Driving the news this week was the release of President Biden's FY2024 budget. The Presidential Budget indicates the priorities that the administration deems most important to the country. March 10, 2023 President Biden Releases Woke and Broke Budget Driving the news this week was the release of President Biden's FY2024 budget. The presidential budget demonstrates the priorities that the administration deems most important to the country. In fact, President Biden himself has often quipped: “Don’t tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.” Unfortunately, this budget indicates another year of misplaced values and priorities. His budget disregards the mounting debt crisis facing our nation and includes funding for woke policies that will bankrupt our country and change our society for the worse. He is determined to attack the oil and gas industry while disregarding policies to enhance border security and end the crisis at the southern border. He even proposes quadrupling the United States’ financing of foreign climate initiatives while continuing to demonize American energy producers. Thankfully, House Republicans stand in the way of the President and his radical agenda. We are committed to putting America back on a path of fiscal sanity, standing up for energy security, and securing the border. American Citizens Murdered by Mexican Drug Cartel The kidnapping and murder of American citizens in Matamoros proves that Mexico is a narco-state. President Biden must make it clear that this horrible violence will not go unpunished. If Mexico can't stop the cartels, then our nation will use any tool in our arsenal to solve it for them. First Hearing as Subcommittee Chairman As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, I was proud to host my first hearing this week. We examined the numerous threats the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses to the U.S. homeland and discussed the actions that must be taken to mitigate the threat to U.S. homeland equities. We will meet CCP aggression with strength, its deception with unflinching truth, and its attempts at exploitation with justice. I hope to encourage bipartisan cooperation this Congress as we all seek effective solutions to combat the pervasive threats posed by the CCP to U.S. homeland security. We are taking the threat of China seriously, and we will not back down. Read more about the hearing here: Beyond the balloon: Congress holds hearing on threats from China (NBC). Declassifying Information Related to COVID-19 For nearly three years now, the truth about COVID-19 and its origins has been hidden from the American people. Big-Government bureaucrats like Dr. Anthony Fauci abused their positions of power to disguise and distort the facts to further their tyrannical takeover of our country. Those who dared question the origins of COVID—or chose to make independent healthcare decisions for their own families—were silenced, censored, and ostracized as conspiracy theorists. We now know many of these so-called “conspiracy theories” have proven to be true. Republicans made a Commitment to America to deliver accountability for the lives lost, livelihoods destroyed, and years together that families were robbed of. We are following through on our promises. Today, we passed a bill to declassify information relating to the origin of COVID-19. The legislation already passed the Senate and now heads to the President's desk, where I hope he will sign it so we can reveal the truth to the American people. Watch my speech in favor of declassifying COVID-19 information here or below. Credit Card Companies Drop Efforts to Track Firearm and Ammunition Purchases I wanted to update you on a huge win for the Second Amendment. Visa, Mastercard, and Discover this week announced a PAUSE on their plan to create codes for firearm and ammunition sales—which could be used to track law-abiding gun owners or infringe on their constitutional rights. I was proud to join the concerted pushback from state and federal lawmakers that led to this reversal, and it is an important conservative success as we work to preserve our Second Amendment Rights. Town Halls in Junction, Menard, Winters, and Bronte It was wonderful to be home in Texas-11 and host four Town Halls across the district in Menard, Junction, Winters, and Bronte. I was honored to present Congressional Award Certificates to several well-deserving leaders in our communities: The Area Champion Menard Lady Jacket Basketball team Jeff Whitson, Menard FD Fireman of the Year Shep Silvers, who showed a Champion Commercial Ewe and Champion Commercial Doe at the San Antonio Stockshow Baylee Plumlee, who showed a Champion Angora Doe at the San Antonio Stockshow Members of the Runnels County Historical Commission, who have written six books about Runnels County and its military heroes The Bronte Education Enrichment Foundation that helps provide grants and scholarships for teachers and students in Bronte ISD Thank you all for the incredible work you are doing in our communities, and to all who came out to our town halls! If you weren't able to make it, keep an eye on my Facebook page for future event announcements. Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews Recalls Kabul Airport Suicide Bombing House Republicans made a Commitment to America to pursue answers and accountability for the crises the Biden Administration has driven us into over the last two years. This week we heard from Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, a 25-year-old who was caught in the bombing at the Kabul airport as his sniper team assisted in the chaotic evacuation in Afghanistan. He delivered an emotional recounting of the tragic day, saying: "I opened my eyes to Marines dead or unconscious lying around me. … My body was overwhelmed from the trauma of the blast. My abdomen had been ripped open, every inch of my exposed body except for my face took ball bearings and shrapnel. ... Our military members and veterans deserve our best because that is what we give to America. The withdrawal was a catastrophe in my opinion, and there was an inexcusable lack of accountability and negligence. The 11 Marines, one sailor and one soldier that were murdered that day have not been answered for." He hasn't forgotten about the tragic consequences of President Biden's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and House Republicans join him in demanding answers for the 13 heroes who lost their lives. Click here or below to watch his emotional, heartbreaking testimony. DC City Council Caves on Crime Bill The D.C. City Council caved and withdrew their dangerous crime bill that, among other things, would lower the maximum penalties for burglary, carjacking, and robbery in Washington, D.C. Their decision to withdraw comes after House Republicans voted to nullify the crime bill last week. Our Nation's Capital should be a safe place for all Americans, not a haven for violent crime. Happy International Women's Day to TX-11  This week we celebrated International Women's Day by honoring our stellar team of women in TX-11. These ladies run six offices across the district to advocate for their communities and provide excellent constituent services. Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily updates. Rep. August Pfluger Member of Congress ‌ ‌ ‌ Rep. Pfluger | 1531 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]