By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
Rep. Keith Self (R-TX-03) held a telephone town hall Thursday evening to discuss the federal shutdown, health care, immigration, and pending legislation. Residents from across Texas’s 3rd Congressional District joined the hourlong call. Participants could press 0 to ask questions and 7 to sign up for his newsletter.
Government Shutdown
Self opened by addressing the shutdown, now in its fifth week. He said House Republicans had “done our job by passing a clean funding bill” through November 21, but Senate Democrats blocked it. The bill, he said, funded the military, air-traffic controllers, farmers, small businesses, and low-income families. Democrats, he argued, were “holding essential services hostage to push the extension of unrelated Obamacare subsidies.”
Lynn from McKinney asked how Democrats could be blamed if Republicans control Congress. Self cited the Senate filibuster and said Republicans “need five more Democrat votes.” He added that his offices remain open to assist constituents with Social Security, Veterans Affairs, and IRS issues.
Economy and Tax Cuts
Self highlighted the Working Families Tax Cut Act, which he called the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” It eliminates federal taxes on tips and overtime pay and reduces taxes on Social Security benefits for most retirees. He credited it with $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction and $9 billion in spending cuts, noting the national debt now tops $38 trillion.
Answering Steve from McKinney, he cited 3.8 percent GDP growth in the second quarter as proof of a rebound and criticized the Federal Reserve’s high-rate policy for slowing housing.
Health Care and the ACA
Denise from Plano asked about ACA subsidies. Self said Republicans oppose extending “COVID-era Obamacare subsidies,” which he described as temporary and costly, flowing “directly to insurance companies” at about $48 billion a year, or $350 billion over ten years.
Social Security
Catherine from Anna asked about taxes on benefits. Self said the “vast majority” of seniors will owe no federal tax next year because of the new law, though higher-income recipients may still pay under current thresholds.
SNAP and Nutrition Assistance
Tiffany from Princeton asked why non-citizens are unable to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and why it exists. Self replied that “many” SNAP recipients are not U.S. citizens and said “the most purchased item under SNAP is carbonated beverages,” which “doesn’t provide any nutrition.”
He said the program began within the farm bill to secure urban votes and now represents a major share of that bill’s spending. He added that he supports reforms emphasizing nutrition for American families.
Immigration and Elections
Jake from McKinney asked whether the federal government should verify voter citizenship. Self cited the SAVE Act, which he said passed the House and awaits Senate action, would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections and called it “a key step for election integrity.”
Federal law already limits voting in federal elections to U.S. citizens, though states, not the federal government, administer voter registration and verification.
Visas and Workforce
Nathan from Allen asked about the H-1B program. Self said the Trump administration imposed a $100,000 fee per worker to discourage replacing Americans with lower-paid foreign employees. He also said the southern border is “very secure” and credited the administration with reducing crossings.
Epic 2.0 Development and Sharia Legislation
Frank from Lucas asked about stopping the Epic 2.0 project near Josephine. Self said the Texas Attorney General’s office had found evidence the developers violated state and federal securities laws and referred the matter to the Texas State Securities Board for review.
He then tied the issue to broader cultural and legal concerns, discussing two bills he co-sponsored: the No Sharia Act, which would bar U.S. courts from enforcing judgments or arbitration based on Islamic or other foreign law that conflicts with constitutional rights; and the Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act, which he said “prevents all foreign nationals who observe Sharia from entering or staying in the U.S.”
Self said the measures aim to prevent “two sets of laws or two civilizations,” calling Sharia “incompatible with the U.S. Constitution.” He added that “about ten years ago” a “Collin County court accepted a judgment from a Sharia court,” though he did not cite a case. Public records show a more recent Collin County case — In re Mariam Ayad (2021–2022) — in which the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a judge, rather than an Islamic Fiqh panel, must decide matters arising from an Islamic marriage contract.
Security and Drug Cartels
Scott from Plano asked about “illegal and immoral targeting of drug boats without due process.” Self said fentanyl kills “about a small airliner’s worth” of Americans daily and that the President is using Article II authority and terrorism designations against cartel networks. He said Congress continues debating whether a formal Authorization for Use of Military Force should include non-state actors involved in trafficking and violence.
Education and Cryptocurrency
Blaine from Plano asked about dismantling the Department of Education. Self said it “has already cut 50 percent of its workforce” and emphasized state and local control of schools.
Mark from Plano asked about cryptocurrency. Self contrasted Bitcoin and stablecoins with a central-bank digital currency (CBDC), which he opposes, and said House conservatives added anti-CBDC language to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Closing
Self thanked participants and encouraged constituents to contact his offices for help with federal agencies. He directed listeners to his website and social-media pages and invited them to join his weekly newsletter.
Three audience polls—on taxpayer-funded health care for undocumented immigrants, extending COVID-era ACA subsidies, and whether Sharia threatens the American way of life—were conducted; results were not released.
TX3DNews has requested clarification from Rep. Self’s office on several statements made during the call. Responses will be published when received.