Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C.Last week I was appointed the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Interior Energy and Environment. It is a subcommittee of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The subcommittee has oversight jurisdiction over the Departments of Interior Energy Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.
I want every American to be able to enjoy our natural resources and thats why my goals on the subcommittee over the next two years include:
- Saving taxpayer dollars
- Reinvigorating the domestic energy industry to create jobs
- Bringing down the cost of energy at home and at the pump
- Increasing access to and enjoyment of public lands
- Changing the relationship with the EPA away from the punitive and adversarial relationship that
currently exists to one that works together to create good jobs and protect the environment
Im confident that through effective oversight and accountability we will be able to enact reforms that will change the country for the better.
Promoting School Choice
As the father of two daughters I understand the importance of a high-quality education. Thats why I spoke on the House floor last week to bring awareness to National School Choice Week. School choice is a straightforward concept parents should be able to select the best educational environments for their children. This includes a myriad of options including traditional public schools charter schools magnet schools private schools homeschooling and more. To view my full speech please click
here.
Last Friday thousands of Americans descended on Washington D.C. for the annual March for Life. Participants in the March for Life whose mission is to provide all Americans with a place to testify to the beauty of life and the dignity of each human person walked a route from the Washington Monument to the Supreme Court carrying signs and banners encouraging the end of abortion.
Its wonderful to see people fighting for the unborn. I have a 100 rating from National Right to Life and am committed to protecting and defending life. Thats why last week I voted for and the House passed the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act. This legislation ma kes the Hyde Amendment permanent ensuring no taxpayer dollars are used to fund abortions.
Defending Second Amendment Rights
This week the House will take up a House joint resolution that will provide for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5 United States Code of the rule submitted by the Social Security Administration relating to Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 This rule that I will vote to disapprove requires the Social Security administration to report anyone with a mental disability to NICS so that they are barred from purchasing a firearm. This rule is so broad it would stop anyone who has simply appointed a representative to receive payments on their behalf.
While I believe that people with dangerous mental illness should not be able to purchase firearms this rule stereotypes people with even a mild disability as dangerous and would rob them of their Second Amendment rights.
This rule is opposed by groups as diverse as the NRA Gun Owners of America the ACLU Consortium for Citizen with Disabilities and the National LGBTQ Task Force.
