Dedicated to Bringing American Hostages Home

As chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I am dedicated to bringing American hostages home to their families safely. This week, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability held a roundtable with family members of Americans detained and held hostage around the globe.

One American hostage is too many. Right now we have Americans wrongfully detained all over the world, including in Russia, China, Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan. My wife Linda and I think of them and their families often.

Every hostage brought home is a success story, but I have strong concerns about the Biden administration's tactics. They traded Victor Bout, one of the world's most notorious arms dealers – the Merchant of Death – for only one American hostage. They also traded five Iranian criminals and gave Iran access to $6 billion in exchange for give Americans. And shortly after they gave Iran access to $6 billion, Hamas took 241 hostages from Israel, including American citizens.

The administration has projected weaknesses on the world stage, which only incentivizes further hostage-taking.

I will continue fighting until each one of them is brought home. Click below to watch my opening remarks at this moving event.

Click to watch

Standing with Jewish Americans

Over the last week, Americans watched in horror as antisemitic groups occupied college campuses. These far-left groups and activists have chanted pro-Hamas propaganda and promoted violence and destruction.

Hamas and Iran praised the protests as these activists broke into private property, threatened Jewish students, and chanted antisemitic slurs. This is not free speech; it is illegal activity that calls for violence.

My father was a bombardier in World War II fighting to end antisemitism. It is our responsibility to ensure that it does not return.

That’s why this week, I voted for the Antisemitism Awareness Act. This piece of legislation will combat the antisemitic discrimination and the threats of violence that we are seeing on college campuses across the country.

As the Biden administration and school administrators turn a blind eye, I will always stand up for the safety of Jewish Americans.

Protecting Religious Freedom

Last week I led a congressional delegation to Italy to examine ways to protect religious freedom as authoritarian leaders crack down on freedom of expression around the world.

I was honored to meet with Pope Francis and other officials during our trip to the Vatican, where we discussed efforts to ensure that Christians — and people of all faiths — can practice their beliefs freely.

Religious persecution is on the rise. As a man of faith, I will continue working to defend religious freedom across the globe.

Praying for world peace at St. Peters Basilica

Accepting Applications for Class of 2029 U.S. Service Academies

My office is accepting applications for students who are seeking a congressional nomination to a United States Service Academy.

It is an honor to nominate young men and women from across Texas’ 10^th Congressional District to these prestigious universities. I applaud their dedication to their country, and I look forward to their bright futures.

If you or someone you know would like to apply, click here to read more about the requirements and application process.