Tag Archives: rep will hurd

As your Representative, one of my top priorities is making sure Congress enacts policies that create economic opportunity and give every family a chance at the American dream. Education is an essential part of these efforts. Without a well-educated workforce the next generation will be unable to take full advantage of the opportunities available in the 21^st century economy.

Ensuring access to educational opportunities for Texans of all backgrounds strengthens our economy, drives innovation across all industries and allows folks to overcome socioeconomic challenges and create a better life for themselves and their families.

I understand the unique challenges South and West Texas students often face which is why I work hard with local officials to identify ways we can improve the eduation of our kids.  Educational opportunities are not limited just to what kids learn in the classroom. Services such as counseling, mentorship, tutoring and financial assistance are equally vital to ensuring students’ success.

That’s where Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) comes in. This competitive federal grant program provides funding for local organizations that offer students counseling, tutoring, mentoring and scholarships. By expanding access to these programs, GEAR UP helps bridge the educational attainment gap and prepare low-income students for college and their careers, starting as young as 6^th or 7^th grade and supporting them through their first year of college.

Funding from GEAR UP serves thousands of students throughout the 23^rd District of Texas each and every day. More than 1,100 students in Alpine, Del Rio, Fort Davis, Fort Stockton, Marathon, Marfa, Presidio, and Terlingua are GEAR UP students.

In El Paso, students at 10 Ysleta Independent School District middle schools benefit from the program. Additionally, San Antonio ISD has received funding in the past and still serves many GEAR UP students. These counseling, tutoring and mentorship services supported by more than $3 million in GEAR UP funding each year will help prepare these South and West Texas students for success.

That’s why I’m proud that one of the first bills I’ve introduced in the 116^th Congress is a bipartisan bill in the House to reauthorize GEAR UP, so South and West Texas students are prepared for success in high school, college and their careers. I am also grateful to my friend, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), for introducing this important bill in the Senate.

Additionally, I hope to use my new role as a member of the Appropriations Committee to secure robust funding for GEAR UP so that our school districts across TX-23 can compete for future grants.

I’ll continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that every student in Texas has an equal chance for success for generations to come.

For more information on my work for you in Congress, please sign up for my email list at hurd.house.gov and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube at @HurdontheHill.

###

A former undercover CIA officer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, Will Hurd is the U.S. Representative for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In Washington, he serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Intelligence Modernization and Readiness, and the House Committee on Appropriations, where he serves on the Subcommittees on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

Here in South and West Texas, border security is not an abstract issue. Every week meeting with folks across 29 counties of the 23^rd District of Texas, securing our border and fixing our broken immigration system are frequent topics of conversation.

That’s because the border is our backyard, and what happens on the border impacts the daily lives of families across TX-23 communities.

Spending nearly a decade as an undercover officer in the CIA chasing bad guys, I learned to look at problems from every angle. My mindset is no different when it comes to finding a way to finally gain operational control of our southern border.

I represent more of the U.S.-Mexico border than any other Member of Congress, and I have seen firsthand that each mile of the border faces unique geographical, technological and cultural challenges that must be addressed using every tool at our disposal.

Physical barriers are one of these tools and work well in urban areas. However, in other areas, a combination of cutting edge sensors and surveillance technology is a more efficient use of resources.

These smart technologies would allow our most important border security resources, the men and women of Border Patrol, to identify illegal border crossings and deploy resources where they are needed. We also must respect the private property rights of landowners on the border, which would be threatened by eminent domain while building a physical barrier.

Gaining operational control of all 2,000 miles of our southern border will require a mile-by-mile approach that empowers Border Patrol to accomplish their goals using the best technology available.

Additionally, to secure our border long-term, we must address the root causes of mass migration.

Between 2012 and 2017, Border Patrol apprehensions on our southern border from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras nearly doubled due to rampant crime, violence and poverty. The challenges along our Southern border will only continue unless we actively work with Mexico and our allies in Central America to find shared solutions to combat human trafficking, drug smuggling and illegal immigration.

That’s why I visited the region last year to meet with Central American leaders understand root causes and the situation in these communities. We must identify shared solutions with our regional partners, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to support these solutions in Congress.

My colleagues have a lot of opinions about how we should secure our border, but no one knows more about the border than my bosses – the nearly 800,000 people I represent in TX-23.  The border is our backyard.

These are lessons I have learned by proactively listening to the concerns of constituents, local law enforcement, landowners and Border Patrol. Until we get it right, I will continue to fight for and carry this message to my colleagues in Congress.

