Joe Biden’s Debate Performance Was Shameful Along with millions of Americans, our adversaries were watching last night’s debate. And President Biden’s performance sent a dangerous message of incompetence that will further embolden China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. The world is already on fire and last night only made it worse. He could barely communicate a coherent response to even the easiest questions from the moderator. It was very troubling and makes it clear he cannot be elected again in November. In a heartless move, the president also claimed no U.S. troops have died on his watch. That was a lie. Three servicemembers were killed in a drone attack earlier this year in Jordan. And, of course,13 U.S. servicemembers were killed on August 26, 2021 in Afghanistan as a result of the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. It was the deadliest day for the United States in Afghanistan in over a decade. It was and will remain a stain on American foreign policy for generations – and it happened under Joe Biden’s watch. Ignoring these brave servicemembers’ ultimate sacrifice is just the latest example of the president desperately trying to gloss over the deadly chaos he created in Afghanistan. The president has never even said the names of those who perished publicly. That’s why I went to the House floor today and honored their sacrifice by reading out their names. And also why I’m conducting a thorough investigation of the administration’s catastrophic handling of the withdrawal. I want every gold and blue star family member, and veterans to know: I will not rest until we determine how this happened – and hold everyone accountable who bears responsibility for it. Watch my remarks on the House floor here. President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas’ Policies Threaten U.S. National Security We have a criminal enterprise operating in the United States. Our country is being overwhelmed with illegal immigrants, many of whom intend to cause harm in our communities. Last week, a 12-year-old girl from Houston was walking into a convenience store when she was brutally murdered by two illegal immigrants from Venezuela. President Biden’s and Secretary Mayorkas’ failed border policies are allowing criminals to live in our communities. Yet earlier this week, the Biden administration’s border policies enabled an ISIS-affiliated smuggling network to bring more than 400 illegal immigrants to the United States. President Biden is so concerned with the optics of detaining individuals who willingly broke the law that he has dismantled our vetting system, releasing violent criminals and terrorist suspects into our communities. The Biden administration does not know where approximately 50 individuals are, other than that they are roaming free within our country. President Biden’s failure to secure our border has turned our nation into a ticking time bomb. Our country needs new leadership in the White House before disaster strikes. Click to watch This week, I voted to support the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill to resume construction of the border wall, support our border agents, and remove dangerous criminals who enter our country illegally. To mitigate the flow of illegal immigrants, President Biden and Senate Democrats must pass H.R. 2 to protect our communities from the threats they’ve enabled. The bill also contained multiple provisions that I authored, including one to fund the Veterinary Emergency Team programs at Texas A&M.Their program is the largest of its kind in the country and it provides critical support to communities facing disasters in Texas and across the nation. The work their handlers and their canines do is critical for disaster response. I was also honored to co-lead an amendment that boosted funding for the National Security Grant Program under FEMA. With religious discrimination and antisemitism on the rise, it is critical that we protect and secure Americans’ constitutional right to freedom of religion. My amendment provides increased funding to be used for protection for synagogues and other houses of worship from threats and violent actors. Read more here. Supporting Our Servicemembers and Strengthening U.S. National Security One of my greatest responsibilities is to protect U.S. national security. I am committed to supporting our brave servicemembers who defend freedom and democracy around the world. I was pleased to support the 2025 Defense Appropriations Act which includes a pay raise for all our military personnel. There is an unholy alliance forming between Russia, China, and Iran. The United States must be ready to rise to the challenge. House Republicans’ bill prioritizes funding for combat-ready military forces and promotes defense innovation to combat our adversaries. This year's bill contained several of my requests to strengthen U.S. national security: Increases funds for additional F-35 fighter jets and critical upgrades to outpace our adversaries; Secures resources to develop the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft to replace the aging Blackhawk helicopter; Supports the completion of the Ballistics, Aero-Optics, and Materials (BAM) range at Texas A&M’s RELLIS campus to conduct the research development for hypersonic weapons necessary to reclaim global leadership; Ensures childhood cancer researchers funded by the Department of Defense have the resources necessary to develop treatments and a cure for childhood cancer; Advances the capabilities of autonomous drones that will give troops tactical advantages on land and sea; and Develops advanced man-portable counter drone technology for the battlefield. As authoritarian nations ramp up their aggression, the U.S. must support our allies. This year’s bill reinforces our ironclad commitment to our partner Israel and provides resources to bolster the Indo-Pacific. Read more here. Protecting Water Infrastructure for Texans In recent weeks, the Houston region has faced deadly storms which damaged critical infrastructure, homes, and businesses. This week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to support and protect critical water resources in Texas. WRDA provides resources to assist with storm preparedness and flood resiliency throughout Texas. Houston is home to one of the largest ports in the country, and this legislation bolsters our supply chain and creates jobs throughout the state. This bill allows Texas to continue feeding and fueling the nation. Read more here. ICYMI: McCaul: I was proud to carry the Texas spirit to Taiwan and India "Our nation and its leaders could learn from Texas. Unfortunately, under President Biden’s leadership, the U.S. has exhibited weakness on the world stage time and time again. Since the fall of Afghanistan, our adversaries have grown more emboldened and more determined in their efforts to see the U.S. fail. Today, we’re engaged in an all-out fight for the global balance of power. Our primary adversary: the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)." Click to read ICYMI: McCaul TV Coverage McCaul on KBTX “What this administration changed was they allowed them to come in and then they release them into society. We've had about seven million enter and released into society and about two-and-a-half million gotaways, not to mention the ISIS-K threat. ... I can tell you they were up to no good. The threat of a terror attack in the United States is real when you have an open border like this.” Click to watch McCaul on Fox News' "Your World" “When I was chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, we were always worried about the southern border, Sandra, but we never saw this in fact happen. They had the intent, but we never actually saw ISIS-K or Al-Qaeda actually cross into the United States. Now we have evidence that it has happened. ... ” Click to watch McCaul on Newsmax's "The Record" "This would never have happened under the prior administration because we had policies to secure the border, but we also vetted these individuals." Click to watch Tune In to "Fox News Sunday" with Shannon Bream This Sunday, June 30th, I will be joining "Fox News Sunday" with Shannon Bream to discuss the latest on Israel, the terror threats crossing the southern border, and my reaction to Thursday's presidential debate. ICYMI: Rep. McCaul in the News The Daily Wire: Republicans Hammer Biden After ISIS-Affiliated Smuggling Network Brings Hundreds Of Illegals Into U.S. Click to read Texas Insider: CONG. McCAUL: Representing Texas on the World Stage & Condemning President Biden's Mass Amnesty Plan Click to read Townhall: New Pentagon Chief of Staff Slammed As 'Unqualified' and Not 'Trustworthy' Click to read Click here to view this email as a webpage. www.mccaul.house.gov Washington, D.C. 2300 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-2401 Fax: 202-225-5955 Austin 11614 FM 2244 Suite 160 Austin, TX 78738 Fax: 512-473-0514 College Station 175 Century Square Drive Suite 210 College Station, TX 77840 Phone: (979) 431-6480 Fax: (979) 431-5180 Rep. McCaul | Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice