I will be taking a break next week from sending a weekly newsletter to celebrate Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for in the greatest nation on earth. May your day be filled with love and gratitude as you gather around the table next week with family and friends.

Click the video for a special Thanksgiving message! 

When the Biden–Harris Administration opened the floodgates at our southern border, Texas did what Washington refused to do. Our state secured the border, protected our communities, and took on more than $11.1 billion in costs to defend the nation. Texas stood in the gap because the federal government under Biden and Harris simply walked away from its responsibility.

Now, thanks to the $13.5 billion in border-security reimbursements created under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Texas deserves to be paid back. These funds exist for a reason: to repay the states that stepped up when the federal government failed.

That is why this week, I joined Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn in urging the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to prioritize Texas as they begin releasing these reimbursements.

Operation Lone Star is the clearest example of what leadership looks like when the federal government drops the ball. Governor Abbott deployed every tool available by building miles of border wall, installing buoy barriers, sending state troopers, and apprehending dangerous criminals who poured across the border during the Biden–Harris years. These actions didn’t just protect Texans. They protected Americans in every corner of the country.

But let’s be honest. Texas should never have had to carry this alone. The former administration’s border failures left our state exposed, overwhelmed local communities, and pushed our law enforcement agencies to the limit. Texans stepped up because someone had to and now it is time for the federal government to pay its bill.

As these funds are released, I will continue fighting to ensure Texas gets the full reimbursement it earned.

On the House Floor this week, Congress passed two major bills that push us even closer to American Energy Dominance. The REFINER Act and the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act are straightforward, commonsense steps that strengthen the backbone of America’s energy supply chain, protect jobs, and keep our nation the world’s leading energy producer.

The REFINER Act takes on an issue Washington has ignored for too long, the steady decline in America’s refining capacity. Over the last several years, the United States has lost more than a million barrels of refining capacity per day, with several facilities shutting down altogether because of hostile policies at both the state and federal level. That means higher prices at the pump, more volatility, and greater dependence on foreign suppliers. The exact opposite of what a strong energy nation should ever tolerate. The REFINER Act fixes that by directing the National Petroleum Council to take a full, honest look at America’s refining system, identify where we are vulnerable, and outline where we can expand capacity to meet rising global demand. When refineries thrive, America thrives. In Texas, we live that reality every day. We fuel the nation, power our allies, and support thousands of good-paying jobs along the Gulf Coast.

This week, the House also passed the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act, which ends the previous administration’s indefensible freeze on LNG export permits. That politically motivated blockade jeopardized billions in investment, weakened our allies overseas, and threatened the very progress that has made America the world’s top exporter of LNG. H.R. 1949 restores certainty by removing outdated restrictions on natural gas imports and exports and putting the decision-making authority back where it belongs: with FERC, not bureaucrats using “climate reviews” as a backdoor veto. Since President Trump returned to office, American developers have already moved forward with more than $70 billion in new LNG projects and this bill ensures that momentum continues.

Together, these two bills strengthen America’s refining base, protect LNG export capacity, secure our supply chains, and reinforce a simple truth Texans already know: Energy Security IS National Security. Passing these bills is another major win for Texas, for our workers, and for the American people. Let’s keep America as the World’s Energy Leader!

Click here to watch the House Floor speeches.

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a new proposal to update the definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS). I was proud to be there for the announcement as EPA leadership outlined the path forward. After years of confusion, lawsuits, and one of the most inconsistent regulatory regimes in the country, this new rule aims to bring clarity and predictability back to America’s landowners.

For farmers, ranchers, builders, energy producers, and everyday Texans who have dealt with Washington overreach, this proposal is an important step in the right direction. The updated definition would focus federal jurisdiction on relatively permanent waters (rivers, lakes, streams that flow year-round or during the wet season) along with wetlands that have a continuous surface connection to those waters. That means ditches, isolated ponds, seasonal streams, and prior-converted cropland are far less likely to be swept into federal control.

Our region depends on clear rules for infrastructure, energy development, flood-control work, and property management. When WOTUS is too vague, families face surprise permits, delayed projects, and significant compliance costs. When the rules are clear, landowners can do their jobs without fear of Washington second-guessing normal, everyday land use.

This proposal begins a 45-day public comment period, giving everyone a chance to weigh in and help shape a final rule that respects state authority, supports economic growth, and protects our natural resources without burdening property owners.

I will continue working with EPA leadership to ensure this process delivers a fair, lawful, and durable WOTUS rule that brings long-overdue certainty back to America’s landowners and especially to the farmers, ranchers, and builders right here in Texas-14.

A new report shows that the traditional Thanksgiving meal is about 3% cheaper than last year, with many holiday staples seeing meaningful price drops. Turkeys, stuffing, gravy, cranberries, and pumpkin pies are all trending down. Dinner rolls are down 22% and frozen vegetables down 15%.

Several major retailers are also offering some of their most affordable Thanksgiving meal bundles in years:

• H-E-B: Frozen whole young turkeys at 84 cents per pound, down from 88 cents last year.
• Walmart: Thanksgiving meal costs 25% less than last year, feeding ten people for under $4 per person.
• Aldi: Meal is $7 cheaper than last year, around $4 per person.
• Target: Offering its lowest Thanksgiving meal price ever, feeding four people for under $5 per person.

Before heading into Washington this week, my Beautiful Bride, Brenda Gail, and I had the chance to start our Saturday at the Friendswood Community Prayer Breakfast. It was a great morning of fellowship and faith with the community.

Team Weber was busy all across TX-14th this week! The team joined the Texas City–La Marque Chamber for the AMOCO ribbon cutting at their newly renovated Texas City branch and presented a Certificate to mark the occasion. They also took part in a joint Hitchcock Chamber and Galveston County Small Business Development Center lunch-and-learn focused on setting goals for 2026 and supporting our local small businesses.

The team continued the week with meetings and community events across the district including a sit-down with AARP representatives in our Beaumont office, Good Morning Mainland, the Woodside Community Informational Meeting, and a breakfast mingle with the Brazoria Chamber of Commerce.

And yesterday, Brenda Gail wrapped up the week at UTMB’s School of Nursing Fashion Show, celebrating the outstanding work of future healthcare leaders right here along the Gulf.