newsletter

  March 11, 2018 Greetings, On Tuesday, I was proud to join my colleague Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in reintroducing the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act. We continue to witness horrific shootings across the country, including in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and Parkland, Florida. This bill seeks to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future by significantly increasing funding for school safety, creating a federal task force to prosecute the...

  March 4, 2018 Greetings, This week, I participated in two positive and productive meetings to fix the broken RINs system at the White House with President Trump and my colleagues in the Senate, along with representatives from the unions, ethanol and refining industries, and motor fuel retailers. Why is this issue so important to Texas? Because our state is home to nearly 100,000 refinery workers - the backbone of our state’s economy and our national security. I remain...

  February 25, 2018 Greetings, On Wednesday, I participated in a town hall with employees from Pennsylvania Energy Solutions (PES) and other refineries along the East Coast. There, I heard the stories of generations of Americans whose jobs and livelihoods are threatened by a broken government regulatory system. Why was I in Pennsylvania, you may ask? Because PES filed for bankruptcy a few weeks ago as a result of skyrocketing costs associated with the federal Renewable Fuels Standard. The...

  February 18, 2018 Greetings, This week, I delivered remarks on the Senate floor, where I urged my colleagues to stand with the working men and women of America, oppose amnesty, respect the rule of law, and to vote against misguided immigration proposals. On Friday, I visited the RGV with Vice President Mike Pence, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and other local and Border Patrol officials to tour the U.S.-Mexico border. There, we met with local...

  February 11, 2018 Greetings, Hurricane relief and military funding are critical measures for Texas and the entire country. They were the key victories in the Senate budget agreement this week, but were unfortunately held hostage to legislation that busts the non-defense budget cap by over $130 billion and irresponsibly suspends the debt limit to allow for unfettered spending for another year. This is wrong, cynical, and a bad deal for the American taxpayer. Instead, we should have the...

  February 3, 2018 Greetings, This week, I was honored to have Pam Willeford of Sutherland Springs, Texas, attend as my guest to the State of the Union. Last November, in the wake of unspeakable evil, we mourned those lost in the mass shooting at First Baptist Church. Her husband, Stephen, demonstrated heroic bravery and courage as he engaged the shooter and risked his own life to save the lives of his neighbors and friends. Stephen and Pam’s commitment to the Sutherland Springs...

  January 28, 2018 Greetings, This week, I was proud to join Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in introducing a bipartisan resolution declaring this week “National School Choice Week.” In recognition of “National School Choice Week,” I penned an op-ed for National Review, highlighting the renewed sense of urgency to ensure current students and the next generation are equipped and empowered with opportunity. Texans gathered to celebrate this movement at over 3,900 school...

  January 13, 2018 Greetings, This week, I introduced the Veterans, Employees, and Taxpayers (VET) Protection Act to address a troubling report from the Government Accountability Office concerning the abuse of official time practices and union activities by employees at the VA. This bill would ensure that union activity at the VA is not subsidized by taxpayers, and more importantly, does not undermine the service and care of our brave veterans. No veteran should have to wait to receive the...

  January 6, 2018 Greetings, From confirming Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and strong constitutionalist judges to the federal bench, to passing major tax reform and repealing Obamacare’s individual mandate - 2017 was a tremendous year for the American people. In the last few weeks, hardworking men and women across the country have received pay raises and bonuses as a result of this historic tax reform bill, and it is just the beginning. Virtually every taxpayer in...

December 23, 2017 Greetings, This week, Congress passed historic and meaningful tax reform. This bill provides significant relief for working men and women, and job creators. For middle class families across Texas and the country, Christmas has come early. These tax cuts champion small business owners, job creators, and farmers and ranchers by taking our high corporate tax rate – the highest in the developed world – and bringing it back down to a level that will generate jobs here at...

December 16, 2017 Greetings, This week, I was thrilled that the Senate confirmed both Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett and former Texas Solicitor General Jim Ho to fill the vacancies in Texas on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. I’ve been friends with Don and Jim for decades, and know them personally to be principled defenders of the Constitution and the rule of law. They will be exceptional appellate judges, which is why I was proud to recommend them to the...

December 9, 2017 Greetings, On Monday morning, I was pleased to address Texas farmers at the Texas Farm Bureau’s 84th annual meeting in Frisco. There, I discussed the Senate’s recent passage of the tax reform bill, which included my amendment to expand the use of 529 Educational Savings Plans. 529 plans are a popular way for parents and grandparents to save after-tax money for their kids’ and grandkids’ college education. My amendment expands these...

December 2, 2017 Greetings, On Friday, I was proud to vote for tax reform legislation that passed the United States Senate and helps fulfill our promise to provide genuine tax relief for hardworking Americans and their families. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will provide meaningful relief and bring more good paying jobs back to our great nation from across the globe. This historic bill significantly lowers our corporate tax rate – currently the highest in the developed world – which will...

November 25, 2017 Greetings, At Thanksgiving, we pause and thank God for the gift of freedom. This gift, first sought by the Pilgrims in their courageous journey to the New World, has been woven into the very fabric of our nation. We are grateful for the sacrifices of generations of Americans who have defended the liberty we all enjoy. All across America this week, families and loved ones gather to reflect, and celebrate our abundant blessings. In Texas, we’ve seen our share of heartbreak...

November 18, 2017 Greetings, This week, the Senate passed the final version of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is now headed to President Trump’s desk. I was proud to support this legislation, which provides numerous military necessities, including over $479 million in military construction funds to the state of Texas for 2018. I sponsored or cosponsored 21 amendments that were adopted into the bill, benefitting both Texas and our military interests abroad and in...

November 11, 2017 Greetings, This week, Texas faced an unspeakable evil. On Monday, I visited Sutherland Springs and spoke with the injured, and family, friends, and neighbors who lost loved ones and friends, as well as community members and first responders. On Wednesday, I joined Vice President Pence at a prayer vigil for the victims. In the wake of this horrific tragedy, we are seeing a community come together. We are praying for the loved ones of the victims in this small Texas...

November 4, 2017 Greetings, What a great week to be a Texan and a Houstonian. I want to congratulate the Houston Astros on their 2017 World Series Championship! In the wake of Hurricane Harvey and all of the devastation felt along the entire Texas Gulf Coast, the Astros brought home an amazing and historic victory for the city of Houston, the Texas Gulf Coast, and the entirety of the Lone Star State. The Astros’ World Series championship personifies the 'can do’ Texas spirit and...

October 28, 2017 Greetings, This week, I spoke on the Senate floor about the need for real tax cuts, and urged my Senate colleagues to keep our promise to hardworking Americans to reform our broken tax system. I also discussed my priorities for fundamental tax reform on local Texas radio. With tax reform, we can unleash our economy, and create more good paying jobs for working men and women across our state, and across the country. On Tuesday, the Senate passed...

October 21, 2017 Greetings, This week, I participated in a tax reform debate on CNN with Sen. Bernie Sanders. There, I reminded viewers of the work we are doing in the Senate to provide significant tax relief to jumpstart the American economy and create millions of new good-paying jobs. In fact, on Thursday, we took a crucial first step in our effort to deliver on that promise by passing the Senate’s budget resolution, and while I wish the tax cuts had been bigger and bolder, I look...