Welcome back to the weekly Pfluger Fly-By, a collection of events and happenings to keep you updated on everything I am doing week by week to represent you in Congress. This week was another busy one in Washington, and I was thankful to be joined by one of my daughters for all of the exciting action!
I have included some photos and highlights from this week for you. You can also find information on how my office can help you with any federal problems you may be having. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can ever be of assistance.
Best,
Congress Certifies 2024 Election
We kicked off the week in Congress by certifying the historic election of President Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States. Now in just 14 days, President Trump will finally be back in office to right the ship and steer America back on course.
Americans are ready for a thriving economy, a secure border, energy independence and dominance, safer streets, stronger communities, to reclaim our leadership on a global stage, and much more. I look forward to working with President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and my colleagues in Congress to fight for the betterment of America. We are incredibly blessed to live in the greatest nation on earth, and I am determined to keep it that way.
Republican Study Committee Holds First Official Meeting
It was a pleasure to hold my first meeting as Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), the largest group of Republicans in Congress, this week. House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) and House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) joined the meeting to discuss conservatives’ strategy for balancing the budget in the upcoming reconciliation process. I was grateful to see over 90 RSC members in attendance, as well as a few specials guests from the Senate, including Alabama Senator Katie Britt and Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis.
RSC is committed to advancing policies that protect our freedoms, bolster national security, and foster economic prosperity for all Americans. The RSC will continue to be the conservative backbone of the House, pushing for a strong, resilient America that can stand up to foreign adversaries and domestic challenges.
Laken Riley Act Passed in the House
I was proud to join my colleagues in voting YES to pass the Laken Riley Act through the U.S. House of Representatives this week. Named after Laken Riley, a nursing student who was tragically killed by an illegal alien who was released by the Biden Administration, the bill will expand detention requirements for illegal immigrants who commit crimes on U.S. soil.
The Laken Riley Act puts the safety of the American people first, and I will continue to advocate for this legislation until it is signed into law. Laken's killer should never have been free to roam this country, especially after committing crimes in the U.S.
Please watch my full remarks given on the House floor in support of this legislation here or through the link below.
WEP and GPO Reform Signed Into Law
Earlier this week, President Biden signed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act into law. This legislation will repeal the Windfall Elimination Penalty (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation, and see it pass in a bipartisan fashion through the U.S. House of Representatives. This is a huge step for our teachers, firefighters, police officers, and first responders!
First Piece of Legislation Introduced for the 119th Congress
I introduced my first piece of legislation for the 119th Congress this week! The legislation, named the Protecting American Energy Production Act, would prohibit any federal moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing—a threat heard many times over the last four years.
The Biden Administration has spent the last four years attacking the American energy industry, most recently attempting to shut it down by banning almost all new U.S. offshore drilling projects. It will be up to Republicans and President Trump to reestablish American energy independence and dominance. Read more about the Protecting American Energy Production Act in the Daily Callerhere or through the image below.
Congressional App Challenge Winner
I was proud to announce Ajay Gundlapalli as the winner of this year’s Congressional App Challenge for Texas’ 11th District.
Ajay is a freshman in high school from Odessa, and created an app called Querapy, which he developed to educate and empower students to better understand and care for their mental health. Through the app, users are presented with lists of questionnaires that they can take upon signing in, all of which are standardized medical questionnaires on depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health conditions. Once completed, users are given a result that shows the severity of the condition and are provided with free mental health resources.
His app was chosen by a panel of expert judges, and will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website, House.gov, as well as onCongressionalAppChallenge.us. His winning app will also be displayed in the U.S. Capitol among other winners from across the country. Congratulations, Ajay!
Serving Together as a Family
I was blessed to be joined by one of my daughters this week in Washington. She attended several events, including the certification of the 2024 Election where she even met Vice President-elect JD Vance. The support of my wife Camille and our three girls is invaluable to me as I serve you in Congress. It's always a special time when family can join me in our Nation's Capital.
REMINDER: If you are in need of assistance with a federal agency, my office is here to help. For more information, please visit our website HERE.
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