protections as other depots nationwide, protecting jobs and increasing local mission capacity.

Other key highlights from the bill:

Authorization for Defense Depots to perform helicopter repair work for the U.S. Coast Guard
Includes the Depot Investment Reform Act to modernize the funding structure of military depots.
Authorizes the Secretary of War to have the flexibility to eliminate waste and balance the military budget.
Includes the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, to block government-run digital currencies that threaten Americans’ financial privacy.
Carries out the White House’s efforts to improve the quality of life for our servicemembers with a 3.8% pay raise and improved benefits for military families.
Fully funds and provides additional authorities for the Department of War to support the Department of Homeland Security’s border security efforts.

As this year’s NDAA moves to the Senate, our focus remains on keeping these provisions intact to demonstrate a clear commitment to putting Americans first and standing with those who serve. From the Corpus Christi Army Depot to the frontlines at our border, these investments secure jobs here at home, strengthen our military, and ensure America is ready to meet the threats of tomorrow.