I am the top Republican on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Appropriations, and I sit on the Defense Subcommittee. These committees are of special importance to Texas' 31st district because Fort Hood, the premier installation that trains and deploys troops in the United States, resides in our community.

The Appropriations Committee is responsible for providing federal funding for numerous activities such as national defense, homeland security, education and infrastructure. This committee controls about 40% of total federal spending provided for a fiscal year.

I am also serving my fifth term as the co-chair of the bipartisan House Army Caucus. The House Army Caucus was formed to advocate for soldiers and their families. Our primary focus is to improve the quality of life, training and safety of our soldiers and their families. We work directly with Army leadership and reach out to troops and their families through social events and forums to ensure we keep our finger on the pulse of what their needs are.