Praying for our neighbors in Palo Pinto and Jack Counties who have been impacted by the Ross Fire. I am also grateful that the fires in Brown County were extinguished earlier this week. Thank you to all of our local first responders and law enforcement officers who have been on the ground fighting the fires and evacuating residents.

I was honored to present Mason High School student Sabina Perez with the Congressional Bronze Medal, the highest honor Congress presents to America’s youth.

Congress established the Congressional Award in 1979 to recognize initiative, service, and achievement in young citizens. It gives students like Sabina the chance to learn the values of service, personal development, fitness, and citizenship through character-forming experiences that shape tomorrow’s leaders. I wish Sabina the best of luck in her future endeavors! Learn more about the Congressional Medal here.

This week, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill responded to a letter I joined about noncitizens being on voter rolls in her state. Governor Sherrill’s response focuses more on political attacks than on answers. New Jerseyans, and the American people, deserve a straight answer on how nearly 6,600 noncitizens ended up on the voter rolls and whether any election was decided by ballots that should never have been cast.

We asked twelve direct questions. What we got back was three pages of deflection. Election integrity isn’t a partisan talking point; it’s the foundation of our republic, and Governor Sherrill owes her constituents more transparency than she’s shown so far. Read more about our thoughts on Governor Sherrill’s lack of response about noncitizens on New Jersey’s voter rolls here or by clicking the image below.

This week marks five years since the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul, one of the darkest days of the Afghanistan withdrawal, when 13 American service members made the ultimate sacrifice. I’m proud to have joined Congressman Matt Van Epps (TN-07) in cosponsoring a resolution honoring their memory and holding the Biden-Harris administration accountable for an abject failure that never should have happened. We owe it to those 13 heroes, and to every family who lost a loved one that day, to never let America forget what happened at Abbey Gate. Read more about the resolution here.

My office was honored to present a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to outgoing Mason County Judge Sheree Hardin. Judge Hardin’s tenure has been tested in ways few county leaders ever face, from managing flood response to helping oversee the full rebuilding of the historic Mason County Courthouse after the devastating 2021 arson fire that destroyed it. I thank Judge Hardin for her dedicated service to Mason County; she will be greatly missed.

I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche urging the Department of Justice to challenge the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.” This law is a direct attack on the First Amendment, designed to shield taxpayer-funded organizations from the very scrutiny that exposed hundreds of millions of dollars in fraud. Investigative journalists like Nick Shirley shouldn’t face fines and legal threats for doing the work of holding government-funded programs accountable. Silencing individuals who investigate fraud only proves that states like California have something to hide. Read more about the letter here or by clicking the image below.

First Lady Melania Trump recently announced the opening of Christmas applications for volunteer and performer positions at the White House. While the White House is a stunning and historic landmark to visit year-round, it is truly breathtaking to see during the holidays. I am thrilled that President Trump and First Lady Melania are continuing the tradition of bringing in Americans from across the country to celebrate this special season.

I know firsthand that Texas’s 11th Congressional District is home to some of the country’s most talented individuals, and now is the time to showcase these talents in our nation’s capital! I strongly encourage anyone interested to apply for this incredible opportunity. And if you are selected, please be sure to notify my team so we can help you plan your visit to Washington, D.C.

If you are interested or know someone who is, please see the details below. The deadline to submit your application for either volunteer opportunity below is August 28, 2026.

VOLUNTEER CHRISTMAS DECORATOR APPLICATION

Those interested in volunteering to decorate the White House ahead of the Christmas Season may apply HERE. Please note that any individual applying to volunteer at the White House must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Each person must apply individually; group applications cannot be accepted. Decorating will take place during the week of Monday, November 23rd 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026. Additional details may be found on the application page.

VOLUNTEER HOLIDAY PERFORMER APPLICATION

Performers and musical groups, including school bands, choirs, and holiday-themed entertainers, are encouraged to apply HERE for the opportunity to perform during the holiday open houses during the month of December. Additional details may be found on the application page.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Volunteers@who.eop.gov.

