  WASHINGTON D.C. – On Thursday, January 13, 2022, Congressman Randy Weber (R-TX-14), introduced H.R. 6391, the U.S. Leadership in Space Act of 2021.
“We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history. It is important that Congress does the job it was intended to do: authorize, and then subsequently fund, critical government programs. Especially those that strengthen national security and scientific discovery. “Space is an important domain for several reasons. As any military leader will tell you, whoever occupies the high ground has the strategic advantage. Continued inaction by Congress to adequately address the growing threats posed by an expanding uncontrolled debris field in earth’s orbit; the irresponsible and reckless anti-satellite missile tests by Russia that recently endangered the lives of astronauts (and cosmonauts) aboard the International Space Station (ISS); and the years of intellectual property theft, critical supply chain control, and other nefarious practices by China, require that Congress and this Administration come together to pass meaningful legislation that will ensure continued American preeminence in space. “This legislation is not a replacement for a full NASA authorization bill, because that critical task is the duty of the entire Science Committee here in the House. This bill jumpstarts that long overdue conversation and calls on the National Space Council to report on foreign threats to the U.S. Commercial Space sector, and recommend actions the Congress can take to protect and promote its success. “Additionally, this legislation would establish Johnson Space Center (JSC) as the Artemis program management office. Since its creation in 1961, JSC remains NASA’s lead center for human spaceflight, serving as the global hub for managing and integrating complex activities associated with keeping astronauts alive and working in space. JSC not only led this charge to the Moon during the Apollo missions, but also subsequently served as the location for the Space Shuttle, ISS, Constellation, Orion, and Gateway programs. “Important to U.S. leadership in a future commercial low-earth orbit (LEO) market, and in preparation for the nation’s deep space exploration activities and scientific endeavors, my bill extends ISS operations to 2030 and ensures that no gap exists in U.S. access to LEO, while also allowing for a seamless transition from government owned and operated platforms to a commercial successor. Further, my bill instructs NASA to pursue two or more spacesuit design-and-development agreements with industry, understanding that competition is the driver of innovation and lower costs over time. “Eventually, when the Space Station is safely retired at the end of its operational life, the first-ever privately funded commercial station will have operated for years alongside the ISS, expanding capabilities for scientific discovery and commercial activities for the U.S. and our allies, while allowing NASA to focus its attention and resources toward the Moon, Mars, and beyond. I am proud to introduce this critical bill once again, and I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will agree to act now to secure our collective future in space,” said U.S. Rep. Randy Weber. “Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP) supports the extension of the International Space Station (ISS) operations to 2030 included in Congressman Weber’s bill, the U.S. Leadership in Space Act of 2021 (H.R. 6391). ISS is important for scientific discovery and will continue to be crucial to commercial development in low-Earth orbit. BAHEP also supports designating Johnson Space Center (JSC) as the Artemis program management office for the coming manned missions to the moon and beyond. JSC has a long history and unique skillset when it comes to all components of human spaceflight and mission ops,” said Bob Mitchell, President of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership.” Read the full text, here.
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Anniversary of January 6th  I said last year, I unequivocally condemn the violence that occurred in the United States Capitol on January 6th 2021. The Capitol building is the heart of our democracy and where the elected representatives of the American people meet to peacefully debate and resolve our many differences. These attacks do not serve in resolving differences, if anything they further divide us. However, the mainstream media and Democrats’ decision to hold the actions of the few who engaged in violence that day as representative of all those they oppose or as a legitimate attempt to overthrow the government is dishonest. If they genuinely wanted to make bipartisan efforts to know the truths behind that day, they wouldn’t have restricted the Republicans participation in the commission to only those who outwardly blamed President Trump. Today, more than any time in our history, we should honor the calls for unity that came from both sides of the aisle in the days following January 6th. America is better than this and, again, I pray that what happened that day will never be repeated. House Republicans Investigate Jan 6thHouse Republicans are interviewing United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers and other individuals with insight into the horrendous security failures at the Capitol that allowed the events of January 6, 2021, to happen because Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have refused to act. House Republicans were united in condemning the violence and destruction on January 6th, just as we were throughout the crime wave of 2020. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi has decided to weaponize the horrendous events of January 6th and create an illegitimate and partisan Select Committee. This isn’t just a sham Committee—Democrats are covering up the truth about what happened on January 6th. That is why House Republicans are unified in conducting a thorough investigation into the events of January 6th to understand: Why was the U.S. Capitol left unprepared that day, and how can we ensure this never happens again? HERE IS WHAT THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS’ INVESTIGATION HAS UNCOVERED (From Rep. Jim Banks):
1. The January 6th Select Committee is a partisan and illegitimate Committee.
Economy The December jobs report was another big miss and the worst of Joe Biden’s presidency. The U.S. economy added just 199,000 jobs during the month, falling well short of economists’ projections. Economists had projected that 450,000 new jobs would be added to the U.S. economy in December. This weaker-than-expected jobs report is just the latest sign that Biden’s economic crisis will continue into 2022. BIDEN’S ECONOMIC CRISIS BY THE NUMBERS:
In the District These documents are what our great country was founded upon. I’m thankful to patriots like Matt Dilick for standing up for conservative values, and it was my distinct pleasure to be a part of the unveiling of his tribute to our nation, our flag, and those who have fought and died to defend our freedoms! This Week's Poll Question Friends, Our economy has been hit hard since the beginning days of the pandemic. We need Americans back at work and our economy back on track! But I want to hear from you! What are the most important issues facing our economy today? High cost of living/Inflation Unemployment/Jobs Federal budget deficit/Federal debt Lack of money Gap between rich and poor Wage issues Fuel/Oil prices Taxes Foreign trade/Trade deficit 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 |