By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
ALLEN, Texas — Over coffee at a small family-style restaurant, about 70 residents spent Saturday morning questioning U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R-TX-03) on issues ranging from the 43-day government shutdown and veterans’ care to health costs, “Sharia” legislation, and the pending House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Shutdown and Funding Outlook
Self began by addressing the 43-day federal shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—saying he flew to Washington for a 24-hour trip to help finalize the deal that reopened the government. He told the crowd the measure “protected what this Congress has accomplished under President Trump 2.0,” restoring about 4,000 furloughed workers but “not addressing the 150,000 federal workers that have been dismissed.”
Looking ahead to January, when the current stopgap funding expires, Self said House Republicans intend to move as many full appropriations bills as possible to avoid another lapse. “We just don’t see what the leverage would be to have another shutdown,” he said, noting that leaders are working to narrow disagreements before funding deadlines return.
Epstein Files and a Possible Veto
Several questions centered on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which reached the 218-signature threshold for House consideration this week. Self confirmed he supports full release.
“Yes, I will vote to release the Epstein files,” he said. “I was an original co-sponsor when the discharge petition was put out… I think there’s a better one coming, but I’ll be voting to release the files.”
Asked why he didn’t sign the petition he co-sponsored, Self replied that he “knew it was going to get the votes.” He added that Speaker Mike Johnson has said the measure will reach the floor soon.
When pressed on the bill’s chances beyond the House, Self called Senate passage unlikely.
“I suspect it’s going to pass the House, but in the Senate it’s not going to happen,” he said. “Could we override a veto? That’s the hardest thing—getting through the Senate, getting across the president’s desk. Overriding a veto is monumental.”
Veterans’ Caregiving Cuts
A woman from Rowlett described caring for her 86-year-old father, a disabled Air Force veteran whose home-care hours through VA Community Care had been cut from 58 to 13 per week. Self acknowledged the reductions as a “real issue.”
“The committee is very concerned about the cuts,” he said. “I don’t have an answer now, but I assure you the committee has been and is working.”
He noted that he serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits but not the panel that oversees health-care delivery.
Health-Care Affordability
Turning to the Affordable Care Act, Self called it “neither good care nor affordable.” He said the temporary COVID-era subsidies are set to expire Dec. 31 and that Republicans need a reform plan before then.
“If we don’t, the Republicans are going to own Obamacare,” he said. “We go hard into health-savings accounts, get the insurance companies out of the middle, and reform the pharmacy-benefit-manager program.”
He added that Freedom Caucus members are drafting proposals but have not released details publicly.
SNAP Purchases and Nutrition Policy
Self said he introduced a bill to prohibit carbonated beverages from being purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“The most purchased item under SNAP is carbonated beverages,” he said. “So I filed a bill six months ago to not allow carbonated beverages to be eligible under SNAP.”
He said the Agriculture Department plans a review of fraud and eligibility “to make sure our poorest families are available to have SNAP.”
Discussion of “Sharia”-Related Legislation
Early in the meeting, Self previewed a floor speech he plans to give about what he called “the rise of Sharia in North Texas.” He said he would re-record a previous talk on the topic and outlined bills he supports addressing it.
“Sharia is a culture; it is a civilization with the patina of religion,” he said. “It tends to dominate every culture that it enters. This is a dangerous concept.”
Self said he co-sponsors measures declaring that Sharia has no legal standing in U.S. courts, removing tax-exempt status from certain nonprofits, and requiring foreign nationals “who are adherents of Sharia” to leave the country. He also plans to file a bill asking the Treasury Department to designate five imams who issued “fatwas on President Trump” as “Specially Designated Global Terrorists.”
When a resident raised concern for Muslim families’ safety, Self replied that “there are elements of Sharia that are against the law in the United States,” adding that some “moderate Muslims” describe those practices as cultural.
Digital Currency and Other Issues
Self said he worked with House leadership to insert an amendment opposing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) into the National Defense Authorization Act.
“There is a fairly sizable group of House Republicans that say we will do almost anything it takes to not have a central bank digital currency,” he said, calling it “the third leg of the surveillance state.”
Other topics included foreign investment in U.S. real estate, privatizing airport security and air-traffic control, and counting only citizens for congressional apportionment. Self said he would “take a look” at each but offered no commitments.
Audience and Closing
The audience was largely supportive, with a few dissenting voices questioning Self’s views on immigration, religion, and spending priorities. Questions were taken through numbered wristbands as he checked off topics on a self-described “bingo card.”
Other exchanges during the hour touched on foreign aid, healthcare, and representation. One resident asked why Congress approved billions in aid to Argentina instead of helping U.S. farmers. Another pressed Self on what will happen to constituents who lose Affordable Care Act subsidies on January 1—a question he acknowledged but did not answer directly. Others raised concerns about how the census counts noncitizens for congressional apportionment and whether lawmakers should continue receiving pay during government shutdowns.
After roughly an hour, Self closed the session with a brief thank-you:
“Great questions,” he said. “You almost completed my bingo card.”
Keith, first off, thank you for your service. I want to share this respectfully, but I also need you to understand where many of us millennials are coming from as we try to start families here in Collin County.
Your career path—from military academy, to your years of service, to your time in public office—followed a very different trajectory than what younger families face today. Many of us paid for our own college education, entered the private workforce, and have worked hard to build careers. But we’re now struggling with challenges that didn’t exist decades ago.
A major concern for many local families is the impact of current immigration and work-visa policies—especially the H-1B program—on our job market and housing market. In many industries, companies are increasingly relying on visa-dependent workers who are tied to their employer, often at significantly lower wages. This creates an uneven playing field, reduces opportunities for qualified American workers, and puts downward pressure on salaries in key fields.
At the same time, Collin County’s housing market has become extremely difficult for young families. Rapid population growth, investor activity, and inconsistent enforcement around visa programs have all contributed to affordability challenges across North Dallas and surrounding areas. Many families feel squeezed out of neighborhoods they hoped to settle in.
We don’t expect simple answers, but we do expect our elected officials to acknowledge these problems and advocate for policies that protect American workers, ensure fair labor standards, and help restore affordability for families trying to build a future here.
This is an opportunity for you to stand with the younger generation by supporting BANNING H-1B program (NO REFORM) and prioritizing the needs of American workers and families.