***

A former undercover CIA officer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, Will Hurd is the U.S. Representative for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In Washington, he serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as Vice Chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on the Committee for Homeland Security, and as the Chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

When I was in grade school, at least one teacher always had a sign in the classroom that said “reading is fundamental.” This is as true now as it was then. Learning how to read is a fundamental skill that can determine the course of one’s life. But you don’t have to take my word for it – the statistics speak for themselves.

According to the Children’s Literacy Foundation, students who don’t read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely than proficient readers to drop out of high school. As you might imagine, those at the lowest literacy levels have a higher rate of unemployment and earn lower wages than average. In addition, a staggering 75 percent of state prison inmates did not complete high school or can be classified as low literate.

Beyond the obvious social devastation, low literacy costs the U.S. at least $225 billion every single year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment.

To make matters worse, the problem is cyclical. Children that have parents with low literacy skills have a 72 percent chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves. Reading is fundamental for folks to earn an education, find a job and make a life for themselves.

Fortunately, if you are reading this, you’re likely not among the nearly 20% of adults in Texas who are at the lowest literacy level. However, you have an important role to play to ensure that our kids don’t slip into the summer slide, a nationwide trend showing that many students start the new academic year with lower reading skills than at the beginning of summer break.

In fact, a 2017 Brookings study found that on average, students’ achievement scores declined over summer vacation by one month’s worth of school-year learning. The decline varies between subjects and ages, but the extent of loss is far greater among lower income students.

Overall, the summer slide can perpetuate years of unnecessary hardship for the next generation of Americans.

Together, it’s our job to change this trend so that every student in South and West Texas has a chance for success. That’s why I’m challenging parents and teachers from San Antonio to El Paso to encourage students to take on the TX-23 Summer Reading Surge and read five books this summer before school starts back up in the fall.

There are plenty of ways to keep kids on track with their reading while enjoying a nice summer with your family. For example, our public libraries offer invaluable resources for learning at all ages. Especially in this summer heat, our kids can travel around the world, to space, and to any land they can imagine just by turning a page.

What are you and your family reading this summer? I want to know. I encourage you to post your summer reading list on social media with the hashtag #SummerReadingSurge and be sure to follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube at @HurdontheHill.

***

PERMALINK

 A former undercover CIA officer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, Will Hurd is the U.S. Representative for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In Washington, he serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as Vice Chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on the Committee for Homeland Security, and as the Chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Summer has officially arrived in the 23rd District of Texas, and with a Texas summer, we can all expect some pretty hot temperatures from San Antonio to El Paso.

The summer months tend to come with thoughts of school out, family vacations, relaxing by the water with friends and family. And while schools work hard to ensure our kids are well-fed during and in-between the school year, one thing we might forget about in the summer months is making sure our parents and grandparents have access to meals as well.

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to serve meals to seniors through Meals on Wheels in San Antonio. Every weekday, Meals on Wheels prepares and delivers nutritious meals, a courteous visit and compassionate support to tens of thousands of homebound Texas seniors through partnerships with local organizations.

Meal delivery services like Meals on Wheels allow so many individuals to be healthy and independent in their own homes and I’m proud to have supported an increase in funding for meal delivery programs that serve so many of our parents and grandparents.

One of the things I’ve heard time and time again while meeting with seniors across Texas is that accessing medical care, especially in rural areas, is a real problem.

That’s why over the last three years, I have remained committed to protecting the benefits that seniors have earned so that they can rely on them for years to come. Since 2015, I’ve consistently opposed proposed Medicare cuts, sometimes that would have cut billions of dollars in benefits. Along with preventing cuts, I’ve protected Medicare Advantage – the program that my own parents depend on – from termination and have helped expanded access to care, including increased coverage for Medicare Part B recipients.

I’ve also supported legislation that permanently repealed the Medicare payment cap for therapy services, permanently extended the Special Needs Plan in Medicare Advantage, and expanded the ability for all patients to use telemedicine coverage, including stroke patients and recipients of dialysis – a big win for many seniors in rural communities who are homebound because of health conditions.

In addition, I have supported legislation that develops a National Family Caregiving strategy to recognize and support family caregivers and their needs.

There are also 39 wonderful Community Health Centers in my district that provide cost-effective services, from primary care to preventative screenings, and are vital to the health and wellness of thousands of my constituents. Since 2015, I’ve visited many of these clinics and am particularly proud to have helped them receive more than $30 million in federal grant funding so that they can continue their important work.

Previous generations helped build our nation, and they deserve the benefits they worked hard to earn. I will continue to stand tall for our South and West Texas seniors. If you or someone you know is having trouble navigating the burdensome federal bureaucracy to receive Medicare and Social Security, know that I have caseworkers from San Antonio to El Paso who have helped more than 200 individuals battle these bureaucracies on their behalf. We are here to help.

