Weber: Bipartisan Border Deal and Foreign Aid Package Was A Terrible Deal

"I was glad that the Senate "bipartisan border deal" was killed in the Senate this week. If Joe Biden really wants to secure the border, he can change his policies and follow the law."

Texas Insider Report WASHINGTON, D.C. –  An update on what happened in Washington this past week and what you might have seen on the news. On Sunday, the Senate released a "bipartisan border deal and foreign aid" package. It was a terrible deal that would have codified the open border invasion into law. 

Among its many flaws, the bill would have expanded work authorizations for illegal aliens while failing to include critical asylum reforms. Even worse, its language would have allowed illegals to be 'released from physical custody' and would effectively endorse the Biden' catch and release' policy. The so-called 'shutdown' authority in the bill is anything but, riddled with loopholes that grant far too much discretionary authority to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas – who has proven he will exploit every measure possible, in defiance of the law, to keep the border open. The bill also fails to stop the President's abuse of parole authority adequately. It provides taxpayer funds to fly and house illegal immigrants in hotels through the FEMA Shelter and Services Program. 

Because President Biden has refused to utilize his broad executive authority to end the border catastrophe that he has created, the House led nine months ago with the passage of the Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2). That bill contains the necessary components to actually stem the flow of illegals and end the present crisis. The Senate must take it up immediately. America's sovereignty is at stake.

I was glad that the Senate "bipartisan border deal" was killed in the Senate this week. If Joe Biden really wants to secure the border, he can change his policies and follow the law.

On Tuesday, the House voted to impeach Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors due to violating immigration and border security laws enacted by Congress and threatening the safety of the American people. I personally believe that from day one, Secretary Mayorkas lost operational control of the southern border, hung up the open for business sign, and, worst of all, turned his back on the American people. His leadership – or lack of – has fueled over 8 million illegal aliens coming into our nation at never-before-seen levels. Fentanyl is pouring across our border, human smugglers and cartels are capitalizing at our border, and terrorists are waltzing into our nation. Impeachment is not just a remedy but a resounding call for accountability and a reaffirmation of our commitment to protect the American people. His leadership is pitiful and a disgrace. I did cast my vote to impeach Sec. Mayorkas, but unforeseen, due to the House Republicans' very slim majority, this bill failed after three Republicans voted with the Democrats. Next week, the House will vote on this measure again with full attendance, and it will pass. 

The House also voted for a standalone Israel Aid package. 166 House Democrats voted against the legislation, after President Biden issued a veto threat and Leader Schumer said he would block the legislation from coming to the Senate floor. It did fail, but I will always stand for Israel.

LNG
This week, we had a hearing on President Biden's LNG export ban in the Energy and Commerce Committee. Less than two weeks ago, the Biden administration announced that it would impose an indefinite ban on the issuance of LNG export permits to non-Free Trade Agreement countries while it conducts a review to consider the climate impacts of natural gas. For Southeast Texas, that means that two LNG facilities being built, Port Arthur and Golden Pass LNG, will be put on hold. LNG exports strengthen energy security, create jobs, decrease energy prices here at home, and lower emissions globally. This reckless decision will cost our community thousands of jobs, impact the local economy drastically, and leave us more reliant on China. 

Southeast Texas is uniquely placed on the coast, full of refineries and ports to ship our precious oil and gas to our allies across the world. The Sabine-Neches Waterway is projected to become the largest LNG exporter in the United States, but President Biden just killed that with a stroke of a pen. If President Biden were serious about environmental stewardship, he would unleash the production and export of clean, affordable, and reliable American natural gas—which has allowed us to reduce emissions more than any other nation. 

I will continue to fight against this ban and urge the President to reverse course because it will majorly impact Southeast Texas and our entire nation.