Moran Minute: House Republicans Return to D.C. to Tackle the Next Big Steps

Dear Friends,

With Congress back in session, it’s time to get to work! House Republicans have returned to D.C. to complete the work of the 118th Congress and prepare for the 119th. It was a pleasure to welcome President Donald J. Trump to our House Republican Conference meeting, where he applauded the hard work of House Republicans in the months leading up to the November election and shared his vision for his second term. This is an exciting time for our nation, and I’m eager to see what we can accomplish for our country—and specifically, for you, the First District of Texas. House Republicans are more united now than ever, thanks to the trust the American people have placed in us to fulfill our promise to serve you better and get our country back on track.

This week, House Republicans gathered to elect GOP leadership, adopt internal rules, and welcome freshman members. The freshmen began their orientation earlier in the week as we geared up for the 119th Congress. I’m proud to announce that House Republicans have elected a strong team of leaders to guide our party forward, including filling the vacancy left by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who is departing to serve as U.N. Ambassador under the Trump Administration. At the top of our leadership, GOP members elected Speaker Mike Johnson as our Speaker Designate. He will officially take on the role of Speaker of the House in January, when the 119th Congress convenes. Rep. Steve Scalise (LA-01) was elected Majority Leader, Rep. Tom Emmer (MN-06) as Majority Whip, Rep. Lisa McClain (MI-09) as Conference Chairwoman, Rep. Blake Moore (UT-01) as Conference Vice Chairman, Rep. Kevin Hern (OK-01) as Conference Policy Chair, Rep. Erin Houchin (IN-09) as Conference Secretary, Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-09) as National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman, and Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11) as Chairman of the Republican Study Committee.

I remain committed to supporting House leadership that will guide our party in restoring American values and fulfilling the promises and goals set forth by President Trump throughout his campaign. I look forward to providing you with updates as we continue to put Americans first, lower prices, secure our border, and so much more!

On Monday, our country commemorated Veterans Day, a time to honor the men and women who have sacrificed in defense of our nation. Their bravery and dedication are the foundation of our strength and unity, and it is because of heroes like our veterans that we enjoy the freedoms we hold dear. Their service not only protects our country but also promotes peace around the world. To further honor their sacrifice, last Friday I co-sponsored House Resolution 1566 to observe the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans this Veterans Day in 2024. May God continue to bless our veterans for all they’ve given to our country. Let us always recognize and honor their unwavering commitment to the values that make America great.

Currently, there is a Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) dating back to the early 1980s that unfairly affects the retirement of certain public servants (teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, etc.) who also have pensions. This creates a circumstance where individuals who have earned certain Social Security benefits are not eligible to receive them. This long standing problem has needed a legislative fix. This week, two bills came to the floor, both seeking to address issues with the WEP: H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA-06), and H.R. 5342, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, introduced by the Chairman of the Budget Committee, Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19). I cosponsored and voted for Chairman Arrington’s H.R. 5342 because it would responsibly address the WEP issue. The cost of Rep. Arrington’s bill is roughly $24 billion over the next 10 years and would not push the Social Security Fund closer to insolvency.

The second proposition, H.R. 82, was a more well-known proposal aimed at addressing the WEP issue. However, I opposed the measure because it would (i) increase taxpayer spending by $195.65 billion, (ii) reduce the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund by six months, leading to a 23% cut for all seniors in 2033, and (iii) result in the overpayment of benefits to some currently affected by WEP. While H.R. 82 is well-intentioned, it over-corrects the issue and will provide more benefits than were earned by some currently caught in the WEP. Additionally, H.R. 82 will cost nearly eight times more than Chairman Arrington’s proposal (H.R. 5342) and accelerate the insolvency of the Social Security Trust Fund, leading to widespread negative consequences for all retirees. I remain committed to strengthening the Social Security Trust Fund, and unfortunately, the passage of H.R. 82 will do the opposite for all beneficiaries, not just those affected by WEP. I share the opinion of my colleagues who voted in favor of this bill that there is indeed a problem with the Social Security Trust Fund that needs to be solved. However, it should not be addressed at the expense of future American retirees.

Ultimately, the House passed H.R. 82 with a vote of 327 to 75; H.R. 5342 failed with a vote of 175 to 225. To read my full statement on my votes on these respective bills, click here.

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of joining Brennon Gurley on CBS19 for an in-depth discussion about everything happening in Washington, D.C. this week. We covered a wide range of topics, from the recent meeting with President Trump to the exciting developments for the upcoming Congress and what lies ahead for our nation. It was a great opportunity to dive into the key issues shaping our legislative agenda and the path forward for America. You can click the image below to watch the full interview.

Moran in the Media