Please don’t hesitate to call my office at 210-921-3130 for support. And to find a local meal delivery program in your community, visit mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

*** 

A former undercover CIA officer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, Will Hurd is the U.S. Representative for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In Washington, he serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as Vice Chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on the Committee for Homeland Security, and as the Chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

WASHINGTON — Fed up with a long stretch of inaction on immigration in the U.S. House, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, and some of his Republican colleagues declared Wednesday that they’ll try to force the House to vote on a series of bills addressing the status of undocumented immigrants brought into the country while they were children, among other immigration measures.

Hurd, along with a small group of other moderate Republicans, introduced what’s known as a discharge petition Wednesday that would effectively force Speaker Paul Ryan to bring four immigration bills to the House floor for a vote as early as June. GOP leadership has previously declined to do so.

If the measure is signed by a majority of House members, the legislation can bypass the committee process that is required for most bills.

At a news conference Wednesday, Hurd said it’s urgent for the House to address the concerns of millions of young undocumented people in the U.S. In 2012, President Barack Obama implemented a policy known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals that protects from deportation some undocumented immigrants brought here as children. But President Donald Trump has tried to dismantle the program, saying it should be up to Congress to act on the issue.

“These are men and women who have contributed to our economy,” Hurd said at the press conference. “They have contributed to our history. These are people who are Americans, and they need a permanent legislative fix.”

At least 25 Republicans, along with the entire House Democratic delegation, must sign on to the measure to reach the necessary 218 votes. Fifteen House Republicans — including U.S. Rep Charlie Dent, R-Pennsylvania, whose tenure ends this week — have already done just that.

“We feel very good today,” said U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Florida. “I think [the 15 signatures] exceeds all of our expectations, so we think we’re on our way.”

The petition takes advantage of a little-known provision known as the “queen of the hill” rule, which allows a series of bills to compete with one another. The bill that collects the biggest majority of votes is the one that passes.

In this case, Hurd and his colleagues want to bring four bills to the floor, including “The U.S.A. Act” co-authored by Hurd and U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-California. Hurd’s plan provides protection for DACA beneficiaries and beefs up border security measures.

The other bills up for debate under the “queen of the hill” plan include a conservative measure authored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Virginia, and the DREAM Act of 2017, the favored plan of House Democrats. Goodlatte’s bill offers temporary status to DACA recipients alongside increased border security and deep cuts to legal immigration, while the DREAM Act offers a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and other young undocumented immigrants without increased immigration enforcement measures. Ryan would decide the fourth bill up for debate.

House Republican leadership, including Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, have already expressed displeasure with the discharge petition. The reaction was not surprising to the members behind the measure.

But Curbelo said the petition is “deferential” to leadership because it gives Ryan an opportunity to craft his own legislative solution.

“Leadership, no matter the party, is never going to support a discharge petition,” Curbelo said. “We truly believe that this process actually empowers them because it allows every member to have a role in the immigration debate.”

Republicans supporting the measure stressed that the petition is not an endorsement of any one immigration bill, but of bringing those bills to the floor for debate. Hurd said that this is the House’s chance to act.

“No matter what your ideological views on this topic are, everybody should have a debate,” Hurd said. “I’m glad that there are an intrepid few that are willing to take this step to force this broader conversation.”

Author: HALEY SAMSEL – The Texas Tribune

Folks in the 23rd District know well that West Texas energy fuels our economy. In fact, the Texas portion of the Permian Basin alone provides more than 444,000 jobs, contributes more than $60.2 billion to the Gross State Product of Texas and generates $113.6 billion in economic output for local communities.

What’s equally as important is that energy security is national security. Many folks don’t realize the hardworking Texans getting in their trucks each morning to work on nearby rigs or at refineries are doing much more than earning a paycheck – they are playing an important role protecting our nation from threats abroad. Here’s why:

Due to the discovery of significant reserves across the United States, including the Permian Basin, the nation has ramped up domestic oil production. In doing so, we have reduced our dependence on other oil producing nations while concurrently securing and improving our economy.

Countries across the globe are now looking to the United States to supply energy, ultimately diminishing the influence of other countries, such as Russia, on the industry. It is exciting that TX-23 is ground zero for North American energy dominance and so many hardworking Texans have a hand in our foreign policy by simply doing their jobs.

Recently, I spent a week in West Texas with employers, constituents and energy stakeholders to see their contributions firsthand in the Delaware Basin, a portion of the Permian Basin that spans across Culberson, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Reeves, Ward and Winkler Counties.  I started my trip in Orla where I visited a new natural gas processing plant. With more than $250 million invested to ensure the safe and responsible development of this facility, more jobs for the hardworking folks in TX-23 are on the way.

