Protecting the Permian Basin from Radical Climate Policies
I was proud to join Congressmen Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and Tracey Mann (KS-01) in introducing a Congressional Review Act to overturn the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) efforts to further regulate oil and gas producers. This move is yet again another cave to radical climate policies and an assault on domestic energy production.
One of the only promises President Biden has followed through on is his campaign vow to end fossil fuels. This methane rule imposes excessive and costly restrictions on energy producers in regions like the Permian Basin and others around the nation. Read more in Fox Newshere or below.
Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act
On September 11, 2001, the world changed forever when our homeland was attacked. Since that time, there has been a desire for violent extremists to attack us again. We live in a dangerous time. The October 7th attacks on Israel and the fact that over 300+ individuals who match the terror watchlist have crossed our open southern border, there has never been a more important time to protect the safety of Americans.
We must protect our country, but we also must protect our privacies.
Today the U.S. House voted on H.R. 7888, the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act. This bill is the largest reform to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in decades. It protects Americans from foreign threats of espionage, terrorism, and weapons of mass destruction while adding 56 different FISA process reforms to keep our government from spying on American citizens.
Many of these meaningful reforms to the abused FISA program focused specifically on section 702, which would have prevented the abuses in the Carter Page case and Crossfire Hurricane investigation, ensuring those abuses can never happen again.
As a former fighter pilot, I used FISA in every single combat mission I flew over Syria and Iraq. It is an important tool for our military and national security. No bill is perfect, but I am proud of the wins that Chairman Jim Jordan and others fought for to protect the freedoms of Americans. This bill strikes the balance between protecting our privacy and protecting us against terrorists. The program will only be extended for two years at which point it can be re-evaluated with a new President in office.
Transnational Repression Bill Passes House Homeland Security Committee
I joined my colleagues on the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security to markup my bipartisan legislation, the Combating Transnational Repression Act of 2024.This legislation is aimed at addressing the growing threat of transnational repression, including against U.S. citizens, on American soil.
Transnational repression, the act of foreign governments or their proxies targeting individuals in another country using various coercive tactics, has become an increasingly concerning issue in the United States. This is a crucial step in protecting the sovereignty of our nation and ensuring the safety and rights of those targeted by foreign governments. It sends a clear message that the United States will not tolerate such attacks on our soil. Watch my opening remarks here or below.
Pushing Back on President Biden’s ‘Methane Fee’
I led my colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan urging the EPA to revise the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act’s so-called methane fee. For the past three years, the Biden administration has targeted domestic energy production and implemented harmful methane regulations to harm the Permian Basin.
We call on the EPA to go back to the drawing board and develop supplemental proposed rules for the WEC and Subpart W that are consistent with Congressional intent, allow accurate GHG emissions reporting using a variety of technologies, and do not unfairly levy additional costs on both American energy consumers and producers. Read the full letter here.
Expanding Telehealth in Rural Communities
I joined the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health to examine the options to expand telehealth to American households. Telehealth has become a popular option for thousands of Americans to see a doctor, and is especially important in rural communities. Watch here or below for my full line of questioning.
Permian Basin Petroleum Association in Washington
The Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA) stopped by my office in Washington this week. During our meeting, we discussed President Biden’s halt of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and unjust methane fees that would harm energy producers. Thank you all for meeting with me and being a voice for energy producers in your Nation’s Capitol.
2024 Congressional Art Competition
The deadline is approaching for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. The competition is open to all 7-12 grade students in the 11th Congressional District of Texas and is an opportunity for local artists to be recognized for their talents among artists from around the Nation.
The deadline is April 29th, 2024. Students can register and upload images of their artwork here: tinyurl.com/TX11Art.
Students are highly encouraged to review the competition’s complete rules and regulations on my website. For more information, please visit tinyurl.com/TX11Art, or contact Cayssia David in the Killeen Office at [email protected].gov.
Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily updates.
