With students returning to school and North Texas’ hot temperatures subsiding, summer is quickly coming to a close. I want to take this opportunity to update you on my busy August Congressional District Work period in the 12th District and share information on some of the meetings, tours, and events I had the honor of hosting or attending.
I appreciate the length of the August District Work period, which allows me to visit and hear from the great constituents of the 12th District.
One of my earliest events in August is always a helpful one, which is my annual breakfast in Weatherford with members of the Texas Farm Bureau. I am consistently impressed to hear about the incredible work our farmers do to supply Texans and all Americans with reliable and healthy food. Their contribution to our country’s economy is extremely important. I appreciate their feedback about how Congress can best serve them and provide for their needs in their remarkably challenging and invaluable livelihood.
I also had a wonderful lunch meeting with the members of Trinity Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit housing organization based in Fort Worth that partners with volunteers in our community to build or improve affordable housing. It serves Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, and Wise counties and provides homes for many families in need. The charitable work they do is a testament to the spirit of goodwill that is commonplace in our TX-12 community.
The North Texas Area Community Health Centers (NTACHC) board members took me on a tour of their facility and presented examples of the full range of primary and preventable health care services they provide to their patient population, which includes lower-income residents. Once again, it is wonderful to witness the ingenuity and generosity of local enterprises like NTACHC that create an important safety net for those who need it most.
On a tour of International Aviation Composites (IAC) based in Fort Worth, I witnessed the work this 30-year-old company is doing to support the U.S. Army with crucial repair work on Black Hawk helicopters. IAC is an important partner to the Army, and I enjoyed meeting their employees and seeing the innovative work they are doing to contribute to the needs of our military forces.
I held a Small Business Roundtable with the Texas Association of Business at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. With key business leaders from Fort Worth in attendance, we discussed their legislative priorities and the needs of our small business community, which is the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Since over half of America’s workforce either own or work for a small business, it is vitally important that we make sure small businesses have the tools and resources they need to be successful as they create jobs and drive our economy.
At GKN Aerospace, I toured their new 100,000-square-foot facility at the Lone Star Commerce Center in Fort Worth. GKN manufactures large-scale titanium aerostructures and produces key parts for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 aircraft. GKN is another Fort Worth company working to ensure that America has the best war-fighting machines to defend and protect our great country.
During the work period, I was honored to participate in two particularly moving ceremonies. First was the Change of Command Ceremony for the 10th Air Force at Fort Worth’s Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base. I was proud to welcome Brigadier General Regina Sabric as she assumed her command as 10th Air Force commander, as well as thank Major General Bryan Radliff for his dedicated service to the Air Force and our country. NASJRB is home to a variety of Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army, and Texas Air National Guard units. It’s an important part of our Fort Worth community with over 11,000 personnel, both military and civilian, whose mission is to provide joint training capabilities and resources to enable Warfighter readiness for our Armed Services. I look forward to working with Brigadier General Sabric in her new role.
At a luncheon at Birchman Baptist Church, I presented the Congressional Veteran Commendation Award to nine veterans from TX-12 for their exceptional service to our community and our country. The event was attended by over 400 veterans, service members, and their families, and I was proud to recognize these brave heroes who continue to serve America following their enlistment. Our nation’s veterans and service members are our country’s greatest asset, and I will always champion legislation that gives them the support they so richly deserve.
As the summer work period came to a close, I hosted my annual Mayor’s Roundtable with mayors from across TX-12 to discuss important issues facing their cities. As a former mayor, I know firsthand the crucial role they play in meeting the needs of their constituents. Our discussions and strategy sessions always provide me with helpful information to take back to Washington. I am honored to serve with these mayors as we partner together to make TX-12 the great place it is to live, work, and raise a family.
Now that September congressional votes have resumed in Washington, D.C., I feel even more equipped to represent the people I admire most – the residents of the 12th District.
I am privileged to advocate for you and your families in the United States House of Representatives, and I will continue to fight for the needs of our great district.
May God bless you and your family and may God bless the United States of America.