In addition to hosting an energy roundtable in Fort Stockton, a town hall in Monahans and visiting facilities in Balmorhea and Pecos, I toured the site of a new refinery outside of Fort Stockton.

This will be the first project of its kind built in the United States in 47 years. The refinery operator chose Fort Stockton because of the available land, access to natural resources and the South Orient-Texas Pacifico railroad that travels to Mexico through the border town of Presidio.

My office worked with Texas Department of Transportation to secure grant funding to begin fixing an ailing rail line and the Presidio rail bridge that previously burned in a fire.  It is particularly rewarding to see this private-sector investment in our community that will help grow jobs in the area and improve the economy.

The United States is a global powerhouse due to so many Texans who support the energy industry right here in our backyard. West Texas energy fuels our economy, fosters thousands of local jobs and allows us to bolster our national security by relying less on other oil-producing countries for natural resources. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues in our nation’s capital to create pro-growth policies to ensure South and West Texas continues to thrive.

###

A former undercover CIA officer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, Will Hurd is the U.S. Representative for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In Washington, he serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as Vice Chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on the Committee for Homeland Security, and as the Chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

This week is deemed National Agriculture Week and we in the 23rd District of Texas are certainly grateful for the hard work of farmers and ranchers year-round.

Folks in the agriculture industry toil around the clock to produce goods that we consume every day from the clothes on our backs to the food on our tables. The industry supports more than 3.75 million Texas jobs paying $160 billion in wages and we simply cannot overstate its importance on our economy.

Many folks aren’t aware of the benefits of trade for Texas agriculture. In 2016, Texas exported $11.3 billion in total food and agriculture goods, and more than 40 percent went to NAFTA partners. While there’s no question that we need to modernize NAFTA to account for evolving industries and emerging technology, scrapping the deal altogether would be particularly harmful for Texas farmers and ranchers.

For example, one sector that benefits immensely from trade with our Northern and Southern neighbors is beef. Texas cattlemen and women sell roughly $338 million in beef to Mexico every year – approximately 35 percent of all American beef and veal exports are to Mexico alone. Similarly, total US beef exports to Canada and Mexico have almost tripled since NAFTA was signed.

This is why Texas raises more calves than anywhere in the United States and is the 14th largest cattle producing region in the world. Without unfettered access to Mexican and Canadian markets, Texas’ $10.5 billion beef industry would take a major hit.

Our cotton growers have also benefitted tremendously from free trade with Mexico and Canada. Mexico is a reliable and important market for U.S. cotton fiber, buying one million bales each year. Mexico is also our country’s second largest cotton textile and apparel market, buying fifteen percent of the nation’s total exports.

Likewise, Canada and Mexico accounted for almost 20 percent of U.S. fresh fruit exports and roughly 65 percent of fresh vegetable exports, totaling $7.2 billion. Unsurprisingly, when Mexico applied temporary tariffs to some of our produce in 2009, those industries lost $65 million that season. For Texas farmers, this demonstrates the direct correlation between free trade and economic growth.

In a lecture in 1970 when he won the Noble Prize, agronomist Norman Borlaug said, “Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply.” In my district, over 9,000 farms and ranches employing thousands of hard-working people ensure our civilization is continuing to evolve.

In order for them to continue this vital task they need access to new markets, which is why I will continue to advocate for a modernized NAFTA. Agriculture is critical to our economy and its critical to our survival.

We should all have the backs of the hardworking folks that do this noble work.

###

A former undercover CIA officer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, Will Hurd is the U.S. Representative for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In Washington, he serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as Vice Chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on the Committee for Homeland Security, and as the Chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

WASHINGTON, DC – Women entrepreneurs make up a growing portion of our economy. In fact, the number of women-owned businesses in the United States increased five times over the last decade. Their presence is all the more evident in our backyard, as Texas is home to more than 890,000 women-owned businesses, the second most in the entire nation.

Our great state is also ranked first for the “economic clout” of women-owned businesses, which means that women-owned companies in Texas grow more quickly in volume, in employment and in revenues than those anywhere else. There is no question that Texas is a pretty great place to start a business.

At the same time, our female entrepreneurs overcome additional obstacles that their male counterparts don’t face, including accessing capital. For example, according to the National Women’s Business Council, men tend to start their businesses with nearly twice as much financial capital than women.

They have historically received loans with less favorable terms, and obtain less than five percent of both government funding for small businesses and all venture capital funding.

While we should work to expand access to capital for female entrepreneurs, we should also increase awareness of incubators, workshops and other ways for businesswomen to grow their companies. Since March is Women’s History Month, I’d like to spotlight a few resources available to ensure the growth and success of women-owned businesses, available here in the 23^rd District of Texas.

