January 23, 2026

U.S. House Passes All Twelve Appropriations Bills

This week, I proudly voted to advance the final set of FY26 appropriations bills, including Defense, Homeland Security, Transportation, and Labor-HHS. These bills deliver on House Republicans' commitment to restore peace through strength, secure the border, rebuild America's infrastructure, and put our nation back on a healthier path.

With this vote, we completed all 12 appropriations bills through regular order in the House for the first time in years, fully funding the government at lower levels than a continuing resolution and finally replacing Biden-era spending with Trump-era policies. This monumental achievement underscores House Republicans' commitment to restoring regular order and fiscal sanity for the American people.

One Year of a Secure Border Thanks to President Trump

In just one year, President Trump ended the Biden administration's border crisis, put American safety first, and restored law and order. Our communities are undoubtedly safer thanks to President Trump. Gone are the days of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants flooding our borders and overwhelming the U.S. Border Patrol.

The results speak for themselves:

· Seven consecutive months of ZERO migrant releases at the border into the United States

· Border crossings have fallen by 93%

· Billions were secured to reimburse the State of Texas for Operation Lone Star

· Thousands of violent illegal aliens have been successfully deported

I penned an op-ed in San Angelo LIVE detailing how House Republicans delivered on our mandate to the American people by passing the Working Families Tax Cuts that will finish the border wall, recruit more Border Patrol Agents, and update new technology. Read the piece here or by clicking on the image below.

OMB Director Russ Vought at RSC Member Meeting

It was fantastic to host Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought at the Republican Study Committee (RSC) member meeting this week. Director Vought emphasized that the past year marked a crucial milestone in fiscal responsibility with the passage of major conservative legislation and a critical rescissions package that clawed back millions in woke spending. The RSC will continue partnering with OMB to cut waste across our government for the American people.

A+ on SBA Pro-Life Scorecard

I am proud to have earned an A+ on Susan B. Anthony's Pro-Life Scorecard for my work to protect life and stop forced taxpayer funding of abortion. As a father to three precious daughters, I will always stand up for the unborn in Congress.

FENCES Act Advances to House Floor

I was proud to see my Foreign Emissions and Nonattainment Clarification for Economic Stability (FENCES) Act advance out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee this week. This bill will rein in government overreach and protect states, energy producers, and manufacturers.

The FENCES Act will bring long-overdue clarity and fairness standards to the Clean Air Act by ensuring states are not unfairly penalized for emissions originating outside the United States. The bill also protects producers from costly and unnecessary compliance requirements caused by factors beyond their control, such as foreign wildfires or dust storms, while upholding environmental standards under the Clean Air Act. Watch my full remarks in support of the FENCES Act here or by clicking the image below.

Defending American Property Abroad Act

My bipartisan legislation, the Defending American Property Abroad Act, advanced through the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, marking an important step toward protecting American companies operating abroad. The legislation would strengthen U.S. maritime security law to address the unlawful seizure of any U.S.-owned property by foreign governments. Simply put, this bill is designed to ensure that U.S. businesses are not unfairly targeted or stripped of their assets when operating abroad. 

The need for this legislation is clear. For years, the Mexican government has been attempting to seize control of a deep-water port owned by U.S.-based Vulcan Materials Company. This action directly violates the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that governs trade between our countries, and threatens American jobs and economic interests. Read more about the legislation in the Blaze here or by clicking the image below.

Advocating for SLB Baits to Combat Predation

Predation of livestock by coyotes, foxes, and other species has reached alarming levels nationwide. Two decades ago, there were nearly twice as many sheep and goats in Texas as there are currently. This issue has forced many producers out of business, adversely affecting rural economies and threatening the sustainability of American sheep and goat production.

In response to this, I wrote a letter to EPA Administrator Zeldin and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Administrators requesting that the agencies explore registering and deploying single-lethal-dose (SLD) baits. Similar to M-44 sodium cyanide ejector devices, SLDs have proven to be an effective predator control tool. Read more about the letter here or by clicking the image below.

Winter Storm Fern Impacting Texas-11

This weekend, Winter Storm Fern is expected to move through Texas-11. I want to make sure you and your families are prepared for freezing temperatures in addition to potential ice, sleet, and snow.

Now is the time to be #WinterReady. Below are resources to prepare your family, livestock, and property for Winter Storm Fern:

Stay Informed:

• Sign up for local alerts through county emergency management websites at https://www.ready.gov/alerts
• Monitor real-time updates for ERCOT at ercot.com
• You can access additional weather safety tips by visiting TexasReady.gov

Remember the Four P's:

• People
• Pets/Livestock
• Pipes
• Plants

Warming Centers:

• To find the closest warming center near you, please visit tdem.texas.gov/warm

Drive Safely:

• TxDOT is working preemptively to treat roadways for icy conditions. If you must travel, please visit DriveTexas.org for current road conditions.

Food Safety:

Winter storms can also cause power outages that can compromise stored food. For food safety questions, call the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854 (Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. ET), or email [email protected]. Meat and poultry businesses may contact the FSIS Small Plant Help Desk online 24/7, call 1-877-FSIS-HELP (1-877-374-7435) or email InfoSource@usda.gov.

Resources for Agricultural Producers:

If you are an agricultural producer in Texas-11, please visit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at farmers.gov for additional resources. If you incur agricultural losses due to Winter Storm Fern, please visit the USDA’s Disaster Resource Center. 

Further information to prepare for severe winter weather can be found on FEMA’s Winter Ready website. This provides extreme cold safety tips, as well as resources available to you and your family over the coming days. I hope this information proves to be helpful during Winter Storm Fern.

Please stay safe and warm during Winter Storm Fern!

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.