Feds To Repay Texas for Border Security, Improving Housing Affordability, Pres. Trump Visits Arlington, Reflections on 9/11, and More!

Good News for Texas

Late Friday, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the federal government is set to reimburse Texas $7.5 billion for border security expenses incurred since launching Operation Lone Star in 2021.

When the federal government failed to secure our southern border, Texas stepped up. We launched Operation Lone Star to defend our communities, deter illegal crossings and combat the flow of deadly drugs and criminals into our state.

Texas should never have had to shoulder the financial burden of securing the southern border, but we did what was necessary to keep Texans safe. Now, $7.5 billion is being rightfully returned to Texas.

Improving Housing Affordability

Housing affordability remains a major issue across Texas, and the Legislature is focused on making homeownership more attainable. During the 2025 Legislative Session, we passed laws to make it easier to build new homes in Texas.

But local government regulations still account for 26.4% of the average cost of a new home. Every Texan should have the opportunity to own a home, and we must continue removing barriers that make that harder and more expensive.

Lowering Property Taxes

One of the regular questions I hear from constituents concerning property taxes is: “What is the Legislature doing to lower them?”

We addressed that question recently in the Senate Committee on Local Government, reviewing the results of recent property tax reforms.

The data is encouraging. Among Texas homeowners who still pay school district property taxes, the average general homestead bills decreased by 13.57%. More than 25% of all Texas homeowners now pay $0 in school district property taxes.

The relief is even more significant for homeowners age 65 and older or who are disabled. Their average bills decreased by 32.72%, while the percentage paying $0 in school district property taxes increased from 44% in 2024 to 61% in 2025.

Senate District 10 was highlighted during the hearing, with both Parker and Tarrant Counties exceeding 60% of homeowners age 65 and older or who are disabled paying $0 in school district property taxes.

While we’ve made great progress, there is more work to do. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has made further property tax relief a priority for the next Legislative Session, and I look forward to being part of that effort.

Joining President Trump at the National Medal of Honor Museum

Last week President Trump visited the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington to sign the Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Bill. The monument is named after the final survivor of World War II Medal of Honor recipient who passed away in 2022. The future monument will be built in Washington, DC. I was proud to be in attendance, along with several other elected officials, as well as 16 Medal of Honor recipients.

If you’ve not yet been to this museum, which opened just over a year ago, it is a wonderful tribute to teach visitors about the history of the Medal of Honor and provide inspiration from the stories of some of our country’s greatest heroes.

Arlington Republican Women High Tea

The Arlington Republican Women’s High Tea event at the Texas Star Country Club was a great success! I was honored to speak to the attendees and explain why it is so important to defeat liberal James Talarico. His radical ideas and positions are simply too extreme for Texas, and we must ensure Republicans get out and vote beginning October 19th. It was a great day with many elected officials serving 380 ladies and they did a great job.

Some Final Thoughts on 9-11

September 11, 2001, was the day that changed our nation forever. I will always remember the pain of that day as Terry and I watched in horror as the reality set in: that over 2,900 of our fellow Americans were murdered in this cowardly attack. Since about 1996 there have been over 110 million Americans born (those who would have been five or younger at the time of 9-11), meaning that there are now millions who have no direct memory of that dreadful day. It is my hope and prayer that we impart to future generations what that day meant in the life of our nation, remembering those we lost and the families left behind. May we never forget the courage and sacrifice of first responders, those fellow citizens who acted in the air to prevent even greater loss, and the many individual acts of bravery in New York and Washington, DC. Our nation came together in grief, took comfort in our faith, but also were united in our strength and resolve. Sadly, the threat of terrorism is still very much alive, as it was 25 years ago. We must never lose our vigilance in the defense of our nation and protection of our people. May God Bless America.