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Dear Mr. xxxxxx,
As I begin another busy week in Texas and Washington, I wanted to pass along my latest update on what I have been doing to fight for you, Texas’ 21st Congressional district, and our country as a whole:
Fighting fentanyl poisonings:
On Thursday, I took part in a roundtable with grieving parents of fentanyl victims, during which they shared their tragic and heart-rending stories with me and other lawmakers. I am honored to fight alongside them against this deadly epidemic and the cartels flooding our communities with fentanyl.
On Friday, I joined sheriffs from around the nation and fentanyl awareness advocates for a press conference on the border crisis. We discussed how to secure the border, raise awareness about fentanyl poisonings, and keep our communities and our nation's kids safe.
You can watch my remarks at the press conference by clicking here.
Holding the federal bureaucracy accountable:
I headed to the House floor Thursday afternoon to fight a bill that would protect incompetent and corrupt federal bureaucrats from termination. The bureaucracy has never been more politicized than it is today. We must ensure that bureaucrats are accountable to the American people and can be fired for wrongdoing just as they would be in the private sector.
You can watch my full remarks by clicking here. A transcript of my remarks is available here.
Standing up for unvaccinated soldiers:
On Thursday, my good friends Utah Senator Mike Lee and Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, along with 48 of our House and Senate colleagues, joined me in calling on the Army to immediately stop unfairly restricting unvaccinated soldiers, including those with approved medical and religious exemptions, from official travel.
The Army is unfairly denying soldiers – who simply followed the tenets of their deeply held religious beliefs or guidance of their doctor – vital career opportunities, effectively relegating them to second-class soldiers. This risks damaging our country’s military readiness for years to come.
You can read my full letter to the Army by clicking here.
Advocating for transparency at the Pentagon:
On Wednesday, Rep. Johnson, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, and I sent a letter to the Pentagon demanding transparency on how the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate is affecting military readiness.
Despite a recruiting crisis, the military is set to discharge over 75,000 soldiers for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. That's why I asked the Pentagon release data on the number of unvaccinated soldiers and vaccine exemptions granted, and how the Pentagon’s vaccine mandate will affect future military recruiting efforts.
You can read my letter to the Pentagon by clicking here.
Defending small businesses:
I was honored to accept the National Federation of Independent Business' Guardian of Small Business award last week in Washington! I am proud to represent so many great small businesses in Texas' 21st District and will continue working in Congress to help them prosper.
Focused on the border:
I was honored to join former ICE Director Tom Homan in Frisco for a border security panel hosted by the Council for National Policy! Texans deserve a secure border and communities safe from cartels, fentanyl, and human trafficking.
Supporting healthcare in TX21:
Members of my team were honored to attend Peterson Health and the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce for their first ever annual State of Healthcare lunch last week! I unfortunately was not able to attend in-person, and provided video remarks from Washington.
Here are some news stories about what I’ve been up to lately:
Interested in being nominated to a military academy?
For students interested in learning more on how to obtain a congressional military academy nomination, please see the information below and visit the website here.
Members of Congress may nominate up to ten military academy applicants for each academy who meet the eligibility requirements detailed on the website. The deadline to submit a packet and compete for nomination to the Kerrville district office is October 15, 2022.
Want to help serve the 21st District?
Students and young adults interested in learning more about how Congress works and serving the constituents of the 21st Congressional district are invited to apply for a congressional internship with my San Antonio district office.
Interns will benefit from a behind-the-scenes look into Congress and gain valuable experience in public service while assisting fellow Texans with federal agencies and supporting staffers. Stipends are available on a case-by-case basis.
You can find more information on interning with my office by clicking here.
Create your own app!
Rep. Roy is happy to announce that the district-wide Congressional App Challenge is now open to middle school and high school students! This challenge encourages students interested in computer science careers to develop coding skills by creating a unique app. Find out more here.
Passport resources
The State Department is encouraging passport applications and renewals during the off-peak travel season in fall or winter because demand is lower and processing is faster. Please remember to check your passport expiration date and keep in mind some countries require your passport to be valid for six months after your visit. You can find information on how to apply or renew your passport here.
VA website portal
The VA has launched the Visitor Engagement Reporting Application (VERA), a self-service portal which allows visitors to schedule, reschedule, and cancel in-person or virtual appointments with a Veterans Benefits Admin representative. You can visit the portal by clicking here.
USDA Wildfire and Drought Resources
The US Department of Agriculture offers several resources available to farmers and ranchers impacted by the recent wildfires and drought in Texas. We encourage you to take advantage of this federal assistance if eligible.
Resources for wildfire and drought recovery and risk management are available here and here, respectively.
Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program
Governor Greg Abbott recently announced the opening of the Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program. This program will provide grants to Texas businesses that have been negatively impacted during the COVID-1andemic, including the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry. For more information, please click here.
Baby Formula Resources
The Department of Health and Human Services has compiled resources for parents struggling amidst the ongoing baby formula shortage:
- A resource page on where to find formula in your community here.
- A social media kit in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Haitian Creole here.
- A public service announcement from the First Lady and U.S. Surgeon General here.
If you have any concerns that my office can help out with, please don’t hesitate to call or email through the “email me” portal on my website. If you feel so inclined, you can also just send an old-fashioned letter to my Washington or district offices.
If your friends, relatives, or neighbors would also like to sign up for these weekly updates, they can do so by sending my office a quick email or simply by signing up here. For more up-to-the-minute updates, you can follow my press team on Facebook and Twitter.
Sincerely,
Chip Roy
Member of Congress
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