Brian Babin

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, it is time to end the era of secret science within the Environmental Protection Agency. This bill before us, H.R. 1030, does just that. As the Representative of a very diverse district in Texas with timber; agricultural interests; four ports, including the Port of Houston; and more petrochemical plants than any other in the United States, I rise in strong support of this bill. I cosponsored this bill because I believe that the American people deserve a greater level of accountability from the EPA and less bureaucratic regulation and dodging the facts. Let the facts speak for themselves. Transparency is one of the fundamental tenets of science. I have a biology degree. I have had plenty of science, chemistry, and physics--I am a dentist--medicine. If they have the facts, there is no need to hide them. The EPA spends about $8 billion a year in taxpayer money, and I believe that the taxpayers of the United States have a right to know just how their hard-earned money is being spent. As new sets of data are created, I hope that this level of transparency will encourage researchers, companies, and nonprofits towards a greater level of openness. The President committed that his administration would be the most transparent administration in history. Unfortunately, I believe this administration has fallen short of this goal. This bill is necessary to ensure that the American people have transparency in the Environmental Protection Agency. When the EPA overreaches, it costs Americans their jobs by putting U.S. workers at a competitive disadvantage. We need transparency and accountability so that American workers and their families are protected. Let's put an end to ``secret science.'' H.R. 1030 does exactly this, and I call on my colleagues to join me in voting for this bill.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in urging that we reject this motion to concur in the Senate amendments. The Senate removed the House-passed provisions that would prevent the President from acting unilaterally on immigration. The President said on twenty-two occasions that he lacked the authority to act unilaterally on amnesty, but that is exactly what he did. A vote against this motion is a vote for the rule of law. Yes, we are a nation of immigrants but we are also a nation of laws. Any changes to our immigration laws should be done legislatively. They should not be done unilaterally by the Administration, nor should they be changed by the courts. We have millions of Americans who are still looking for work. We have others on the lower rungs of the economic ladder that want to climb higher, to earn more money, and to support their families with a higher wage. If the Administration's amnesty plan is allowed to go into effect, the plight of these millions of American workers and the families they support will be harmed. The House passed a bill to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security and also ensure that this money is not used to implement amnesty. The Administration rejected that, has refused to negotiate and has promised to veto any bill that includes provisions that uphold the rule of law. I am committed to fighting for the rule of law and restoring the balance of power between the Executive and the Legislative branches of government.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great man and a friend, David Braun. David passed away last Saturday, February 21, at the age of 59 following a courageous three-year battle with liver cancer. David was a true public servant and a powerful voice in the Houston community. As a former Nassau Bay city councilman, mayor pro tem, and aerospace manager at the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, his devotion to helping others and advancing the causes of our community was unmatched. David's passion for public service and community involvement was fueled by his devotion to God and his church. David actively served his church community by providing religious education to children of all grade levels as well as serving on various committees. I'm proud to have known David and seen his passion firsthand. I am especially grateful for his unwavering support of NASA and the Johnson Space Center. David worked tirelessly to advance our nation's human space flight program. He also contributed directly to the creation of the ``Preserving Aerospace Talent'' program, which has enabled aerospace companies to find quality, experienced employees. Each May, with Citizens for Space Exploration, David would organize as many as 150 volunteers to travel to Capitol Hill to stress the importance of supporting NASA's human space flight program and the Johnson Space Center. In 2014, David organized an effort that enabled the group to meet with 354 congressional offices in just over two days. This unprecedented demonstration of grassroots support for our nation's space program would not have been possible without David's leadership. David Braun was a great man. He was well-respected and greatly admired by all of those he worked with. His ability to encourage and inspire others will have a positive, lasting impact on future generations to come. We should all strive to be more like David Braun. We should all also work to help fulfil his mission to see NASA be the unquestioned worldwide leader in space exploration. My prayers and deepest condolences go out to David's wife, Angela, and his son, Michael. David will be sorely missed in our community, but his passion and legacy will certainly live on as he has laid a great foundation for his community.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. I thank the gentleman from Mississippi and the gentlewoman from Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 810, the NASA Authorization Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation is an important step forward in our efforts to build a stronger and more focused NASA. Let's face it: NASA is the only Federal agency that has human spaceflight as its mission. However, in recent years, NASA has branched into areas that divert attention and funding from its critical mission. This bill before us begins to bring human spaceflight back into focus as NASA's key mission. It provides strong funding for vehicle development that will enable NASA to reach the Moon and beyond, putting us on a clear path towards deeper exploration into our solar system. Having met with top officials at the Johnson Space Center in my district just this past week, I can attest that they are very excited about this new focus. I am aware of NASA's challenges, and I am excited about the opportunities ahead and some of the successes that we have had over the past few months. Our bill supports NASA's Orion spacecraft, it expands America's access to the international space station, and it funds a robust Commercial Crew Program to launch American astronauts on American rockets. I urge my colleagues to join in support of this bipartisan bill.