Newsletter: Protecting Women, Babies & Families—and a Quick Visit to Mexico
Protecting our Women in Sports
As we open the Winter Olympic Games and recently celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day, this week I introduced the SAFE (Securing Actual Female Events) Olympic Sports Act.
This bill would codify President Trump’s 2025 Executive Order by requiring that athletes in Olympic-affiliated and sanctioned events only participate in competitions corresponding to their biological sex. This would prevent national athletic governing bodies from standing in protest of basic biological realities and switching their competition guidance for woke ideological ends.
It is vital that we provide a lasting standard that protects the safety and achievements of our female athletes across the country.
Standing for the Right to Life
Defending our inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness begins with standing up for the right to life and for those who cannot speak for themselves. Last month, I joined tens of thousands of Americans gathered in Washington for the annual March for Life. The march sent a clear message that our nation must continue working toward a culture that values and protects every life from the moment it begins at conception.
I’m honored to have received A+ pro-life rating from SBA Pro-Life America, and I encourage Congress to work hand-in-hand with the Trump Administration in protecting the sanctity of life. In 2025, we saw significant pro-life wins at the federal level, such as:
- Reinstatement of the Mexico City policy
- Elimination of federal funding for Planned Parenthood in the One Big Beautiful Bill
- Pardoning of 23 pro-life activists
- Banning the use of federal funds for research with fetal tissue
- Banning of abortion services at VA Health Centers
- Elimination of funding for agencies like USAID that funded abortion services across the globe
- Protection of the Hyde Amendment
More Money for Working Families this Tax Season
Tax-filing officially opened in January, and this year, working families across America are sure to see bigger refunds and more money in their pockets. Last summer, the President signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill which brought about significant changes to our tax code, and now, economists are predicting that Americans will see an average increase of $1,000 to their typical tax refund this year.
Working families will receive significant relief with eligible employees now allowed to exclude up to $25,000 in tips and $12,500 in overtime from their income when doing their taxes. Families will also see an increased child tax credit up to $2,200 per child, and other new tax incentives for child care or adoption services. The new code also supports main street by making the 20% deduction for small-businesses permanent and provides relief for our senior citizens by increasing the standard deduction to $6,000 for those over the age of 65.
This tax-season is shaping up to be one of the most tax-payer friendly seasons our nation has ever seen. If you need more information on changes for this tax-season, please visit IRS.gov.
Pushing for Accountability in Mexico
I made a brief trip to Mexico City last weekend to meet with the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Mexico’s Secretary of State, and several members of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies. With our shared border, ongoing trade negotiations, and a growing economic partnership, this trip marked an important opportunity to directly address critical issues facing Texans.
At each meeting, I raised two urgent matters impacting Texans: Mexico’s obligation to deliver water owed under existing agreements and the need to prioritize efforts to combat the New World screwworm, which poses a significant risk to our farmers and ranchers. These two issues affect livelihoods, food security, and economic stability across Texas.
While the progress to secure our border is undeniable, I also stressed the importance with Mexican authorities that there is still much work to do to combat cartel influence. Mexico is now America’s top trading partner, but lasting partnership will depend on security, rule of law, and a commitment to meeting shared responsibilities.
In the Media
Washington Watch with Tony Perkins: Rep. Cloud Discusses Two Pro-Life Bills and the Abortion Pill
Right to the Point Podcast: An In-Depth Conversation on the Failures of Obamacare
NewsNation: Clinton’s Deposition and the Epstein Investigation
God Bless,
Michael Cloud
Member of Congress