I made a Commitment to America to deliver an economy that’s strong, a nation that’s safe, a future that’s built on freedom, and a government that’s accountable.
This week we reached 100 days of our House Majority. I am proud to report on a few of the results my office has already delivered on behalf of the 11thDistrict of Texas.
TX-11 FIRST100DAYSOF 2023:
10 Public Town Hall Meetings
167 Constituent Service Cases Resolved
14 of 20 Counties Visited
15 Bills Sponsored
2 Provisions Passed the House
2 Pro-Life Amicus Briefs Filed
2 Field Hearings on the Border
Hosted the Energy & Commerce Committee in the Permian Basin
HIGHLIGHTS FROM HOUSE REPUBLICANS FIRST 100 DAYS:
Defunded Joe Biden’s army of 87,000 IRS agents
Passed H.R.1, the Lower Energy Costs Act
Eliminated the Military Vaccine Mandate
Blocked Biden’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule
Protected and strengthened America’s SPR
Nullified DC's Soft on Crime Bill
Defended the right to life with the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Terminated the COVID-19 national emergency
Passed H.R. 5, the Parents’ Bill of Rights
DHS Secretary Mayorkas Apologizes to the Tambunga Family
Last month, 71-year-old Maria Tambunga and her granddaughter, 7-year-old Emilia, were killed in Ozona, Texas, when a human smuggler transporting 11 illegal aliens crashed into their car during a high-speed chase.
I was humbled to welcome the Tambunga family to Washington, DC, to bring them face-to-face with DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who has denied the realities of the border crisis and insists it is merely a "challenge." Click here to watch the exchange—when I recognized the family while questioning Secretary Mayorkas during a House Homeland Security Committee Hearing. The Secretary offered condolences to the family and agreed to meet immediately following the Hearing.
They came seeking answers, accountability, and action on the border crisis. We can only hope their heartbreak has finally gotten the attention of the Biden Administration on the severity of the border crisis.
Elisa Tambunga, the daughter of Maria and mother of Emilia, said it best in an interview with the Washington Examiner following the meeting: “I want him to know who he's really protecting. I want him to always remember us. Remember the people ... Our families came from Mexico, but they did it the right way. And we want these families to live the American dream — just like we want it to happen correctly. Because right now, it's chaos, and chaos creates panic, and what happens in panic? Tragedies."
Camille and I continue to send our thoughts and prayers to the Tambunga family and the many other families affected by the heartbreaking border crisis.
Protecting Women and Girls Sports:
On April 6th, the Biden Administration’s Department of Education proposed a rule making it significantly harder for schools to protect biological men from competing against them in sports — destroying the level playing field in women’s athletic programs and harming the female athletes that Title IX was meant to support.
This week, I voted with House Republicans to pass H.R. 734,the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which protects female athletes by clarifying that under Title IX, sex shall be recognized solely on a person’s genetics at birth and blocks biological males from competing in school athletic programs for women or girls.
Every single House Democrat voted against the bill.
Republican Plan to Rein in Spending
The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 is the Republican solution to the impending debt limit crisis. The bill saves an estimated $4.5 trillion dollars over the next ten years all while maintaining a strong national defense and protecting Medicare and Social Security.
In exchange for these pro-growth, cost-saving policies, the debt limit would be responsibly lifted through March 31, 2024, or by $1.5 trillion, whichever comes sooner.
Limit, Save, Grow Act saves taxpayer money by:
Clawing back unobligated COVID funds (roughly $50 billion in immediate savings)
Defunding the Democrats’ massive expansion of the IRS (estimated $71 billion in immediate savings)
Repealing federal spending on Green New Deal tax credits (at least $271 billion in savings)
Prohibiting the illegal Biden student loan bailout (estimated $465 billion in savings)
It will grow the economy and workforce by increasing American energy production, reducing federal regulatory burdens, and instituting reasonable work requirements for able-bodied citizens who receive federal benefits. The welfare state has gotten completely out of control, and it's past time to get people back to work.
Examining the Impacts of the Biden Administration's Catastrophic Withdrawal from Afghanistan
This week, I led a subcommittee hearing on the Homeland Security cost of the Biden Administration's catastrophic withdrawal, which resulted in the unfortunate deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers and at least 170 Afghans in an ISIS-K orchestrated terrorist attack.
It also resulted in thousands of extremist inmates, including many with ISIS and Al Qaeda ties, being released by the Taliban.
It was on this day 187 years ago Texas defeated Mexican forcesin the Battle of San Jacinto, which ultimately won their independence—it's a proud day to be from the Lone Star State. God bless Texas!
Remembering the Doolittle Raid:
On April 18th, 1942, United States Army Air Forces raided Tokyo making it the first air operation to strike the Japanese archipelago; it served as the initial retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor and provided a substantial boost in American morale.
This strike is now known as the Doolittle Raid—it holds a special significance here in TX11. Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo served as one of the primary facilities to prepare, educate, and train airmen for the raid.
Another connection—Killeen native Captain Robert “Bob” Gray was selected as one of the 80 pilots to fly this mission. He died shortly after in the China-Burma Campaign, but in honor of his sacrifice, the city of Killeen has officially marked April 18th as Bob Gray Day!
May we always remember the significance of this strike, Captain Gray, and the many other brave men who sacrificed their lives in the name of our country.
Art Competition Reminder:
May 1st is the deadline for the 2023 Congressional Art Competition! High school students: learn more and submit your artwork here.
Upcoming New Office Open Houses
In the next few weeks, I will be hosting Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies and Open Houses celebrating our newest office in Killeen and our recently-relocated office in Odessa.
Both of these offices are open assisting constituents with issues they may be facing with the IRS, Social Security Administration, VA, and more. I hope you will be able to join me at one of the two upcoming Open Houses.
Killeen Office Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House
Monday, April 24th at 11:30 AM
The Pratt Learning and Leadership Center, 505 E Jasper Drive,Killeen, TX 76541
Odessa Office Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House
Monday, May 1st, at 4:00 PM
Ector County Courthouse, Commissioners Courtroom, 1010 E 8th St., Odessa, TX 79761
Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me onFacebook,Instagram, andTwitterfor daily updates.
