Praying for Americans Impacted by Hurricane Helene
It is heartbreaking to see the loss of life and devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Homes, businesses, and entire communities were destroyed across Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. I am inspired by the many individuals and organizations across Texas-11 who are collecting donations for those who have lost everything.
Yesterday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated that FEMA does not have the funds to make it through hurricane season. This is simply unacceptable. FEMA has provided billions of taxpayer dollars to pay for housing, emergency services, and other assistance for the over 10 million illegal aliens welcomed into this country by the Biden-Harris Administration. American citizens should not come last.
I am pushing the White House to prioritize disaster funding for American citizens and ensure those ravaged by this storm receive adequate support from the federal government.
Please join me in praying for strength and resilience for our fellow Americans who were impacted by Hurricane Helene.
We Need a Return to Peace Through American Strength
As we begin to approach the anniversary of October 7th, it is imperative we continue to support our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel.
In a dramatic escalation, Iran launched over 200 missiles toward Israel this week, forcing thousands of Israelis to flee from their homes. The Biden-Harris appeasement strategy has enabled state sponsors of terror like Iran and their proxies to become increasingly aggressive in the Middle East. This approach has endangered our greatest ally while prolonging conflict in the region.
I fully support Israel as they defend their country. Appeasement from the Biden-Harris Administration has only invited aggression, and the only approach that works is maximum pressure. We need a return to peace through American strength. Please join me in praying for the people of Israel, and the safe return of hostages who have endured a full year in captivity.
Curbing Importation of Deadly Substances
I am proud to have led a bipartisan group of my colleagues in introducing the Stop Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues (SIMSA) Act. This legislation targets deadly drugs that are substantially similar to already-controlled substances but carefully engineered – often in China or Mexico – to slip into the U.S. undetected.
Drug traffickers are constantly exploiting loopholes in our laws by creating drugs that mimic the effects of controlled substances but are not yet classified as illegal to evade regulation. The SIMSA Act will give law enforcement the tools they need to stay ahead of these criminals and protect our communities from these emerging drug threats. By enhancing the DEA’s ability to respond to these new substances quickly, we are taking a critical step in combating the opioid crisis and other drug-related harms. Read more about the bill here.
Protecting Undersea Cables
As Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, I recently introduced the Undersea Cable Security and Protection Act, which would establish an interagency working group with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)and the Federal Communications Commission for the security, resiliency, and integrity of undersea cables.
Almost all global telecommunications rely on undersea cables. Our adversaries know their strategic importance, yet these cables remain significantly under-protected. With mounting threats of espionage, sabotage, and cyberattacks from adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran, and proxy terrorist groups such as the Houthis, it is critical that we act now to safeguard this indispensable infrastructure. My legislation ensures this issue gets the attention it deserves before it’s too late. Read more about the bill here.
Probing the DOJ for Illegal Immigrants Voting
I joined my colleagues U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) in calling out U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Department of Justice's (DOJ) failure to prevent illegal immigrants from registering to vote in American elections.
State officials across the country have recently taken steps to prevent, deter, and investigate cases of illegal voter registration by non-citizens. Just this year, the State of Texas conducted a massive cleanout of its voter registration rolls, with many other states following suit. We must ensure only citizens are voting in U.S. elections. Read the full letter to Attorney General Garland here.
51 Spies Who Lied Overdue for Court Appearance
Last week, the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security passed my legislation to block the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from establishing partisan advisory boards within the agency.
Two of the so-called "experts" appointed to an advisory board within DHS were John Brennan and James Clapper, who both signed a discredited public statement on October 19, 2020, that incorrectly implied reports of Hunter Biden’s political influence peddling were the product of Russian disinformation.
Miranda Devine of the New York Post penned an opinion piece detailing the need for the 51 signers to see their day in court for lying to the American people. Read the piece here or below.
ICYMI: Service Academy Night Recap
Our office held a fantastic Service Academy Night in San Angelo this week. The Central High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) kicked off the event with a beautiful display of the American flag followed by the main program presentation by Texas-11 Service Academy Liaison Mary O'Connor.
If you missed Service Academy Night, please visit our website here to learn more about the application process to U.S. Service Academies. Applications close on October 18, 2024, for next Fall. Please contact Mary.OConnor@mail.house.gov in my office with your additional questions.
2024 Congressional App Challenge
My office is now accepting submissions for the 2024 Congressional App Competition. The competition is open to all 6-12 grade students in the 11th Congressional District of Texas and is an opportunity for students to develop their skills in computer science and STEM skills.
The deadline is October 24th, 2024 at 12:00 pm ET. Students can learn more, register, and upload their app here.
Step-by-Step Video Guide
The Congressional App Challenge website has a step-by-step video guide that walks students, parents, and educators through the application process. Click here to access the video guide.
Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitterfor daily updates.
