COMPETES ActThis week, on behalf of the House Science, Space, & Technology Committee, I addressed the House Rules Committee on Amendment to H.R. 4521- America COMPETES Act of 2022. At nearly 3,000 pages, H.R. 4521 is a partisan package tossed together by Democratic leadership behind closed doors with no Republican input. The Science Committee already passed through committee thoughtful, bipartisan legislation to increase our investment in basic research, spur private sector innovation, and secure our nation’s leadership in R&D to combat growing threats from China. This is a stark contrast to the process we are witnessing with Speaker Pelosi’s COMPETES Act. Now we are left with a toxic bill that gets us no closer to reaching a bicameral, bipartisan deal on this legislation. This is what happens when the Speaker’s office twists around good legislation and contaminates it with messaging bills to appease the extreme leftists in her caucus. We have bipartisan momentum to take action on China. So instead of voting on this partisan catch-all bill, with more references to coral reefs than to China, let’s focus in on what’s most important: Strengthening American competitiveness and holding China accountable for its actions. The nearly 3,000 page CONCEDES Act does nothing to counter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for their malign actions. Instead, this bill destroys America’s competitive advantage while lining the pockets of those responsible for unleashing COVID-19 on the world. This legislation will put China first and America LAST. THE FACTS ABOUT CONCEDES ACT:
Beaumont PrisonI am deeply troubled by the loss of life that occurred this week at the United States Penitentiary, Beaumont. However, I am thankful that no Correctional Officers were harmed during yesterday’s incident. I am also thankful that these officers put their lives on the line, every day, for work that must be done. My office is monitoring the situation. Yesterday, I spoke directly with with Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officials, including Warden Dobbs to get a status update.
While instances of prison violence are not always avoidable, staffing shortages across the federal system—and especially at the Federal Correctional Center (FCC) in Beaumont—contribute to dangerous working conditions that endanger the lives of guards and inmates alike. As a member of the BOP Reform Caucus, I have worked to address staffing shortages by introducing H.R. 5761, the Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act. When this bill is signed into law, it will make wages more competitive for BOP employees at FCC Beaumont and throughout the nation. Additionally, I was joined by Congressman Clay Higgins and Rep. Brian Babin in sending a letter to BOP Director Michael Carvajal on September 29, 2021, addressing the staffing issues at FCC Beaumont. If the underlying issues that plague the BOP are not addressed, I am afraid that we will continue to see instances of violence throughout the federal prison system. I will continue to work with my colleagues on the BOP Reform Caucus to address these concerns, and I call on Director Carvajal to fulfill his duty as Director of the BOP to take immediate action to secure our prisons and to work with Congress to solve the staffing problems. Skyrocketing Crime RatesWhite House Press Secretary Jen Psaki mocked Fox News' coverage of Democrats' soft-on-crime policies, saying, "what does that even mean," during a recent interview. Psaki's comments reinforce the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats' inability to take seriously the rising crime rates that are endangering American communities and our nation's law enforcement. Biden's crime crisis is directly tied to radical Democrats' support for the defund the police movement. DEMOCRATS’ CRIME CRISIS:
Afghanistan FailurePresident Biden's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan left unknown numbers of Americans stranded behind enemy lines and led to the deadliest attack on Americans in Afghanistan since August 2011. Now, newly leaked documents from the Biden White House reveal just how "unprepared" President Biden and his administration were for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. The documents indicate that those outside of the administration felt Biden "lacked urgency" as the administration was still scrambling to prepare an evacuation and relocation plan for civilians and Afghan staff the afternoon before Taliban forces took over the capital city of Kabul during the conclusion of the U.S.'s disastrous withdrawal. According to Axios reporting: “The document regarded "Relocations out of Afghanistan," and the meeting was held from 3:30-4:30pm on the afternoon of Aug. 14, Washington time. “At that moment, Taliban fighters were descending upon Kabul.” “Mark Jacobson, deputy NATO representative in Afghanistan during the Obama administration, told Axios: ‘That so much planning, prioritizing, and addressing of key questions had not been completed, even as Kabul was about to fall, underscores the absence of adequate interagency planning.’” THE FACTS ABOUT BIDEN’S FAILED WITHDRAWAL:
Recent Legislation
This Week's Poll QuestionFriends,
President Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland visited New York City on Thursday to talk about combating crime. Despite over a dozen major U.S. cities experiencing record high homicide rates in 2021, the White House is hard at work in Washington D.C. putting the final touches on an executive order focusing on police "accountability". While the executive order focuses specifically on federal law enforcement, it may serve as a model for local police departments across the country. The proposed order comes at a time when crime is high, and in many departments federal and local, morale is low. Instead of providing law enforcement with the resources they need to combat the increase in violence, the proposal directs the Department of Justice to "establish the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database in order to provide a centralized repository of official records documenting instances of law enforcement officer misconduct." The draft in its current form does not cut funding, but orders federal agencies to change policies, including banning chokeholds, reforming the body-worn camera policy, and restricting the use of "no-knock entries." But I want to hear from you! Do you think Biden's proposed police reform executive order will empower law enforcement to better combat crime? Yes No Unsure Submit survey to sign up for updates on my work in Congress.*It is a great honor to represent Texas’ Fourteenth District in Congress. We all know that 2020 has brought some challenging times. Please know that we have been and will always be here for you. Call or stop by our offices (which are YOUR offices), if you need help with a federal agency. Bureaucracy often brings red tape, but we know how to cut through it, and we are proud to fight on your behalf. Whether you need help with immigration, IRS, Medicare, Social Security, passports, stimulus checks, small business loans, VA claims, FEMA relief, or other assistance, please call us! We can also help with flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, nominations to the military academies, or tours in Washington D.C. We welcome opportunities to serve you. For assistance or more information, please call or go online or visit weber.house.gov. God Bless you and God Bless Texas! Sincerely, Randy K. Weber
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Congressman Randy WeberCongressman Randy Weber knows we’ve come a long way since Harvey, but he knows there’s much more to do in making our communities STRONGER. He’s determined to work the long days on the ground and in Washington, D.C. to STAND UP for our people, our principles, and our future. |