Hello Friends and Fellow West Texans, 

Welcome back to my West Texas Wrap-Up. Please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for regular updates on how I am serving the people of West Texas!

WTX Rural Counties Tour

I recently wrapped up a four-day tour across rural West Texas — visiting twelve counties and meeting with local leaders, small business owners, farmers, ranchers, and families. From Brownfield to Snyder, I heard directly from folks about the challenges we face and the opportunities ahead for our region. 

At every stop, I shared how the One Big Beautiful Bill is delivering for West Texas — historic tax relief, stronger rural healthcare, support for agriculture, and the unleashing of American energy.  

More importantly, I listened to your concerns and ideas, which I’m taking back to Washington as we continue the fight for conservative, West Texas values.    

Supporting DHS Immigration Enforcement

The Supreme Court’s decision in Perdomo v. Noem, which allows the Department of Homeland Security to continue removing dangerous criminal aliens from our communities, is a critical victory for law and order and the safety of the American people. 

Federal immigration laws exist for a reason, and those who come to our country illegally must be held accountable.                                                                                             

This ruling ensures DHS can continue enforcing the law without unnecessary legal roadblocks, keeps dangerous criminals off our streets, and protects communities.

Leading the Texas Delegation in Fight to Lower Energy Costs by Slashing Regulations

I was joined by Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11) in leading more than 40 of their colleagues – including the entire Texas Republican Delegation – in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, recommending modifications to the 2026 and 2027 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) proposed rule. 

The recommendations aim to lower fuel costs for Americans, maintain competitiveness in the liquid fuels manufacturing industry, and support President Trump and Administrator Zeldin’s mission of unleashing American energy.  

Leading the Fight to Hold Congress Accountable 

I was joined by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) in introducing the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025, which would take government shutdowns off the table and force Congress to stay in Washington until their work is done.  

In the real world, if you fail to do your job, there are consequences.                             

Yet, when Congress fails to pass appropriations on time, the burden falls squarely on hardworking Americans - taxpayers, seniors, and our men and women in uniform.

My Prevent Government Shutdowns Act is commonsense legislation that would shift the burden of a shutdown away from We the People and onto the politicians where it belongs - by forcing Members of Congress to stay in Washington until their work on appropriations is complete.  

 Fighting to Stop Radical-Left States from Issuing Driver’s Licenses to Illegal Aliens

I introduced the Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act, legislation to prevent states from issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and ensure state/local entities cooperate fully with federal immigration enforcement. 
 
Far-Left Sanctuary States that issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants are not only breaking the laws of our land, they endanger families and law-abiding Americans who take to highways every day in our country - these lawless states must be stopped! 
 
My Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act will bar rogue states from issuing licenses to illegal immigrants and force states and localities to cooperate fully with federal immigration enforcement so we can put the safety and security of Americans first.   

Overturning Biden-era Green New Deal Policies

I celebrated House passage of three Congressional Review Acts (CRA) to repeal Biden-era Green New Deal Climate Regulations.   

Overturning these defends U.S. jobs, lower costs for families, and support President Trump’s pro-energy agenda by overturning Biden-Harris land management rules that shut down American energy production on millions of acres of land.  
 
President Biden's whole-of-government assault on American energy - the lifeblood of our economy - weakened our national security, increased prices on consumers, and made our nation more dependent on foreign adversaries.  

From canceling pipelines to blocking leasing on federal lands, the previous administration used every lever of power to wage war on American energy production.

By reversing three more reckless Biden-era policies, House Republicans are defending American workers, restoring responsible land management, and ensuring our nation is energy independent - not reliant on China, Russia, or OPEC.  

Celebrating the Passage of Amendment to Empower Abilene Christian Molten Salt Reactor 

I voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which passed the House by a vote of 214-213. 
                                                                                                                                              The legislation contained an important amendment that I introduced to make available $50 million of the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Fund to distribute advanced fuels to advanced university research reactors, including Abilene Christian University’s Molten Salt Research Reactor.  

This is a game changer, no doubt, for making nuclear energy safer, more efficient, and deployable – and it all starts in the Big Country. 

Visiting Muleshoe Refuge to Celebrate Defeating Biden’s Green New Deal Land Grab

I stopped by the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge to celebrate the Fish & Wildlife Service’s decision to cancel Biden’s ridiculous land grab that would have expanded the refuge by more than 10,000%.                                                                                             

I was proud to lead the fight in Congress – introducing the No FED in West Texas Act and passing amendments to defund this overreach – to protect private property and safeguard our way of life. Now, thanks to President Trump, this green new scam initiative is permanently canceled.  

 Protecting Against New World Screwworm

I applaud U.S. Secretary Brooke L. Rollins' announcement at the Texas State Capitol, which included the largest USDA initiative to date in the fight against the New World Screwworm (NWS), a critical step in strengthening the agency’s five-pronged strategy to prevent the northward spread of NWS from Mexico into the United States. 
 
Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration are steadfast in their commitment to protecting our ranchers. 

The announcement by USDA establishing a sterile fly facility in South Texas takes the fight to the screwworm and defends Rural America from this outbreak.  

Ending Discrimination in USDA Farm Programs

I'm honored to have introduced the No Discrimination in Farm Programs Act, legislation that would codify the USDA’s July 10 final rule prohibiting the consideration of race- and sex-based factors when determining benefits under various farm programs, including farm loan programs and indemnity payment programs. 

Disasters don’t discriminate against farmers based on their race or gender and neither should our government programs.                                                                                  

Yet, during the Biden Administration, disaster payments were distributed based on these discriminatory factors that had nothing to do with disaster impact.  

These practices violate our laws and our values, and they have no place in America.  
That’s why I’m proud to introduce the No Discrimination in Farm Programs Act to ensure future administrations never again use race- and sex-based factors when distributing critical farm program funding meant to safeguard Rural America. 

Sounding the Alarm as U.S. Debt Surpasses $37 Trillion

The U.S. national debt soared past a record $37 trillion which is a stark reminder of our dire fiscal straits.  
 
When my son was born in 2011, the national debt was $15 trillion. Now, 14 years later, it exceeds the GDP of the other five largest economies combined. 
 
Today, we spend nearly $1 trillion a year just to pay the interest on our debt—more than we spend on our entire national defense or Medicare benefits for our seniors.  
 
This is the predictable and perilous result of decades of fiscal mismanagement in Washington. If we do nothing, the CBO projects our debt will soar to $150 trillion by 2055. 
 
Republicans took a generational step in the One Big Beautiful Bill to rein in mandatory spending and unleash economic growth. We are proposing further spending reductions through rescissions and appropriations, and President Trump’s reciprocal trade policy has resulted in record tariff revenue.   
 
If we continue in vigilance to get our fiscal house in order, we will avoid a potentially irreparable debt crisis, and America will remain the global leader for the remainder of the 21st century.  

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It is an honor and privilege to represent you in Congress. Feel free to forward this newsletter to our fellow West Texans and encourage them to sign up here for this update.

Your friend and fellow West Texan,

Jodey C. Arrington
Member of Congress