In a House Homeland Security Committee hearing this week, I grilled Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about our porous southern border. As I pressed him about the safety of our homeland and the security of our border, Secretary Mayorkas had no explanation for the number of illegal migrants, including Known and Suspected Terrorists (KSTs), crossing our border — or how the Biden Administration plans to stop them and protect Americans.
Secretary Mayorkas told the Homeland Security Committee, once again, that the border is “secure.” With record numbers of illegal crossings, KSTs, and life-ending drugs streaming across our border, the facts confirm what Americans can see with their own eyes: the crisis is worse than ever.
We must enforce real border protection by fully funding effective border enforcement measures, infrastructure, and technology, ending catch-and-release loopholes, and eliminating pull factors that are encouraging illegal immigration to our borders.
There has been a complete dereliction of duty in the Biden Administration’s Department of Homeland Security since day one.
Yesterday, the Biden Administration placed the lesser prairie chicken back on the endangered species list. This is a continued assault on Texas energy and agriculture producers that will wreak havoc on our local and state economies and make it even harder to produce oil & gas in the midst of an energy and economic crisis.
President Biden needs to get out of the business of over-regulating and focus on unleashing American energy dominance. The federal government must do so in a balanced manner through ongoing local and state conservation efforts. We can protect important species without devastating our local and rural communities.
I have always been against this designation, and previously introduced H.R. 4370, the Listing Reform Act, to modernize the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and prevent the ESA from being used as a weapon against critical agriculture and energy industries. This legislation reforms the ESA to deliver reasonable, common-sense protections for endangered species while preventing overbearing regulations coming from the federal government. Notably, the bill also requires the federal government to analyze the costs of ESA listings in our communities and critical industries.
I look forward to modernizing the ESA and holding the Biden Administration in check in the new House Republican Majority. Read more here.
Thank you to our Military Families
Words cannot describe how incredibly proud I am of my wife Camille. In celebration of Veteran’s Day, she was the keynote speaker at the Show of Support Banquet in Midland. She gave voice to the countless spouses that have served on the home front when their husbands and wives are serving in uniform. It takes so much strength to be a military spouse. The families of our service men and women and their support provide the backbone of the world’s most powerful fighting force.
Show of Support is an annual event that honors our nation’s military and veterans. Proceeds fund an all-expenses paid hunt in West Texas for more than a dozen veterans annually, and hundreds throughout the history of the organization.
Thank you to event Chairman Terry Johnson and all of the volunteers that came together to put on this special and patriotic event.
The Selflessness of Veterans Serves as an Inspiration for All Americans
Veterans Day is a chance for our Nation to reset – to pause and honor those who served and recognize their sacrifices to ensure the freedom and safety of others. We must do better for our veterans — both in preparing them for combat and when they return from their finished missions.
In reflection of the service for our veterans, I wrote an article for the Ripon Society about the vitality of our veterans for our nation. I outline some of the ways our country needs veterans, veteran leadership, and how we can do better by our service members. Click here to read the full article.
Chevron’s Veteran’s Summit
It was an honor speaking to Veterans both in person and around the world at Chevron’s Veterans Summit in Midland earlier this week. I honor their service and willingness to put their lives on the line for our country in the military.
Now they are continuing to support national security by producing the energy we desperately need. Thank you to all of our veterans. Their life of service is an inspiration for our entire community.
Student Congress
I am honored to have been invited to judge the “Congress” portion of the debate tournament held at Central High School. What a fun competition!
These students are smart, ambitious, and determined. They are the future leaders of our nation. I might even go so far as to say these students are even more articulate than some of my U.S. Congressional Colleagues.
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