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Congressman Luttrell makes most of time

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Morgan LuttrellSpecial to the News-Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, hit the ground running after taking his seat on Jan. 3.

From Committee hearings and introducing his first pieces of legislation to interviews and a town hall, Luttrell said he has made sure voices of Texas-08 were well-represented.

In March, Luttrell introduced his first piece of legislation, the Anti-Foreign Adversary Collaboration Resolution, which would prohibit members, officers, and employees of the House from serving on the board of directors of any entity which receives funding from, or is affiliated with, or owned, or controlled by China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, or Cuba.

“China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran pose the greatest threats facing the United States’ national security,” he said at the time. “If we continue to turn a blind eye to the nefarious actions our foreign adversaries, it will be devastating for our country. Countering our opponents is one of the most pressing issues we will undertake this Congress. The legislation I introduced … emphasizes the importance of a long-term focus on countering, curbing, and outcompeting foreign adversaries across the globe.”

The resolution garnered media attention, with exclusive coverage in The Daily Caller and a highlight in the Dallas Morning News.

In January, the House voted on the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act that would prevent the Secretary of Energy from selling U.S. emergency oil reserves to any entity affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party or any entity that intends to export it to China.

“The Biden Administration’s anti-American energy agenda stamped out our energy independence and boosted our reliance on foreign oil, sending prices through the roof,” he said. “We should not be selling emergency oil reserves to a geo-political adversary, especially at a time when our country is facing an unprecedented energy crisis.”

As a member of the Border Security Caucus, Luttrell led 10 of his House Republican colleagues in writing a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressing the ongoing crisis at the southern border.

“Texas is facing the worst border crisis we’ve ever seen, as our border is being flooded with chaos, crime, and drugs that are overburdening our state and border patrol agents,” he said. “Secretary Mayorkas has refused to take the border crisis seriously, and the irresponsible and dangerous border policies of this Administration have undoubtedly left the United States vulnerable. We will hold this Administration accountable and restore our national security.”

The Homeland Security Committee Republicans traveled to McAllen for a field hearing on the border crisis where they heard testimonies from Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Texas Department of Public Safety, Kinney County Sheriff, and National Border Patrol Council.

“Secretary Mayorkas has claimed the Administration has operational control of the southern border, but from the crowd rush we saw just this week in El Paso to drug cartels and human trafficking, that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Luttrell said. “The border crisis is an immediate threat to our homeland security and this Administration must reimplement and enforce strong border policies, not policies guided by a radical agenda that’s putting American lives at risk.”

During a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Luttrell grilled Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over the border crisis.

Milley admitted “there is a significant crisis at our border” and the fentanyl and open border are “very, very destructive to our society.”

Meanwhile, Austin refused to deem dangerous drug and human trafficking cartels as terrorists.

As a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Luttrell has introduced two pieces of legislation to improve the lives of veterans and their families: The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023 and the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act.

“We have an obligation to support the veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country,” he said. “The legislation I introduced today will make certain our veterans receive the highest quality care and support by ensuring they can access the benefits they deserve and are able to meet their financial needs, especially in these challenging times. I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to improve the lives of veterans and their families.”

The Congressman also was named Chairman of Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs HVAC Subcommittee and led his first hearing recently.

“I’m honored to have been selected to serve as Chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs subcommittee,” he said. “As a disabled veteran myself, I understand and appreciate the challenges our service members face once they’ve returned home. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and under the leadership of Chairman (Mike) Bost to effectively lead on the crucial work ahead of us to better serve our veterans.”

Last week, the House passed HR 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which will unleash American energy, boosting competitiveness around the globe and bolstering energy dominance.

“Since his first day in office, President Biden has pushed a far-left anti-American energy agenda that decimated the domestic energy industry and sent costs through the roof,” Luttrell said. “The Lower Energy Costs Act will cut red tape, allow us to unleash the full power of American energy, and boost our competitiveness around the globe. Securing our energy independence strengthens our national security. I was proud to vote ‘yes’ on this instrumental piece of legislation that will bolster American energy dominance.”

As Luttrell has worked to bring back America’s energy independence, he’s taken aim at Department of Energy officials for conflicts of interest, as they have prioritized their own bottom line over the needs of Americans.

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  • This commment is unpublished.
    Linda Halstead · 11 months ago
    Congressman Lutrell you make me proud I voted for you.  I hate what Biden and the democrats stand for , destroying America from the inside . The border is a crisis and a disgrace ever since Biden opened the borders .