Congressional Delegation to COP29

Protecting Americans' Right to Silence (PARTS) Act

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – I was privileged to lead a congressional delegation to the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (most commonly known as COP29) to showcase the innovation and impact of U.S. energy on the global stage. Our message was simple: the United States stands ready to be a leader in energy production. Energy is the foundation of our life. For too long, conservative opinions on the environment have been silenced. The reality is that American energy is the cleanest, most affordable, secure energy on the planet. 

Across the globe, our allies benefit from American energy exports, technological leadership, and environmental stewardship. A rush to embrace a one-size-fits-all “green” agenda has weakened our energy security and made us overly dependent on nations like China, the world’s largest polluter. We cannot allow our energy future to be dictated by those who do not share our values.

With the global demand for energy projected to double by 2050, we cannot afford to lose the production war to China and Russia. American energy producers must have a voice on the international stage, like at COP29. I am proud to have stood up for the Permian Basin along with other energy-producing areas my colleagues represent in Congress.

People in the United States overwhelmingly supported President Donald Trump’s promise to restore America’s energy dominance and lead the world in energy expansion. I look forward to working with the White House to unleash American energy in the Permian Basin.

Protecting Americans' Right to Silence (PARTS) Act
I am proud to announce the introduction of my new bill, the Protecting Americans' Right to Silence (PARTS) Act. This legislation will amend the statutory definitions of firearm silencers and mufflers to eliminate the potential for misinterpretation which could lead to the criminalization of lawful firearm accessories and ensure that the rights of American gun owners are protected.
 
Under current law, the definition of a silencer could mistakenly categorize individual components as silencers themselves. This interpretation has caused confusion and concern among law-abiding citizens and manufacturers alike, especially as many major silencer companies offer modular models that allow users to adapt their equipment for various purposes, such as hunting or transportation.

Suppressors make hunting and all shooting sports safer. They help our military personnel, law enforcement, and recreational shooters alike. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the Biden-Harris Administration’s ATF try to criminalize the tools and accessories that actually make using firearms safer. Criminalizing suppressors would only make their manufacturing and use nearly impossible. My bill would prevent that blatant overreach and protect the Second Amendment Rights of Americans.

Safeguarding U.S. Undersea Cables
In recent months, we have seen increased attacks on undersea cables from our adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran, and proxy terrorist groups such as the Houthis. These undersea cables are responsible for 99% of the telecommunications activity across oceans. They are critical for every single sector of our economy and military.

I am proud to introduce the Undersea Cable Protection Act to strengthen national security and global connectivity by safeguarding U.S. submarine cable infrastructure. With mounting threats of espionage, sabotage, and cyberattacks from adversaries, it is critical that we act now to safeguard this indispensable infrastructure. Read more here.