Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has successfully secured an emergency stay of a District Court ruling that would have blocked Texas’s new Border Security Law from taking effect. In 2023 the Texas State Legislature passed Senate Bill 4 to address the ongoing crisis at the Southern Border, which mirrors federal law in that it makes it a crime to illegally enter or reenter the U.S., and enables Texas Law Enforcement to detain and order aliens to return to the country from which they illegally entered.
"As chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have repeatedly requested to see the documents used in this After-Action Review on Afghanistan Withdrawal Investigation, or the 'AAR files' — specifically the interview notes of key State Department officials. These first-hand accounts are critical to my committee’s investigation, and would provide direct insight into what went wrong, who bears responsibility, and how to prevent anything like this from happening ever again," said McCaul.
"Even in the midst of these devastating fires, we've seen tremendous perseverance and resiliency in these communities. Together, we will do everything we can to deliver the resources and assistance they need to respond and stay safe," said Gov. Greg Abbott at a briefing with State & Local Officials earlier today, where he provided an update on the state’s ongoing response to the historic wildfires. Gov. Abbott also traveled to the City of Borger, Texas to offer full support for the impacted communities.
“The United States is dealing with more deadly consequences than we have in our entire lifetime because of President Joe Biden’s open border policies. It did not have to be this way,” said Gov. Greg Abbott, hosting former President Donald Trump for a Border Security Tour & Briefing in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Thurs., Feb. 29th, 2024. "Unless and until President Biden steps up and does the job he already has the power to do, Texas will continue to secure the border to protect and defend America from his disastrous border crisis," Abbott said.
"It's time to pass meaningful reform, and we know this bill has the support of the House. However, Senate Democrats see illegal aliens as future Democrat voters, so they don’t want to secure the border and put the needs of American citizens first," said Sen. Ted Cruz of the "Secure the Border Act" that would provide physical & technological border improvements, manpower assistance to Border Patrol & ICE Removal Operations, and protection to families seeking entry at the border as well as unaccompanied alien children.
"These fires not only threaten lives and property, but will also have a substantial impact on our state's critical agriculture industry,” said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller earlier today, announcing his commitment to provide unwavering support to agricultural producers as they deal with the aftermath of the devastating wildfires burning in the Texas Panhandle. The Smokehouse Creek Fire, one of five active fires scorching the region, has contributed to what is now the state's largest in history.
The "Terminating Unlawful Negligence & Nullifying Exemptions and Licenses to Sanctions" Act of 2024 (the TUNNELS Act) filed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz today seeks to rescind the licenses used by the Biden White House to channel U.S. Aid to Gaza through international & non-governmental organizations, and prevents the licenses from being reissued. “The Biden Administration exempted, and continues to exempt itself from American laws that prohibit support of terrorism by funneling money elsewhere," said Cruz.
"By extending postpartum Medicaid & CHIP coverage, we'll help ensure that new mothers and the most vulnerable young Texans receive critical healthcare for their families and thrive," said Gov. Greg Abbott today, announcing that effective March 1st, Texas is extending its postpartum coverage from 2 to 12 months for eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) recipients through the Texas Health & Human Services Commission. Anyone enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP who is pregnant or becomes pregnant is eligible.
An effort to dramatically expand school choice options in Alabama – which would allow public education dollars to follow children into private school, homeschooling, and help pay other educational costs – was passed by the state House of Representatives on a margin of 69-34. Pitifully, ALL 28 Democrats voted "no," even though low-income and minorities are by far the biggest beneficiaries of school choice. The bill PRIORITIZES low-income families and kids with disabilities.
Governor Greg Abbott today issued a disaster declaration for 60 Texas counties in response to widespread wildfire activity throughout the state. Additional counties may be added if conditions warrant. Governor Abbott also directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate additional state emergency response resources to support local firefighters responding to multiple wildfires burning Texas.
Senator Ted Cruz participated in a town hall in Laredo, Texas, on Sunday, February 25th. The conversation was moderated by United States Hispanic Business Council President & CEO Javier Palomarez. Sen. Cruz was joined by Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina (D) and Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino (D) as panelists, and they answered questions on the economy, energy, international trade, immigration policies, infrastructure, human trafficking, and drug smuggling, among others.
The CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act would prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC directly to anyone, ensuring the Federal Reserve can’t mobilize itself into a retail bank. It would also bar the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC indirectly to individuals through financial institutions or other third parties, as well as prevent the Federal Reserve from using a CBDC as a tool to implement monetary policy and control the economy.
Governor Greg Abbott today announced three JET grants totaling more than $713,000 were awarded to three schools in the Temple area by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). These JET grants will support career and technical education (CTE) training programs by helping schools purchase and install equipment to initially train over 600 students for high-demand occupations including welding, licensed vocational nursing, and medical assistance.
TVN is a statewide collaborative of veteran-serving, community-based organizations, government agencies and national service providers that have come together to utilize Combined Arms' innovative technology to improve the quality of life for Texas Veterans, Service Members, and their families. This network allows Veterans, Service Members, Military families, and caregivers across Texas seeking resources and services to connect with member organizations that help navigate their transition from service.
On January 26th, President Joe Biden inexplicably announced an indefinite ban on pending LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) Export Projects. It will cost our communities along the Gulf and across Texas countless jobs – and lead to so much unnecessary uncertainty. We are talking about jobs. We're talking about American energy, about clean energy. We are talking about the future of the greatest Nation the world has ever known – and the fact that our allies don't have to rely on Russia for their energy if it comes from the United States.
One of the most crucial rights granted in the U.S. Constitution is a state’s ability to secure its own border. James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution,” emphasized that Article I, Section 10, Clause 3 would allow Virginia’s state militia “to be called forth to suppress smugglers” who had endangered their state. Today, Texas faces a similar but starker threat than Virginia’s smugglers – Mexican drug cartels that operate as paramilitary forces on our border.
Sen. Cruz authored and introduced a resolution cosponsored by Sen. Cornyn highlighting that Texas farmers are experiencing acute water shortages and supporting diplomacy to ensure that Mexico fulfills its treaty obligations to provide annual deliveries of water. In October, Sen. Cruz secured a vote in the Senate for a related amendment he authored, requiring the Secretary of State to utilize the full range of American diplomacy to secure Mexican compliance with its treaty obligations.
“These challenges to our Postal System are not only found in Texas, but are affecting Americans nationwide," said Cong. Pete Sessions, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, after leading a bi-partisan Congressional Briefing with U.S. Postal Service Officials in Houston to confront the persistent mail delivery disruptions & delays there – and other areas of Texas. Their goal is to find the root causes that are severely impacting both Residential & Commercial Deliveries.
“This grant to Northeast Texas Community College will help equip hardworking Texans with the skills they need to succeed in critical industries like manufacturing, and ensure Texas has the talent needed to thrive as our economy continues to lead the nation,” said Gov. Greg Abbott, announcing a Skills Development Fund Grant Award provided by the Texas Workforce Commission. The grant will help train more than 85 new & current workers in robotics, logic & motor controllers, and other relevant industry skills.
A school official in the Denton Independent School District located just north of Dallas used her government email to circulate voting guidelines for her fellow school employees, directly violating the Texas Election Code’s prohibition against use of “state or local funds or other resources to electioneer for or against any candidate, measure or political party.” Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Denton ISD for illegal electioneering & using taxpayer-funded resources to stump for specific candidates.