My office is hosting a Service Academy Night in San Angelo for students, parents, and educators to learn about the opportunities for students to attend a U.S. Service Academy.

In 1995, I sought a nomination to the U.S. Air Force Academy, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. Now, as a Member of Congress, I have the privilege of helping the next generation begin that same journey by nominating exceptional young men and women to our nation’s Service Academies. If you are a student in Texas’s 11th Congressional District interested in serving your country as a military officer or joining college ROTC, I highly recommend attending Service Academy Night.

San Angelo Service Academy Night

September 1st from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

*Registration begins at 5:30 pm*

ASU Houston Harte University Center

CJ Davidson Conference Center

1910 Rosemont Drive

San Angelo, Texas, 76909

Please direct all questions to my Service Academy Liaison, Mary O’Connor, at mary.oconnor@mail.house.gov

If you are unable to attend and are interested in applying to a U.S. Service Academy, you can watch a recording of a previous Service Academy Night here.

I’m grateful that Kimble, Mason, and Menard counties have been added to President Trump’s Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance. These communities have faced difficult challenges from recent flooding, and I’ve heard directly from local leaders about the impact on their communities. This designation gives local governments the federal resources they need to repair public infrastructure and support their communities’ recovery.

If you are an agricultural producer in Kimble or Menard Counties and suffered damages such as livestock loss or infrastructure loss, you are eligible for USDA Disaster Assistance. Please visit USDA’s website at farmers.gov to learn more.

My team and I have been in close contact with county officials since the flooding began, working to ensure they received the resources they need. I’m always proud to be a Texan—especially in moments like this, when I see our community come together when it matters most. Read FEMA’s official announcement here.

My office is accepting submissions for the 2026 Congressional App Challenge. This competition is an excellent opportunity for students in middle and high school to further develop their skills in computer science and STEM.

Students have until October 26, 2026, to submit their app. Information on the Congressional App Challenge, including how to apply, can be found on our website by clicking here.

PRIZES

• The winning student’s app will be displayed on the U.S. House of Representatives website, House.gov, as well as on CongressionalAppChallenge.us
• The app will be unveiled in a Congressional Reception in Washington, D.C., in late December (date TBD).
• Additional prizes may be announced.

RULES

• There are no limits to what students can create. Apps can be coded in any language, for any platform, using any tools.
• The competition is open to students in middle and high school.
• Students may work individually or in teams made up of no more than four. 

Students are highly encouraged to review the competition’s complete rules and regulations on the Congressional App Challenge’s website. For more information, please visit CongressionalAppChallenge.us or contact Kathy Keane in my office at kathy.keane@mail.house.gov

I am continuing to address the confirmed cases of the New World Screwworm (NWS) across Texas. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the State of Texas have taken immediate action to eradicate this threat to livestock and the American food supply. 

As part of these eradication efforts, my office is coordinating with the USDA and local ranchers to ensure that sterile flies are being deployed across affected areas; a proven method for eliminating NWS populations at the source. My office and I will remain in close contact with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and the USDA as we work together to eradicate this parasite.

Governor Greg Abbott has launched a free, online educational course for Texans to learn more about NWS. If interested, you can access and take the course here.

If you see signs of maggot infestation in live or recently dead wild animals, please call 866-4USDA-WS (866-487-3297) to report it to your local USDA Wildlife Services office. If you are a rancher, please continue to monitor your livestock and report any unusual findings to USDA. For official updates, please visit screwworm.gov.

Second Lady of the United States Usha Vance recently announced the start of her second annual Summer Reading Challenge. I strongly encourage all K-8 students in Texas’s 11th Congressional District to participate. To enter, students must read 12 books, complete the reading log, and submit it to receive a prize.

The challenge is open to all students in grades K-8, and participants will be entered into a raffle for a special trip to visit the Nation’s Capital and additional prizes! Learn more about the Second Lady’s Reading Challenge at the link here.

Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) for daily updates.