On Thursday, I had the pleasure of attending two meetings with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. As a Member of Congress, I have long been a supporter of cutting spending, believing that we should give the government every dollar it needs, but not a penny more.
I also have long worked to counter waste, fraud, and abuse at the federal level as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce. These experiences have well prepared me to serve as Co-Chair of the House DOGE Caucus, along with Florida’s Congressman Aaron Bean and Utah’s Congressman Blake Moore.
In a smaller meeting with GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and the heads of DOGE, I got to know Elon and Vivek, and their passion for making the government work for the American taxpayer.
Following this meeting, we held a larger, all-GOP gathering to begin sharing ideas between lawmakers and the Department of Government Efficiency. We are working together to ensure that the DOGE effort is effective, making sure to aim before we fire. I am looking forward to continuing these conversations and helping President Trump fulfill the mandated will of the American people.
ABLE Act 10th Anniversary
Last week we commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act. I was a strong supporter of the ABLE Act in 2014.
This legislation provides secure funding for disability-related expenses without supplanting other benefits. ABLE accounts have saved qualifying disabled Americans more than $2 billion. I am proud of my work behind the ABLE Act and enjoyed celebrating this anniversary.
Start of the Christmas Season
Last Sunday marked the beginning of Advent, and we began to celebrate the Christmas season. On Wednesday, my good friends the Rev. Dan Cummins and Steve Amerson hosted musicians together inside of the Capitol to sing carols.
We are blessed to live in a country where we can openly celebrate the birth of our Savior. The Christmas season is a time to come together to make memories, share love, and, above all, celebrate the promise of peace and joy that came with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.
US-Mexico Bilateral Issues Conference
On Thursday morning, I was invited to address the U.S.-Mexico Bilateral Issues Conference of 2024 with the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Mexico is the state of Texas’s largest trading partner and maintaining this partnership is essential for Texas business.
I am supportive of American efforts to engage in business with Mexico. With USMCA review coming up in 2026, I spoke about the context of the United States decision-making process in the $1.6 trillion dollars a year trade relationship between the US, Canada and Mexico.
Government spending is out of control in the U.S. and an emphasis on efficiency will be driving many of the United States’s decisions.
House Committee on Financial Services Hearing
On Tuesday there was the last House Financial Services Committee of the 118th Congress. This also marked the end of Chairman Patrick McHenry’s tenure.
This hearing was future-focused, bringing in technology and financial leaders to discuss how fintech is transforming financial services. Many of these transformations are beneficial for Americans, including enhancing access, lowering costs, and innovating with transparency.
However, as we embrace this progress, we must prioritize strong protections and account security to safeguard users from bad actors and thieves.
Pete Sessions represents District 17, which includes Trinity County, in the U.S. House of Representatives.
