In the wake of another horrific tragedy, we have a duty and responsibility to ensure the safety of our children and teachers by hardening our schools. That is why I introduced a school safety package to harden our schools, prioritize school safety, and ensure emergency preparedness. I introduced the Protect Our Children's Schools Act, Protect Against School Shootings (PASS) Act, School Resource Officer Compensation Act, and Securing Our Schools Act. 

In our district, we know that evil people do evil things, and in 2018 the unimaginable happened at Santa Fe High School, leaving ten people dead. There is no reason why our schools should be soft targets. We clearly have the resources and means to protect the most precious – our children and our teachers. It is more imperative than ever for Congress to pass these bills to protect our children and secure our schools. 

The Protect Our Children's Schools Act would allow the Secretary of Education to use unspent COVID-19 funds designated for schools and localities to reprogram those funds to make our schools safer against attacks. This money would be used to strengthen and enhance security systems already in place at schools. It would also allow for the funds to be spent on creating and implementing school safety programs to ensure our educators and administrative staff are better equipped to deal with active shooter scenarios.

The School Resource Officer Compensation Act would incentivize school districts to hire retired law enforcement officers to serve as School Resource Officers, by exempting the respective school districts from the additional expense of having to pay matching social security contributions to anyone desiring to serve in this critical safety role.

The Protect Against School Shootings (PASS) Act would amend the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990. This bill would allow qualified law enforcement officers, retired law officers, and those permitted by State law to carry a firearm in an otherwise "gun free" school zone.

The Securing our Schools Act would enhance school security, including doubling school resource officers, hiring more school-based mental health counselors, and expanding the nonprofit security grant program. 

This week, President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty in a New York City court after being charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. I believe this is a complete sham. Alvin Bragg campaigned for office on a promise to “get Trump, and he will do anything in his corrupt power to deliver to the same base that has been after President Trump from day one. It’s pitiful and politically motivated. Americans should wake up and realize that this is another attempt from the radical left to weaponize our justice system - Trump supporter or not. This has no place in America.

I started my week at home reading to a first grade class at Ross Elementary. I read House Mouse, Senate Mouse and took questions from the very smart group. Thank you for having me! I headed to Beaumont to celebrate the startup of ExxonMobil's Beaumont Refinery Expansion Project. This project will add 250,000 barrels of oil per day of capacity, making it the second-largest refinery in the United States. This investment is exactly what we need. We are investing in our oil and gas industry to unleash American energy and lower costs for everyday Americans. I had the opportunity to tour Arkema and Darling Ingredients this week to learn about their work. Both facilities are impressive, and the folks that work there are the salt of the earth. I also learned about the important work the Orange Community Development Block Grant does for the community. 

• H.R. 2476 - To keep schools safe using unobligated Federal funds available to the Secretary of Education to respond to the coronavirus. 
• H.R. 2477 - To amend the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 to permit qualified law enforcement officers, qualified retired law enforcement officers, and persons not prohibited by State law from carrying a concealed firearm to carry a firearm, and to discharge a firearm in defense of self or others, in a school zone. 
• H.R. 2478 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for an exclusion from gross income for compensation of certain school resource officers, and for other purposes. 
• H.R. 2479 - To provide for safe schools and safe communities.

It is a privilege to represent our district in Congress.  While we’ve faced many challenges in recent years, through strength and prayer, we have persevered. 

Please know that we are always a resource for you.  Call or stop by any of the offices (YOUR offices, we work for you), whenever you need assistance or want to talk about an issue before Congress.

For assistance or more information, please call or go online to visit us at weber.house.gov.

God Bless you and God Bless Texas!