U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) visited Amarillo on Friday to discuss the newly enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” outlining its implications for immigration enforcement, rural hospital funding, energy policy, and economic development. The event, hosted by the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and Amarillo National Bank, included a fireside chat moderated by broadcaster Brice Sheets and drew local business leaders, officials, and residents.
Mayor Cole Stanley opened the luncheon:
“Senator Cornyn’s work brings federal support to our community, driving prosperity,” Stanley said. “We’re building a stronger future together.”
Cornyn began by acknowledging Amarillo’s growing role in federal initiatives:
“It’s great to be back in the Panhandle, where innovation and growth are shaping Texas’ future.”
Immigration Enforcement and Workforce Challenges
Cornyn said the legislation significantly expands border security resources:
“Well, part of the one Big Beautiful Bill was a significant funding for detention facilities and for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove the people who are here, who have exhausted all of their legal remedies and need to leave.”
He linked current border challenges to previous federal policy decisions:
“And unfortunately, under the previous administration, there were open border policies, and we’ve seen what’s happened, not only with the drugs that have flooded our communities all across the country, primarily fentanyl and synthetic opioids, but also the crime that’s been committed by individuals who should never have been admitted in the first place.”
Cornyn said enforcement must be paired with long-term reforms:
“We need to clear the backlog of those who’ve exhausted legal remedies,” he said. “Then we can modernize the system to meet economic needs.”
Amarillo’s economy, which includes meatpacking, construction, and agriculture, relies heavily on immigrant labor. According to local estimates, about 11.2% of the city’s population—roughly 22,400 people—are foreign-born.
Cornyn acknowledged that dynamic while maintaining a strict stance on illegal immigration:
“Illegal immigration creates long-term challenges,” he said, but added that he supports expanding legal pathways for immigrants willing to “play by the rules.”
Rural Health Care: Stabilization and Staffing
A major section of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” provides financial relief for rural hospitals. Cornyn said:
“We created a $50 billion stabilization fund to make sure that our rural hospitals have the financial support they need so they can continue to support their local communities.”
He said telehealth has improved access but cannot replace local staff and facilities:
“Telehealth helps, but we need more nurses and technicians.”
Cornyn advocated for work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving certain health benefits:
“I believe that people who can work should work and should not be a drain on tax dollars. So, saying, if you want to be eligible for these health care programs, and you’re an able-bodied adult, you’re going to need to work. And so, there were a number of cost savings we were able to make.”
He added that safety nets remain protected:
“I don’t believe we’re doing anything to jeopardize access to health in those safety net programs. The rural hospitals had been a particular concern as while we had that special carve out for that stabilization fund to make sure they remained able to provide care in our rural communities.”
Cornyn pointed to workforce development programs, such as those at Amarillo College, as part of the solution. He recalled meeting a single mother who transitioned into a high-paying job at Bell Helicopter through a local training initiative.
A 2024 Texas Hospital Association study projected that up to half of rural health care providers could retire within the next decade. “We need to do something now to keep our health systems staffed and sustainable,” a local academic said during the discussion.
Agriculture and Pest Control
Cornyn said the legislation includes $300 million to combat the screwworm fly, a parasite that threatens Texas cattle herds. The funds will support sterile-fly release programs, which the USDA credits with eradicating the pest in the 1960s.
John Welch, president of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, said in a 2025 “AgriLife Today” statement:
“Ranchers need these funds to protect herds without delay.”
Energy Policy: Subsidies, Transition, and Local Projects
Cornyn described his “all-of-the-above” approach to energy:
“The difference between the renewable energy tax provisions is their subsidies. They’re basically financial payments to these industries that are new or developing, and I certainly have supported that for renewable energy. I’ve mentioned, I’m an all-of-the-above supporter. We need solar, we need wind, but we also need a reliable base load, which comes from primarily from natural gas, and depending on where you are, nuclear power and other sources.”
He explained that oil and gas tax provisions largely mirror general business deductions:
“Those are mainly the sort of tax provisions that any business would be able to take. But the truth is that energy production, and oil and gas in particular, [are] a very important part of our state. So, I certainly supported that, but I continue to support renewable energy, but once these energy sources are developed and mature, there’s not as much reason for taxpayer subsidies, and so we need to be able to wean them off of that.”
The bill phases out wind and solar tax credits by 2027 while adding tax benefits for natural gas, coal used in steelmaking, and carbon capture.
Some energy analysts have warned the shift could increase costs. A 2025 “Texas Tribune” report noted that natural gas prices were rising faster than those of renewables, and consultant Doug Lewin observed that wind and solar met more than half of ERCOT’s peak demand in June 2025.
Judd Messer of the Advanced Power Alliance argued that ending wind subsidies could cost Texas $50 billion in clean energy investment and reduce lease revenue for rural landowners who host turbines.
Locally, Cornyn emphasized the economic boost from energy-linked technology projects, including HyperGrid, an AI and data infrastructure campus under development near the Pantex Plant:
“HyperGrid is a game-changer, leveraging Amarillo’s energy infrastructure for AI innovation.”
The project is expected to create over 500 high-tech jobs and expand Amarillo’s role in national security and advanced computing.
Federal Spending, Debt, and Infrastructure
Cornyn addressed fiscal policy concerns, noting that mandatory spending—Social Security, Medicare, and entitlement-related tax provisions—accounts for about 72% of the federal budget.
“We’re spending more on interest than we are on national defense,” Cornyn said. “That’s unsustainable.”
He said the bill includes a projected $400 billion in deficit reduction, achieved partly by rescinding unspent federal funds, including allocations to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Congressional Budget Office issued a lower estimate of $350 billion due to “revenue and scoring uncertainties.”
On infrastructure, Cornyn said population growth is straining Texas highways, particularly the I-27 and I-40 corridors:
“Texas grows by 1,600 people daily. Infrastructure must keep pace.”
He said declining gas tax revenues will require new strategies, including toll roads and public-private partnerships. He also criticized regulatory delays:
“Sometimes the biggest obstacle isn’t technology — it’s bureaucracy.”
A 2025 Texas Public Policy Foundation report found that environmental and permitting reviews add up to two years to major energy projects, affecting both renewable and fossil fuel developments.
Digital Currency and Regulation
William Ware, president of Amarillo National Bank, asked Cornyn about cryptocurrency oversight. Cornyn said he favors balanced regulation:
“If we don’t regulate it smartly, someone else will. And that’s not always good for consumers or community banks.”
A 2024 FBI report linked cryptocurrency to $3.7 billion in illicit transactions, including ransomware and money laundering. Cornyn said oversight should prevent abuse while allowing financial technology innovation.
Political Context
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