For more than 60 years, the State of Israel has been a close friend and ally to the United States, sharing in our commitment to democracy and working with us to counter regional threats.

Recently, however, there has been a disturbing rise of antisemitic rhetoric from prominent figures in the Democratic Party. On Saturday, July 15, Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal declared at a panel in Chicago that “Israel is a racist state.” 

This kind of hateful attack on a nation that has suffered heinous persecution on the basis of race and stands for freedom and self-determination not only fuels antisemitism, but also threatens our national security. Any threat to Israel is a threat to the United States and the freedom we hold dear.

Israel must always know that they have the support and friendship of the United States of America.

This week, the House voted on a resolution to expresses congressional support for the State of Israel and rejects all forms of antisemitism. NINE Democrats voted against it. 

HOUSE DEMOCRATS’ HISTORY OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND SIDING WITH HAMAS: 

• Over the weekend at a progressive activist conference, Rep. Pramila Jayapal denounced Israel as a “racist state.”
• Some House Democrats have announced their boycott of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to Congress this week. 
  • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she is “not planning to” attend the speech.
  • Rep. Jamaal Bowman said that he is “probably going to be boycotting.”
  • Rep. Ilhan Omar tweeted that there’s “no way in hell” she is attending the address. 
• House Democrats have refused to unequivocally stand with our partner and friend, Israel, over and over again, even throughout the May 2021 Hamas' terrorist attacks.
• House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, while in college defended anti-Semitic comments made by National of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and his uncle Leonard Jeffries, and invited his uncle to speak on campus. 
  • Leonard Jeffries has spewed anti-Semitic conspiracies that Jew’s control Hollywood, compared Jews to “skunks,” and had called the Jewish community “evil.”

This week, I cosponsored legislation to defund climate envoy John Kerry's office at the State Department. The No Taxpayer Funding for Climate Zealots Advancing Radical Schemes Act would prohibit any federal funds — including for salary, administrative, and travel expenses — from being appropriated for Kerry's office. In 2021, President Biden appointed Kerry to be the first-ever special presidential envoy for climate, a position that didn't require Senate approval, and gives him a spot on the president's cabinet and National Security Council.

John Kerry is visiting China — the top threat to our national security and the world's number one polluter — to further hamstring energy freedom. I’m increasingly concerned that, given this administration’s record to date, these negotiations will prioritize China’s interests over our own, further ceding America’s energy and automotive leadership to a country with some of the worst environmental and labor standards in the world. 

The Constitution places the power of the purse with Congress: "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law."  As a U.S. Representative, I can request Community Project Funding (CPFs) to be included in annual appropriations bills.  These CPFs allow us to provide greater input on how funding should be directed to specific state or local governments or non-profit organizations.  It allows us (the elected Representatives) to advocate for our districts instead of ceding these decisions to faceless bureaucrats.

I wanted to share the projects that were included in the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) Appropriations bills. The following projects were approved by the full Appropriations committee but await final passage by the full House of Representatives later this year. 

• $2,000,000 to the City of La Marque to replace water lines in the municipal drinking water supply and distribution system. 
• $5,000,000 to the Port of Beaumont to link the port terminals via a 4” thick asphalt paved road that will provide a stronger, safer, and more resilient roadway for the movement of oversized cargo, cranes, and other heavy equipment. 
• $10,000,000 to Port Freeport for the construction of a new 36,900 square foot (sf) cross-deck facility and a terminal gate.  
• $6,000,000 to the Port of Port Arthur Navigation District for drainage improvements and construction of a 50,000-square-foot multimodal transit shed providing enhanced rail and truck connectivity for marine cargo. 
• $10,000,000 to the Port of Orange for the demolition and reconstruction of the Port’s unstable transmodal yard.  
• $1,000,000 to Brazosport Water Authority for an 11.6-mile waterline from the water treatment plant into the City of Angleton to support community and economic sustainability and resilient growth. 
• $750,000 to the City of Beaumont for the rehabilitation of one of the two retention ponds at the City of Beaumont Wastewater Treatment Plant.

• $100,000,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) construction account, to deepen the Sabine-Neches Waterway (SNWW) from its current 40-foot depth to its congressionally authorized depth of 48 feet, as authorized in WRDA 2014. The SNWW is the USA’s leading energy exporter and #1 exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG). No single project can do more for Texas and the rest of the United States now than the Sabine—Neches Waterway Channel Improvement Project.

  $9,630,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) for dredging of the Texas City Federal Channel.  Key energy products such as crude oil, gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel, are moved through the Texas City Channel and the Port of Texas City daily.  Thirty million net tons of energy cargo are moved annually as part of the federal Strategic Petroleum Reserve System, which depends on the Texas City Channel.

These investments are welcome news for Southeast Texas, and I am humbled by the opportunity to work within the congressional appropriations process to deliver wins for Texas.

Legislation sponsored:

• H.R. 4663 - To clarify that installation of mechanical insulation property is as an energy or water efficiency measure that may be used in Federal buildings for purposes of section 543(f) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, and for other purposes.

Legislation cosponsored:

• H.R. 4701 - To codify the temporary scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances by adding fentanyl-related substances to schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
• H.R. 4721 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the deduction for qualified business income.
• H.R. 2407 - Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
• H.R. 4686 - To establish a grace period for nonpayment of premiums for flood insurance coverage under the national flood insurance program until the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency implements the option for monthly payment of such premiums, and for other purposes.
• H.Con.Res. 57 - Expressing the sense of Congress supporting the State of Israel.
• H.R. 3497 - Uranium Miners and Workers Act of 2023

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!