Welcome back to the weekly Pfluger Fly-By, a roundup of events and updates to keep you informed about everything I'm doing week by week to represent you in Congress.
It was another eventful week representing you in Congress. I introduced legislation to rename the Northeast Odessa Post Office in honor of Mary Granados, wrote a piece on how the One Big Beautiful Bill is unleashing American energy, penned an op-ed on why the U.S. desperately needs census reform, announced the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, and our office hosted Service Academy Nights in Midland and Killeen.
If you were affected by the July 4th flooding, please be aware that there is less than one week left to apply for FEMA assistance. The deadline is Thursday, September 4th, and I strongly encourage homeowners, renters, and students to apply if they haven't already.
Below, you'll find photos and highlights from the week. As always, our office stands ready to assist residents across Texas-11 who have been impacted by flooding, need help with a federal agency, would like to plan a trip to Washington, DC, or need assistance with anything else. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you or someone you know is in need.
Best,
Renaming the Northeast Odessa Post Office in Honor of Mary Granados
This Sunday, August 31st, will mark six years since the horrific mass shooting in the Permian Basin that claimed the lives of seven people and injured several others. In commemoration, I introduced legislation to rename the Northeast Odessa United States Post Office in honor of Mary Granados, a USPS courier who tragically lost her life in the shooting. Once signed into law, the post office will officially be renamed the 'Mary Granados Memorial Post Office Building.'
I am incredibly proud of the Odessa and Midland communities for their continued strength and resilience in the aftermath of this tragedy. This renaming will ensure Mary has a lasting imprint on the community for generations to come. Read more about the legislation to rename the Northeast Odessa Post Office in Mary Granados' memory here or by clicking the image below.
American Energy is Back in the Driver's Seat
Energy powers more than just our economy – it fuels every part of our lives and is a crucial part of our national security.
Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris Administration took an all-of-government approach to wage war on the American energy industry. They canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, halted new oil and gas producing leases on federal land and waters, drained the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), implemented the Natural Gas Tax, and much more.
Thankfully, these days are over, and since Republicans took control, American energy is back in the driver's seat. I penned a piece this week in the Congressional Western Caucus's 'Branded Blog' on how the One Big Beautiful Bill is unleashing American energy.
Read the full piece here or by clicking the image below.
COUNT Act
As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, I will be introducing the Citizen Only Updated National Tally Act (COUNT) Act to eliminate fraud and inaccuracies in the U.S. Census Bureau, ensuring no illegal aliens are counted in it.
The U.S. Census Bureau failed to correct the disastrous 2020 census that led to the overcounting of the population in eight states and the undercounting of the population in six states. This is a clear betrayal of the constitutional principle that representation should reflect actual citizenship.
The COUNT Act would address core issues plaguing the census and would ensure that no one in the future can manipulate congressional representation. Read more about the COUNT Act in The Blaze at the link here.
I also penned an op-ed in the Daily Wire highlighting why Congress must urgently address this critical issue and ensure the events of the 2020 Census never happen again. Read the full piece here or by clicking the image below.
Four Years Since Withdrawal from Afghanistan
This week marked four years since thirteen innocent U.S. service members lost their lives at Abbey Gate during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Our nation is still grieving their loss. We will not forget the sacrifice of all of the American heroes who gave their all in Afghanistan. Please join me in praying for the thirteen Gold Star families and all who have lost their loved ones in the line of duty.
Service Academy Nights in Midland and Killeen
This week, we had fantastic turnouts for Service Academy Nights in Midland and Killeen. It was inspiring to see many young men and women eager to serve their country. Thank you to everyone who attended!
As a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, and your elected representative, it is truly an honor to nominate bright leaders to U.S. Service Academies. If you are or know of a student interested in heeding the call to service who was not able to attend one of these two events, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.
