Yesterday, Congress passed the third short-term government funding extension in less than four months that does nothing to properly address our nation's historic border crisis, rein in wasteful government spending, unleash American energy dominance, or uphold government accountability. It does the complete opposite and puts more fuel to the fire of every single crisis under the Biden administration.

House Republicans promised the American people to get back to regular order and properly fund the government through 12 single-subject appropriations bills. But my colleagues continue to choose to opt for the easy way out and continue to fund our government at the Democrat dream spending levels crafted by Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden over a year ago, preserving their failed policies. 

I voted AGAINST the continuing resolution. 

My fellow Texans are—and all Americans should be—most concerned about the crisis at our southern border and the state of our economy. We have the opportunity to address both of these issues, but instead, Congress decided to kick the can further down the road. I've had enough, and Americans have had enough; we must change how Washington operates. We must stop the reckless spending, and we must secure our southern border.

My message going into the vote was: Secure our border; then, we will talk about funding the government.

The short-term government funding extension will fund the government until March 1 and March 8. 

I spoke on the House Floor this week regarding President Biden's open border policies that have created an absolute crisis at our southern border. I am headed back to the southern border today to listen to CBP, ICE, Texas DPS, and other officials about what they are experiencing on the southern border, how many drugs are pouring across the border, the human smuggling operations they are witnessing, and how Biden's policies are allowing illegals to come across the southern border and being released into our communities. 

My remarks on the border crisis: 

It is no secret that the Biden Administration has purposely and willfully destroyed over 100 years of immigration policy, resulting in 8 million (or more) illegal crossings since Joe Biden took office. I've been visiting the border since my time in the Texas State House back in 2009. I got back from the border earlier this month and am heading back to the border soon.  What we are witnessing now is the worst I've ever seen.  The worst that Border Patrol agents and Texas law enforcement officers have seen.

Joe Biden is responsible for creating the policies that are encouraging illegal immigration, and he won't work in good faith with Republicans to fix the problem. We passed a border bill, H.R. 2 – strong legislation to secure America's border.  We passed that over six months ago. Just in the Border Patrol’s Del Rio Sector, we are seeing folks from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and China, just to name a few—over 300 documented cases of smuggling since October.  The weekly revenue for illicit human smuggling exceeds $30 million a week—in the Del Rio Sector alone.

These are the people that Joe Biden is letting into our communities. We don't know their background, and I can't say with confidence that we trust the Biden administration to perform “due diligence” in processing illegal aliens, before releasing them into OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STATE, or OUR NATION. This administration has a deliberate strategy to keep the border open and continue the chaos. But Texas has had enough. Americans have had enough. Republicans are united to do whatever it takes to secure our southern border.

It is simple, Mr. Speaker…all that the Biden administration needs to do to deter illegals and stop this crisis is to enforce the laws in the book…But it has become painfully clear that President Biden prefers, instead, for 8 million (or more) illegal aliens to resettle in all 50 states and play a cynically partisan role in the future of American life by making Democrats a permanent majority.  Or so they think...

They refuse to acknowledge what we understand so clearly: simply, that Americans—of all stripes—want a secure border…

• End catch-and-release.
• Build the wall.
• Cease abuse of parole authority.
• Reinstate Remain in Mexico.

It is that simple…  SECURE THE BORDER.

Over the weekend, I attended the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce's 179th annual meeting and the Galveston Island County Music Fest! What a fantastic event, and a big congratulations to all the businesses honored for their work in our community. During the week while I was in Washington, Team Weber attended the ribbon cutting for UTMB's newly renovated Women's and Children's wing at John Sealy Hospital. They will continue their work to make patient rooms much larger, Texas style, and accommodating to the needs of their patients and their families while ensuring their expert faculty and staff have the space and technology they need to provide the most advanced care. They also attended the Vidor Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet and Groves Chamber of Commerce's ribbon cutting for a new mall offering antiques and vintage finds.

Legislation cosponsored:

• H.R. 7035 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes. 
• H.R. 7044 - To ensure that women seeking an abortion are notified, before giving informed consent to receive an abortion, of the medical risks associated with the abortion procedure and the major developmental characteristics of the unborn child. 
• H.Res. 974 - Expressing support for the designation of the week of January 21 through January 27, 2024, as "National School Choice Week".
• H.R. 5184 - School Security Enhancement Act 
• H.R. 7027 - To amend title 1, United States Code, to clarify that certain tax exemptions are not treated as Federal financial assistance. 
• H.Res. 966 - Condemning rape and sexual violence committed by Hamas in its war against Israel.

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!