Today, the House of Representatives voted on the remaining six appropriations bills. The package includes: Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Legislative Branch; and State-Foreign Operations. 

Over the last five months, as the appropriations process played out, and after considering the 1,012-page bill, the outcome and process were not what we in Southeast Texas expect from a Republican majority.

I could not, in good faith, support a $1.2 trillion omnibus that continues down the same trajectory that has led to historic inflation, which is crushing Texans, while also bolstering the calamitous border policies of Joe Biden, which have left our communities unsafe and our nation less secure.

Washington is beyond broken, and our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will be left with unsustainable debt and a less safe nation. We need to shake up Washington and force the hand of Joe Biden to secure our border and get a grip on spending

I wanted to share a few provisions that were tucked away in the massive spending deal that Americans deserve to know that the federal government is funding.

• $400,000 for an organization that gives out “transition” clothing for minors in Wisconsin
• $2 million+ for equipment at facilities performing abortions
• $1 million for “Amplify Latinx” business groups in Massachusetts
• $850,000 for LGBTQ Senior Housing services and programming in Massachusetts
• $740,000 to “increase diversity” in state contracts in Maryland
• $850,000 for LGBTQ services for illegal immigrants and free drug needle exchange.
• $200 million for a new FBI Headquarters
• $1.6 million for EV busses on Cape Cod
• $1.1 million for climate resilience and equity in Boston.
• Continues the Pentagon’s abortion tourism fund
• Fully funds the Department of Defense transgender surgeries

These were just a few reasons I did not vote for this bill. The bottom line is that we needed to use the power of the purse to force the Democrats to take action and include provisions to secure our southern border, not rubber stamp what is happening in front of our eyes. 

Last week, I asked you if it concerned you that the Biden Administration is facilitating and encouraging illegal migrants to come to the United States. Over 80% of you said yes. Joe Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas are consistently sidestepping the rule of law to assist and guide unvetted illegal aliens into our communities, and now helping them to fly directly to American cities. This poses not only a national security risk but also raises serious questions about this Administration. 

In response, I wrote a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding answers for the reports of flying over 300,000 illegal aliens into the country. 

Below is the letter:

Mr. President and Secretary Mayorkas:

We write today to express our grave concerns regarding disturbing reports that, throughout 2023, the Biden Administration trafficked over 320,000 foreign nationals onto U.S. territory through so-called “advanced travel authorizations.”  As federal representatives and citizens of this great nation, we hold a fundamental duty to ensure that the Executive Branch is not breaking the very laws it is charged to enforce. This is especially true when it comes to protecting Americans.

The fatal consequences of the Administration’s fundamental abdication of its duty to secure our nation’s sovereign borders are already apparent.  Not even a month ago, Laken Riley, a nursing student at the University of Georgia, was wantonly murdered, reportedly by an illegal alien from Venezuela.  That same so-called “newcomer,” as you like to say, was released back into our country in September 2023 as a result of your administration’s disastrous parole policies.  Had her alleged murderer been detained at the border as he should have been, she would still be alive today.

No American should die because you refused to do your duty.

Given your complicity in the worst border crisis in American history, we should not have been surprised to learn that your Administration has created a new avenue for foreign nationals to distort our nation’s immigration process.  It is appalling that this Administration advertises “advance travel authorizations” that allow for illegal aliens to fly directly to American cities of their choosing, only to be released under the corrupted asylum parole program. 

On September 21, 2023, the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) reported that “a little-known part of the Biden administration's CBP One parole program permits inadmissible aliens to make an appointment to fly directly to airports in the interior of the United States, bypassing the border altogether.”  A subsequent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by CIS to acquire documentation from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding the program elicited even more concerning information.

CIS found that the program is available only to foreign nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, and Ecuador.  Every single one of these countries is subject to a restricted travel advisory issued by the State Department.  Indeed, both Haiti and Venezuela are designated “Level 4: DO NOT TRAVEL.”

The cognitive dissonance is shocking.

On one hand, the CBP states that “bad actors” could exploit “operational vulnerabilities” in the program.  On the other hand, the CBP is offering unvetted foreign nationals in countries already known to be terrorist hotbeds with expedited travel directly into American cities of their choice.

