A New Year and a New Congress

I hope you and your family had a Merry Christmas. As we move into 2015, I am looking forward to continuing to tackle the challenges that confront our nation. When the new Congress convenes in January, which includes the newly elected Republican controlled Senate, I will continue to serve on three House committees with jurisdiction over issues that directly affect West Texas and Big Country: Financial Services, Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology.

I am proud to serve on the Financial Services Committee as Chairman of the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee. This subcommittee reviews policies and procedures overseeing our nation's banking and credit systems. If you use a bank or credit union, or have a credit card or mortgage, many of the issues before my subcommittee will affect you. A top priority of mine will be ensuring that customers using banks and credit unions aren't seeing costs and fees go up because of crippling government regulations.

After many years of serving on the Agriculture Committee, I will move into a new role as Vice Chairman. We will continue to focus on Farm Bill implementation, and making sure that consistent and reliable government policies are in place so our hardworking farmers and ranchers can make sound business decisions with greater certainty for the future.

On the Science, Space, and Technology Committee I will continue to focus on making sure the EPA does not move forward with new inefficient and ineffective regulations that harm farmers, ranchers, and small business owners in TX19.

The challenges are great, but I am honored and humbled to continue to serve TX19 and be a voice for you in Congress.