|
Babin Comments on Passage of Five-Year Farm Bill
|
I’m glad the House and Senate were able to come together to pass a compromise farm bill. The certainty this bill provides our farmers will enable them to plan for multiple crop cycles in the coming years. That certainty is necessary both for the livelihood of our farmers and to secure a dependable supply of food, fiber, and feed for our nation. I am particularly pleased this bill has improvements which will benefit Texas rice and soybean farmers and timber growers.
While I am pleased with the commodity, crop insurance, and conservation titles in the farm bill, which will be welcomed by farmers in Southeast Texas, Congress must show a renewed commitment towards ensuring that taxpayer dollars go to those who truly need them and our country’s safety net is not abused at the expense of our agricultural programs. I am disappointed that Congress missed the best opportunity in decades to make significant reforms to a bill that allocates more than 80 percent of its funding to food stamps. Without the commonsense reforms included in the original version of the House-passed farm bill, funds that could go towards securing our agricultural safety net will continue to go to the SNAP program, which has ballooned in recent years even as our economy has markedly improved. Fortunately, the Administration and USDA will have authority to enact some limited safeguards to strengthen the integrity of our SNAP program.
|
New WOTUS Rule
|
I applaud the EPA’s decision to repeal the Obama-era Waters of the US (WOTUS) rule. The Obama WOTUS rule was a pure power grab that placed overburdensome regulations on our farmers, ranchers, and land owners. This rule vastly expanded federal regulatory authority by qualifying almost every puddle of water in the country, even seasonal ponds and ditches, as “navigable waters”. By following the law as intended, the Trump-proposed replacement rule will lift bureaucratic red tape, return power to the American people, and clarify the government’s role in managing our nation’s waters.
|
| ACA Ruled Unconstitutional |
The ruling that the so-called Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional is a major blow to this disastrous law. I will work with my colleagues to replace Obamacare with a free market approach that keep premiums low while protecting preexisting conditions. And as a health care provider, I will prioritize reforms which strengthen doctor-patient relationships.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Meeting with Former ICE Director |
I had the opportunity to meet with former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Thomas Homan on Wednesday to discuss the very serious situation our country is in with border security. We are in agreement that something has to be done to secure America's borders immediately.
|
| Photos of the Week |
It was great visiting with fellow East Texan and U.S. Marine Corps Major Russell Fluker (pictured below) in Washington this week. Major Fluker is originally from Kirbyvillle, but is currently stationed in the area with his wife and three children. I am thankful for his service, and glad we were able to catch up!
|
Roxanne, my wife, and Will Carter, Regional Community Manager on my staff, were able to present Hull-Daisetta Superintendent Mary Huckabee (pictured below in middle) with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in recognition of her lifelong dedication to education. Mary and Roxanne earned their teaching certificates together at Lamar University and have remained great friends ever since. Thank you for your service to Hull-Daisetta ISD!
|
|
