Not long ago, America was the largest energy producer in the world, and gas was affordable. The Biden Administration then halted energy projects, shut down pipeline construction, and took every step to discourage the production of American energy resources. Americans shouldn’t have to choose between driving to work and putting food on the table. House Republicans are keeping our Commitment to America, which promises—among other things—to make America energy independent and reduce gas prices. H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, gets us back on that track, and I am a proud co-sponsor of this important bill. It will positively impact TX-14, as the Gulf Coast of Texas is the energy capital of the world.

The Lower Energy Costs Act would unleash American Energy and Lower Costs for Families by: 

1. Increasing domestic energy production
2. Reforming the permitting process for all industries
3. Reversing anti-energy policies advanced by the Biden Administration 
4. Streamlining energy infrastructure and exports 
5. Boosting the production and processing of critical minerals

Unleash American Energy: 

• Prohibits President Biden from banning hydraulic fracturing
• Repeals all restrictions on the import and export of natural gas, including LNG 
• Prevents liberal states from blocking interstate infrastructure projects 
• Repeals President Biden’s $6 billion natural gas tax that would increase energy bills for families
• Rolls back President Biden’s $27 billion EPA slush fund for Democrat special interests
• Disapproves of President Biden’s cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline
• Requires the Department of the Interior to resume lease sales on federal lands and waters
• Repeals harmful royalties and fee increases imposed on energy production that drive up prices for families
• Ensures parity in energy revenue sharing for states with onshore and offshore energy development
• Requires publication of the 2023-28 offshore oil and gas lease sales plan
• Sets deadlines for future 5-year plans 

Reform Broken Permitting Process:

• Reforms the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process to streamline federal reviews for all sectors of the economy, including at our international borders
• Limits scope of environmental review under NEPA to reasonably foreseeable and economically feasible impacts
• Sets deadlines for completion of NEPA reviews at one year for environmental assessments and two years for environmental impact statements
• Provides certainty by imposing a 120-day deadline on filing litigation on final agency actions concerning energy and mining projects
• Requires that certain low-impact activities and activities in previously studied areas on public lands are not major federal actions under NEPA
• Ends the abuse of the water quality certification process by streamlining the permitting process under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act and limiting review to water quality impacts only
• Enhances America’s ability to develop critical energy resources by improving the environmental permitting processes at critical minerals refining and process facilities

Next week, the Energy and Commerce will hold a hearing with TikTok CEO Shou Chew, who will appear before the committee to testify on TikTok’s consumer privacy and data security practices, the platforms’ impact on kids, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. It will be Chew’s first appearance before a congressional committee.

Americans deserve to know the extent to which their privacy is jeopardized and their data is manipulated by ByteDance-owned TikTok, given its relationship with China. What’s worse, we know Big Tech companies, like TikTok, use harmful algorithms to exploit children for profit and expose them to dangerous content online, while China prohibits such content from its own youth.  We need to know the company's actions to keep our kids safe from online and offline harms.

I look forward to hearing from Mr. Chew directly. 

Before you make any travel plans, please remember to check the expiration date of your passport! It is a little known fact that some countries won’t allow entry if the visitor’s passport expires in six months or less. This means that your passport may effectively expire months before you think it does. Please check your family’s passports, and if any will expire in less than a year, begin the renewal process now.

You can now apply for routine service and expect to receive a passport in 8-11 weeks. You also have the option of paying an additional $60 for expedited service to receive your passport in 5-7 weeks. Processing times begin the day they receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you mail your application or apply. Mailing times may add several weeks on to the door-to-door time it takes to receive your passport.

These processing times apply to applications submitted by mail and in-person at an acceptance facility in your community. Most acceptance facilities such as post offices, clerks of court, and libraries are open and accepting passport applications.

The Department of State encourages you to apply by mail when possible because it is a safe, contactless option for certain services.

If you plan to expedite your passport application due to upcoming travel plans, we recommend that you send your application using USPS' Priority Mail Express.

Team Weber attended Actions, Inc.’s annual Pistols & Purses fundraiser this week, with bingo! Their organization helps ensure seniors and other vulnerable populations in Brazoria County receive meals and nutritional needs. Sold out event!

Then, our staff attended a regional press conference with the Texas General Land Office to emphasize the agency’s role. One of Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham’s top priorities is to communicate with local officials to expedite the availability of funds to benefit our communities.

Later in the week, my beautiful bride, Brenda, made a special appearance at the Galveston Republican Women’s meeting. Finally, on behalf we presented a Certificate of Recognition to the Galveston County Small Business Development Center in honor of National Small Business Development Centers Day.

• 
  

  H.R.1581 - To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to standardize work requirements for able-bodied adults enrolled in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

• H.R.1563 - To prohibit contributions to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

• H.R.1537 - To amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2008 to transfer the custody of an unaccompanied alien child to the Secretary of Health and Human Services or such child's parent or legal guardian.

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!