A primary resource for all small businesses is the Small Business Administration (SBA) which works with lenders to provide loans for entrepreneurs to kick off operations. The SBA reduces risk for lenders and increases access for small business owners by setting guidelines for various lending partners such as community development organizations and micro-lending organizations.

The SBA also serves as a centralized hub for training, government bidding, and other small business resources, including those specific to women entrepreneurs. There are offices throughout Texas, including in San Antonio and El Paso.

Another great option for funding and counseling resources are business accelerators. One such option is Alice, which has resources across TX-23 and was founded to integrate more women into the startup ecosystem. Whether you’re starting a company, growing your business, or investing in other businesses, Alice supports the entrepreneurial community by connecting folks with networking opportunities and more.

In fact, my office recently helped Alice organize an event in San Antonio to connect entrepreneurs with the knowledge and resources necessary to build their businesses.

This event was held at the Maestro Entrepreneur Center, which was created in partnership with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Hispanic Leadership Development Foundation to accelerate the development of small, minority, women, and veteran owned businesses in the San Antonio area.  The Maestro Center provides businesses with individualized growth plans and matches entrepreneurs with an experienced business owner mentor.

One more resource is the Southwest Texas Border Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network which provides counseling services for all aspects of starting a business, from loan assistance and tax planning to marketing and sales. They have a strong presence across TX-23.

The SBDC at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) serves the greater San Antonio area, the SBDC at Sul Ross State University serves the Alpine community and the SBDC at Sul Ross State University – Rio Grande College has locations in Eagle Pass, Del Rio, Uvalde and Carrizo Springs. The SBDC at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is available for folks in Socorro and across the El Paso area. You can find out more at txsbdc.org.

Think of a small business owner you know. Small businesses aren’t just products and services. Rather, they are real people with big dreams who work hard to grow their business and provide for their families each day. And, as women continue to make history, it’s important that we work together to ensure that their businesses can prosper.

As your Representative, it’s my job to make sure that Congress creates policies that foster innovation, entrepreneurship and job growth rather than stifle it. Our hardworking small business owners deserve nothing less.

***

 A former undercover CIA officer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, Will Hurd is the U.S. Representative for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In Washington, he serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as Vice Chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on the Committee for Homeland Security, and as the Chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

No one wants to hear about another hack. As our society becomes more and more reliant on constantly emerging technologies from smart phones to smart cities, we have not been able to keep our digital information secure while harnessing these innovations.

Cybersecurity is no longer only about protecting your social security or bank numbers – it’s about keeping our electricity on and our economy functioning. Nearly every aspect of our lives nowadays depends on technology, which means they are also all vulnerable to hacks.

I came to Congress to find solutions and fix problems, which is why I’m excited to team up with private sector leaders to develop real solutions as a tri-chair of the Aspen Cyber Strategy Group. This group brings together experts and thought leaders across industry sectors to keep up to date on the latest malicious cyber threats and trends.

It can be hard to fully grasp the severity of our current situation. However, the reality is that although the concept of a cyberattack can seem distant and elusive, cyberattacks are very real and impact all of us, our businesses and our economy.

For example, this past year alone, companies lost over $1.2 billion from malware attacks. This is money that could’ve gone into investments like hiring or new equipment purchases.  Due to hacks, in 2017 alone, personal information was compromised for 198 million voters, three billion Yahoo account users and 145 million civilians due to the infamous Equifax breach, among others.  These hacks will continue to occur until we find and implement concrete, tangible solutions.

That’s why I’ve agreed to lead the initiative and the government cannot do it alone. The new group will facilitate robust conversation between 35 CEOs, lawmakers and academics on how to best address today’s cybersecurity challenges.

For us to truly find a fix to our systemic cybersecurity challenges, the public and private sectors need to work together, and more importantly, the public needs to know that without action their safety and personal information may be at risk. By utilizing experts from the public and private sectors, we will be able to develop tangible, implementable cybersecurity recommendations.

Emerging technology is an exciting thing. It allows us to travel faster, live longer, and communicate more efficiently. At the same time, innovation creates new threats, and we must do a better job protecting ourselves and our systems. This year I’m looking forward to working with policy makers, business owners and cyber experts to turn our security recommendations into action.

***

A former undercover CIA officer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, Will Hurd is the U.S. Representative for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In Washington, he serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as Vice Chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on the Committee for Homeland Security, and as the Chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Socorro High School sophomore Arturo Aguilar won top honors in a national writing contest and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd recently presented him with a trophy for the outstanding achievement.

Aguilar came in third place in the SIFMA Foundation’s Investwrite Essay Competition, a national contest that was part of the Stock Market Game. The competition challenges fourth through 12th graders to analyze an investment scenario and write an essay offering investment advice.

