Last week, the House of Representatives passed a funding extension that was then signed into law by President Trump. The federal government will now be funded through January 30, 2026, ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. This funding extension should have been agreed to in the Senate five weeks ago; however, Senate Democrats voted against this clean, nonpartisan measure 15 times.

Congress also approved three full-year appropriations bills in the vote covering Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Legislative Branch. Passing these appropriations bills ends the era of backroom omnibus deals, and I look forward to resuming legislative business to pass further conservative spending bills. Despite Congress's failure during this time, we are grateful that President Trump and his Administration took unprecedented action to protect the pay of our service members and their families from partisan obstruction.

While our office remained open during the shutdown — with the rest of the federal government resuming operations, we want to remind you that we are here to help. If you need assistance with a federal agency, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with questions or concerns.

Last week, we had the opportunity to honor those who have given themselves for a cause greater than each of us. To the men and women who have served our nation: we honor your service not just on Veterans Day — but every day. Texas’ 27th District is home to so many who chose to answer the call for service and duty in protection of our liberties.

On Monday, November 10th, we commemorated the redesignation of the Corpus Christi downtown post office in honor of one of our nation’s veterans and heroes and beloved community member Bob Batterson. Captain Batterson was a World War II veteran, Pearl Harbor survivor, and community leader who spent over two decades of his life volunteering at the USS Lexington sharing historical and personal stories to Coastal Bend visitors.  I was honored to be joined by family members and friends of Captain Batterson in marking this special occasion.  My prayer is that the Captain Robert E. “Bob” Batterson Post Office will serve as a reminder of his legacy of service to God, family and country for generations to come.

On November 6th, I had the privilege of meeting with Air Traffic Controllers and TSA leadership at the Corpus Christi International Airport. As you may have heard, the FAA is facing a shortage of air traffic controllers, which was only intensified during the government shutdown. I took this time to thank those air traffic controllers who were still working for their continued service and had an opportunity to speak with airport leaders on how we can better avoid these disruptions in the future.

I also attended the State of the City event in Corpus Christi, where we discussed a variety of ongoing projects, including the work to develop desalination and water infrastructure across our district. Water security is essential to the growth of our region, and we are working to ensure that the federal government can be a better partner in ensuring that money allocated towards state and local projects ends up in the right place and that Texas can be on the receiving end of more federal resources.

Over the past 10-months, our southern border has seen record low crossings and illegal activities due to the enforcement of federal immigration laws and the heroic work of our border patrol and law enforcement officers. Congress must now use this opportunity to pass effective border security legislation that would prevent future politicians from abusing our nation’s laws and generosity through open-border policies. In the 119th Congress, I most recently cosponsored several pieces of legislation that help close critical loopholes and programs that have been exploited for years: 

• H.R. 2750, the Nuclear Family Priority Act, to attack the problem of chain migration.
• H.R. 1241, the SAFE Act, to end the visa lottery program.
• H.R. 2315, the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act, to end the Optional Practical Training program.
• H.R. 4201, the TPS Reform Act, to require Congressional designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• H.R. 116, the Stopping Border Surges Act, which ensures unaccompanied alien children are safely returned home and promotes integrity in the asylum system.

The Spring 2026 internship application for my DC office is now open! This internship opportunity allows students to learn about public service, the legislative process, and the inner workings of the federal government. Interns will have the opportunity to conduct meaningful legislative research, attend Congressional committee hearings and briefings, and work alongside our team in solving casework and constituent specific problems. My office’s current and former interns have been integral to our work to best serve the people of Texas’ 27th District, and many have already gone on to become leaders in both the public and private spheres. 

Interns will work 5-days a week in my Washington, D.C. office between the months of January-May depending on availability. Applicants should have an interest in public service, Texas ties, and a good work-ethic. If you or a student you know in the Coastal Bend region are interested, please apply on my website and a member of my staff will be in touch to schedule an interview.

This week, the House of Representatives agreed to H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would require the Attorney General to release documents and records relating to Jeffrey Epstein and his horrific and criminal activities. The bill passed with my support and by a final vote of 427-1.  Like most Americans, I too believe that there is more to the story than what the public has been told and that all those complicit in Epstein’s crimes should be punished with the full force of the law.  As elected officials, it is one of our first duties to provide transparency on matters such as this that deal with questions of the public good and equal enforcement of the law. This is why I supported this bill and the DOJ and House Oversight Committee’s investigation that combines testimony, documentation, and a full review of all available evidence. 

Earlier this month on Washington Watch with Tony Perkins and on Real America’s Voice with Grant Stinchfield, I discussed the recent findings by the House Committee on Oversight regarding the use of the “autopen” in President Biden’s White House. 

Watch the full interviews below: