E-Newsletter: Defunding Amnesty

Defunding Amnesty

Last Tuesday, I voted to protect the rule of law and defend our constitution by voting against a "clean" Department of Homeland Security funding bill. While the House passed this bill by a vote of 257-167, I stood strong alongside 166 other Republicans, who like me, believe the President has overstepped his constitutional authority on immigration.

The House, with my support passed a bill defunding the President's unconstitutional amnesty plan while funding the rest of the Department of Homeland Security on January 19, 2015. Senate rules however, allowed obstructionist Democrats to repeatedly block debate on the House bill. Even worse, seven of the Democrats who held up debate publicly spoke out against the constitutionality of the President's actions back in November.

The fight on the President's executive action is far from over. The House is currently looking into other options to challenge the lawfulness of the President's executive action, and with the states and the judicial branch taking up this matter, I am hopeful that the President's abuse of power will be put in check.

Houston Transportation Round Table at Rice Planned for Tuesday Morning at 9:00am

I will be joining U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), the Chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and other Members of Congress from Texas at a 9:00am for roundtable meeting at Rice University's BioScience Research Collaborative Building (BRC) 10th Floor Conference Room (Room 1003) in Houston Tuesday, March 10th, with job creators and transportation stakeholders to discuss Houston's, Texas', and the country's infrastructure, and its importance to remaining economically competitive in the 21st century.

The roundtable will examine such issues as the national freight network and the area's role in that network; the federal role in ensuring a cohesive, efficient, national transportation network; and how the federal government can improve and streamline infrastructure programs to help ensure the transportation network meets the needs of businesses. The Transportation Committee continues to develop legislation to fund highway, bridge, and transit improvements; a bill to modernize the U.S. aviation system; and other infrastructure initiatives for Congressional action later this year.

Texas Members of Congress currently scheduled to participate in the roundtable include U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36), U.S. Rep. Gene Green (TX-29), and U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (TX-8) and myself (TX-27). Congressman Babin and I also serve on the Transportation Committee with Chairman Shuster. Joining us for the discussion will be representatives of Kirby Corporation, Kinder Morgan, Walmart, the Port of Houston, and BNSF Railway. Rice University President David Leebron will welcome participants to open Tuesday's roundtable.

Another Power Grab by our President

On February 26, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed new Net Neutrality regulations. During my time as a computer consultant, I saw firsthand the benefits of the government leaving the Internet alone. The FCC's decision to reclassify broadband services as a public utility under Title II of the Communications Act has now opened the door to what I fear will be increases in user fees, new taxes, and years of litigation over the regulations. We are regulating 21st century technology like 1930's telephone companies.

Most of us agree that an open internet is a good thing as it provides all of us instant access to information and entertainment. The problem is few, if any people can cite concrete examples of Internet Service Providers not treating them fairly. The fact is a heavy handed regulatory regime under Title II is the wrong approach. The Internet thrives in innovation. Government regulation is like poison to progress. Over the past two weeks, I asked for your thoughts on Net Neutrality, and the response was clear: 77% of you do not see the need for this type of regulatory action by the FCC.

On November 10, 2014, the President called on the FCC to "take up the strongest possible rules" to enforce Net Neutrality. This is just another example of executive overreach by the President and his Administration. These regulations were formulated behind closed doors and without a public comment period.

I recently signed on to a letter sent to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler as part of my role on the House Judiciary Committee expressing my concerns over the ruling. On March 17, 2015, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing to examine the impact of the FCC's "Open Internet" rule. I look forward to updating you on what I learn from this hearing.

Strengthening Our Immigration Laws

As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I am working on ways to improve immigration laws, putting border security first. Recently, Texas Representative Mike McCaul's border security enhancement bill ran into criticism because it did not deal with interior enforcement. The Judiciary committee is working to fix that. The committee is working on four separate pieces of legislation that will strengthen the interior enforcement of our immigration laws. While there are many ways in which our immigration system is broken, hands down, the biggest problem is the lack of enforcement of the laws we already have on the books.

So far, the Judiciary Committee has approved both the Legal Workforce Act, which would require all employers to use the E-Verify system, and the Protection of Children Act, that would ensure that unaccompanied minors that cross the border are either safely returned home, or remain safe when staying with a sponsor while waiting for their immigration hearing.

The work is not yet done. In the upcoming weeks the committee will work on the Michael Davis, Jr. in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act, allowing state and local law enforcement officials to help enforce federal immigration laws, and the Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act, which will close loopholes in our immigration system and help end catch and release policies.

Much Needed State Highway 361 Upgrades

Recently, the Texas Transportation Commission voted to approve the State Highway 361 (the road from Padre Island to Port Aransas) project to add left turn lanes, improve connectivity, and improve safety. I worked closely with state and local officials in the effort to make much needed upgrades to State Highway 361. While the ultimate goal is to make this road a 4-lane divided highway, the approval of this project is a necessary step in the right direction.

As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure committee I regularly work with federal, state and local officials on highway, railroad waterways and air travel issues. Some of my top transportation priorities are I-69 and its effect on local businesses, the Harbor Bridge, Port and Intercoastal waterway dredging, maintenance and improvement, and FAA Reauthorization and reform.

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