Fellow Texans, Did you know that our Lone Star State is at the forefront of addressing the world’s most pressing health crises? Texas is home to the world’s largest medical center and generates $2.3 billion annually in medicine and pharmaceutical exports. We rank second nationwide in the initiation and completion of clinical trials and boast the county with the highest concentration of testing laboratories in the country. Texas is also a leader in academic excellence—we rank first in agricultural science doctorates and second in health sciences and biomedical engineering doctorates. These remarkable achievements underscore our state’s status as a powerhouse of innovation and progress. Last year alone, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invested $1.85 billion in Texas’ world-class research institutions—a substantial investment that supported nearly 29,500 jobs and generated approximately $5.8 billion in economic activity statewide. Today, we face a critical threat. On Friday, February 7, 2025, the NIH issued Notice Number NOT-OD-25-068, establishing a fixed indirect cost rate of 15% across all NIH grants. This policy replaces the flexible, federally negotiated rates that have long enabled our research institutions to cover essential operational costs and adhere to stringent regulatory and high safety measures. Consequently, the consequences of these cuts are severe, threatening to undermine both our research infrastructure and our economic stability. Moreover, the immediate implementation of these drastic and devastating policy changes leaves us without the critical time or resources needed to adapt effectively. Having dedicated nearly two decades to scientific research and education in this great state, I have witnessed firsthand how breakthroughs in research bolster not only academia but also the industries that sustain thousands of families and drive our economy. Every day, we advance scientific and medical innovations that save lives and power Texas’ prosperity. The bright minds we train at our institutions contribute not only to the progress of science but also bring critical expertise that reinforces our oil and gas industry, strengthens our agricultural sector, and supports other vital industries. Consequently, these federal cuts imperil the very foundations of Texas’ economic strength. This is not about ideological debates over issues such as reproductive rights, science education, or climate change. It is about preserving jobs, fostering economic growth, and ensuring Texas’ future as a global leader in innovation. It is about safeguarding the economic vitality and innovative spirit that have made Texas the eighth largest economy in the world. We must sustain the robust research funding that drives this vibrant ecosystem—one that has attracted industry leaders like Tesla, Meta, Oracle, Google, and Apple, prompting them to relocate to Texas and expand their investments. I urge you to join me in calling on our elected representatives and lawmakers to take immediate action. Stand with the scientific community and the thousands of Texans whose futures depend on robust research funding. Our leaders must act now to block these damaging cuts. Together, we can ensure that Texas continues to thrive as a beacon of innovation and economic strength. @tedcruz @JohnCornyn @CPRITTexas @chiproytx @JoaquinCastrotx @RepFletcher @DanCrenshawTX @SylvesterTurner @RepWalle @RepPatFallon @KHOU @mattlanza @HoustonChron @dallasnews @startelegram @ExpressNews @statesman @TMCInnovation @bcmhouston @MDAndersonNews @UTSWMedCenter @UTAustin @TAMU @PeterHotez @NIH @NIHDirector @realDonaldTrump

Still stand by it. Said it many times before then. Blogged about it too. Difference is the transparency. @doge says they are transparent. They don’t want anyone questioning them. When it comes to government transparency: If you have nothing to hide, hide nothing @elonmusk , why not invite some democrats to work side by side with your Doge teams and report on what exactly is going on ? That would get everyone who supports smaller gov and efficiently excited. #trustbutverify

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is making plans to deploy its BWRX-300 SMR in the UK. They hope to start construction of their first reactor "sometime in the middle of this decade." They also claim that they can build a 300 MW plant for $1 billion. Article link in reply. The cost estimate seems optimistic to me. If they could build them at that price, it would be revolutionary.

If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that's also illegal. Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power.