Rep. Randy Weber e-Newsletter

PNG Middle School in DC

This week, I enjoyed giving Port Neches Groves Middle School a tour of the Capitol. I always love when folks from TX-14 are in Washington. They watched me give a floor speech on the House Floor, then we toured the Capitol and stopped by the Speaker's Balcony. This was a group of bright students! They even convinced me to wear a PNG hat! They have a bright future ahead.

If you're planning on visiting Washington, D.C., be sure to reach out to my office to schedule a tour. We would love for you to stop by! My office and the Capitol belong to YOU. We work for YOU.

Schedule a tour here: https://weber.house.gov/forms/tourrequest/

Whole Milk

Last month, the United States Department of Agriculture announced they were considering a ban on chocolate milk in schools.

For too long, milk has been demonized. Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010, which amended nutrition standards in the School Lunch Program. Among the changes, the law mandated that flavored milk must be low-fat within the program. This law, along with lower participation in the program, led to an alarming decline in milk consumption in schools since 2010. Milk is the No. 1 source of nine essential nutrients in young Americans’ diets, and provides multiple health benefits, including better bone health, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease or Type 2 diabetes.

Milk is a source of three out of four under-consumed nutrients – calcium, potassium, and vitamin D. No other beverage naturally comes close to this level of nutritional value.

I co-sponsored the Whole Milk for Health Kids Act which would amend requirements for milk under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National School Lunch Program to allow whole milk to be served in school cafeterias once again. Under current regulations, schools participating in the National School Lunch Program are only allowed to serve fat-free or low-fat milk — and only allow fat-free milk to be flavored.

This Week's Poll Question

Do you think whole milk should be an option in school cafeterias?

Yes

No

Around the District

Team Weber had a busy week in the district. They attended the Sweeny Police Department Crime Control Prevention meeting to discuss future budgeting propositions and new roles with generated sales tax for enhanced officer well-being. This special meeting allowed Sweeny residents to vote on a new board to allocate a portion of the annual sales tax to the Police Dept. The funds will be utilized to improve officer welfare, including equipment upgrades and bonuses.

Then they attended BAYTRAN's annual State of Ports luncheon. The event featured a panel discussion moderated by Colter Baker, Senior Director- of Transportation and Infrastructure Policy for the Greater Houston Partnership. The panel included Ryan Mariacher from the Port of Houston, Phyllis Saathoff from Port Freeport, and Roger Rees from the Port of Galveston. Each panelist presented updates on their respective ports, highlighting expansion initiatives, dredging projects, and access improvements. The event served as a platform for industry leaders to share information about the progress and future plans of these regional key ports, ensuring the continued growth and development of maritime infrastructure.

They ended the week celebrating Galveston's 26th Annual Juneteenth Banquet, featuring UTMB's Interim President Dr. Charles Mouton as guest speaker. The event centered around the importance of Juneteenth and the ongoing battle for its national recognition. Dr. Mouton eloquently highlighted the historical significance of Juneteenth, emphasizing its relevance in the fight for freedom and equality. The event acknowledged Mexico's recent decision to honor Juneteenth Day, further emphasizing the global significance of this commemoration.

Passports

Are you traveling this summer? This is your reminder to CHECK your passport.

The standard passport renewal process, which typically takes a few weeks, can now take up to 13 weeks, while even expedited service could take up to nine weeks.

Here are some helpful tips:

Plan ahead:

Do not rely on a last-minute appointment.
Plan around the current processing times.

Apply as soon as possible:

We recommend to apply 4-6 months in advance of travel.
Save $60 by applying for routine service and reduce last minute planning stress.

Check your expiration date:

Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip.

Wait times

It may take up to two weeks after applying before your application is " In Process".
Routine applications take 10-13 weeks and expedited applications 7-9 weeks.

Check Status online

The online tool (passportstatus.state.gov) provides the same info as the call center.

Urgent Issues

For urgent U.S. Passport issues, please CALL the closest District office to you as soon as possible.
- League City Office: (281) 316-0231
- Lake Jackson Office: (979) 285-0231
- Beaumont Office: (409) 835-0108

Recent Legislation

Legislation cosponsored:

H.Res. 464 - Acknowledging that unborn children are legal and constitutional persons who are entitled to the equal protection of the laws.
H.R. 3774 - To impose additional sanctions with respect to the importation or facilitation of the importation of petroleum products from Iran, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1777 - United States-Israel Future of Warfare Act of 2023
H.R. 3924 - To prohibit the Secretary of State from issuing a passport, passport card, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad that includes the unspecified (X) gender designation, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3925 - To direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a grant program to fund youth fishing projects.

Last Week's Poll Results

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!

Sincerely,

Randy K. Weber