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In today’s world, it is critical that citizens in the 19th District of Texas know what is going on in their federal government.
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November 5, 2012: Important Information for Texas Voters
11/05/12Tomorrow, November 6th is Election Day. Our country was founded on the belief that the people should have power over the government, and not the other way around. More than 200 years later, we still exercise that power in democratic elections. Voting i< Read more > -
October 29, 2012: Panama Free Trade Agreement will Benefit West Texas Agriculture
10/30/12On Wednesday, October 31st, the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will go into effect, more than five years after it was first signed. The agreement is good news for West Texas agriculture. Currently, our agricultural goods face an average tariff of< Read more > -
October 22, 2012: How are Government Regulations Impacting You?
10/23/12Recently, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the top Republican on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, released a report that details the devastating effects that new Obama-EPA regulations will have on American families and small businesses in< Read more > -
October 15, 2012: Obamacare Causes Major Employer to Cut Employee Work Hours
10/16/12Last week, the Darden Restaurant Group, one of the country's largest restaurant companies, which owns chains such as Olive Garden, Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse, announced that it will stop offering full-time schedules to many hourly workers in< Read more > -
October 8, 2012: Modernizing the State Veterans Home in Big Spring
10/09/12The Texas State Veterans Home in Big Spring will be getting much-needed updates to make the facility more comfortable for veterans. The heating and cooling system will be replaced, as will the hot water pump system. Patients will be able to more easily< Read more > -
October 1, 2012: The Middle East and Foreign Aid
10/01/12Last week–more than two weeks after our Ambassador and three other Americans were murdered in Benghazi, Libya–Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta characterized the violence as a terrorist attack. I think it's deplorable that it took the Oba< Read more > -
September 24, 2012: Farm Bill Will Expire on September 30th
09/25/12The 2008 Farm Bill will expire on September 30, and Congress has left Washington without passing a new policy. I'm incredibly disappointed that we didn't get this done. The House Agriculture Committee passed a Farm Bill that made real reforms an< Read more > -
September 17, 2012: U.S Constitution Celebrates 225th Birthday
09/18/12Today marks the 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. When the Founding Fathers adopted the Constitution in 1787, they were not just approving a document, but building a nation. The principles put in place 225 years ago continue to g< Read more > -
September 10, 2012: Remembering September 11th
09/11/12Tomorrow, we commemorate the 11th year since the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. It was not just our buildings that were attacked, but the very spirit and beliefs that we hold as a nation. Nearly 3,000 men, women, and children d< Read more > -
September 3, 2012: Falling Off a Fiscal Cliff
09/04/12In recent months, you may have heard media commentators talking about a fiscal cliff. You are probably asking, what is this "fiscal cliff" and what does it mean to my family or business? Let me explain.< Read more > -
August 27, 2012: An American Hero Dies, but Not His Legacy
08/28/12Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, passed away this weekend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. A true American hero, he inspired a nation to achieve the unthinkable and represents what is great about our country. Even though he< Read more > -
August 20, 2012: President Obama to Drop Welfare-to-Work Requirement
08/21/12In 1996, Congress passed and President Clinton signed a welfare reform law which included work requirements for welfare recipients. Recently, President Obama announced that he wants to drop this work requirement. I am disappointed, but not surprised, tha< Read more > -
August 13, 2012: Dyess Wins Award for Energy Efficiency
08/14/12The Department of Energy presented a Federal Energy Management Program award to Dyess Air Force Base recently. For more than 30 years, the Department of Energy has given these awards to recognize Federal organizations and individuals for outstanding effo< Read more > -
August 6, 2012 - Drought Relief for Farmers and Ranchers
08/07/12Drought Relief for Farmers and Ranchers -- Reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard -- You Did Build That: The President's Growing Debt< Read more > -
July 30, 2012: Drought Relief and the Farm Bill Extension
07/31/12It will be another busy week for the Farm Bill as debate continues over how to move forward. As you know, the Senate passed a version of the bill in June and the House Agriculture Committee passed a bipartisan bill earlier this month. With an historic d< Read more > -
July 23, 2012: The PRO-LIFE Act
07/24/12In June, various media outlets reported that the Los Angeles Unified School District has partnered with Planned Parenthood, allowing America's largest abortion provider to set up an on-campus health clinic at Roosevelt High School in L.A. While it is< Read more > -
