| Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX), Katie Hill (D-CA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Gary Palmer (R-AL) Hold Press Conference on the TAPS Act |
Given the horrific tragedies we recently witnessed at both the STEM School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and the Poway Synagogue in Southern California – and not to forget the unfortunate anniversaries of Columbine, Parkland, Virginia Tech, and Santa Fe (yesterday) – we must be doing more to prevent these types of atrocities from occurring.
I am proud that the TAPS Act has the support of more than 75 Members of Congress and nearly 50 outside organizations, such as Sandy Hook Promise and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Our goal is to take a scientifically-validated process that has been in place for decades and make it readily available on the State and local levels.
I am proud to have had Representatives Hill, Crenshaw, Spanberger, and Palmer standing beside me urging the swift passage of this important bill, and I look forward to our continued work on this effort.
To read full press release, please click here.
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| National Police Week |
I had a wonderful time this week thanking our men and women in blue as we recognize National Police Week. Members of the Houston Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety were in Washington for different festivities, and it was an absolute privilege visiting with each of them and showing them around our nation’s capital.
I hope everyone took a moment to thank a police officer for all they do to keep us safe.
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| Another Sham Bill |
Once again, Democrats have put politics and their radical agenda above the interests of American people. The MORE Health Education Act (H.R. 987) had bipartisan support, stood a great chance at getting passed in the Senate, and was going to lower drug presciption prices for thousands of Americans. But, instead of operating in a bipartisan fashion to lower the cost of prescription drugs, they opted to tie that legislation into a proposal to bailout ObamaCare.
H.R. 987 is another bill that will never be passed because of the political games played by Democrats at the expense of the people they are elected to represent.
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| Speaking at the Lee College Commencement Ceremony |
It was a privilage to be the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony at Lee College in Baytown last weekend.
I had the opportunity to meet with many of the graduates, and I have no doubt these students have bright futures ahead of them. Congratulations on a job well done!
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| Seabrook Rocket Club |
My staff and I welcomed the Seabrook Intermediate School's Rocket Club to Capitol Hill on Friday.
I was able to show the students and their families around the Space Subcommittee room where I proudly serve as the Republican Leader. What a great group of students!
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| The Democrats' "Equality Act" |
No person should be discriminated against. Period. But ironically, the Equality Act (H.R. 5), that passed the House on Thursday, takes away choice and privacy from thousands of Americans and additionally discriminates against women, children, and people of faith. In fact, this bill would completely undermine decades of hard-fought gains by American women.
The Equality Act, like others we have seen recently, has a fluffy name yet the content does not match. Once again, we have wasted time on a piece of legislation that will NEVER pass the U.S. Senate and become law. |
| Babin Supports the Jones Act |
Earlier this week, I spoke on the House floor commending President Trump for not waiving the Jones Act. For the past 100 years, this piece of legislation has brought strength and certainty to maritime commerce here in the United States. It has protected the rights of American sailors, created and maintained American jobs, and has been one of the single largest factors in facilitating the strong American economy that we are enjoying. The Jones Act states that goods shipped between U.S. ports are to be built, owned, and operated by the citizens of the United States.
Can you imagine a Chinese built vessel, flying the Chinese national flag, and operated by Chinese citizens traveling through the American heartland to deliver goods to our ports? Although this is a hypothetical situation, it could easily become a reality if the Jones Act is waived. Our national security, economic growth, and our ability to provide American jobs would be in jeopardy. Worst of all, waiving the Jones Act would allow these foreign-operated ships into our waterways and could be opening the door to espionage.
We need the Jones Act, and I encourage those who want to repeal it to watch my speech and explain why the image that you see in the video would make for a better and stronger America.
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| Speaker Pelosi Addresses the "Manufactured Crisis" on the Southern Border |
Interesting. I have been under the impression that Democrats were sure there has been a "manufactured crisis" at the southern border for months now. I am glad to know they "never" said that, and I am so thankful Speaker Pelosi clarified for all of America.
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| Rep. Tlaib's Holocaust |
A broken clock is still right twice a day: thanks to CNN for calling out Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib's profoundly offensive and inaccurate commentary on the "comfort" she finds with regards to the actions of Palestinians during the Holocaust. A few highlights:
"[tlaib] ignored the fact that Palestinian leaders at the time allied themselves with Hitler and the total war is how the Arab world reacted to the declaration of Israeli independence”
“On this notion that Palestinians either negatively or positively helped to create a safe haven for Jews: the reality is that the Arabs in Palestine, Haj Amin el-Husseini, the grand mufti, in Nazi Germany, collaborating and cooperating with the Nazis about what would happen if Rommel’s Korps had been successful in Egypt and been present in Palestine– they were considering extermination of the entire Jewish community there as well.....So this was ill-timed, ill-advised, and I think clearly is simply going to antagonize and polarize the already polarized debate in Washington.”
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| Photo of the Week |
I had a great visit with Clear Creek ISD students Peyton Burlington and Herve Leboeuf Friday afternoon. They were in Washington for Rockets on the Hill. It is great to see young minds interested in space. These are the folks that will help take America to Mars and beyond!
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| Collision on the Houston Ship Channel |
My statement regarding the collision on the Houston Ship Channel last week:
I am glad to see that first responders, Port of Houston officials and the Coast Guard have been able to bring this situation under control and remove the immediate health and safety dangers it posed, and I am confident they will continue to do so as the final clean up and removal operations begin. Once this matter is fully resolved, and a full investigation with the involved parties has been completed, I look forward to doing my part on the federal level to implement any necessary actions or new safeguards to prevent a similar accident from happening again.
The Houston Ship Channel generates billions of dollars in economic activity, supports thousands of good paying jobs, and is the main conduit for the energy supply that powers Texas, America and the world. Business and government have a duty to keep it running in the safest and most efficient manner possible, and we will emerge from this even better prepared and able to do so.
To see my full press release, please visit → https://bit.ly/2VoaXfo. |
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