Securing Wins for Texas in the National Defense Bill
Today, I voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) out of the U.S. House of Representatives. This is a strong national defense bill that refocuses our military on lethality, improves the quality of life for our service members and their families, and makes critical investments to support our heroes at Fort Cavazos and Goodfellow Air Force Base. It also fully funds the deployment of the National Guard to the southwest border, cuts inefficient programs to save taxpayer dollars, and abolishes DEI in our military.
I am proud that the NDAA included several of my priorities to revoke security clearances of individuals who lobby for China, establish a system to recruit and retain air flight instructor pilots, and require the administration to provide information on how proceeds from illicit Iranian oil exports are funding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-backed terrorist proxies.
It is time for our military to refocus on lethality, and this bill sets our country on the right course. Read more about the NDAAhere.
Legislative Retreat
This week I hosted the 2024 Legislative Retreat for the 11th Congressional District of Texas in the spectacular Library of Congress building. We were fortunate to be joined by Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, Senator Tom Cotton, Senator Katie Britt, and Dr. Ben Carson, the former U.S. Secretary for Housing and Urban Development. All of our speakers are fantastic leaders, and it was wonderful to hear directly from them on current issues impacting our communities and country.
Commemorating George H.W. Bush's 100th Birthday
June 12th marked the 100th Birthday of our 41st President, George Herbert Walker Bush. To commemorate this milestone, I introduced a resolution alongside Senator John Cornyn honoring President Bush's lifetime of service to our country.
President George H.W. Bush is an inspiration to all Texans. He served our country in an incredible number of capacities—as a decorated naval aviator who saw combat in World War II, U.S. Representative for the 7th Congressional District of Texas, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Director of Central Intelligence, Vice President, and President of the United States, as well as many impactful initiatives in his personal life.
Read the full resolution outlining President Bush's impact and servicehere.
Deterring Cyberattacks on American Companies
Last year, the software company Microsoft suffered from a cyberattack by a People's Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber actor known as "Storm-0558." The cyberattacker infiltrated U.S. government accounts and information, including Members of Congress. The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing to conduct oversight of the cyberattack and how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can deter these events. Watchhereor below for my full line of questioning.
Preserving Critical Mineral Supply Chains
As the Biden Administration pursues an aggressive climate agenda, which includes a recent electric vehicle (EV) mandate and ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, we must ensure American supply chains are secure and stable. The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing over securing critical mineral supply chains and decreasing our reliance on Chinese minerals this week. The U.S. cannot rely on our adversaries for critical materials or products. Watch my full line of questioninghereor below.
U.S. Capitol Night Tour with Congressman Bruce Westerman
It was a blast to host a tour of the U.S. Capitol this week with my friend Congressman Bruce Westerman from Arkansas. If you are thinking about visiting Washington, D.C., I highly recommend booking a U.S. Capitol tour through my office to see the history and founding of our country. You can book a tour at:pfluger.house.gov/forms/tourrequest/.
Happy Flag Day
On June 14th, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the stars and stripes as the official flag of the United States of America. Let us all take time today to remember the meaning behind the American flag and how it stands as the symbol of freedom around the world.
Serving Together as a Family
I was blessed to be joined this week in Washington by my wife Camille, our three daughters, and other close family and friends. Their support means the world to me, and we are incredibly blessed to represent this great district.
2024 Congressional App Challenge
My office is now accepting submissions for the 2024 Congressional App Competition. The competition is open to all 6-12 grade students in the 11th Congressional District of Texas and is an opportunity for students to develop their skills in computer science and STEM.
The deadline is October 24th, 2024 at 12:00 pm ET. Students can register and upload their apphere.
PRIZES
The winner from the 11th Congressional District, chosen by a panel of expert judges, will be featured on the House of Representatives website,House.gov, as well as onCongressionalAppChallenge.us. The winning app will also be displayed in the U.S. Capitol among other winners from across the country. Additional sponsor prizes to be announced.
RULES
Students will create an application (aka app) for PC, web, tablet, robot, mobile, etc Any programming such as C, C++, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, or "block code" will be accepted.
There are NO LIMITS on the application theme or topic.
Students may work individually or in teams made up of no more than four.
Students are highly encouraged to review the competition’s complete rules and regulations on the Congressional App Challenge's website. For more information, please visitcongressionalappchallenge.us/or contact Kathy Keane in the San Angelo Office atKathy.Keane@mail.house.gov.
Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook,Instagram, andTwitterfor daily updates.
