Rep. Randy Weber e-Newsletter

Antisemitic Protestors

What we're seeing on these college campuses across the country is disgusting and unacceptable. Universities must protect students instead of allowing pro-Hamas supporters to take over campuses and spew HATE. Hamas is a terrorist organization. This is America. Antisemitism has no place here and will not be tolerated. As co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, I will continue to fight and speak out against all forms of antisemitism and work to protect our Jewish brothers and sisters.

This week, I joined a letter Columbia University alumni and donors:

As Members of Congress, we urge donors and individuals affiliated with Columbia University to condemn the antisemitic incidents occurring on the university’s campus by pulling donations and support for the university until there are demonstrable changes in leadership, including the resignation of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik. The university should also provide a thorough review of all school funding and investigate the outside forces influencing students and agitators to participate in these disruptive and violent incidents that target and intimidate Jewish students on campus.

In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, university campuses across the U.S. experienced riots and incidents of antisemitism. Many protests led by anti-Israel groups resulted in intimidation and calls for violence against Jewish students, faculty, and staff. Nowhere is this more evident than at Columbia University.

Last week, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing on Columbia University leadership’s response, where members questioned university leaders, including Columbia University President Shafik, as to why they failed to address campus antisemitism and support for terrorism.

While university leaders claimed they were taking necessary actions to protect students and stop the violence and chaos occurring on campus, Columbia University was again erupting in riots as a ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ was formed on campus. Over the past weekend, incidents in and surrounding the encampment made national headlines as classes at the university were canceled or moved online for the remainder of the school year and more than 100 protesters were arrested. Columbia Rabbi Elie Buechler urged students to stay at home for their safety, saying in a message to over 300 Jewish students, “I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved”. As of this writing, the encampment has been allowed to reconvene and students remain unsafe as Columbia’s leadership has failed to follow through on the reassurances regarding enforcement that they had just days earlier made to Congress. 

We are pleased that many alumni and donors of Columbia are already taking action. Long-time donor Robert Kraft pulled his financial support of the university due to these same reasons.

We encourage all supporters of the university to do the same and call for the resignation of President Shafik. Additionally, we urge all individuals affiliated with the university to call for a transparent and thorough audit of all university funding concerning the anti-Israel movement on campus, and what outside groups are contributing and influencing students and agitators to participate.  Columbia University is among the top academic institutions in the country. It is an absolute failure of the university's commitment to students, staff, and supporters that they have allowed the institution to be overrun and terrorized. We appreciate your urgent attention to this matter.

Poll Question of the Week

Do you think the President of Columbia University should resign?

Yes

No

Drilling Down

Earlier this week, I joined the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs field hearing in Plano, Texas titled, “Drilling Down: Oversight of the Challenges and Opportunities Facing U.S. Energy Production." We discussed the impact the Biden Administration’s policies and regulations have on America’s oil and natural gas industries for the short and long term.

Key Takeaways:

There are significant benefits to U.S. leadership in energy. Growth in U.S. oil and natural gas production has both lowered global energy prices and reduced carbon emissions.
- “Unfortunately, instead of taking steps to support the production of more energy here at home, the Biden Administration has used every delay tactic and legal maneuver possible to deny Americans access to these resources,” Tim Tarpley, President, Energy Workforce & Technology Council, said during his opening statement.
- As global demand of affordable, reliable access to energy and hydrocarbon materials continues to increase, the U.S. is uniquely positioned to aid in providing these resources – with some of the highest and safest production standards anywhere in the world.
- The Biden Administration’s justification and timing of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) pause on new permitting for LNG exports to non-Free Trade Agreement countries is rooted in election-year politics and contrary to U.S. domestic interests.

American energy producers, specifically in Texas and other energy- producing states, are engines of economic growth and rely on a talented workforce to evolve and drive innovation.
- America’s leadership in energy has contributed to global economic growth and a significant reduction in poverty.
- Despite significant investments in career and technical education programs, there are still ongoing challenges to encouraging qualified talent in these fields. Despite being vilified by Democrats and the Biden Administration, the energy industry provides opportunities for the next generation to lead fulfilling careers.

Foreign Aid Package

On Saturday, the House voted on a series of bills related to our national security. The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, and 21st Century Peace through Strength Act.

Here are my thoughts after the votes: I was particularly proud to stand with our greatest ally, Israel, a key strategic partner that has been under attack by heinous terrorists who want to destroy Israel and the Jewish people. The United States must stand strong with Israel, period. I, however, could not support sending more U.S. dollars to Ukraine. I agree that Putin must be stopped, but it cannot come at the expense of the American people. I have heard from many Texans who feel the same. Instead, we will send billions of dollars to Ukraine without securing our OWN border, which is exploding with millions of illegal immigrants now in the United States. Terrorists, murderers, and thugs are crossing the border and killing our sons and daughters. This MUST end.

After the House passed tens of billions of your taxpayer's dollars to Ukraine, which I did not support, Democrats waved Ukrainian flags on the House Floor. And they were shouting “UKRAINE! UKRAINE!” while happily working to secure Ukraine’s borders, not ours. We need to put America FIRST.

Around the District

It was great to be back in Southeast Texas. On Monday, I participated in the legislative update with the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce alongside State Sen. Mayes Middleton and State Representative Dr. Greg Bonnen. Thank you to the Chamber for hosting such a great event. It is always a pleasure to hear from our local legislators and meet with constituents. Then, I headed down to Galveston to meet with the Galveston Seafarers Center to discuss ways we can help them achieve their mission of providing care for people of the sea. The Galveston Seafarers Center is a non-profit, multi-denominational (inter-religious) organization aimed at serving the needs of men and women who live and work at sea.

I was also honored to join TxDot's Aviation Conference. Shelly deZevallos moderated a fireside chat to discuss challenges facing the aviation industry and when Congress will pass the Federal Aviation Administration's reauthorization.

In Brazoria County, Team Weber attended the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) High School Career Signing Day. BCPC's Career Signing Day aims to provide an avenue for CTE students who have taken industry-based high school courses to find jobs in the field. In the last five years, more than 150 graduating high school seniors from the area have accepted full-time craft careers that include on-the-job training through the program. This great program has been life-changing for so many students. Congrats to this year's students who will be entering the workforce right after graduation.

Recent Legislation

Legislation cosponsored:

H.R. 7649 - Protecting our Communities from Sexual Predators Act
H.R. 7937 - To terminate the authorities of certain entities of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.
H.R. 8060 - To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the notification of appropriate elected officials prior to the placement of refugees in a State.
H.R. 8068 - To amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to exclude resources designated as an emergency requirement or any resources provided in supplemental appropriations laws from CBO baseline projections for discretionary appropriations, and for other purposes.
H.Res. 1019 - Condemning the Nicaraguan Government's unjust imprisonment of individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Ministry.
H.R. 3654 - Transnational Repression Policy Act
H.R. 7764 - Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act
H.R. 8083 - To prohibit Federal funding for National Public Radio, and for other purposes.
H.J.Res. 130 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Railroad Administration relating to "Train Crew Size Safety Requirements".

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