“At first I couldn’t believe it,” Aguilar said. “I thought it was third place in the state because that is what the students before me had won. But then I realized I was wrong. I was in awe.”

Aguilar, who was a freshman at the time, is the first student from the high school to make a top three showing at the national level. Socorro High School has had other students earn a first and second place at the state level, but not at the national one, said Felipe Rosales, a Socorro High School social studies teacher, who encourages his students to participate in the writing contest.

While playing the game, students consider real-world economic events and trends, conduct research online, develop investment recommendations and, in the process, gain the skills to prepare for their own financial future, Rosales said.

The SIFMA Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of the financial markets for individuals of all backgrounds, with a focus on youth.

After being prompted by Investwrite to choose a movement to write about, Aguilar decided to write about the investments that could be made to help cure cancer.

“I am very passionate about that,” he said. “Many people in my family have had it, including my father. It is also what I want to be when I grow up — an oncologist and possibly a researcher for the cure.”

Hurd applauded Aguilar’s accomplishment and sees him as a great example of young people in the United States who are focused on trying to solve real problems.

“Arturo’s winning essay was talking about the investments that could be made to help cure cancer,” Hurd said. “This is so important. It’s going to be the next generation that solves some of these big problems.”

He believes SISD has had so many successful students because of the opportunities offered to students.

“I think Socorro ISD is doing things a little differently,” Hurd said. “Starting with year-round school and the fact you have several students engaged in extracurricular activities and they are being successful on a national level … and, the fact the administrators and teachers are supporting the students, and students are supported by the parents. I think it’s a great community here in Socorro ISD.”
Aguilar’s mother, Alejandra Aguilar Venegas, is proud of her son and thanks the district for motivating him.

“He’s brilliant,” Venegas said. “He’s an awesome child. This made me realize what he can accomplish. He does get a lot of help from his teachers. They do make him achieve more than he thinks he can.”

WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, U.S. Representative Will Hurd supported emergency disaster relief and recovery needs in response to Hurricane Harvey’s unprecedented flooding.

The bill will allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue response and recovery efforts, and be prepared for any additional recovery efforts that may arise. It also includes funding to support the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program to assist small businesses and homeowners as they begin to rebuild.

In addition, it provides funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Fund to support relief and restoration for housing and infrastructure in the disaster areas.

Rep. Hurd released the following statement regarding the relief and needs:

“To recover from lives lost, thousands displaced, and billions of dollars in damage, Texas needs all hands on deck. Additionally as Irma heads towards Florida, we must be sure that our disaster response agencies have sufficient resources to save lives and minimize damage. We have a long road ahead and I am doing my part to provide much-needed relief to survivors, first responders, and all of those affected during this tremendous time of need.”

When I was an undercover CIA officer, I served alongside real patriots. I got out of bed each day knowing that my colleagues and I were standing tall against those trying to harm America.

For almost a decade, I was the guy in the back alleys at four o’clock in the morning chasing terrorists in groups like al-Qaeda, and collecting intelligence on threats to our homeland. Unfortunately, that’s not the only job I’ve had where the life of my friends and colleagues were threatened.

On June 14, 2017, an individual attempted to assassinate several of my colleagues, including House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), during a practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game when Members of Congress play against each other to raise money for charity. Despite the horrific shooting, people from across the political spectrum rebelled against fear and the game went on.

Thousands of people set their political views aside in solidarity for the victims, doubling the previous attendance record and raising over $1.5 million for charity.

The event reminded us that life is precious and that an attack on one of us is an attack on our institutions. My concern is that we will be unable to put aside our labels of Democrat or Republican and continue this spirit of cooperation the further we get from the incident. One of the founding principles of our great nation is free speech – or put alternatively, the ability to disagree. Through civil discourse and competition of ideas, we have created policies that have allowed Americans and America to prosper.

To put this into context, the same week that my friends were shot on the baseball field, the Chinese government was attempting to restrict their citizens from using social media platforms to express dissent. We cannot take our rights for granted. We need to use this right to free speech to show each other and the rest of the world that more unites us than divides us.

I’ve heard repeatedly while crisscrossing the 23^rd Congressional District of Texas that people are worried that our country is on the wrong track. I understand why you all feel this way – I often feel the same after seeing the pointless partisan bickering in Congress. If we change the way we behave in the political arena, we can change the outcomes of the political process and create innovative solutions that ensure American prosperity.

Bipartisanship is a real thing, and the only way to ensure that everyone is heard. We can disagree without being disagreeable, and more importantly, we must work together to solve our nation’s major problems. If we want our country to be better, each one of us needs to be better. For us to be better, we need to change how we talk to one another, because words matter.

