November 14, 2025

Friend,

Welcome back to the Pfluger Fly-By, a roundup of events and updates to keep you informed about everything I'm doing week by week to represent you in Congress.

This week, I was back in Washington to reopen the government after six weeks of Democrats' obstruction and harmful political theatrics to keep it closed. Throughout the entire shutdown, my team and I worked diligently to ensure constituents in every corner of Texas-11 had the resources needed to navigate the chaos and care for their families. Now, I am ready and eager to get back to governing in Washington to continue delivering on the mandate we were given by the American people last November.

Below, you'll find photos and highlights from the week, plus information on how my office can assist you with any federal concerns. As always, if you need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out.



Best,

The Longest Government Shutdown in History is Over

While I am thankful the government is finally reopened, I am painfully aware of the impact it has had on communities in Texas-11 and across America. It is important to remember that both the shutdown and the pain it inflicted were entirely preventable.

Weeks ago, I did the responsible thing and voted to keep the government open with a clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution (CR). This was the same CR that Democrats supported 13 times under President Biden. Yet this time under President Trump, nearly every single House and Senate Democrat changed their vote, shutting the government down and hurting American families in the process.

For more than six weeks, Democrats proceeded to hold our country hostage over demands for taxpayer-funded health care for illegal aliens and trillions in wasteful spending. The irony is that, despite all their threats and lies, we are still in the same place with the same deal we had on day one of the shutdown. Democrats gained nothing because Republicans stayed united and refused to cave to the Democrats’ radical demands to waste your hard-earned taxpayer dollars.

This week, on November 12, 2025, we passed the same clean CR to open the government that we passed weeks ago, funding critical programs like WIC, SNAP, and Child Nutrition, paying federal workers, service members, and air traffic controllers, and supporting veterans' health care and benefits. Yet once again, the majority of House and Senate Democrats voted against it. Thankfully, the political pressure from their own party did not prevent a few reasonable Democrats from coming to the table this week and voting to reopen the government.



Now that President Trump has signed the CR and the government is open, federal workers will begin receiving back pay, specialized training at Goodfellow Air Force Base and Fort Hood will resume, small business loans will resume being approved, and airports will return to full staffing ahead of the busy holiday travel season.

As I mentioned earlier, I am ready and eager to get back to governing in Washington to continue delivering on the mandate we were given by the American people last November. If you have questions about the government reopening, especially if you were impacted by the shutdown, please don't hesitate to reach out to my office.

Reimbursing Texas for Biden's Border Crisis

Today, I was proud to lead the entire Republican Texas congressional delegation alongside U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) in a letter to the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS), urging them to prioritize the State of Texas when disbursing the $13.5 billion in border security reimbursements I helped secure earlier this year.

The devastating impact of the previous administration’s open border policies has been felt nationwide—but no state has carried the burden more than Texas. Texas spent $11.1 billion on border security, including $5.87 billion on personnel costs and $4.75 billion on border wall and barriers. When the federal government failed to secure our border and protect our communities, Texans stepped up. We will not rest until Texas is paid for what it's owed.

Read more in the Dallas Morning News here or by clicking on the image below.

EPA Grants Texas Primacy Over Class VI Wells

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it was granting Texas primacy over Class VI wells. Under the previous administration, the permitting process for Class VI wells was painfully slow. I am grateful that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin recognized this and placed his confidence in state experts who know their geology and how to support it in the best way possible.

Far too often, bureaucratic red tape gets in the way of those who know the energy industry best, stifling production and disincentivizing innovation. I introduced legislation alongside my colleague Congressman Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) to expedite state approval of these wells. Texas leads the way in efficient energy production nationwide, and we intend to keep it that way.

Read more about this action by the EPA here or by clicking the image below.

Southern Border Apprehensions Hit Lowest in Half a Century

This week, the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security released its latest "Border Brief" factsheet, detailing that apprehensions by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol hit record lows in half a century for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. After four years of the Biden-Harris Administration's disastrous open-border agenda and reckless catch-and-release policies, I am thankful the American people are finally seeing a return to law and order at our southern border.

Thanks to the strong leadership of the Trump Administration, our borders and our homeland are more secure today than they have been in years. House Republicans have also delivered real solutions at the border by passing legislation that invests in cutting-edge technology, modernizes critical equipment, and expands the Border Patrol workforce to protect the homeland from nefarious actors. I look forward to continuing this mission on the House Homeland Security Committee and building on this historic success to keep our borders and communities safe for years to come.

Read the full "Border Brief" factsheet here or by clicking the image below.

State of Texas Files for Rural Health Transformation Fund

I am thrilled to support the State of Texas's application to receive funding from the newly announced $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, made possible through the historic Working Families Tax Cuts Act that I proudly voted for earlier this year.

The funding in this program will provide significant support to rural hospitals and health care providers in Texas by equipping them with the necessary equipment and resources to deliver vital care to patients in need. This is critical, as many of my constituents often have to drive long distances to see health care providers in larger cities rather than where they live. While this is merely an inconvenience for routine check-ups, it is a serious issue when unexpected medical emergencies occur, and time is of the essence.

Read more about Texas's application here or by clicking the image below.

KOXE Morning Show with Jeff Duncan

This morning, I joined Jeff Duncan on KOXE to discuss the government reopening, my legislation to lower health care costs, and preview high school football games happening across the district this evening. Listen to our conversation here or by clicking the image below.

Recent Media Appearances on Reopening the Government

I joined CBS7 and ABC News this week after voting to end the Democrats' reckless government shutdown and reopen the government for the American people.

Watch my interview on ABC News here.

Watch my interview on CBS7 here or by clicking on the image below.

A Note to Jodey Arrington

This week, Jodey Arrington announced he will not be seeking reelection for Texas's 19th Congressional District. Below is the note I released on social media in response:

My friend and fellow West Texan, it has been an honor to serve alongside you in Congress – fighting together to bring Texas values to Washington.

No one has fought harder or led with more conviction than Jodey Arrington. As Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Jodey played a pivotal role in delivering the Working Families Tax Cuts. This major victory will significantly benefit countless families, workers, and small business owners across West Texas and will be a cornerstone of his legacy.

For nearly a decade, Jodey has served the 19th Congressional District with unwavering dedication and has been an outspoken leader for our West Texas way of life. I am truly going to miss Jodey's leadership – and, more importantly, his friendship – in the halls of Congress. Wherever his next chapter takes him, I do not doubt that Jodey will not only succeed but also continue to make a lasting impact and make Texas proud.

REMINDER: If you are in need of assistance with a federal agency, my office is here to help. For more information, please visit our website HERE.

Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) for daily updates.