| Babin Meets with Local Law Enforcement Leaders |
Throughout the week, I participated in four working meetings with law enforcement leaders from across our nine-county Congressional district. The meetings were attended by dozens of seasoned lawmen and women with decades of expertise including the U.S. Marshal Service, Texas Rangers, County Sheriffs and Constables, Police Chiefs, and other representatives from local police departments and schools.
Discussed in the meetings was my bipartisan Threat Assessment, Prevention, and Safety (TAPS) Act which was recently reintroduced in the 116th Congress. The TAPS Act promotes utilizing the process of Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) for determining the credibility and seriousness of potential threats and interrupting and managing those on a pathway to violence. For decades this process has been in place to identify, investigate, assess, and mitigate threats in order to counter targeted violence. Pioneered by the U.S. Secret Service, BTAM has proven successful in protecting our presidents and foreign dignitaries.
As we approach the 20th anniversary of the Columbine High School tragedy, it is unfathomable to think we still are not doing enough to prevent the indiscriminate shootings, stabbings, bombings, and other mass casualty events occurring all too often in our schools and communities. Thankfully, we have found a bipartisan solution. Our local leaders and law enforcement are the professionals with the boots on the ground who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities from violence, and I am thrilled to have received their overwhelmingly positive support for the TAPS Act.
To learn more about the TAPS Act, please visit www.babin.house.gov/taps.
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| ITC Press Conference and Site Visit |
Wednesday, I joined Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton and other local officials for a press conference regarding the tank fires at ITC.
I was also able to visit and personally thank many of the folks who have been on the ground the last several days. We are all grateful to the men and women who have worked so hard to keep the citizens of Deer Park safe throughout this ordeal.
While the authority to address this emergency initially resided primarily with local officials and agencies, I have pledged my full support to Mayor Mouton and others to do all within my authority as a federal official to ensure a thorough investigation into the cause so we can obtain the information needed to prevent similar accidents in the future.
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| Meeting with Santa Fe Survivors and Families |
With the approaching one-year anniversary of the tragedy at Santa Fe High School in mind, it was an honor to sit down with several of the survivors and families of the deceased earlier this week. They graciously shared with me their harrowing stories about that heartbreaking day. We also spoke about my bill, the TAPS Act, which will go a long way towards preventing targeted violence in our communities and schools. Thank you all for taking the time to share with me, your resilience is inspiring as we all work tirelessly to make our schools and communities a safer place.
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| Joined Liz MacDonald on the Evening Edit |
Our border and immigrant holding facilities are on the verge of collapse. The President has taken the necessary first step to address the absolute crisis we are experiencing on our southern border. Democrats need to wake up!
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| Recognizing the Service of Army Veteran Lum Henry Morgan |
Monday, I had the honor of giving Army veteran Lum Henry Morgan of Kirbyville the medals he should have received more than 50 years ago.
Mr. Morgan served as a motor-pool Sergeant during the Vietnam War and was stationed in both Korea and Vietnam. He was discharged in 1965 and was told that they ran out of medals. I am glad my staff and I could secure the medals that were rightfully his and thank him for selflessly serving our nation. |
| Democrats' $100 Trillion Ideas |
The radical socialist ideas now openly embraced by Democrats will cost nearly $100 trillion! You read that right – that is trillion with a “T.” These giveaways will bankrupt our country, explode our national debt, and plunder the pockets of the American people. Even with his $430 million salary, Mike Trout would have to play for more than 2,500,000 years to pay for this!
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| Lumberton House Dedication |
A little over a year ago, I met with Ms. Annese McBryde (pictured below) in the ruins of her flooded house in Lumberton, TX. Ms. McBryde lost her home to the torrential floods during Hurricane Harvey. Because of the work of countless volunteers with IConnect Outreach and Harvest Call one year later, Ms. McBryde received a brand new house.
I promised that I would come back to accompany her as she received the keys to her new home. Since Ms. McBryde lost her cat in Harvey, I wanted to present her with a new kitten named Zorro to keep her company in her new house. Thanks to all of those who gave their time and skills to help Ms. McBryde in her time of need.
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| Honoring our WWII Vets |
I have said this many times, but World War II was fought by one of the greatest generations of men. It is my distinct honor to recognize and thank David Dacke, Richard Wade Jr., Merdolph Walker, Reuel Walters, and William “Buddy” Jones for answering the call to serve our country.
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| New Satellite Office Location |
As of March 18, my Liberty County Satellite Office has officially moved from Cleveland to Dayton. Dayton’s City Council approved a lease for an office located at the Dayton Police Department (2004 N. Cleveland St. Dayton, TX 77535).
Please note that this is a satellite office, so it will not be manned every day of the week. My staff will be available by appointment to discuss any issue you may be having with the federal government. To schedule an appointment, please contact my Deer Park office at (832) 780-0966. |
| Cease Addiction Now |
Tuesday, I had the pleasure of visiting with Mike Wilson and John Havenar from Cease Addiction Now, a substance abuse treatment facility headquartered in Baytown, to discuss opioid and other addiction services that they offer.
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| Speaking at the Baytown Rotary Club |
Thanks to the Baytown Rotary Club for inviting me to speak at their meeting this week.
During the previous Congressional session we accomplished many great things, and I hope to continue to do so during the new 116th Congress!
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| Tyler County Chamber of Commerce Banquet |
Congratulations to all of the awardees at the Tyler County Chamber of Commerce Banquet last weekend.
The Tyler County Fair Board received the Hometown Hero Award.
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It was great to see so many familiar faces in my home county.
Sondra Williams received Citizen of the Year.
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| Project Joy & Hope Pediatric Palliative Care Center |
The Pediatric Palliative Care Center in Pasadena does a wonderful job caring for children with life-limiting illnesses.
Compassion is at the core of this center's values, and it was truly special meeting many of the patients and their families during my visit on Wednesday afternoon.
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