July 16, 2012: House Agriculture Committee Passes 2012 Farm Bill - Preventing Closures of Border Patrol Stations in West Texas - Financial Services Committee - Mobile Offices Begin This Week - In Case you Missed It
07/16/12Last Thursday morning, the House Agriculture Committee voted to pass the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act with a strong bipartisan vote of 35 to 11. I'm pleased to share that three of my amendments were included in the final< Read more > -
July 9, 2012: House Agriculture Committee Set to Act on 2012 Farm Bill - House to Vote to Repeal Obamacare - Unemployment Rate Exceeds 8% for 41st Month in a Row - Museums Free for Active-Duty Military and Families This Summer
07/10/12On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee will begin debate on the 2012 Farm Bill. The House bill has some key differences from the version passed by the Senate. It saves $35.1 billion dollars, which is $11 billion more than the Senate bill. The Ho< Read more > -
July 2, 2012: U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Obamacare - House Votes to Hold Eric Holder in Contempt - House Financial Services Committee Report
07/03/12Last week, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the individual mandate in President Obama's health care law. I am extremely disappointed with their decision. This is a dramatic shift toward more taxation, more government regulations, and< Read more > -
June 25, 2012: Supreme Court Decision Expected Thursday on Obamacare - Vote to Hold Attorney General Holder in Contempt - Supreme Court Rules on Arizona Immigration Law - The Senate passes its version of the Farm Bill
06/25/12On Thursday morning, the Supreme Court will likely announce its ruling on an unpopular, and, I believe, unconstitutional law – Obamacare. No matter how the Court rules on this law, it will always be bad policy. Obamacare makes health care more expen< Read more > -
June 18, 2012: President Obama Circumvents Congress Again to Implement Immigration Executive Order - Decision Not to List Lizard on ESA will Save Jobs in Texas - Farm Bill Update
06/19/12On Friday, President Obama issued an Executive Order saying that his administration will not deport illegal aliens under the age of 30 if they meet certain criteria. His action effectively disregards the will of Congress, where immigration policy should b< Read more > -
June 11, 2012: 2012 Farm Bill Update - Letter Opposing the Confirmation of Activist Judge to a Federal Court - House Committee Vote on Holding Eric Holder in Contempt
06/12/12Legislative action is starting on the 2012 Farm Bill. The Senate is starting debate on its version this week and will be considering numerous amendments. In the next few weeks, the House Agriculture Committee will likely begin debating its own version of< Read more > -
June 4, 2012: Obamacare Continues to Prevent Health Care Access and Innovation - The Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA) - The House of Representatives is Focused on Jobs - National Cancer Survivors Day
06/05/12Medicare patients in Texas are finding it more difficult to access health care. Because reimbursement rates for physicians are declining, one in three doctors in Texas already limit Medicare patients, and over half are considering opting out of Medicare e< Read more > -
May 28, 2012: Memorial Day Message
05/29/12Today, I attended a Memorial Day service at the Resthaven Cemetery in Lubbock, Texas. We were joined by Marines and soldiers of the 4th Calvary Regiment to help salute their brothers in arms. Every year, it is an honor to pay tribute to our veterans. On< Read more > -
May 21, 2012: Lubbock, Abilene, and Big Spring Events - NDAA Strengthens Protection of Civil Liberties - Club for Growth – Defender of Economic Freedom
05/29/12This week, I will be traveling throughout the 19th District of Texas. Today, I toured the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research at Texas Tech, which conducts research on autism and provides services for individuals and their families. Tomorrow< Read more > -
May 14, 2012: Transparency and Accountability at the Federal Reserve - Citizen Cosponsor Project - Defender of Liberty Award
05/15/12Last week, I signed onto H.R. 4180, the Sound Dollar Act of 2012. This legislation would reduce the Federal Reserve's growing reach into our economy, which has ballooned by almost $1.5 trillion since 2008. This bill would promote more transparency and< Read more > -
May 7, 2012: House Votes for Immediate Cuts to Federal Budget - May is Military Appreciation Month - Guardian of Seniors' Rights Award
05/08/12As a part of the federal budget process, the House is scheduled to vote on a bill this week that will help meet $261 billion in immediate savings to prevent devastating across-the-board cuts to our military. Included in this bill, known as a reconciliatio< Read more > -
April 30, 2012: Labor Department Withdraws Farm Child Labor Rule - Cyber Security – Protecting Information Online - 19th District Events
04/30/12Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor withdrew a proposed rule that would have made it illegal for workers under 16 to operate power equipment, work with livestock, or perform other chores that the government deems too dangerous on farms not owned or op< Read more > -
April 23, 2012: 2012 Farm Bill - CBO Report on Obama's Budget - Congressional Art Competition: Last Week to Submit Your Art Work!