***

A former undercover CIA officer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, Will Hurd is the U.S. Representative for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In Washington, he serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as Vice Chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on the Committee for Homeland Security, and as the Chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Wednesday, the House of Representatives took a major step toward strengthening digital infrastructure by approving a bipartisan federal IT reform package.

The Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act, introduced by U.S. Representative Will Hurd, will reduce wasteful spending on outdated IT systems and enhance information security by accelerating the federal government’s transition to modern technology like cloud computing.

“As technology becomes more and more integrated into our lives – our institutions must keep pace. I’ve been fighting to get this bill signed into law because the American people deserve a government that is resilient and responsive to them,” said Hurd who has championed modernization efforts in Congress and represents an emerging tech and cybersecurity sector in San Antonio. “The MGT Act will enhance cybersecurity, increase government accountability and help government be more efficient in serving the American people.”

Identical bipartisan legislation has been introduced by Senators Gerald Moran (R-KS) and Tom Udall (D-NM) in the Senate, and is expected to move to the President’s desk in upcoming weeks.

“I applaud the House for moving so quickly to pass this common sense and bipartisan bill. The Modernizing Government Technology Act is the first major step toward upgrading our outdated IT infrastructure; a process that will make us safer, stronger and more secure,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL), ranking member of the IT Subcommittee. “This bill is the result of bipartisan cooperation and countless hours of hard work. I thank Whip Hoyer and Chairman Hurd for their leadership and thank my staff and the subcommittee staff for their sleepless nights and tireless effort on this bill. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to quickly pass this bill and begin implementing its important reforms. It’s 2017, it’s past time to cut costs, protect our citizens’ personal information and enhance cybersecurity by modernizing our technology.”

“I am pleased the MGT Act has once again passed the House and is now one step closer to becoming law,” said Congressman Gerald Connolly (D-VA). “The current patchwork of outdated, legacy IT systems is simply unsustainable in the current cyber climate. By leveraging the savings created by FITARA, our legislation will help transition federal IT procurement towards 21st century technologies.”

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) who started the Innovation Initiative in Congress said, “Will Hurd’s legislation – the Modernizing Government Technology Act – is the definition of what the Innovation Initiative is about – modernizing government so it works securely – cost-effectively – and the way the American people expect it to work.”

“Last week’s worldwide ransomware attack, which impacted hundreds of thousands of computers in more than 150 countries across the globe, reminds us just how critical bringing federal government IT into the 21st century is to keep Americans and our valuable data protected,” said Senator Gerald Moran (R-KS), chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security. “In addition to its national security improvements, this legislation would also save billions of taxpayer dollars in the long-term by reducing wasteful spending and making much-needed reforms to our procurement practices.”

“As we have seen just this week with the ‘WannaCry’ attack, global cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and pose a complex and serious threat to our national security. But the federal government continues to rely on grossly outdated IT systems that make us vulnerable to such damaging cyberattacks,” Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) said. “I welcome House passage of this bipartisan legislation, which will help federal agencies to retire old systems and invest in new and critical technologies. Maintaining old IT systems is a security risk and costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year. In the Senate, I’ll fight to pass this bill and see it signed into law, to ensure that our government is getting better service at a better value for American taxpayers.”

“The MGT Act is needed to break the cycle that traps the government in funding outdated IT systems that are a risk to our national security instead of investing in the new technologies it needs to ensure cybersecurity,” said Trey Hodgkins, Senior Vice President for Public Sector at the IT Alliance for Public Sector (ITAPS), a division of technology industry trade group ITI. “The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) favorable score confirms that the MGT Act can be an effective tool to incentivize federal government IT modernization without creating new burdens for the taxpayer. We hope the House’s strong bipartisan approval of the bill and the CBO score validating the MGT’s potential compels the Senate to pass this important national security measure.”

“Federal agencies now spend a disproportionate share of their IT budgets simply to maintain inefficient and costly legacy systems that are decades behind modern technologies in terms of capabilities and network security,” said Professional Services Council (PSC) President & CEO David Berteau. “The MGT Act will make a critical investment in modernizing the government’s IT infrastructure to help limit cybersecurity vulnerabilities inherent in current computer systems and increase the effectiveness of government services and missions.”

“Ensuring that our government has the most up-to-date technology is a top priority for Dell and we congratulate Rep. Hurd on passage of theModernizing Government Technology Act,” said Steve Harris, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Dell EMC Federal. “As the world continues to change at an unprecedented pace, the federal government must have modern IT systems that can adapt to better serve their constituents.  We look forward to working Rep. Hurd and the 115th Congress to ensure passage of this critical piece of legislation.”

