By U.S.Rep. Roger Williams There is no getting past the fact that we are living in unique circumstances and uncertain times. Whether or not we personally have been touched by COVID-19, we cannot deny that a faceless anxiousness is felt on the global stage. While our individual actions may seem insignificant or unnecessary, there are essential steps we can take to help combat the virus. Most importantly, we need to remain aware -- not afraid. Lately you may have heard the phrase "flatten the curve" repeated on the news and by the world's leading health authorities. What this means is that by spreading out the number of cases--varying in severity--over the course of a few months instead of a few weeks, we are able to conserve vital supplies like hospital beds, monitors and ventilators. We are also able to conserve crucial human resources as health care professionals have more time and energy devoted to finding a cure. Our doctors and nurses are working around the clock right now, often without sleeping for days on end, to ensure that our families are taken care of. Our first responders are on the front lines responding to emergencies, sometimes blindly walking into situations without protective equipment. Our farmers, ranchers, truck drivers and grocery store workers are keeping the supply chain moving as we sleep at night. These men and women embody the American spirit that I know will carry us through this crisis. Regardless of class, religion or political belief, we are all being challenged to place the safety of others before ourselves every moment of every day. While we are not used to things like recommended "social distancing," these are necessary precautions to keep our neighbors safe. We have come to understand this virus spreads rapidly and easily, and we all have to do our part to help prevent it. At a basic level, this includes washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, staying home unless absolutely necessary, covering your cough or sneeze, refraining from touching your face with unwashed hands and disinfecting frequently used surfaces on a regular basis. Prevention begins in the community and it is critically important that we remain aware of the responsibility we share. We have just over 350 reported cases of COVID-19 in Texas as of this writing. That number will dramatically increase over the next few weeks because testing in larger quantities will be more readily available. When we hear these new statistics, we need to remember that by spreading out the number of people who are sick over a greater period of time, we are able to devote more resources to healing. Flattening the curve will help us beat an invisible enemy. While we are facing a unique time of uncertainty, we are also a nation uniquely gifted to rise up when tested. I have full faith that by working together we will make it through to the other side -- we have risen from seemingly impossible circumstances before and we will do it once again. Williams, R-Austin, represents the 25th District of Texas.

By Roger Williams True bipartisan victories are rare on Capitol Hill, and we happen to be staring at one right in front of us. Over one year ago, President Trump joined the leaders of Canada and Mexico to negotiate a new trade deal that brings North America into the 21st Century. The United States Mexico Canada Agreement not only creates hundreds of thousands of jobs, it expands our partnerships across the continent and strengthens relationships with our neighbors. I have been a vocal advocate of this deal since day one because everyone wins. Recently, I joined my colleagues on both sides of the aisle voicing support and writing to Speaker Pelosi urging its immediate consideration on the House floor. Finalizing the deal will send a message to every nation that America is wide open for business and we are going to lead the world economy. As Texas Secretary of State under Governor Rick Perry, I oversaw affairs between Texas and Mexico, working with federal, state and local officials to address issues with our southern neighbors. Strengthening the trade partnership between our state and Mexico affects more than just trade -- it means new opportunities for families in both countries. Job creation across our border will help alleviate a major contributing factor to the border crisis: good-paying jobs in Mexico means that less migrants will be forced to seek work in the United States because of more opportunities at home. Texas exported $27.5 billion in goods to Canada and $109.7 billion to Mexico in 2018, with more than 114,200 jobs in our state currently depending on manufacturing exports to both countries. As each day goes by, we are irresponsibly missing out on crucial investments and are putting millions of jobs nationwide at risk. In our increasingly digitized economy, Texas exported $28.5 billion in computer and electronic products to Mexico and Canada last year alone. Trade across our borders has significantly shifted to the digital sphere over the last two decades, and it will only keep growing in the future. The USMCA does more to protect intellectual property than ever before and enforces IP rights that will protect precious technological innovation; these are necessary updates to keep up with our evolving digital landscape. Texas' 25th Congressional District is also home to one of the largest dairy producers in the United States, which means agricultural trade deeply affects our local communities. For far too long, our farmers and ranchers have been burdened by Canada's unfair tariffs that limit their ability to sell goods abroad. Thankfully, the USMCA will eliminate this pricing program and expand export opportunities that will further grow Texas' economy. During a time that Americans seem more divided than ever, I encourage us to collectively seize upon this opportunity to bridge the partisan gap and put the best interests of our nation first. The USMCA is ripe and ready to deliver for the American people -- let's not stand in our own way. Roger Williams of Weatherford is a U.S. Congressman representing District 25, which includes Johnson County.

By Roger Williams As we gather together with family and friends during the holiday season, I hope we will all take pause and think of our military servicemembers who will spend their Thanksgiving and Christmas deployed in our nation's defense. America's warriors spend these cherished moments far from home, sacrificing time spent with loved-ones to guarantee the safety of every American family celebrating at home. Whether they are conducting combat operations or peacekeeping and humanitarian missions around the world, our nation's warriors are ever vigilant and ready. They are a global force for good, and we must always remember the cost of their commitment. Texas' 25th District is home to Fort Hood, one of the largest military installations in the world and the headquarters for the III Armored Corps. Since 2003, the installation has deployed hundreds of thousands of troops for combat and humanitarian missions across the globe. Our "Phantom Warriors," as they are so heroically known, have participated in every major combat operation since 9/11. And while our warriors across the military commit themselves to our security, the partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C. has failed to respond in kind. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes the annual budget and expenditures for the Department of Defense. For nearly six decades, Congress has passed the NDAA in a bipartisan fashion, a representation that despite all of the disagreement on Capitol Hill, lawmakers can and will work together to provide for our military. Sadly, this year's partisan House NDAA threatens an annual display of bipartisanship honoring our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. In Washington, we must acknowledge that policy disagreements are a healthy exercise of our democratic process. Accepting a stalemate and placing unnecessary barriers to a solution are unproductive and should never be an option. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution instructs the Legislative Branch to "provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States," which is the number one responsibility of the federal government. That is a charge that we must be willing to keep. I would like to acknowledge a recent event that serves as a stark reminder to us all of the dangers our servicemembers face every day. This November, the Fort Hood community lost two outstanding Army Aviators in Afghanistan; Chief Warrant Officers 2 Kirk T. Fuchigami Jr. and David C. Knadle. These men are valiant representatives of putting service above self. In their honor, we must provide the resources and funding necessary for their comrades to continue their storied legacy. Let us properly fund our military, provide our warfighters with the resources they need to fight and win, and ensure that the Department of Defense is the most modern, ready and lethal organization that the world has ever seen. It is our responsibility to deliver results for those who defend our freedom and liberty each and every day. I stand ready to get to work and I call on my colleagues to cut the politics and do the same. Congressman Roger Williams, a Republican from Austin, represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas, which includes Fort Hood and is home to the III Armored Corps.