Congressman shares legislative wins, challenges ahead
Congressman Jodey Arrington spoke at the Aztec Theater on Wednesday, August 20, where he met with local citizens and leaders to reflect on his service and discuss the challenges facing the nation.
Reflections on service and legislative wins
Arrington noted that he is approaching ten years of representing West Texas in Washington. “God’s called me to do this, but I’m not going to do it much longer,” he said. “Maybe I’ll do another term, maybe two. I’m a term limit guy. Our founders never envisioned a career in Washington. At some point you’ve got to go back and live under the laws you passed.”
He highlighted a series of legislative accomplishments that he said were all part of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” Those included a new $65 billion reference price and safety net in the farm bill to address inflation, and $30 million in defense appropriations for the region.
“I’m proud of the Big Beautiful Bill,” Arrington said. “It reflects our values, and it delivered the largest spending cuts in history along with key investments for our farmers, our defense, and our communities here at home.”
Fiscal responsibility and national debt
Arrington said the national debt, now at $37 trillion, remains the country’s greatest threat. “Both parties are guilty of fiscal recklessness,” he told the audience. “It would be immoral for us to hand our kids a bankrupt country.”
He cautioned against thinking inflation could solve the problem. “Some people say we’ll just print our way out of it,” he said. “That’s not responsible. We need to cut the size of government and put policies in place that encourage growth.”
Economic growth,
energy, and trade
Turning to the economy, Arrington said energy independence and deregulation are key. “You can’t have the lifeblood of your economy—oil and gas—under attack and expect to grow,” he said. He also pointed to weaknesses in supply chains exposed during the pandemic. “We don’t need to be begging China for our food, our fuel, or our medicine,” he said. “That’s why we need fairer trade policies and more domestic production capacity.”
He added that welfare programs should include accountability. “I want a nation of immigrants, but we can’t afford abuse of our safety nets. We need welfare-to-work reforms, not programs that discourage people from contributing,” Arrington said.
Community and
local issues
Arrington addressed issues closer to home, including screw worm eradication. He said funding sterile fly production is essential and should be treated as an emergency expenditure. “This is why you do emergency appropriations,” he said. “If we don’t spend a little money now, it will cost billions later.”
On the proposed $25 billion data center project in Shackelford County, Arrington acknowledged both the opportunities and concerns. “It’s kind of like an oil boom,” he said. “These are good jobs and a stronger tax base. It could bring young families back. But we also need to watch our water supply, our infrastructure, and make sure we preserve our community culture.” He encouraged “cautious optimism,” saying, “I believe we can harness it for the good.”
Faith, values, and
closing reflections
Arrington tied much of his message to America’s founding values. “Our fundamental rights come from Almighty God, not government,” he said. “That’s what separates us from other societies in history.”
Quoting Ben Franklin’s call for prayer at the Constitutional Convention, Arrington said, “We need that same providential guidance today.” He closed the Albany event with a prayer, thanking the community for their support and asking for wisdom for the nation’s leaders.
“At the end of the day, what makes America great are our families, our community, our faith, and our freedom,” Arrington said. “If you don’t hear anything else, know that it has been a profound privilege to serve as your representative.”
