Newsletter: House Passes Reconciliation 3.0

Jul 31, 2026

House Passes Reconciliation 3.0

The House voted on July 21 to attach the SAVE America Act to the FY2027 National Defense and Authorization Act (NDAA), marking the third time House Republicans have passed proof-of-citizenship and voter ID protections since February. The Senate has blocked these measures three separate times, forcing House Republicans to attach it to a must-pass bill to advance it.

The NDAA passed with a vote of 216 to 212, authorizing $1.15 trillion to strengthen our national defense, give our hardworking troops a pay raise, and rebuild our military’s industrial base.

The same week, the House also passed the Reconciliation 3.0 budget framework, which includes:

$73 billion for defense and intelligence funding
$12 billion in agriculture aid for farmers hit by weather-related losses such as crop and livestock damage
$10 billion to help states adopt stronger voter ID and citizenship verification standards

Additionally, the House passed the Stop Insider Trading Act, which bars members of Congress and their families from buying individual stocks while in office, ensuring lawmakers can’t profit from privileged information gained through their position in Congress.

Cloud Holds The Smithsonian Accountable

The Smithsonian has been a highly sought-after attraction for decades, pulling in visitors from every corner of the world. It is where history comes alive for many Americans, including myself.

Recently, I went back to visit in hopes of seeing a 250th anniversary exhibit worthy of honoring our nation’s rich history. Instead, I found displays apologizing for American history, promoting drag shows, pushing sexually explicit content in children’s books, and advancing other left-wing ideologies. This is not what the Smithsonian was built to do, and I quickly realized that this was not the same Smithsonian Americans have come to know and love.

As a member of the DOGE Subcommittee, I questioned Smithsonian Director Anthea Hartig this week. Director Hartig couldn’t answer even basic questions from the subcommittee and didn’t seem to know what racially charged and factually incorrect statements were in her own toolkit. It seems Director Hartig has forgotten she serves all Americans, including those she disagrees with.

The Smithsonian is generously funded by American taxpayers and should not be used as a vessel to promote political agendas. This is a view out of step with the very purposes for which the Museum and the broader Smithsonian Institution exist and receive public support.

The truth distorted becomes a lie.

Watch the video here.

Cloud Confronts American Bar Association on Partisan Gatekeeping

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) stated mission is to set the academic standards for law schools and the formulation of model ethical codes related to the legal profession. Recently, they have been using their authority and taking far-left stances on controversial issues, influencing their law schools, licensed attorneys, and accredited institutions nationwide.

The ABA has meddled in issues such as immigration, voter ID laws, DEI mandates for law schools, and other political issues that have no place in a “nonpartisan” establishment.

During the House Oversight Committee Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Constitutional Abuses, I questioned the ABA president, Ms. Behnke, about the recent behaviors and statements of the institution. Rather than answer directly, President Behnke dodged nearly every question asked of her.

The American people deserve better than an organization that claims neutrality while working to impose a left-wing agenda on the legal profession. We must ensure the ABA has no special pull over American institutions that refuse to bend to its politics.

Watch the video here.

Delivering for TX-27

Recently, the Congressional Art Competition winner, Ms. Elizabeth Colton, and her family visited beautiful Washington, D.C. Elizabeth saw her artwork on display in the U.S. Capitol for all staff and visitors to admire daily. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

Additionally, applications for the Service Academy are open. One of the privileges of serving in the United States Congress is the opportunity to nominate outstanding young people from the 27th District of Texas to be considered for appointment to our nation’s service academies.

Learn more and apply here.

Behind every vote and press release, our district office is working every day to cut through federal red tape for the people of TX-27. Here are a few recent wins:

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
A constituent had been trying to secure her disability retirement from CCAD since June 2025. Our office stepped in, and her retirement is now processed. She will receive $43,680 a year going forward.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
A constituent in Caldwell County reached out for help with her 2025 tax return. After our office contacted the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) on her behalf, she received her full refund of $17,051.11, plus $170.11 in interest, for a total of $17,221.22.

Social Security Administration (SSA)
A constituent faced a lengthy review after the SSA flagged an overpayment of $16,940.60 on his account. Following our office’s involvement, the SSA approved a full waiver of the overpayment. As a result, he will continue receiving his monthly Social Security benefit of $2,276.00, saving him a projected total of $22,760.00 for the remainder of 2026.

If you are experiencing an issue with a federal agency, our office is here to help. You can submit a contact form with your request or issue here.