The devastating attack on Israel by Hamas two years ago resulted in the region being thrown into warfare, causing immense human suffering. After two years of bloodshed and violence in the Middle East, efforts led by President Donald Trump have resulted in the return of the remaining hostages and an agreement on a peace plan for the region. 

President Trump's peace plan has delivered a truly remarkable and historic achievement on behalf of Israel, the Middle East, and the world. In tirelessly working for a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, the President has no doubt saved countless lives and given the world its most significant opportunity for a lasting peace and hope for a prosperous partnership in the region. There are sure to be challenges ahead — but what has already been accomplished will stand as a guidepost as the work continues.

What is especially astounding is that President Trump has accomplished all this by bucking the conventional "wisdom" of the elites, simultaneously exposing their institutions as irrelevant or at best impotent to the task. They said the President would bring war; instead, he's brought peace.

On October 14th, on what would have been his 32nd birthday, we gathered and watched as President Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It has now been over a month since we lost a national treasure. Charlie was a fearless warrior for liberty who connected with the nation's youth like no other. Most importantly, he was a man of faith who lived his life in service to God without reservation.

We continue to lift up Erika and the entire Kirk family in our prayers. May God comfort them with His peace and strength, as our nation honors Charlie. May we all live with the same courage and conviction that he did.

The Senate has now voted and fallen short eleven times of the 60-vote requirement for passing the clean Continuing Resolution (CR) passed by the House over four weeks ago. Due to partisan politicians in the Senate continuing to block the clean CR from being sent to President Trump’s desk, we are now 21 days into a government shutdown.

The effects of the continuing government shutdown on the men and women of our military and their families have been among my top concerns. We are relieved that the Trump Administration has stepped up during this time and ensured that Active-duty troops, National Guard members, and members of the Coast Guard will receive paychecks despite the Government Shutdown. We are thankful that this leadership will not allow partisan political theater to stop the men and women of our military from receiving their pay.

Despite the federal government remaining shut down and many federal operations being paused during this time, my D.C. and district offices remain open. We are committed to assisting you and your family as we face this shutdown. For constituent services, please contact either my Corpus Christi office at 361-884-2222 or the Victoria office at 361-894-6446, and they will be happy to assist you in navigating the federal bureaucracy. If you would like to share your thoughts on this matter or any other pieces of legislation, my D.C. office can be reached at 202-225-7742.

For questions regarding federal operations at this time, please click here.

During a recent district work period, I met with farmers from across the region, including Todd and Kayla Otahal, owners and operators of Rabb Farms in Robstown, Texas. Their commitment to hard work and sustaining generations of farming is vital to the continued success of South Texas agriculture. 

Right now is a tough time for Texas farmers. Drought, demand destruction, and an outdated Farm Bill that fails to reflect the current economic landscape are putting our growers in a pinch.  Maintaining a vibrant homegrown agriculture industry is both an important economic and essential national security priority. While the Trump Administration looks to restructure world markets in favor of American farmers, we are working with them to ensure our farmers can make it through this difficult time.  

In response to these challenges, here’s how we’ve been taking action for Texas farmers:

• Supported passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill that increases agriculture-focused spending by nearly $66 billion over the next decade.

• Worked directly with Secretary Rollins on the New World screwworm to combat the threat with surveillance and added infrastructure, as we are still monitoring the threat.

• Discussed directly with the Trump Administration the urgent need for stopgap relief for farmers.

• Cosponsored the LOCAL Foods Act to support small-scale meat producers and agricultural communities by cutting regulations on locally raised meat.

Thank you to all the farmers for meeting with me and sharing your insights during my visits. It is because of meetings and conversations like these, with hardworking Texans across Texas’ 27th district, that I can effectively promote our shared values in Washington, D.C.

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of joining fellow community members to celebrate a remarkable milestone. 127 homes completed by Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity, with each home telling a story of perseverance, partnership, and faith. For 31 years, Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity has worked side by side with families and veterans who are determined to build a better future. Every home they have built represents not just shelter, but dignity, stability, and opportunity — the chance for children to thrive, and for communities to strengthen from within.

As Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity continues its good work, we remember that what we build today stands for generations — not only in wood and nails, but in the love of Christ in action towards our communities.

Bureaucracy and government red tape have long hindered our nation's ability to protect our environment and promote economic growth successfully. This is why I have cosponsored the bipartisan SPEED Act, which aims to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process and reduce litigation times. While well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into an overly complex and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines.

The SPEED Act delivers these key reforms:

• Shrinks the number of projects requiring federal permit by tightening the definition of “major federal action,” which currently triggers a requirement for NEPA permitting.
• Clarifies that agencies should consider environmental factors directly affecting the project under consideration.
• Prevents an agency from unilaterally altering or rescinding any action in the process unless specifically ordered by a court.
• Ensures comment periods are directly related to the project under review, rather than responding to distracting comments.
• Reins in wasteful judicial review on permitted projects by focusing judicial review on whether an agency abused its discretion in complying with required permitting steps.
• Expedites judicial review of projects by requiring a 150-day window for filing a claim against a specific project.

The reforms that the SPEED Act implements will help put America back on track to build faster, innovate smarter, and strengthen our infrastructure—all while meeting our growing energy needs, and protecting the environment that God has entrusted to us. 

October 13th marked the 250th birthday of the United States Navy, giving us the opportunity to recognize the tradition of bravery and excellence of all of our Naval sailors and aviators.

For generations, the United States Navy has protected our liberties both on our shores and in the open seas. The United States Navy is the most formidable maritime force that the world has ever seen, and its tradition of bravery has made it a powerful means for good all across the globe.

Our district is home to the Naval Air Station and the Chief of Naval Air Training in Corpus Christi, as well as numerous naval veterans whose contributions strengthen South Texas and our nation. Last month, to honor these great men and women, I cosponsored House Resolution 742, which recognizes and commends this momentous occasion of the Continental Congress establishing a Continental Navy on October 13th, 1775.

Thank you to the people of Texas 27 for honoring the immense sacrifices and supporting the men and women of the Navy, past, present, and future, on this 250th birthday.

On Washington Watch with Tony Perkins, we discussed the state of the Government Shutdown, and the waste and fraud tied to Obamacare subsidies. Politicians are trying to protect broken programs that fuel abortion funding, incentivize illegal immigration, and line the pockets of insurance companies—all at the expense of hardworking taxpayers.

The people who tout the slogan “people before politics” are the same ones making this matter all about politics rather than the issues at hand. We continue to hope that we will reach the 60 votes in the Senate, allowing Congress to continue the appropriations process. 

Watch the whole interview: