John: 

The past few weeks have been jam-packed with votes, crafting legislation, and prioritizing the voice of West Texans in Congress.  

Last week, I led the Texas Republican delegation in unveiling our border security plan – a Commitment to Secure the Border – for the 118th Congress.

No one understands or appreciates the widespread social and economic costs of Biden’s unprecedented open border crisis like the people of Texas. It only makes sense for the Texas delegation to lead the way in using every tool and authority to secure the border, defend our sovereignty, and protect our citizens — and all Americans — from this epic disaster.  

To watch my remarks, click here.     

I also discussed the crisis at our southern border with Fox News. The Biden Administration lacks the political will necessary to secure the border. As a result, drug cartels exploit the Democrats’ open border policies and laugh all the way to the bank. 

I joined House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (MA-02) and Ranking Member Kevin Brady (TX-08) to discuss bipartisan solutions to address the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) – an unfair Social Security provision that reduces millions of public employees’ benefits. For nearly 40 years, we have failed to live up to our social contract with American senior citizens and to allow them to benefit from what they have invested and earned from this important safety net. 

I am encouraged about the desire to find targeted, bipartisan solutions to address this problem and make good on what has been done to shortchange public servants like teachers, firefighters, and police officers. 

Lastly, I am pleased we were able to secure funding for Dyess Air Force Base in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, including investments for B-1 hypersonic integration and continued development of the B-21. The defense authorization bill, while not perfect, provides the necessary resources for our warfighters and weapon systems to defend our freedoms and counter our adversaries like China and Russia. I am proud that this NDAA not only gave our troops the resources necessary to be safe and successful, but repealed Biden’s disastrous vaccine mandate — an irresponsible and heavy-handed policy that ruined many careers and caused us to lose some of our best warriors.  

It's an honor to serve as your voice in our nation’s capital. Your insights are invaluable to me as I work to solve the problems that face our country and advance the values and interests of West Texas.

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