It is because of their service and bravery, we are free. Our men and women in uniform – and their families – deserve every benefit in this bill.
Funding our military is one Congress’ greatest responsibilities. Today, I was proud to vote for the Servicemembers Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act.
This year, House Republicans chose to focus this crucial military funding bill on improving the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families.
It is because of their service and bravery, we are free. Our men and women in uniform – and their families – deserve every benefit in this bill.
They also deserve the best medical care possible. That’s why I was so alarmed to hear of incidents involving dirty surgical instruments at military hospitals — including one in Texas — that threatened the lives of servicemembers on the operating table. I introduced and passed an amendment in this year’s bill that requires a study to be carried out to get to the bottom of these tragedies and implement solutions to ensure they do not happen again.
I was also proud to support many other conservative victories in the bill, which:
- Raises servicemembers’ pay;
- Constructs new houses and childcare facilities for military families;
- Expands access to medical care, including mental health providers, for servicemembers;
- Supports military spouses through employment programs;
- Deters Communist China by preventing CCP espionage and bolstering Taiwan’s defense;
- Defends our ally Israel by expanding U.S.-Israel military exercises;
- Restores America’s military might by preventing far-left policies like a military Green New Deal while strengthening our defense industrial base;
- Helps secure America’s border by funding the deployment of National Guard troops and increasing funding for counternarcotic activities; and
- Cuts $30 billion in inefficient programs, obsolete weapons, and Pentagon bureaucracy, saving taxpayer dollars.
Read more here
Our Foreign Adversaries Are Undermining United States Influence
Under the Biden administration, China, Russia, and Iran have bolstered their presence in our region of the world. As chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I called President Biden’s State Department officials to testify on Capitol Hill this week, and I emphasized to them that America is falling behind.
The CCP is infiltrating countries in our hemisphere and successfully pressuring them to turn away from the United States. Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, arrived in Cuba on Wednesday. Our adversaries are actively trying to undermine us in our own backyard.
Our country is facing mass waves of illegal immigrants at our southern border, and deadly drugs like fentanyl are flowing into our country, exacerbating our national security crisis.
Our adversaries — China, Russia, and Iran — are in an unholy alliance. I am calling for stronger action to combat those who are threatening U.S. national security interests while promoting authoritarianism in the Western Hemisphere and around the world.
Click Here to watch my opening statement at the hearing
Suspected Terrorists Arrested After Entering Through Our Southern Border
President Biden’s failure to secure our southern border has enabled suspected terrorists to enter our country and live in our communities while plotting to attack the United States.
FBI Director Christopher Wray has repeatedly warned that we are at the highest risk of a terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. This week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and FBI agents arrested eight suspected terrorists with ties to ISIS.
The President and Senate Democrats must work to pass House Republicans’ Secure the Border Act now to fix the national security crisis that President Biden created.
Read more here
Investigating the Systemic Failures of US Agency Funding Media Abroad
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is tasked with ensuring people around the globe — including those living under dictatorships — receive accurate news about their world and about democracy. It’s an extremely important task that should not be taken lightly. Unfortunately, I have recently uncovered failures at USAGM to investigate serious abuses of power and false credentials within the agency.
The former director of one of the agency's news networks that covers the Middle East, Setareh Derakhshesh Sieg, lied about her educational background and cultivated a culture of fear and dysfunction while she abused taxpayer dollars for personal expenses.
I am deeply concerned about the agency’s failure to properly address these concerns about Ms. Seig, and I am calling for Ms. Seig to be removed from her position and for the USAGM to improve its vetting processes immediately.
Read more here.
Investing in Texas
My CHIPS for America Act is bringing the world’s largest chip manufacturing plant – and the largest pledged private investment in Texas’ history – to Williamson County.
It was great meeting with Williamson County Judge Gravell this week to discuss the new Samsung plant and more. I applaud him for his leadership on chips and infrastructure projects that are transforming Texas!
