Fireside Sessions
Welcome back to another week of House Republicans delivering meaningful results for the American people. Our focus this week was on making housing more affordable for everyday Texans and cutting back the burdensome red tape that has driven up costs and pushed the American Dream of owning a home further out of reach for hardworking families across our state.
We also put attention on healthcare. Texans, like many Americans, have come to understand that the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is not affordable. The temporary COVID-19 healthcare subsidies that masked rising costs throughout the pandemic were intentionally designed to sunset, and they are now expiring exactly as my colleagues across the aisle intended. I am working diligently on comprehensive healthcare reforms to be included in the bipartisan conversations currently underway and set to be unveiled by House Republicans very soon.
Thank you for staying engaged and for the thoughtful feedback many of you shared throughout this process. I remain committed to tackling these challenges with transparency, a readiness to work across the aisle, and a steadfast focus on protecting taxpayers and strengthening the long-term economic health of Texas and our nation.
House Financial Services Hearing
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This week’s hearing focused on an issue Texans feel every day, which is the rising cost of housing and the barriers that prevent families from achieving the American Dream of homeownership. Texas has long been a place where owning a home is part of the promise of economic freedom, yet rising construction costs, inflationary policies, and layers of regulations at every level of government are slowing down homebuilding and driving prices beyond the reach of hardworking Texans.
Red tape is one of the biggest obstacles. Regulations now add more than ninety three thousand dollars to the cost of a new single family home, making it harder for builders to keep up with demand and harder for families to afford a place of their own. Restrictions on land use, environmental mandates, and policies that worsen labor shortages all contribute to fewer homes being built and higher prices for the homes that are. Texans are also feeling the pressure in rental markets, where rising costs are taking a larger share of household income and leaving families with fewer options. These policies may have been created with good intentions, but they are not expanding supply or lowering costs. Our committee is working to cut through this red tape, remove barriers to home production, and restore the availability and affordability that Texas families deserve.
Oversight and Government Reform Committee Markup
This week, the committee advanced twelve bills aimed at strengthening civil service reform, improving government efficiency, and enhancing data sharing across federal agencies. These reforms are about delivering a government that works as hard as Texans do. By increasing accountability in the federal workforce and ensuring agencies operate with greater transparency and responsiveness, these bills help create a more effective government that respects taxpayers and supports the needs of communities across Texas.
Meeting with Social Security Commissioner Bisignano
This Tuesday, I had the pleasure of hosting Social Security Commissioner Bisignano in my Washington office. We discussed several important issues, with a key focus on ensuring that disabled Americans have the opportunity to work longer hours while still retaining the disability benefits they rely on. My legislation, H.R. 1175, the Blind Americans Return to Work Act does just this. Supporting greater independence and stability for these individuals remains a priority, and I appreciated the commissioner’s engagement on this important topic.
Independence Investment Fund Act H.R. 6412
On Wednesday, I introduced the bipartisan Independence Investment Fund Act, and I was proud to sponsor legislation that reflects a key recommendation from the bipartisan National Security Commission on Emerging Biotech. This effort puts the United States, and especially innovation hubs like Texas, on a stronger path to lead in the technologies that will define our economic and national security future. The bill establishes a dedicated fund within the Department of the Treasury to support U.S. based companies developing critical and emerging technologies, including biotechnology. By providing seed to mid stage equity investments, the fund will help advance promising innovations, counter adversarial foreign influence, signal clear priorities to private investors, and generate financial returns to sustain the fund over time. This is a strategic investment in America’s security and competitiveness, and I am committed to ensuring that our nation continues to lead.
BIOTech Caucus Launch Event
On Tuesday, I had the honor of speaking at the House BIOTech Caucus launch event. As a vice chair of the Caucus, our mission from the start has been to build a strong bipartisan coalition of members committed to confronting the growing threat posed by Chinese biotech. What began with six founding members has now grown to more than thirty, reflecting the urgency and shared commitment across jurisdictions. I am proud of what we have built and will continue working across the aisle to ensure that America remains the global leader in biotechnology and innovation.
Sessions In the News
- Washington Reporter (Op-Ed) → https://washingtonreporter.news/p/rep-pete-sessions-how-house-republicans?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
- CNN → https://youtu.be/Ib9_9Hd4GgI
- Real Americas Voice → https://youtu.be/4FzVt1fhOYs
- KXXV → https://www.kxxv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/waco-congressman-proposes-healthcare-plan-to-avoid-government-shutdown
- Washington Examiner → https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/3904620/texas-gop-banks-on-new-congressional-map-to-keep-the-house-majority/
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