This week, the House passed a government funding bill to keep the lights on for the rest of the fiscal year—while holding the line on spending and giving President Trump the runway to continue exposing waste, fraud, and abuse in Washington.

For too long, reckless spending has been the norm in D.C., and the American people have been left to pay the price. Our national debt has soared past $36 trillion, and under President Biden’s watch alone, it has exploded by $8.5 trillion—despite a fully reopened economy and no recession. Washington can’t keep spending money it doesn’t have. House Republicans are here to restore fiscal sanity and put America’s financial house back in order.

The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act ensured the government stayed operational, supported the American people, and exposed the true intentions of the Democrats: they wanted to use a shutdown as leverage. Republicans entered into negotiations with Democrats on the FY25 budget in good faith, but the Democrats refused to back down from their unreasonable demands, including restrictions on presidential authority. As we worked on the bill text, we invited our colleagues across the aisle to engage with us on specific issues, but they chose to refuse. In fact, House Democratic leadership opposed the bill before it was even made public. Their position was crystal clear. If they had shut down the government out of sheer disdain for the leader of the free world, they would have been willing to put vital resources for veterans, military families, child nutrition, and their own constituents at risk. While I typically oppose continuing resolutions, we finally have a President in the White House who is disrupting the status quo and fighting for the America First agenda.

As Speaker Johnson put it best:

“The House has done its job and passed a clean CR to fund the federal government. If Senate Democrats block an up-or-down vote, then it’s crystal clear: they are responsible for the ensuing government shutdown. Period.”

For years, Senate Democrats have vehemently opposed government shutdowns and consistently supported continuing resolutions. But now that President Trump is in the White House, they are openly pushing for a shutdown—despite voting for a clean continuing resolution just three months ago. Their hypocrisy is on full display.

And yet, just as the deadline approached and after weeks of threatening to shut down the government, Democrats predictably flipped at the last minute—scrambling to avoid the shutdown they claimed they wanted. This is what they do best: manufacture a crisis, play political games, and then pivot at the last second to avoid taking responsibility.

Republicans aren’t here to play games. We’re here to fight for fiscal responsibility, protect American tax dollars, and put our country first. The American people deserve nothing less.

We will be watching the Senate.

In April, we all witnessed a disturbing scene unfold at Columbia University—a massive protest in support of Hamas. These demonstrations were not just about free speech; they devolved into outright antisemitic attacks on Jewish students and faculty.

One of the key figures behind these radical protests was Mahmoud Khalil, a leader within Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD)—an anti-Israel, pro-Hamas student group. Khalil used his platform to promote hatred and division, openly siding with those who target innocent civilians.

This week, President Trump took decisive action. ICE agents arrested Khalil—who is a Palestinian raised in Syria and a green card holder. Let’s be clear: If you are here on a student visa and use that privilege to incite violence and threaten Jewish classmates, you have no place in America. Under strong leadership, we will not tolerate foreign agitators who support America’s enemies.

Americans cherish free speech, but there is ZERO reason for our nation to welcome foreign nationals whose primary goal is to undermine our values and promote the ideology of terrorists who murder women and children. We must continue to stand with our Jewish friends, support Israel, and ensure that those who sympathize with Hamas are sent packing.

This week, I co-sponsored the Save Our Shrimpers Act, led by U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls (TX-22). Our nation’s domestic shrimpers are struggling to stay in business primarily because of foreign shrimp being dumped into U.S. markets, making it extremely difficult for shrimpers to continue operating. Sadly, it has been uncovered that U.S. taxpayer dollars are being used to finance foreign shrimp farm operations through International Financial Institutions (IFIs), such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is contributing to the demise of our nation’s shrimping industry.

Federal law USC 262(h) stipulates that the U.S. Department of the Treasury shall instruct United States Executive Directors at International Monetary Institutions to vote against any assistance by such institutions that facilitates an export commodity surplus that causes injury or harm to United States producers. Unfortunately, there have been limited circumstances where the Treasury has been in compliance with this law, and it is difficult to trace how U.S. Executive Directors at IFIs have complied or not complied with this no-vote mandate.

The bipartisan Save Our Shrimpers Act would prohibit federal funds from being made available to IFIs to finance any activity relating to shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or the export of shrimp in any foreign country to the United States. Additionally, this legislation would trigger an investigation within the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) and require annual reports to Congress to track how U.S. Executive Directors at IFIs are complying with USC 262(h).

We have watched for years as foreign countries have increasingly tried to run our shrimpers out of business. Our shrimpers on the Gulf Coast are struggling to sell their catch, which has severely impacted their livelihoods. We must ensure that federal funds do not benefit foreign countries that are destroying our shrimpers in the United States. I will continue to fight with my colleagues to save our local shrimpers.

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report reveals that inflation has “eased more than expected” in February, with core inflation reaching its lowest point in nearly four years. Mortgage rates have also dropped to their lowest levels since December, providing much-needed relief to hardworking Americans after enduring years of relentless Bidenflation.

President Trump’s economic policies are driving down costs through massive deregulation and energy dominance, moving the economy in the right direction.

As White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, core consumer prices have dropped to their lowest level in four years, with this report, along with last week’s jobs report, exceeding expectations and showing that President Trump’s approach is working.

Under Biden’s watch, grocery prices rose by 23%, energy prices by 34%, and shelter prices by 25%, while his open-border policies have contributed to rising home prices and rent costs, further hurting working families.

President Trump’s policies, including his border security efforts and aggressive deregulatory agenda, are set to increase housing supply and lower costs.

Meanwhile, President Trump’s commitment to deregulation continues to attract historic levels of investment in American manufacturing and job creation. GE Aerospace has announced a $1 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing operations, creating 5,000 new jobs. Asahi Group Holdings is investing $35 million to boost production in its Wisconsin plant, and Merck has opened a $1 billion manufacturing facility in North Carolina, with plans to invest $8 billion in the U.S. over the next several years.

These investments highlight the economic growth and prosperity that come from strong, conservative leadership, promising even greater success for America moving forward.

It’s been a busy and productive few days in Washington, meeting with folks from Southeast Texas who traveled to Capitol Hill to discuss key issues. I had the pleasure of speaking with bright students from Texas City on the Student Legislative Trip with the Institute for Civility—always great to see young leaders engaged in the process. I also met with medical professionals from UTMB and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to discuss women’s health, sat down with Beaumont City Council Members Randy Feldschau and A.J. Turner to go over priorities for Beaumont, and wrapped up with members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association from Southeast Texas to discuss the challenges and opportunities in their industry. These conversations are invaluable in ensuring Southeast Texans' voices are heard in Washington!

Do you believe Democrats' behavior during President Trump’s Joint Address was disrespectful and inappropriate?

Yes: 75.8%

No: 24.2%