Email from Rep. Pfluger May 1, 2026 Friend, Welcome back to the Pfluger Fly-By, a weekly roundup of the work I am doing to represent you and our communities in Congress. This week, I voted to pass the 2026 Farm Bill through the House, a major victory for the West Texas agriculture community, which is the backbone of our nation's economy and a critical pillar of our national security. I also announced this year's Congressional Art Competition winner, voted to extend FISA and end the Democrats' 76-day Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, introduced legislation to strengthen mental health resources, and participated in a hearing with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. As summer travel quickly approaches, now is a great time to plan ahead. If you are traveling to our nation's capital and would like a tour of the U.S. Capitol or White House, please submit your tour requests as soon as possible. And be sure to check that your passport is up to date before traveling internationally. My office is here to assist if you need to renew your passport.  Below, you'll find highlights, including pictures, in-depth updates, and information on how my office can help you with any federal concerns. As always, my team and I are here to serve you. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need assistance.  Best, 2026 Farm Bill Passes U.S. House This week, House Republicans passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, commonly known as the Farm Bill. This is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation that shapes food, agriculture, and rural life in the United States. While it is supposed to be renewed roughly every five years, Congress has not passed a Farm Bill since 2018, making this year's bill especially important. For too long, Texas farmers and ranchers have been pushed to the brink, battling rising costs, workforce shortages, and relentless weather uncertainty. Now, we are one step closer to getting our farmers the certainty they need. This Farm Bill is a major victory for the West Texas agriculture community, which is the backbone of our nation's economy and a critical pillar of our national security. It delivers tangible, agriculture-focused solutions and locks in several key provisions I was proud to fight for. With fewer than 2% of Americans working to feed, clothe, and fuel the entire country, passing this legislation out of the House was essential. After nearly a decade of delay, House Republicans stepped up and took action this week. Read more about the 2026 Farm Bill and the provisions I secured for Texas-11 here. You can also watch me recap its passage on X by clicking below. Third Assassination Attempt of President Trump I’m incredibly grateful that President Trump, the First Lady, Cabinet members, and everyone else in attendance at last Saturday's White House Correspondents’ Dinner are safe. I’m also immensely proud of the brave law enforcement officers on scene, whose swift and decisive response ensured everyone’s safety. I will be following the investigation closely, and I continue to pray for our nation. Political violence will never be tolerated. The weekend was a sobering reminder of the dangerous threats this President faces every single day. Left-wing political violence is rapidly escalating, and I was proud to cosponsor a resolution condemning the attack authored by my colleague Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) this week, who was there and wasted no time demanding accountability. Read more about the resolution in Breitbart here or by clicking the image below. King Charles III Joint Address to Congress It was an honor to witness history this week as King Charles III delivered a Joint Address to Congress in celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Grateful for his powerful remarks and for the long-standing relationship between our two nations. Hearing with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin This week, I participated in a high-profile Environment Subcommittee hearing with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin. During our conversation, I underscored the significance of the Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision in reining in the unelected administrative state. It was extremely alarming to me that the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Appropriations lacked knowledge of this landmark case, given its critical role in federal rulemaking. During the hearing, I also highlighted the remarkable strides energy producers in the Permian Basin have made in reducing emissions while simultaneously growing energy output. Additionally, Administrator Zeldin provided a timely update on the OOOOb and OOOOc methane rules and the HFC Management Rule, two Biden-era regulations that have imposed significant compliance costs and uncertainty on American businesses. Watch my full line of questioning here or by clicking the image below. 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winner I was completely blown away by the talent and creativity of so many art submissions from students across TX-11 again. This year's theme was especially inspiring as the students used their creativity to celebrate America's 250th anniversary and express their love of country. While it was extremely difficult to select a winner from all the incredible entries, the committee ultimately chose Ms. Judy Aguado Mendoza's piece, "Torch of Independence", in a blind selection process. Its impressive artistic composition, beautiful depiction of an American icon, and bold coloring make her piece stand out. Congratulations, Judy! Your artistic skill is highly impressive, and I know you will do great things to make San Saba proud. Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We know the need for more access to mental health care services is rising, yet for far too many Americans, high-quality, affordable care remains out of reach when they need it most. We cannot afford to ignore this growing crisis. That's why I introduced the bipartisan Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act to strengthen mental health resources in Texas and across the country. The legislation permanently authorizes the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model and gives every state the option to implement this proven approach into its behavioral health care systems. It also establishes a durable payment structure for CCBHCs under Medicare and codifies the Medicaid payment system these clinics depend on to keep their doors open for people who need care. Read more about the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act here or by clicking the image below. My Thoughts on FISA In my 25+ year military career, I saw firsthand how FISA-derived intelligence protects Americans every day and is critical to stopping terrorists, human traffickers, and foreign adversaries before they can strike. But protecting national security and upholding civil liberties are not mutually exclusive. I worked with Republicans in Congress to ensure both are safeguarded by passing over 55 reforms to strengthen oversight and safeguard Americans' personal rights. Extending FISA this week was a clear national security imperative. Allowing this program to lapse would only provide an advantage to our enemies. Voting to End the 76-Day DHS Shutdown For 76 days, Democrats held DHS funding hostage to protect illegal aliens and enable wasteful spending. House Republicans passed a funding bill four times already, and Democrats blocked each one. With national security threats on the rise and the World Cup only 42 days away, leaving DHS unfunded puts the safety of every American citizen at risk. The men and women who serve this country are heroes, not bargaining chips. I will not stop fighting until every DHS entity is fully funded. Submit Summer Tour Requests! If you are visiting Washington, D.C. this summer, my office would be thrilled to book a tour of the U.S. Capitol building for you and your group. My office can also assist in requesting tours of the White House, Supreme Court, and other iconic buildings around DC. Visit [link removed] to book your tour today. The earlier you can get your request in, the better. Renew Your Passport Today Before Summer Travel Are you planning to travel abroad in the coming year? Now is the perfect time to begin your passport application process or check your passport’s expiration date and, if needed, start the renewal process. Visit this link to get started. Before traveling abroad, make sure to sign up for the U.S. State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Platform, known as STEP. This is an excellent and free resource for U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad to receive safety and security alerts and other local updates by email from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Sign up at STEP. If you are having trouble renewing or are experiencing a longer-than-normal processing time for a passport, we stand ready to assist you. Please visit our website at pfluger.house.gov or call any of our offices: Washington DC Office:(202) 225-3605 Brownwood Office:(325) 646-1950 Killeen Office:(254) 669-6570 Llano Office:(325) 247-2826 Midland Office:(432) 687-2390 Odessa Office:(432) 331-9667 San Angelo Office:(325) 659-4010 Meeting with Texans in Washington This week, I also had the pleasure of meeting with several Texas community leaders and partners in Washington. Thank you all for taking the time to discuss how we can implement smart, commonsense policies to strengthen Texas-11 together. 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. Rep. Pfluger | 2202 Rayburn HOB | Washington, DC 20002 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice