Welcome back to the weekly Pfluger Fly-By, a collection of events and happenings to keep you updated on everything I am doing week by week to represent you in Congress.
This week, the U.S. House and U.S. Senate passed my CRA to reverse former President Biden’s harmful natural gas tax, and it is now headed to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. This is a huge win for the Permian Basin and all American energy producers! I also hosted FCC Chairman Brendan Carr at the Republican Study Committee lunch this week and introduced several pieces of legislation to benefit individuals in Texas-11 and across America.
I have included some photos and highlights from the week. You can also find information on how my office can help you with any federal problems you may be having. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can ever be of assistance.
Best,
Ending the Natural Gas Tax
This week, my Congressional Review Act (CRA) to reverse former President Biden’s ill-conceived natural gas tax passed through the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and it is now on its way to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. I have fought this tax since its inception and am thrilled that Congress took immediate action this week to eliminate the natural gas tax once and for all.
This harmful tax hurts energy producers in the Permian Basin and American energy producers across the country by raising costs on production, discouraging investment, and increasing energy prices across America. In November, the American people overwhelmingly voted for lower energy prices, and passing my CRA this week was another step toward fulfilling that mandate.
I also penned an op-ed in the Daily Caller detailing exactly what this tax is and how my CRA is the first step in ending the natural gas tax. You can read the op-ed here.
RSC Lunch with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr
I was honored to welcome Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr to Capitol Hill for this week’s Republican Study Committee lunch meeting. Chairman Carr is a warrior for free speech who has consistently fought against biased media sources and is protecting our national security by preventing foreign adversaries from infiltrating America’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Chairman Carr has also strongly advocated for closing the digital divide across rural America, an issue I am very passionate about. As RSC Chairman, I will work lockstep with Chairman Carr to dismantle censorship, strengthen America’s digital infrastructure through free-market principles, and restore free speech rights for individuals in Texas-11 and across America.
Protecting Taxpayer Dollars in Broadband
This week, I also introduced the Broadband Buildout Accountability Actalongside U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to increase transparency in the federal government and protect billions of taxpayer dollars currently in American broadband investment. This legislation would remove FOIA exemptions for the grant program in charge of these dollars and require proof of how the program spends the $42 billion invested in it.
It has become overwhelmingly clear that fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars ran rampant during the Biden Administration. It is up to Congress to restore transparency, efficiency, and trust back to the federal government. This legislation does that by ensuring these taxpayer dollars are properly used to close the digital divide across America.
Interview with CBS7 on Protecting our Communities from the Border Crisis
I joined CBS7 this week to discuss how Congress will roll back former President Biden’s border policies that harmed our communities for four years. You can watch my full interview here or at the link below.
EARLY MINDS Act
Ahead of World Teen Mental Wellness Day and in response to the growing mental health crisis in America, I introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Early Action and Responsiveness Lifts Youth (EARLY) Minds Act this week. This crucial legislation aims to combat the growing mental health crisis in America by providing early intervention and prevention services to children and adults struggling with mental health challenges.
The EARLY Minds Actseeks to empower states by allowing them to allocate up to five percent of their Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) funding for prevention and early intervention activities. This strategic allocation of resources is critical to identify and support Americans before their mental health challenges escalate.
Research has consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of early intervention in mitigating the severity of mental health challenges among children and adults. By allowing states the flexibility to utilize MHBG funds for prevention and early intervention, the EARLY Minds Act presents a commonsense solution to address the worsening youth mental health crisis.
I am thrilled that the Forman Family from Odessa was finally united with their daughter this week. Their successful unification marked a major milestone in the ongoing effort to bring children home amid the crisis in Haiti. I will continue to advocate on behalf of all the other children who are still waiting to be reunited with their adopted families.
This news follows a letter I led earlier this month, alongside several of my colleagues, urging the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention heads to address the urgent and dangerous situation Haitian orphans face during the adoption process.
My office is accepting submissions for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. This competition gives high school students from across Texas-11 the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building.
This year’s theme is ‘Texas to Me’ and students will have until April 21st to submit their artwork. Information on the Congressional Art Competition, including how to apply, can be found on the Congressman’s website by clicking here.
RULES
Artwork must be two-dimensional and original in concept, design, and execution. Art must follow the theme of ‘Texas to Me.’
The artwork’s dimensions can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. Accepted mediums for the two-dimensional artwork are as follows:
Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
Collages: must be two-dimensional
Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
Computer-generated art
Photographs
Students are highly encouraged to review the competition’s complete rules and regulations on our congressional website or contact Carol Cunningham in the Llano District Office at [email protected] with any questions.
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.
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.
