Come and Read It Report
Dear Texans,
I made a promise to the people in our district that we'd see a fairer and simpler tax code, more jobs, and larger paychecks. Everyday, we are continuing to see the tremendous impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act all around us. Want proof? For the first time since 2011, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reported that after surveying 350 Texas Executives, more than half are planning to hire MORE Texans over the next 6-12 months. You can find out more at fairandsimple.gop.
School Security Bill Update
My bill, H.R. 5107, will immediately provide the resources and funding necessary to secure our schools. The welfare and safety of our nation's youth must be of the utmost importance. This legislation will authorize the Secretary of Education to create a grant program in order to provide local schools with the necessary funding to improve security.
Under this legislation, schools may apply for a grant from the Department of Education in order to conduct an independent security assessment. The results of this assessment will recommend improvements that would be eligible for funding from a Department grant. Necessary improvements might include metal detectors, steel doors, bulletproof glass, emergency training and additional law enforcement on the ground. Final decisions on the needs of each school will be made by local school leadership.
Tools and equipment such as these will make a significant difference in how schools are perceived. They will no longer be seen as soft targets for terrorists to attack and leave us broken and angry, wondering what we could have done to prevent such an act of hate. However, none of this is achievable under current law, which only intensifies the need for H.R. 5107.
In case you missed it, I recently published an article on Townhall.com regarding my bill. You can read it here.
Legislative Update
Last week: in addition to voting on 10 legislative items, I cosponsored H.R. 644, the Conscience Protection Act.
I also participated in the Financial Services Committee Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee hearing. In light of the recent Equifax data breach, we had the opportunity to receive testimony from experts regarding legislative proposals to reform the current data security and breach notification system. If you missed it, you can watch the hearing here.
This week: I am attending two subcommittee hearings. The Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade, that I am the vice chair of, will hold a hearing to evaluate CFIUS. You can watch it live here on Thursday at 9:00am CT. Later that day, I'll participate in a hearing for the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance. You can watch it live here at 1:00pm CT.
It is an honor and privilege to represent the people of Texas' 25th Congressional District and as always, please reach out to me with any issues and concerns that are important to you.
In God we trust,
Roger Williams
Member of Congress