04/23/12The past week has been busy regarding the 2012 Farm Bill process. The House Agriculture Committee finished a series of field hearings on Friday and the Senate Agriculture Committee released their draft 2012 Farm Bill. The House will now start another seri< Read more > -
April 16, 2012: House Armed Services Committee Testimony on Dyess Air Force Base - Tax Day - Committees Vote for Immediate Cuts to Federal Budget - 19th District Events This Weekend
04/17/12Tomorrow, I will testify before the House Armed Services Committee on the importance of Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene and the crucial role the base's missions play on a daily basis in our modern military, particularly the 7th Bomb Wing and the 317th< Read more > -
April 9, 2012: Job-Killing Regulations - 19th District Events - National Honor Flight Scheduled from Lubbock to Washington, DC - 2012 Congressional Art Competition
04/09/12On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that our unemployment rate is 8.2%. March was the 38th consecutive month the unemployment rate has been over 8%. To date, House Republicans have passed 27 bipartisan jobs bills that are currently< Read more > -
April 2, 2012: Farm Bill Field Hearing - U.S. House Unanimously Rejects The President's Budget 0-414 - 19th District Events This Week
04/04/12Last Friday, I attended the House Agriculture Committee's field hearing in Jonesboro, Arkansas. At this hearing, we discussed the future of U.S. Farm Policy and the impact that the 2012 Farm Bill will have on farmers and ranchers in the United States,< Read more > -
March 26, 2012: Supreme Court Hearings Begin Today on Obamacare - Financial Services Oversight, MF Global and Protecting Futures Markets for Farmers and Ranchers - House Republicans' Budget for 2013
03/27/12Today, the U.S. Supreme Court began its review of Obamacare and I am hopeful they will find this law unconstitutional. I am encouraged that, in the first day of consideration of this case, the Supreme Court justices have signaled they will decide the core< Read more > -
March 19, 2012: Fighting Against Obamacare - 2012 Farm Bill
03/19/12Later this week, the House of Representatives will vote to eliminate another piece of President Obama's flawed takeover of our nation's health care system. The Protecting Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act would repeal the Independent Payment Advisor< Read more > -
March 12, 2012: Covered in Red Tape - Dodd-Frank by the Numbers - President Obama's Wavering Support for Israel
03/12/12A few days ago, I was honored to speak to the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Policy Focus Luncheon entitled "Covered in Red Tape? The Regulatory Burden on Business and Industry." I spoke about over-regulation by the federal government which impacts business< Read more > -
March 6, 2012: The B-1 Bomber Completes its 10,000th Combat Mission - 2012 Farm Bill Hearings to Begin in the Senate and the House - 2012 Congressional Art Competition
03/05/12Last week, the B-1 bomber completed its 10,000th combat mission for the U.S. Air Force. The B-1 performed its first combat mission in December 1998 during Operation Desert Fox in Iraq, and mission number 10,000 came in support of NATO ground forces fighti< Read more > -
February 27, 2012: America's Energy Policy - Dedication of the Sgt. Chris Davis Post Office in Lubbock - Military Academy Forums – Saturday, March 3rd - House Committee Hearings This Week
02/27/12Recently, gas prices across the country have been steadily rising. Current prices are having a real impact on millions of families, especially on West Texans who rely heavily on their cars. According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA), which analyzes< Read more > -
February 20, 2012: Jobs and Education Emphasized through Events This Week - Three Years After Obama's Stimulus, Where are the Jobs? - President's Day
02/21/12This week, I will be traveling around the district highlighting job creation and education. On Wednesday, I will speak to a group of students involved in the Mentor Tech program at Texas Tech about my journey from local businessman to Congressman. Thursda< Read more > -
February 13, 2012: Obama Submits His FY2013 Proposed Budget - Obama Offers a "No Change" Accommodation on Abortion-Drug Mandate - Oversight Hearing Will Examine CFPB Director Richard Cordray
02/14/12Today, President Obama submitted his budget proposal for FY 2013 to Congress. Instead of addressing our nation's $15.5 trillion dollar debt, his budget proposes to spend $47 trillion over the next 10 years, while imposing a $1.9 trillion tax increase< Read more > -
February 6, 2012: Congress passes FAA Reauthorization Act - House Legislation This Week - Obamacare and Conscience Protections - Black History Month
02/07/12Last week, House Republicans and Democrats came together for final passage of H.R. 658, which reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration and all federal aviation programs. This bipartisan bill, now awaiting final passage in the Senate before the Pre< Read more > -
January 30, 2012 - Fighting the Growth of Government - Oversight Hearing will Continue to Investigate MF Global - Lone Stars of the 19th District of Texas
01/31/12The House is expected to vote this week on two bills that help fight the out-of-control spending and unprecedented growth of government. H.R. 3578, the Baseline Reform Act, would end the automatic inflation increases in every federal department's budg< Read more > -
January 23, 2012 - March for Life Rally - State of the Union Address - Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) - Keystone XL Pipeline
01/23/12Today was the annual March for Life rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Every year on or close to the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, thousands of people come to our nation's capital to support pro-life policies and stand up for every life, spe< Read more > -
January 16, 2012 - Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. - The Simplest Way for President Obama to Create 20,000 Jobs - Abilene Native Named New 19th Congressional District Director
01/16/12On October 16, 2011, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC. With the opening of this site, Dr. King became the first African-American honored with a memorial on or near the National Mall. A magnificent statue pays tribute to< Read more > -
January 9, 2011 - Protecting Religious Freedom in America - Obama's Recess Appointments - Honoring Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords - Agenda in Texas
01/09/12I would like to share some information with you regarding the work my Congressional Prayer Caucus colleagues and I have been doing to protect religious liberty in America and preserve our nation's rich spiritual heritage. Our initiatives recognize the< Read more > -
January 3, 2011 - Looking Ahead to 2012 - Activities in Texas
01/02/12January 1st always offers the chance to review the accomplishments of the past year and to look forward to fresh opportunities in the new one. Looking forward to our opportunities in Congress, my resolution for House Republicans this year is for us to tak< Read more >