Southern Border in Peril

 

200,000 illegal immigrants were encountered at the southern border last month – a 325% increase from the average July number under President Trump. This brings the total number of illegal crossings since President Biden took office up to over 4.2 million including 800,000 illegal immigrants who escaped into the country undetected. To put that in perspective, that is the size of more than 13% the population of Texas.

  

I am committed to shining a light on this terrible crisis and ending the never-ending influx of illegal immigration. Homeland Security Republicans just released the latest installment of Startling Statistics highlighting the incredible security risk created by President Biden’s Border Crisis.

 

• Encounters of individuals found on the terror watchlist climbed by 10 last month—surpassing total encounters from the previous five years combined.

• July was the 17th straight month with more than 150,000 encounters – a trend never before recorded.

• As of July 31, 66 people whose names appear on the terror watch list have been tracked trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border this fiscal year.

• In just eight months this year, Customs and Border Protection has already arrested 22,375 individuals with criminal convictions and 627 known gang members, including 256 members of MS-13 attempting to cross the border.

 

It is the responsibility of the federal government to secure our nation’s sovereign borders. President Biden and his administration have abdicated their responsibilities with their poor border policies. 

  

Click here to read the full Startling Stats sheet. Click here or below to watch my conversation on Fox Business this week denouncing President Biden’s Border Crisis.

One Year Since President Biden’s Chaotic Afghanistan Withdrawal   This week marks a terrible milestone: one year since President Biden’s shameful Afghanistan withdrawal. Joe Biden’s presidency will forever be characterized by chaos and failure—nowhere more evident than in the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan that allowed the Taliban to quickly reassert control over the country for the first time in 20 years, resulted in the killing of 13 U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghans in an ISIS-K orchestrated terrorist attack, damaged relationships with our allies, and made our country less safe.   I have been vigilant in holding the Biden Administration accountable for this disaster. I am proud to have helped bring over 600 Afghani pilots, servicemembers, and their families to safety—including family members from Texas-11. Additionally, the bill I authored to assess the threat of freed terrorists has been signed into law, and my efforts have forced the Biden Administration to report on the number of known and suspected terrorists crossing the southern border.   Democrats refuse to hold the Biden Administration accountable for this disaster, and the legacy media is hard at work sweeping its impacts under the rug, but Republicans will not forget. We are determined to deliver accountability for Biden’s failed withdrawal.   Republicans on the Foreign Affairs committee released a report detailing the devastation of the Taliban seizing power and the long-term impacts of the withdrawal. I encourage you to read through an digest just how broad the devastation reaches.   The U.S. spent nearly two decades expending blood and treasure fighting the Taliban, denying Al Qaeda a terrorist stronghold, instituting democratic values, and building relationships with our Afghan partners. Sadly, the threat of future terror attacks on American citizens is now higher than ever. I will remain vigilant in calling attention to the record numbers of known and suspected terrorists and got-aways crossing our southern border, as well as the resurgence of terror groups abroad.   We will not forget the sacrifice of the American heroes—service members, veterans, and the families of those who served and gave their all in Afghanistan.   If you are struggling, please reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line (Dial 9-8-8) anytime, day or night, for free and confidential support. You are not alone. Our district and country stand with you.

Welcoming Fifteen New U.S. Citizens   This week I had the opportunity to welcome 15 new U.S. Citizens at a naturalization ceremony at the Federal Courthouse in San Angelo.   I speak for our entire district when I say we are proud of our newest citizens and excited to welcome them as fellow Americans. They have worked hard to earn the title and join us as citizens of our great nation. The road here is hard and the journey is long, but they took the time and care to join our nation the right way.   The oath they took this week is one of great responsibility to our Constitution. God Bless them, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Hearing From our Farmers and Ranchers

 

This week I hosted an Ag Roundtable in McCulloch County to discuss the issues facing our producers. It is critical that we implement policies that prioritize our farmers and ranchers and allow them to do what they do best— feed and clothe a hungry world.

