Welcome back to the Pfluger Fly-By, a weekly roundup of the work I am doing to represent you and our communities in Congress.
It was a great week back in Washington, where I had my 9th bill pass the U.S. House of Representatives this term. In addition, I highlighted the Abilene Christian University and Natura Resources molten salt research reactor in a hearing with Energy Secretary Chris Wright, advocated for prioritizing air power in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and met with Texans visiting our nation’s capital.
This week also marked Tax Day, and this year, I hope you were able to experience some of the many benefits from the Republican-led Working Families Tax Cuts. I was proud to support this legislation, signed into law by President Trump last July, to help you keep more of your hard-earned money. I was also proud to vote for a resolution expressing support for tax policies that benefit hardworking American families.
Below, you’ll find highlights, including pictures, in-depth updates, and information on how my office can help you with any federal concerns. As always, my team and I are here to serve you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance.
Best,
House Passes FENCES Act
This week’s passage of my FENCES Act is a win for American businesses and workers who have been unfairly penalized for pollution beyond their control. This legislation reins in government overreach and clarifies the standards of the Clean Air Act.
By ensuring that foreign emissions and natural events, such as wildfires, are not counted against air monitoring data, the legislation brings long-overdue fairness and certainty to the permitting process. This means fewer delays, lower costs for consumers, and more confidence for businesses looking to invest and create jobs. The FENCES Act is a practical, commonsense fix that protects our economy and the integrity of our air quality standards.
Watch my floor remarks in support of the FENCES Act here or by clicking on the image below.
Message to Texas-11 on Tax Day
Wednesday marked Tax Day. This year, I was proud to highlight the results we delivered for you through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act — legislation I supported and President Trump signed into law to help you keep more of your hard-earned money.
Here’s what House Republicans delivered through the Working Families Tax Cuts:
No tax on tips or overtime
$6,000 bonus deduction on Social Security benefits for eligible seniors
Expanded small business tax breaks
Enhanced standard deduction and lowered tax rates at every income bracket
Expanded Child Tax Credit and increased access to the Adoption Tax Credit
Created Trump Accounts for America’s children
$10,000 deduction on auto loan interest for vehicles made in the United States
Doubled the death tax exemption of $15 million per individual
Watch a short video where I walk through the provisions here or by clicking on the image below.
Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing with Energy Secretary Chris Wright
During a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing with Energy Secretary Chris Wright this week, I was proud to highlight the cutting-edge molten salt research reactor at Abilene Christian University. Developed in partnership with Natura Resources, this project represents a next-generation approach to nuclear energy that can help scale affordable, dispatchable power and support produced water desalination efforts in drought-prone regions like West Texas.
Secretary Wright pointed out what we already know in TX-11, that this project is an example of the innovation driving what he described as a sign of the coming American “nuclear renaissance.” I was also grateful to commend the Secretary for his work at the DOE thus far, and discuss the importance of continued collaboration between Congress and the DOE to support projects like this, streamline the permitting process, and strengthen domestic energy production.
We also discussed growing concerns about energy supply and reliability in coastal states, particularly California and parts of the Northeast, where restrictive policies have contributed to declining in-state production and refining capacity. Fortunately, in Texas, we take a different approach. Supporting domestic production and refining allows us to provide reliable, affordable energy and help meet demand across the country.
Watch my full exchange with the Secretary here or by clicking the image below.
Advocating for Air Power in the Upcoming NDAA
This week, I also participated in the House Armed Services Committee’s Member Day hearing to sound the alarm and deliver a call to action for the Air Force to be a priority in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — the annual legislative vehicle that funds and authorizes the policies, programs, and spending for the Department of War.
Currently, the U.S. Air Force is the oldest and smallest it has ever been, yet it is the most tasked department in the armed forces. As the representative of Goodfellow Air Force Base and a combat-tested fighter pilot, I urged the committee to reject the “decades-old habit of incrementalism” and instead deliver a substantial funding increase for the Department of the Air Force. I also urged that all pass-through spending be placed in the defense-wide spending account. America’s ability to deter adversaries and project strength globally depends on a fully resourced and mission-ready Air Force.
Watch my full testimony here or by clicking on the image below.
Dr. Mehmet Oz Addresses Members of the RSC
As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), I was thrilled to welcome Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to our weekly member meeting.
Dr. Oz gave an update on his work in combating fraud, waste, and abuse across federal health care programs. He emphasized that strengthening program integrity is central to lowering costs and protecting taxpayer dollars, highlighting efforts to improve oversight, enhance data-driven fraud detection, and crack down on improper payments. I appreciate him for addressing RSC members and look forward to working alongside him in the future.
Meeting with the Independent Petroleum Association of America
As the representative of the Permian Basin, I always enjoy meeting with energy producers in Washington. I greatly appreciated speaking with the Independent Petroleum Association of America this week to discuss how we can continue producing affordable and reliable energy.
House Democrats Vote Against Supporting Tax Relief for Working Families
I am incredibly disappointed that over two hundred of my Democrat colleagues voted against a resolution expressing support for tax policies that support working families. House Republicans delivered historic relief through the Working Families Tax Cuts, helping Americans to keep more of what they earn and have less of the federal government in their lives.
Last year, every single House Democrat also voted against the Working Families Tax Cuts, which was essentially a vote for raising your taxes. House Republicans did not let this happen. My Democrat colleagues had another chance this week to stand with Americans, but they refused.
Welcoming Rep. Clay Fuller to the U.S. House of Representatives
I was thrilled to welcome Congressman Clay Fuller (GA-14) to the House Republican Conference before he was officially sworn in this week to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard and a top prosecutor in Georgia, Clay will bring much-needed leadership and grit to Washington. Welcome to the fight, Lt. Colonel, let’s get to work!
Meeting with Texans in Washington
This week, I had the pleasure of meeting with several Texas community leaders and partners in Washington. Thank you all for taking the time to discuss how we can implement smart, commonsense policies to strengthen Texas-11 together.
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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