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chair, on roll call no. 62, Connolly Amendment, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted No.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 596, legislation that I have cosponsored to fully repeal ObamaCare. My constituents sent me to Washington to repeal this disastrous law, and that is what we are doing today, the number one issue in my district. As a health care provider myself for 38 years, I have seen firsthand the devastating effects of ObamaCare and how it undermines the doctor- patient relationship. It is costing us jobs and work hours and has led to millions of Americans losing their health plans that they had and wanted to keep and were promised such. Restoring the patient's right to choose a plan that they want and can afford is just plain common sense. Our bill does this by repealing ObamaCare and replacing it with free market solutions. We put America on a path toward patient-focused care, rather than government-directed care. The traditional doctor-patient relationship would be restored. Let's show the American people that we are listening and rid the Nation of this terrible law and replace it with policies that work.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 351, the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act. America's energy producers and the tens of thousands of Americans they employ stand ready to meet the demand for a reliable and secure source of natural gas from America and the world. They have completed their reviews, have passed their tests, and are ready to get to work, but there is one big problem--the Obama administration is standing in the way. The President and his anti- American energy agenda have placed a de facto ban on LNG exports by logjamming their requests and using bureaucratic red tape to block America's progress. This bill breaks the bureaucratic gridlock and expedites the approval of LNG exports. I have seen firsthand the jobs and the opportunities that an LNG facility has created for the people of east Texas, in my district. Let's help the American worker by approving H.R. 351.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. It is plain wrong to use America's hard-earned tax dollars to pay for abortions. On September 9, 2009, President Obama told the joint session of Congress: One more misunderstanding I want to clear up--under our plan, no Federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and Federal conscience laws will remain in place. Those of us in the pro-life community knew that this was simply not the case, and last September, the Government Accountability Office confirmed that, under ObamaCare, abortions are being paid for with taxpayer funds by more than 1,000 ObamaCare exchange plans across the country. Our bill ends taxpayer funding for abortion, fulfilling one of the promises that this President has broken. Let's pass this bill and end the largest expansion of taxpayer-funded abortion in American history.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chairman, the United States is a nation of immigrants. It is also a nation of laws, and our Nation's leaders have a sworn duty to abide by those laws. On countless occasions, President Obama said that he lacked the authority to grant broad amnesty; however, in November, he reversed his course and unilaterally declared amnesty. I rise in strong opposition to his executive amnesty and in strong support of legislation to defund his unlawful and unconstitutional actions. Changes in immigration law--or in any law for that matter--rest with the legislative branch of the government, the United States Congress. Granting amnesty through unilateral executive action makes a mockery of our laws, and Congress must rein it in. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 191, the Repeal Executive Amnesty Act. Key provisions of this bill will be offered as amendments to this appropriations bill. We will deny the administration funding to implement his amnesty. As a past mayor, a hospital staff member for many years, and a local school board member, I know firsthand how this administration's plan is taxing the budgets of our local governments, including our schools, our hospitals, and our jails. This massive unfunded mandate must be repealed. Amnesty also undermines our national security by perpetuating open borders, making Americans less safe. Finally, it leaves behind millions of American citizens who are unemployed at this time, making it even harder for them to find good-paying jobs. To make the United States stronger, we must rein in this President. We must repeal unilateral amnesty, and we must return to the rule of law. I call on my colleagues to support H.R. 240 and the Aderholt amendment and to pass the underlying legislation.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act. For far too long, President Obama has impeded construction of the Keystone XL pipeline--costing the American people thousands of good-paying jobs and blocking an affordable source of energy. In the face of his continued obstruction, I proudly joined a strong bipartisan group of my colleagues voting to put an end to Obama's obstruction and approving the Keystone XL pipeline. This legislation is not only good for America, but it is also uniquely important to the 36th District of Texas. The pipeline will bring an economic boost to our area through its construction and new energy supply. For six years President Obama has put politics above what is good for the American people and our local and national economy. This is an important step in putting more Americans back to work, creating opportunity to good jobs and growing our national economy.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 10 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Personal Explanation