A lot has happened in a week, and I wanted to update you on what happened and where things stand. 

In case you missed it, here's how Congress averted a government shutdown over the weekend: After House Republicans attempted to pass a conservative short-term spending reduction bill with added border security policies on Friday, September 29th, Speaker Kevin McCarthy resorted to putting a "clean" (meaning an extension of current funding law without policy or funding level changes) continuing resolution (CR) on the floor Saturday afternoon. I did vote AGAINST this "clean" CR. We are $33 TRILLION in debt, and the American people can't afford to continue Nancy Pelosi's bloated spending levels or the Left's radical policies — which is exactly what a so-called "clean" continuing resolution (CR) does. This did end up passing the House with more Democrat votes than Republican votes. The Senate took up the CR on Saturday night, passing it 88-9. President Biden then signed this spending measure into law on Saturday night, extending government funding to November 17th. 

We were supposed to continue working on passing the remaining 8 appropriations bills to fund the government. However, this week that came to a halt. I’m sure many of you saw that on Tuesday, the House adopted a Motion to Vacate, which removed Kevin McCarthy from his role as House Speaker, leaving his position vacant.  An hour or so later, Kevin McCarthy announced he would not run for Speaker again.

While I certainly understand my colleagues' frustration with Kevin McCarthy's leadership, I voted against the measure to remove him as Speaker. Ultimately, I believe we should be focused on passing the remaining appropriations bills in a fiscally responsible manner, as these single-subject government funding bills are the best way to get our nation back on track by cutting woke, weaponized, and wasteful spending.  We also desperately need to secure our southern border.

Since the motion to vacate Speaker McCarthy did succeed, we now find ourselves in uncharted waters. As you may know, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has been named Speaker Pro Tempore, which means he will temporarily serve in a limited capacity until House Republicans elect a new Speaker of the House. House Republicans are planning to hear from candidates and vote for a new Speaker during this coming week.

I'm working diligently to help House Republicans use this opportunity to unite in electing a new, effective, and conservative Speaker so we can get back to doing the work of the People's House. Please don't hesitate to contact my office if you have any comments, questions, or concerns. The situation is very fluid and is changing by the day, and sometimes even hours. I will continue to keep you informed as things develop. But I have not forgotten that we need to work extremely quickly and make dramatic spending cuts to get our economy back on track and our borders secure. Americans deserve nothing less. It is an honor to represent each of you in Congress. And I never forget that I work for YOU. 

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is citing an "acute and immediate need" to waive dozens of federal laws to build a border wall in south Texas where illegal migration has surged. The agency posted an announcement on the U.S. Federal Register that outlines construction in Starr County in the Rio Grande Valley Sector, where the administration says there is "high illegal entry." The agency says there have been over 245,000 migrant encounters in the sector this fiscal year.

Although President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas still refuse to label the horrific situation at our border as a crisis, Secretary Mayorkas is now admitting to an 'immediate need' to build additional border wall in Texas. Any additional barrier must be followed up by the political will to enforce our immigration laws. 20 miles of border wall will not stop the outright invasion of our country—only consequences will.

I wanted to share an opinion piece I wrote and published the Orange Leader and Port Arthur News. 

The American criminal justice system relies on the dedicated men and women who work tirelessly behind the scenes, often away from the spotlight. Correctional officers play a vital role in maintaining order and security within our prisons and ensuring the rehabilitation of inmates. However, their demanding job is often underappreciated, and their compensation doesn't always reflect the challenges they face daily.

Beaumont is home to three of our nation’s federal prisons, all housed at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Beaumont. The facility provides jobs to hundreds of hardworking individuals who call Beaumont home. These correctional officers are not just employees; they are our friends, neighbors, and constituents. For far too long, Bureau of Prison (BOP) facilities in rural areas and employees working in designated 'Rest of U.S.' jurisdictions located near metropolitan areas—as is the case with FCC Beaumont—have been subjected to lower pay rates even though they have higher costs-of-living for working near major cities.

In the United States, we have 122 prison facilities, and 79 of the facilities fall into the ‘Rest of U.S.’ category, leading to understaffed prisons and overworked employees, creating a dangerous work environment for staff. In May, I introduced the Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act to rectify this shortcoming by ensuring that these hardworking individuals get the pay they deserve for their tireless service. An estimated 67 facilities, including FCC Beaumont, would benefit from my bill.

This legislation recognizes the need for competitive salaries and improved benefits for correctional officers. By offering competitive compensation, we can attract and retain qualified professionals in this field. A well-compensated workforce is not only beneficial for those who serve but also enhances the safety and security of our prisons, reducing turnover rates and ultimately saving taxpayer dollars.

I have met with and spoken firsthand to correctional officers in Beaumont. These are the salt of the earth folks protecting our community.

Thank you to all of our correctional officers for what you do on a day-to-day basis. You are on the front line, and I have your back in Congress. I’m hopeful that we can get this bill over the finish line.

This week, Team Weber presented a certificate to the Airway Dentists welcoming them to Friendswood, attended the ribbon cutting with the Galveston Regional and League City Chamber of Commerce for a new restaurant, The Spot, and the ribbon cutting for the Raymond Gould Walking Park in Orange. They also went to the Brazosport Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, "State of the Community." Team Weber also joined the City of Sweeny and Sweeny Police Department's annual National Night Out. They also met with the Bay Area Pet Adoptions in San Leon for a facility tour and discussed the challenges they face.    

Legislation cosponsored:

• H.R. 3016 - IGO Anti-Boycott Act
• H.R. 5285 - Staff Safety Act
• H.Con.Res. 71 - Expressing the sense of Congress to encourage full participation of Taiwan in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
• H.Res. 758 - Expressing support for the designation of the first Wednesday in October as National Energy Appreciation Day to celebrate the people who work to power the United States and the economy and to build awareness of the important role that America's energy producers play in reducing poverty, strengthening national security, and improving the quality of life for people around the world.
• H.Res. 755 - Providing for the expulsion of Representative Jamaal Bowman from the House of Representatives.
• H.R. 621 - PART Act
• H.R. 5585 - Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act
• H.R. 5725 - No CORRUPTION Act

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!