Congressman Luttrell Q1 Update

Hi there, 

As the first three months of the 118th Congress come to a close, I wanted to send along an update from Congressman Morgan Luttrell. The Congressman hit the ground running on January 3^rd, and it's been high speed, low drag ever since. From Committee hearings and introducing his first pieces of legislation to interviews and a town hall, Congressman Luttrell has made sure the voices of TX-08 are well represented. Below are a few key takeaways from Q1.

Countering Foreign Adversaries

In March, Congressman 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. 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 today 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. To learn more about the resolution from the Congressman himself, watch his video here. 

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 (CCP) 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. 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.”

For more details on efforts to counter and curb foreign adversaries, you can see videos from the Congressman here and here. 

The Crisis At The Southern Border

As a member of the Border Security Caucus, Congressman 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. You can read the letter in full here and find more details in the Fox News exclusive here. 
 

“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. 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, Texas 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. You can watch the Congressman's full remarks here. 
 

“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. 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. Texans are on the frontlines of Biden’s Border Crisis, but he’s left us behind to be a de facto partner in crime to criminals pouring over the border. I’m grateful for the Border Patrol Agents and Texas Law Enforcement that continue to do what the Administration won’t – protect our country as they fight to restore law and order at the border every day. It’s time to take real steps to secure the border -- finish the wall, support law enforcement on the ground, and reinstate common sense policies that combat illegal immigration.”
 

Just this week during a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Congressman Luttrell grilled General Milley and Defense Secretary Austin over the border crisis. General Milley admitted “there is a significant crisis at our border” and the fentanyl and open border are “very, very  destructive to our society.” Meanwhile, Secretary Austin refused to deem dangerous drug and human trafficking cartels as terrorists. You can view the attention-grabbing clips here and here. 

Supporting America's Veterans

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

“We have an obligation to support the veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country. 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 was also named Chairman of Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs HVAC Subcommittee and led his first hearing this week. You can view his opening remarks and statements here and here. 
 

“I’m honored to have been selected to serve as Chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs subcommittee. As a disabled veteran myself, I understand and appreciate the challenges our servicemembers 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 Bost to effectively lead on the crucial work ahead of us to better serve our veterans.”

America's Energy Independence

This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which will unleash American energy, boosting competitiveness around the globe and bolstering energy dominance. You can read the full bill text here for details. 
 

“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. 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 Congressman 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. You can read more about the issue and Congressman Luttrell's response here. 

One Final Note

In the first three months, Congressman Luttrell has introduced three bills, cosponsored 25, signed onto eleven letters, served as Speaker Pro Tempore, and resolved 259 casework issues. He hosted his first town hall in Willis, TX with nearly 200 attendees, gave out his first Congressional Commendations, visited the Huntsville Prison Unit, received a briefing from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area team about tackling the fentanyl crisis, visited Chambers of Commerce, VFW posts, VA hospitals, and met with the Conroe City Council -- just to name a few.