Rep. Randy Weber e-Newsletter

TikTok

TikTok, which is controlled by ByteDance and tied to the Chinese Communist Party, poses a significant national security threat to the United States. ByteDance, a Chinese company with an internal Chinese Communist Party committee, must comply with China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law requiring Chinese companies to “support, assist and cooperate with the state intelligence work” – which means they must provide any information requested to the Chinese government, including highly sensitive data collected on American users.

ByteDance has demonstrated their willingness to use TikTok to spy on Americans, and allegedly provided its internal CCP committee members with a “god credential” to view all data collected on TikTok users, including Americans. In 2022, leaked audio from internal TikTok meetings exposed that “everything is seen in China” and ByteDance has confirmed using TikTok to monitor American journalists’ physical location. Just last week, TikTok demonstrated its ability to weaponize its roughly 150 million American users against U.S. national security interests, launching a propaganda campaign to attempt to disrupt an Energy and Commerce Committee markup of legislation that would force them to sever ties with the CCP.

House Republicans passed bipartisan legislation that places the choice in TikTok’s hands: Either they can sever their ties with the CCP or no longer be available in the United States. Refusing to divest would suggest China’s real purpose behind TikTok in America is to spy on Americans and use the platform for China’s own interest. We must ensure the Chinese government cannot weaponize TikTok against American users and our government through data collection and propaganda.

Southeast Texas

This week, I sent a letter to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) regarding their recent visit to Port Arthur, Texas. The audacity and lack of knowledge that they have about our community laughable. We know that the chemical industry is essential for Southeast Texas and the entire world.

Here is the letter I sent:

I was notified, not by your offices, but by stakeholders, local media, and constituents about your visit to my district in Southeast Texas, the energy capital of the world. Although your visit was very brief, I hope you had the opportunity to see the vibrant communities and industries that make up Port Arthur and Southeast Texas. That said, I am sure it did not fit your gloom-and-doom narrative.

As you know, the Texas chemical industry manufactures countless products that improve the quality of life for billions of people around the world. Chemical manufacturers in my district transform natural gas and other mineral resources into the building blocks for essential products that sustain and improve our daily lives, including the modern transportation that brought you to my district, assuming that you did not walk down to Texas. The chemical industry is essential to the functioning of our society and economy, and its innovations are key to a brighter future.

Chemistry is the science behind sustainability. The chemical industry makes renewable energy a reality by creating photovoltaic cells to generate solar power, lightweight blades to generate wind power, and battery technologies to store the electricity that power our electric cars, computers, and cell phones. The business of chemistry is essential to promoting environmental sustainability.

During your visit, I trust you gained insight into the significant contributions that the industry brings to my district and that it shares with the rest of the U.S. and the world. Health, safety, and environmental responsibility are paramount to us, and I am proud to share with you some of the benefits our industry brings to my constituents:

Commitment to Clean Air and Water: Industry has invested tens of billions of dollars in reducing emissions and improving environmental performance. They have been dedicated to reducing waste and maintaining clean air and water.
Environmental Stewardship: Industry’s commitment to environmental improvement is evident through numerous projects aimed at reducing emissions and improving air quality. Since 1998, over 100 environmental improvement projects have been completed in Southeast Texas, resulting in substantial reductions in emissions and a continuous regional air quality monitoring network.
Safety: Safety remains our top priority, with best-in-class safety performance exceeding state and national averages. Our facilities adhere to strict safety protocols, and initiatives like the Industrial Safety Training Council provide essential safety training to thousands of individuals each year.
Economic Impact: Southeast Texas serves as a major hub for storage and export of crude oil, refined fuels, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and renewable fuels. The chemical and petrochemical facilities contribute significantly to the national supply of transportation fuels while fostering economic growth in our region.
Employment Opportunities: The industry provides substantial employment opportunities, with every job directly created leading to four indirect jobs. In 2019 alone, over 23,000 individuals were employed by industry in the four-county region, with average annual wages exceeding $86,600.
Product Innovation: Products derived from oil, gas, and other petrochemicals play a vital role in enriching human lives—including those of your constituents in Rhode Island and Washington. From health care products and medical supplies to food supply, technology components, and transportation fuels, our industry is at the forefront of innovation.
Corporate Citizenship: Industry members have invested over $35 million in donations and contributions to support local organizations, focusing on education, environmental stewardship, workforce development, and health and safety initiatives. These investments have significantly impacted our communities, enriching the lives of residents and fostering a culture of giving back.

Surely what you saw in Southeast Texas dispelled the myths that you have bought into and promulgated during your “Toxic Tour.” Surely, you now understand that modern life is not possible without the chemical industry. Surely, you will now work to promote commonsense policies that allow the chemical industry to continue to innovate, producing products even more cleanly and efficiently.

Attacking our domestic industry only serves to harm the U.S. It makes our country more reliant on foreign producers that do not take their labor force, much less the environment, into consideration. Look around your home, your office, your committee rooms; you will be hard pressed to find products that are not facilitated by the chemical industry.

In your joint press release, you applaud President Biden for the LNG export halt. You must have been surprised to find that the community of Port Arthur strongly supports the LNG industry. I am enclosing letters from community leaders that reflect this viewpoint. While your constituents in Washington and Rhode Island may subscribe to your distorted views, Texans do not have the time for such fallacies—they are hard at work making America better.

To shield you from being labelled hypocrites, consider this: A roundtrip flight from Seattle, Washington to Washington, D.C. produces around 1,155 pounds of CO2 per passenger, equal to the average person’s emissions for an entire month of living. If you are truly dedicated to reducing emissions, I would be happy to recommend a walking route. Fortunately, the roundtrip flight from Providence, Rhode Island produces considerably less greenhouse gases. And the walk is a lot shorter.

Survey Question of the Week

The Biden Administration has admitted to flying as many as 320,000 illegal immigrants on secret flights into the U.S., in an effort to decrease the number of illegal immigrant encounters at the Southern Border.

Does it concern you that the Biden Admin is facilitating and encouraging illegal migrants to come to the United States?

Yes

No

No opinion

Around the District

This week, Team Weber attended the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce's monthly luncheon with guest speaker Major David Swyers of the Galveston County Salvation Army. In Southeast Texas, our contractor workers are vital to our community. On Wednesday, Team Weber attended the Contactors Business Development meeting to discuss the various upcoming projects in the Texas and Louisiana areas. They discuss the type of work and workers that will be needed and how to best apply for those positions. In Washington, we had some great visitors! Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie, Councilmember Willie Lewis, and Councilmember Donald Frank were in Washington to discuss projects in Port Arthur. I also got to visit with a group of Danbury students visiting their office during Spring Break.

Art Competition

It's that time of year again!!

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent nationwide and each congressional district. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.

Students submit entries to their representative's office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The overall winner of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide.

For requirements and entry information, please visit our website. The deadline for all submissions is Wednesday, April 10, 2024, by 5:00 PM CST.

Recent Legislation

Legislation cosponsored:

H.R. 7650 - To facilitate efficient State implementation of national ambient air quality standards, and for other purposes.
H.R. 7660 - To clarify minimum altitudes for go-arounds, inspection passes, practice approaches, and qualified instrument approaches.
H.R. 7620 - To amend the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to require the acceptance of cash payments for entrance fees at units of the National Park System.
H.R. 3433 - Give Kids a Chance Act of 2023
H.R. 6951 - College Cost Reduction Act
H.R. 7584 - To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office to provide cost estimates for legislation reported by the Committee on Appropriations of each House, and for other purposes.

Last Week's Survey 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