Rep. Babin Votes Against Short-Term Government Spending Bill
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On Wednesday, I voted against the passage of legislation that funds the federal government through December 9, 2016. I believe this was a missed opportunity – and I am deeply disappointed that it failed to include much-needed and widely supported checks on the President and his foolish plans to relinquish U.S. leadership over the Internet and bring in more poorly-vetted Syrian refugees into America. My constituents sent me to Washington to stand up for them against the status-quo and the dangerous policies of this Administration. Unfortunately, this bill falls short in that endeavor. Seventy percent of the American people believe the United States is on the wrong track and it’s time we do more to change that.
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House Overrides Obama Veto of 9/11 Bill
- Marks First Override of Obama Presidency - |
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This week I voted to override President Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), legislation that allows 9/11 victims’ families to sue the Saudi Arabian government over its alleged support for the terrorists who carried out the attacks. This is a huge win for the families of 9/11 and a historic defeat for President Obama. Justice demands that we give victims of terrorism their day in court – and I was proud to stand with these families to deliver President Obama his first ever veto override.
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House Passes Water Resources Bill That Contains Crucial Provisions Offered By Babin to Improve Navigation and Maintenance of Houston Ship Channel
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The House on Wednesday approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 (H.R. 5303), legislation that included two of my amendments to improve the navigation and maintenance of the Houston Ship Channel. The WRDA bill, which passed the House by a vote of 399 to 25, addresses the needs of America’s harbors, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure by authorizing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers activities. The bill also included additional provisions that I pushed to provide the Corps and local officials with maximum flexibility to carry out navigation safety activities.
The Greater Houston area is the energy production and chemical manufacturing capital of the world, and the Port of Houston's ability to ship those goods is directly responsible for the billions of dollars in economic activity and the hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs it creates in Texas and across the country. These amendments apply common sense principles that will allow the Corps to focus on its navigation safety and harbor maintenance responsibilities – rather than imposing costly regulations on projects and areas where the local officials and private businesses can take care of things better on their own. |
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Babin Urges Action to Block Obama's Internet Giveaway |
I took to the House floor this week to urge the rejection of the Obama Administration's effort to relinquish U.S. leadership over the Internet. Russia and China cannot be trusted with a larger role in the operation of the Internet. It will further cede more control to our adversaries and weaken U.S. influence on the international stage. While I am disappointed Congress failed to stop this before the Oct. 1 deadline, I will continue doing all that I can to address this foolish action.
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| Snap-shots from the Week |
Enjoyed meeting the Tisdel Family of Houston, Texas following their tour of the U.S Capitol. Please do not hesitate to let our office know if you are planning a trip to Washington, DC.
Thank you to the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District for hosting a briefing for my colleagues and me on infrastructure projects to protect the Texas Coast.
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