 

A special thanks to Jim Ross, Jeff Kaspar, Bobby Pearce, Jon and Cynthia Quinn, Dorman and Dixie Pitcox, Texas Farm Bureau, and Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers for our productive conversation!

A Community Coming Together

I am continuously inspired by how our community supports and protects each other.

Last month, Rochelle Baptist Church’s sanctuary was destroyed in a tragic fire. Since then, there has been such an outpouring of support within the community. Donations from schools, individuals, and local organizations have made a huge difference.

Despite the fire having destroyed the sanctuary, Rochelle Baptist Church continues to meet in the fellowship hall thanks to the bravery of the firefighters who worked so hard to save their space. In fact, attendance at the church has actually increased since the fire.

The story of Rochelle Baptist Church is just one of the many examples of strong families of faith in our communities, and an incredible testimony of God’s grace and love for us all.

Honoring our Veterans

 

This week was extremely special, as I had the opportunity to celebrate the re-pinning of Master Sergeant Clayton La Rue of the United States Air Force after many of his distinguished medals were stolen earlier this year.

 

Master Sergeant La Rue is an incredible service member and has fought for his country with bravery and honor, earning many distinguished medals including the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

 

It was an honor to join this hero for his pinning and return his awards. Our whole district is thankful for his service and for all those who sacrifice for our country.

Thank you to our Healthcare Heroes

 

The Concho County Hospital (CCH) is a Critical Access Hospital designed to reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals and improve access to care. CCH is critical to providing essential healthcare for our community.

 

It was incredible to visit with the staff and learn about the mission and life-saving operations happening every day. A special thank you to the nurse staff and healthcare professionals, as well as Brian Lady, Judge David Dillard, and Brent Frazier for the tour. Their continuous work keeps our families and loved ones healthy.

Thank You to our First Responders

The Brady Fire Department and McCulloch County Volunteer Fire Departments are working around the clock to fight fires in our region and neighboring communities. These men and women are heroes. It was an honor to show them a bit of the appreciation they deserve by honoring each of them with Certificates of Congressional Recognition.

 Thank you to everyone who keep our families and communities safe. Our district would not work without you!

Vulcan Materials: Supplying our Infrastructure Needs

Vulcan Materials in Brownwood mines stone for gravel and aggregate materials used to build roads, bridges, and other structures vital to our community. They send their product to all corners of the state and beyond.

They employ dozens of good folks throughout the district and contribute to the Pecan Valley economy, and I was pleased to meet and speak with many of them this week as I joined them for a tour to witness the wonderful work they do every day. Thanks to all the men and women at Vulcan for their hard work providing materials that serve as the backbone of our real infrastructure needs.

Upcoming Cybersecurity Presentation in Midland!

 

Next week I am hosting a special presentation for Permian Basin businesses to come and learn how to protect their businesses from ransomware and cyber-attacks. We will be joined by Chad Adams from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.

 

The event will be held from 4:00 – 5:00 pm on Wednesday, August 24th at Midland Shared Spaces, 2nd Floor Training Room 3500 N. A Street, Suite #1100.

 

I hope to see you there!

 

Learn more here, and please RSVP to [email protected].

Town Halls in TX-11

 

Over 100 of our neighbors showed up in Comanche and Stephenville for Town Halls this week to convey with a passion that our country must be put back on track. It was especially powerful to have so many young people join the conversation. We need more of these Texas values in Washington, DC. Thanks to all who came out.

I depend on town hall meetings to communicate what is going on in Washington and what I am working on, but the more important purpose is that they allow me to hear directly from the hard-working men and women who make up Texas-11.

 

If you were unable to make it to a Town Hall this week, I hope to see you at my next Town Hall in Mason on Tuesday, August 30th at 10:30 am. We will be meeting at the M. Beven Eckert Memorial Library in the Stribling Room, 410 Post Hill Street.