House of Representatives Passes One Big Beautiful Bill

Rep. Brian Babin: "@SpeakerJohnson has led with courage & conviction throughout the reconciliation process. His steadfast Christian faith has been a guiding light - helping deliver a bill that will shape the future our children & grandchildren inherit: strong, prosperous, & morally upstanding."

Rep. Michael Cloud: "The House Freedom Caucus continues to be President Trump's top ally in Congress - and the fight to rein in reckless spending is far from over."

Rep. August Pfluger: "Camille, Vivian and I are now reunited with Caroline and Juliana who were evacuated from Camp Mystic. The last day has brought unimaginable grief to many families and we mourn with them as well as holding out hope for survivors. We want to thank the first responders who have come from far and wide to save lives. The TX Division of Emergency Management has been incredible and the White House, DHS, FEMA, DPS and local officials have all been responsive and helpful. Please join us today as we pray for miracles."

Senator John Cornyn: "Camp Mystic. So many young lives lost. Others unaccounted for. With [@]GregAbbott_TX @SecNoem, and @chiproytx: we are offering condolences, praying with the grieving, and giving thanks for the rescued."

House of Representatives Passes One Big Beautiful Bill — By Texas Politics' Mateo Guillamont — The House of Representatives has passed the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ by a slim majority. The final vote count was 218 to 214. 

Dangerous Flood Strikes Texas Over July 4th Weekend — By Texas Politics' Daniel Molina — As Americans celebrated Independence Day, tragedy struck South-Central Texas as severe flash flooding devastated the Hill Country region. The flood left at least 24 dead and many more missing, including at least 23 young girls from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas.

Texas Republicans Applaud Passage of “One Big Beautiful Bill” — By Texas Politics' Raeylee Barefield — Texas Republicans in Congress are celebrating the House’s passage of the Senate amendment to H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping legislative package that includes major tax cuts, border security funding, and rural investments.

Flash Flood in Texas Kills 43, Dozens Missing at Camp Mystic — By Texas Politics' Raeylee Barefield — A flash flood along the Guadalupe River in Texas killed at least 43 people and left dozens more missing, many of them children attending Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp for girls.

Mothers Against Greg Abbott Slams Colin Allred — By Texas Politics' Daniel Molina — The progressive grassroots organization Mothers Against Greg Abbott PAC announced this week that they would not be supporting former Rep. Colin Allred’s (D) 2026 Senate bid. The organization cited deep dissatisfaction with Rep. Allred’s voting record and political strategy.

New Poll Shows Americans Consider Political Alternatives — By Texas Politics' Daniel Molina — Discourse over the One Big Beautiful Bill reflects a deep political divide in the United States. A new Quantus Insights poll confirms that Americans are considering political alternatives amidst deeply entrenched polarization, declining optimism, and eroding faith in traditional institutions.

U.S. to Release Sterile Flies Over Texas and Mexico to Combat Screwworm — By Texas Politics' Raeylee Barefield — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is ramping up efforts to control a dangerous livestock pest by releasing millions of sterile flies over Texas and Mexico, targeting the New World Screwworm (NWS), a flesh-eating maggot that threatens American agriculture.

Strength in the Skies: Why the F-35 Matters More Than Ever — By Lt. Col. Dan Johnson — Every July, as we pause to celebrate the birth of our nation, we are reminded that freedom is never guaranteed—it must be defended. In today’s world of growing geopolitical instability, defense demands investment in the tools, technologies, and capabilities that keep our warfighters safe and our adversaries at bay. The F-35 Lightning II is one of those tools—and one of the most powerful.

House of Representatives Passes One Big Beautiful Bill — By Texas Politics' Mateo Guillamont

Texas health officials announce first West Nile virus case in Brazos County — By Rocky Garza for KSAT

LONESTAR is written by Javier Manjarres and Daniel Molina