As Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I’m also proud to say that the NDAA included provisions to accelerate space capabilities that counter Chinese and Russian nuclear arsenals, as well as space surveillance. We must continue to stay one step ahead of our adversaries, equipping the Space Force with everything it needs to advance American interests. Space is the next battleground, and we’re not ignoring it.
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock today announced the launch of the Local Government Bond, Tax, and Project Transparency Database, an online tool that provides the public with transparent access to current and historical information on local government bonds, voter-approved tax rate elections and related projects statewide. The database also advances the intent of its enabling legislation, House Bill 103, to give Texans clearer insight into how local bond issuances and tax rates impact property tax burdens.
In addition to improving our servicemembers’ pay and quality of life, the bill delivers new capabilities to our warfighters at a faster pace, revitalizes our defense industrial base to improve readiness and boost our economy, and funds the president's Golden Dome, which will protect Americans from modern threats like hypersonic missiles for years to come. I was proud to vote for this bill and ensure our nation is prepared to face — and overcome — the challenges of the 21st century.
Commissioner Sid Miller and the TDA hosted agricultural and epidemiological leaders from Latin America to tackle the threat of the New World screwworm. The two-day visit in Austin, Texas, brought together experts from Mexico, Central America, and the United States to coordinate early detection efforts, strengthen cross-border surveillance, and develop unified livestock protection strategies.
Time Magazine, which, like so much in print journalism, has suffered from a loss of readers, has published its annual list called the "Most Influential People of 2025." The list includes "Artists, Innovators, Titans, Icons, Leaders, and Pioneers." Time's "Person of the Year" is Artificial Intelligence. That might also apply to Congress. Most of the people Time considers influential, I have never heard of, so they haven't influenced me. Maybe it's a generational thing.
This legislation will lower costs, expand consumer choice, and increase transparency for patients. By establishing Health Freedom Accounts and a Health Freedom Waiver Program, MACA will put health care decisions back where they belong: in the hands of American families, not Washington bureaucrats. This legislation will also provide small businesses with critical tax relief to encourage employer-sponsored coverage and will codify price transparency for patients.
Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) voted to pass the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The FY26 NDAA is a must-pass, yearly policy package that outlines the funding provisions for our nation’s defense priorities and military quality of life initiatives. "As a 20-year Navy veteran, taking care of the men and women in our armed services is a top priority for me.”
Governor Greg Abbott, Southwest Airlines, and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson today announced at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) that Southwest will establish a new pilot and flight attendant crew base in Austin. Southwest’s expansion will lay the groundwork for future operational growth in the state and is expected to create 2,000 jobs in Austin by mid-2027. A (TEF) grant of $14 million has been extended to Southwest Airlines. In addition, the company has been offered a $375,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst chaired a hearing last week revealing that federal agencies shoveled out $162 billion in improper payments last year. That's billions with a B. Federal programs that loan out money to "socially and economically disadvantaged businesses" were a rich target for fraudsters, a particular magnet for fraudsters. Scamsters who claimed to be over 115 years old scored loans worth $333 million, including $36,000 to a 157-year-old.
Some Stay True, Some Don’t Justice Gorsuch has been fairly consistent. Justice Kavanaugh has usually held the line, relying upon the U.S. Constitution as his north star. More than occasionally, Amy Coney Barrett has been a liability to conservatives. It is speculated that she fears for members of her family if she does not yield to Leftist causes. She did, however, appropriately chastise the ranting of Ketanji Brown Jackson – a DEI selection who should have never become a Supreme Court Justice.
Governor Greg Abbott today celebrated Texas as America’s jobs leader with the largest 12-month jobs gain in the nation based on September employment data. The state also set new records for the number of Texans working, the size of the Texas labor force, and total Texas jobs. Texas reached a new high with the largest labor force ever in the state’s history at 15,879,000.
Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) requested an update from Department of Homeland Security Secretary (DHS), Kristi Noem, on current Coast Guard operations in Venezuela and showed his appreciation for DHS personnel across the agency during the House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland." "I think it'd be important for the American people to get an update on the role Coast Guard played in the Venezuela oil tanker seizure."
Congress provided $50 billion for state grants, with half being distributed by CMS ‘equally among all states with approved application.’ “Under this directive, each state could receive the same amount from the pool regardless of the number of rural hospitals and providers or the size of its rural population. For example, Connecticut, which has three rural hospitals, could receive the same amount as Texas, which has 155 rural hospitals.
The ban is also rotten economics. Firms are expected to put at risk as much as $1 billion to research and develop a new drug and endure years of testing to get FDA approval, but then even after it's proven safe and effective, they aren't allowed to market the product? So a company can spend billions of dollars to advertise a Snickers bar or M&Ms, but not a penny to promote a drug that reduces pain and suffering and potentially saves countless lives?
Nothing bothers the European elite as much as American conservatives praising the European foundations of their shared, but threatened, Western civilization. Europeans especially resent having their social-welfare state system critiqued by upstart, crass Americans. Americans, in turn, are worried that Europe is not just stagnating but is on a trajectory of permanent decline -- with dire consequences for the entire Western world.
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" created a dollar-for-dollar Federal Tax Credit of up to $1,700 a year for individual contributions to a qualified Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). Credits for donations in excess of $1,700 can be carried forward for up to five years - and sudents from families at or below 300% of the Local Median Income Level are eligible to apply to SGOs for scholarships to be used for tuition or other educational expenses at a public or private school.
Cong. Tony Gonzales, Sen. John Cornyn & Cong. August Pfluger are leading members of the Texas Congressional Delegation to galvanize efforts for the State Administrators to work more closely with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services's (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz in prioritizing funding from the Working Families Tax Cuts’ $50 billion in Rural Health Transformation Programs for the Lone Star State.
Senators Ted Cruz & Mike Lee (R-Utah), along with their colleagues are calling on President Trump's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin calling to not to move forward with currently outstanding proposals that would reallocate Exempted Renewable Volume Obligations - saying the proposals will shift compliance costs onto oil refineries across the country and undermine the President's American Energy Dominance Agenda.