The last thing my constituents want is more vague and confusing government regulations that come at the expense of hardworking families and small businesses. But a punishing, ever-increasing morass of red tape forces small and family-owned businesses to spend countless hours, dollars and resources on compliance, instead of doing what they do best – build their business.

This means fewer jobs for American workers and slower growth for our economy.

That is why I’m fighting in Congress to do what small business owners in the 23rd Congressional District of Texas really want Washington to do – get out of their way.

Earlier this month, I joined colleagues from both sides of the aisle to pass the REINS Act, which requires all federal regulations with an annual cost of over $100 million to be approved by Congress before implementation. This will prevent a faceless bureaucracy from creating an overly burdensome regulatory environment.

This week, I expressed formal disapproval of several new regulations proposed by federal agencies, including one that regulates streams on private property. I even co-sponsored another Resolution that disapproves of confusing social security rules that affect seniors’ Second Amendment Rights.

The new Administration took steps in the right direction last week with an Executive Order to reduce the number of unnecessary regulations that remain on the books. Under the order, if a federal agency such as the EPA, proposes a new rule, it must also identify two rules that should be removed.

This is a commonsense reform that many other governments around the world use to cut down on the number of outdated regulations that often go unenforced, and remain part of the federal code.

The truth is that burdensome rules and regulations stand to negatively affect every American in one way or another – but the agriculture industry typically feels the impact to a greater degree. Under EPA overreach, many of the common, every-day practices of farming and ranching have suddenly required federal permits.

In the past, I voted to stop funding for new EPA rules that would have created more burdensome and unnecessary regulations for dry creek beds and ditches located on family owned farms and ranches. The uncertainty behind these complex federal rules means that farmers and ranchers have to operate at continuous risk of incurring fines or facing government lawsuits.

These rules affect you even if you are not a farmer or a rancher. When you consume food and clothing products, be prepared to pay more as production costs increase to remain compliant with the rules.

Our nation does not need more government interference. What we need is for the full force of American small business owners and entrepreneurs to be unleashed.

And the best thing that Washington can do to help is remove the obstacles we’ve created and then let businesses do what they’re best at – growing the economy and creating jobs. I’m proud to report that we are doing just that.

Author: Rep. Will Hurd –  Former undercover CIA officer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, Will Hurd is the U.S. Representative for the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In Washington, he serves as Vice Chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on the Committee for Homeland Security, and as the Chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

San Antonio, Texas – U.S. Representative Will Hurd has a full day of events planned in the El Paso area on Friday.

He’ll kick off the morning at Fabens High School, meeting with staff and administrators and speaking to students about his role and responsibilities in Congress.

He will join Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Beto O’Rourke at the El Paso Chamber of Commerce “State of the Congress 2016” for a lunch-time address discussing how congressional action impacts El Paso and surrounding communities.

His next stop is a roundtable discussion about cross border trade enhancement with Cornyn, O’Rourke and Mayor Oscar Leeser, hosted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The roundtable will not be open to the press, but  will be followed by a press conference at Paso Del Norte Bridge.

Hurd will head to Horizon High School afterwards to help the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger organization distribute bags of food and backpacks for students.

That evening, Hurd is excited to travel to Clint High School to perform the coin toss before the Lions face the Chaparral Lobos.

Friday, September 2 Itinerary

EVENT: Visit to Fabens High School

TIME: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM MT

LOCATION: Fabens High School, 601 NE G Avenue, Fabens

ALSO ATTENDING: Principal Ruben Carrillo

EVENT: El Paso Chamber of Commerce State of Congress

TIME: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MDT

LOCATION: Wyndham El Paso Airport, 2027 Airway Blvd, El Paso

ALSO ATTENDING: Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Beto O’Rourke, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, County Judge Veronica Escobar

EVENT: Cross Border Trade Enhancement Act Round Table Press Conference

TIME: 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM MT

LOCATION: Paso Del Norte Bridge, 1000 South El Paso Street, El Paso

ALSO ATTENDING: Senator John Cornyn, Congressman Beto O’Rourke, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, CBP Port Director Hector Mancha, City of El Paso Director of Development Matthew McElroy, Chair of the Study of Trade in the Americas at UTP Dr. Thomas Fullerton

EVENT: Food Bank Delivery at Horizon High School

TIME: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM MT

LOCATION: Horizon High School, 14651 Horizon Blvd, El Paso

ALSO ATTENDING: CEO of El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Victor Nevarez, Principal Elena Acosta

EVENT: Coin Toss at Clint High School Football Game

TIME: 6:45 PM – 7:15 PM MT

LOCATION: Clint High School, 13890 Alameda Avenue, Clint

ALSO ATTENDING: Principal Garrett Ritchey, Superintendent Juan Martinez, Campus Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach Rosvel Martinez