The Week in Review

Happy Friday!

I spent my week back in Washington as the House was in session. It was a very busy week, so I hope you’ll read below to learn about the important happenings:

Opposing House Passage of the Bloated and Reckless 2023 NDAA

Yesterday, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. The NDAA is the country's annual defense authorization bill and sets our military budget for the following year.

While I support the bill’s pay increase for service members and civilians, I oppose a number of other provisions that do not enhance military readiness, recklessly spend money we do not have amid historic inflation, and “woke-ify” our military branches.

Click the image below to hear more on why I voted against this bloated and reckless legislation.

House Judiciary and Oversight Committee Hearings Related to Post-Roe World

The House Judiciary and Oversight Committees held hearings related to the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson. 

It’s important to remember that this decision is a major victory for the pro-life movement and all unborn children. Nearly 50 years ago, judicial activists, ruling from the bench created a right that doesn’t exist in the Constitution, federalizing abortion.

This historic decision will save millions of unborn children. Life is the most precious thing we are given and everyone, especially the unborn, deserves this right. I will continue to fight for the pro-life movement.

Click the images below to hear my remarks on this remarkable decision.

Why the PACT Act Wasn’t the Right Vote for Veterans

I voted against S. 3373 – the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022. We have the moral obligation to provide care to those who have served in combat, but we must provide for them in a responsible way. This bill did not do that. 

This bill adds nearly $700 billion to the federal deficit—an amount similar to what Congress spent on the entire Defense budget last year. We do not have this money.

We are facing an unprecedented federal deficit and historic inflation. If we are going to expand benefits and programs, then we need to eliminate existing programs. Congress must get serious about making the tough decisions necessary to put our fiscal house in order. Click the image below to watch Congressman Mark Green (R-TN), a veteran, physician, and cancer survivor, share his thoughts with me on this bill.

Demanding an Immediate Oversight Hearing on the Film 2000 Mules

This week, I sent a letter along with other House Republican members to House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney requesting that she hold a hearing to investigate further the allegations revealed in the film 2000 Mules. 

The film, directed by Dinesh D’Souza, highlights several examples that expose potentially widespread illegal activities related to the 2020 election by using geolocation information to identify thousands of individuals who delivered thousands of illegally harvested ballots to drop boxes in five states. 

The film exposes serious, potentially illegal activity related to the 2020 election. The committee should investigate these allegations to ensure the integrity of our elections.

The full letter may be read here. 

Townhall covered my letter here. 

Co-signers include: Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. Mary E. Miller (R-IL), Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC), Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO).

Requesting Answers from Biden’s Homeland Security Over Facilitating Abortions for Illegal Alien Minors

This week, I sent a letter along with 21 of my colleagues to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra demanding that their departments cease transporting illegal alien minors across state lines to receive abortions.

The Biden Administration is now savagely transporting alien minors in federal custody to receive abortions. This outrageous use of federal resources to transport minors across state lines for abortions or otherwise providing or facilitating abortions in DHS or HHS custody is a heinous act and must be stopped.

Secretary Mayorkas and Secretary Becerra must immediately cease this conduct and provide us a thorough explanation of why this callous practice began in the first place.

The full letter may be read here.

Fox News covered my letter here. 

Co-signers include: Co-signers include: Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. Mary E. Miller (R-IL), Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Rep. John R. Moolenaar (R-MI), Rep. Ronny L. Jackson (R-TX), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), and Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN). 

Resolution Recognizing China as Greatest Foreign Threat to U.S.

I reintroduced a resolution that designates the People’s Republic of China as the greatest threat to the United States’ peace, security, and stability.

China poses the greatest immediate threat to the United States. Its expansive economy, robust military capabilities, and anti-Democratic values should raise concerns among every American.

The Biden Administration’s coziness with Beijing is propelling China to become the world’s leading superpower. That cannot happen.

The United States must view China as its primary adversary and counter its aggression.

Breitbart covered my resolution here.

Supporting States’ Rights to Defend Themselves
from the Invasion at Our Southern Border 

Today, I joined House Republicans for a press conference highlighting H.J. Res 50--a resolution affirming the rights of states to protect their sovereignty against invasion.

Since the Biden Administration refuses to take the necessary steps to address the crisis they’ve created, states must act. States have a constitutional right to defend themselves from this invasion and must officially declare that an invasion is occurring at our southern border.

We have drugs, criminals, and hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens pouring across the border each month. This is an invasion. If a state declares an invasion at their border, it will allow the states to obtain resources to close off areas between the ports of entry and divert illegal aliens to a port of entry.

Under Biden, we’ve had more than 3 million illegal aliens attempt to cross our southern border. We’ve had individuals attempt to bring in more than 1 million pounds of drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine across our southern border. His Administration has released hundreds of thousands into the United States to their destination of choice. All of this is unprecedented.

Click the image below to hear my remarks supporting this resolution.

Letters and Legislation

Bills Sponsored

Con.Res. 99 - Recognizing the People's Republic of China as the greatest foreign threat to United States peace, security, and stability.

Letters Cosigned

Letter to President Biden demanding that his Administration refrain from taking any executive action that would undermine the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Dobbs v Jackson Health Clinic case.

Letter inviting President Biden to visit American energy producers and support domestic energy production, instead of begging OPEC nations for additional oil exports. 

Top Media Appearances of the Week

I joined Fox News’ Gregg Jarrett to examine how the Biden Administration’s reckless border and immigration policies have contributed to chaos at the southern border. More than a quarter of a million illegal aliens were apprehended last month and these figures are likely to rise. 

I joined Newsmax’s Jenn Pellegrino and Mercedes Schlapp to discuss the Biden family’s racist gaffes and inappropriate behavior that spans over decades. Click below to watch the full segment.

I joined WakeUp! Tucson’s Chris DeSimone to provide reaction to Jill Biden’s breakfast taco debacle where she compared Latinos in America to breakfast tacos. Click below to hear the segment. 

What’s the Biggs Idea? Podcast w/ Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL)

This week Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) joined me on my podcast “What’s the Bigg’s Idea?”.

Rep. Miller represents Illinois’ 15th Congressional District and is a fellow member of the Pro-Life Caucus. We discussed the implications of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, pro-abortion protests nationwide, and myths about the pro-life movement. 

We’ll be posting more episodes soon. Check out our social media pages for more updates. 

Click below to view the podcast. 

Top Op-ed of the Week

This week, I wrote a column arguing why President Biden must issue an apology (at the very least) to the hardworking men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol. Last year, Biden accused these agents of whipping illegal aliens at the border without a shred of evidence. He claimed that individuals "will pay" before any investigation began. Despite these smears, the agents were exonerated from any serious wrongdoing. Biden has remained silent on the matter. 

My remarks were published in an op-ed in Newsmax. It may be read here. 

Top Tweets of the Week

Definition of the Week 

Texas is home to the breakfast taco--one of the most delicious breakfast foods eaten across America today. Often filled with potatoes, bacon or chorizo, scrambled eggs, and salsa, these tacos are filling and are one the best ways to start your day. 

At a “Latinx” conference this week, First Lady Jill Biden said Latinos were as “unique” as breakfast tacos. This gaffe was as embarrassing as it sounds. Never in my life would I have ever expected an elected official to say such a distasteful remark, but the Biden family is well-known for their out-of-touch, cringe-worthy moments like this. 

Breakfast Taco Gate (NOUN): On July 11, 2022, the First Lady of the United States Jill Biden declared that Latinos were as unique as breakfast tacos.