NEWS FROM THE 19th DISTRICT

Dear Friend,

Below, you will find a recap of my work here in Washington. To ensure you're receiving the latest updates from Washington and across West Texas, I encourage you to follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Recovery in the Key City

I was in Abilene last week and visited healthcare professionals, small business owners, and education leaders in the area. I was inspired by the determination and resolve demonstrated by our fellow West Texans in the Big Country. After stopping at one of my favorite local restaurants, the Flippin' Egg, I was honored to speak with those on the frontline at Hendrick Medical Center. I also had the opportunity to visit with Abilene Independent School District Superintendent, Dr. Young, and the incredibly selfless team of district student nutrition workers at Martinez Elementary, who have served more than 90,000 meals to students and families facing food insecurity. 

Democrats Practicing Reality Distancing 

House Democrat leadership has established a new pandemic protocol for Congress: practicing reality distancing. ‘Reality distancing’ is the unhealthy distance between politicians and their policies and the people they were elected to serve. The HEROES Act, legislation Speaker Pelosi brought to the floor this past week, was made up of $3 trillion and 1,800 pages of pure partisan opportunism complete with union pension bailouts, subsidies for insolvent states and cities, and stimulus checks for illegal immigrants.

You know something is suspicious when the word “cannabis” is used 68 times - more than the word “job” or “jobs” combined - in an economic stimulus bill. I’m not sure what they were smoking, but whatever socialist euphoria they‘re feeling will fade fast when it arrives in the Senate. Click here or the video below to listen to my full floor speech opposing the HEROES Act.

Addressing our National Debt

While my colleagues continue to propose trillions in unchecked spending, I'd submit the idea of a victim’s compensation fund for our children and grandchildren who have no union or lobbyist to support them and have absolutely no way of paying for the immoral amount of debt with which their forefathers in Congress left them.

Who knows what dreams they would have pursued if their current leaders hadn’t consigned them to a future that was less free, less prosperous, and less hopeful than the one they themselves enjoyed. 

My Latest Bill: The ALIGN Act

The current pandemic has wreaked havoc on our nation’s small and large businesses alike. Reducing the cost of capital, simplifying the tax code, and promoting new investment will be critical to an economic rebound at every level. That is why I was proud to introduce H.R. 6802, the Accelerate Long-term Investment Growth Now (ALIGN) Act. To read my full statement and more on this legislation, click here or the press release below.

My parents lived in Lubbock during the 1970 tornado that tore through town. My mom told me the story of their experience again this week. On the 50th anniversary of this devastating event, I was thinking about the families whose lives were forever changed.

Notably, this was also the last time graduates were unable to walk the stage at Texas Tech. With COVID-19 canceling graduation ceremonies across West Texas, I want to take a moment to wish a special congratulations to all of the 2020 graduates in Texas-19. Though we are living in times of uncertainty, I am confident that the West Texas values of hard work and perseverance instilled in each of you will lead to great success as you enter this next phase of life.

It is an honor to be your Representative. Feel free to forward this newsletter to our fellow West Texans and encourage them to sign up here for this weekly update. 

Your friend and fellow West Texan,

Jodey C. Arrington
Member of Congress