West Texas Wrap-up

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.

Protecting Our Citizens & Communities 

Pay attention, America! This isn’t your parent’s Democrat Party! Democrat leadership has normalized the extreme Left and acquiesced to an ideology that is antithetical to our American values. 

It is outrageous for St. Louis prosecutor, Kimberly Gardner, to investigate and illegally seize the weapons of these two law abiding citizens. If local leaders are going to tolerate violent mobs and render police powerless to protect their communities, citizens across this country will rightfully “bear arms” to defend their lives and property.

I am calling on Attorney General Barr to investigate every rogue prosecutor who fails to enforce the law regarding violence being perpetrated by mobs or abuses their power by harassing law abiding citizens and infringing on their constitutional rights. These bankrupt cities are losing their best citizens and jobs. Sadly, poorer families are stuck in unsafe communities with even fewer opportunities.

Getting Back to School and Work 

The American Academy of Pediatrics is strongly advocating that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with the goal of having students physically present in school. We must resist pressure from the teacher’s union pressure to keep schools closed, and ensure our nation’s children have a healthy structure and reliable source of education and nutrition.

Texans won’t stand for a second shutdown. The fact is, there will be far greater harm to our communities, families, and public health if we do shutdown again. To hear more of my thoughts on Texas continuing to responsibly reopen, click here or the video below.

SCOTUS Victories

Last week was a big win for religious liberty! SCOTUS ruled 7-2 that the government—through Obamacare—cannot force a religious institution to provide free contraception to their employees. I was proud to join my colleagues in signing an amicus brief imploring the Supreme Court to uphold the Constitution and defend our religious freedom.

Additionally, after hundreds of subpoenas, tens of millions of dollars, and endless investigations, Democrats in the House were left embarrassed and grasping for straws. It is painfully obvious House Democrats failed to meet the “clear legislative purpose” standard set by last week’s Supreme Court decision. I fully anticipate the lower courts roundly rejecting the baseless claims for President Trump’s personal financial records as purely political. 

To read more about these decisions, click the respective stories below.

Responsibly Addressing National Debt and Spending

I lead a letter with Republicans and Democrats, 30 on each side, demanding our leaders consider putting triggers in the next COVID legislation that will force Congress to do what every American family, every individual, every business, and every state and local government—spend responsibly and have responsible levels of debt. It’s immoral to have a country this deep in the debt hole for our kids and our grandkids to try to crawl out from under. To hear more about that and local West Texas topics watch my interview on KTAB’s Big Country Politics Show here.

Constituent Spotlight

It was a great pleasure to be joined by Mr. Kelley during last year’s South Plains Honor Flight. He gave me one of his hand-made wooden hearts and one for my daughter. His gift serves as a reminder of the selflessness of our American servicemen and women and their sacrificial love of country. To read more about Ralph Kelley, the ‘heart man,’ and the wooden hearts he crafts, click here or the photo below.

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