CBP refused to provide either the departure airports used in those countries or the airports of arrival in the United States.  The CIS analysis of the data found that “a dozen unnamed facilities” were responsible for processing the vast majority of the 320,000 people your Administration illegally flew directly into our country.  It is concerning to learn that there are unknown havens for illegal immigrants throughout the country and, even worse, to learn that your Administration refuses to name which communities must bear the burden you have created.

This administration has shown total contempt for the rule of law, our national sovereignty, and the basic safety of the American people.

To that end, please provide answers to the following questions no later than 6:00pm EST on April 7, 2024.

1. Under what congressional authority was the “advance travel authorization” scheme established?

2. Which foreign airports are being used as embarkation points for foreign nationals that were granted “advance travel authorization?”

3. Which U.S. airports are being used as arrival points for foreign nationals that were granted “advance travel authorization?”

4. What is the country-of-origin breakdown for all 320,000 illegal immigrants granted “advance travel authorization?”

5. How many flights were paid for by individual illegal immigrants?

6. How many flights were paid for by 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 organizations or other “financial sponsors?”

7. What measures has the administration taken to prevent criminals, human traffickers, and terrorists from applying for and being granted “advance travel authorization?”

8. What security threats have been observed as a result of the “advance travel authorization” flight program and how have they been addressed?

9. What is the background verification process used by CBP One to ensure that every illegal immigrant granted “advance travel authorization” is who they say they are? Who is monitoring that process, and to whom do they report?

10. Have any foreign nationals who are members of any organization designated a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” by the Department of State attempted to gain entry to the United States through an “advance travel authorization?”

11. Does the administration have the intention to terminate the “advance travel authorization” process?

We look forward to your prompt response.

Since his first day in office, President Biden has implemented policies to crush American energy production, increasing our reliance on foreign adversaries for energy and raising costs on American families. On day one, President Biden issued an executive order canceling the $8 billion Keystone XL pipeline, which would have transported up to 830,000 barrels of heavy crude oil a day, costing American workers their jobs and threatening our energy security.

Just this January, the Biden Administration announced they would be halting approvals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, despite previous studies showing that American LNG exports protect global energy security, create American jobs, and reduce emissions. 

This was a blatant political ploy to satisfy radical climate activists that are dead set on shutting down American energy production. Banning LNG exports will only increase our dependency on China, the biggest climate polluter in the world. That’s why House Republicans passed a bill in February to stop the Biden Administration’s ban on LNG exports, H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024.

When President Biden started taking political heat for the high gas prices resulting from his anti-American policies, he decided to deplete our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to mask how his far-left climate agenda has raised energy costs for American families – threatening our national security for a political band-aid. To make it worse, he then turned around and sold millions of barrels of our reserves to China. We passed a bill to stop that, as well: H.R. 22, the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act.

These are just a few of President Biden’s disastrous energy policies that American families are paying the price for every day at the gas station, the grocery store, and in utility bills. If President Biden really wanted to reduce carbon emissions and promote cleaner energy, he would unleash American energy instead of turning to polluters like China – not crush energy production with burdensome red tape. We produce energy better than anywhere else in the world, and we lower costs, create jobs, and shore up our energy security while we do it. 

This week, during energy week, the House passed H.Res 987 to denounce the Biden Administration’s disastrous and harmful anti-American energy policies that are raising costs for hardworking Americans, and putting our energy security and the security of our allies at risk.

House Republicans already passed H.R.1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, to combat President Biden’s failed energy policies, which included many of the reforms in the bills coming to the floor this week. We won’t stop fighting to reduce costs for all Americans, and will continue passing legislation to unleash American energy and hold the Biden Administration accountable. 

This week, we had some great visitors in Washington. I spoke at the American Association of Port Authorities' Legislative Summit about the important role our ports play in Southeast Texas for local jobs, the local economy, and our entire nation. Port of Freeport, Port of Port Arthur, Port of Beaumont, and Port of Galveston were all there, representing our great ports. Down in the district, Team Weber attended the Pathway to Success Luncheon, bringing together the Port Arthur Education Foundation and Lamar State College Port Arthur with Port Arthur Independent School District students to discuss the importance of career networking. They also attended the Friendswood & League City Chamber of Commerce luncheons.