Randy Weber

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, an unborn child is a human life. All you have to do is realize that. Sixty-two million unborn human lives have been killed since Roe v. Wade. That is almost 1.3 million a year of unborn human lives killed. That is almost 3,500 a day or one every 2 minutes. Madam Speaker, in my 90 seconds, two unborn human lives have been snuffed out.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, little that we can do here today is going to make a difference in what those families endured. We can only supply a small token of our appreciation for the greatest fighting force of men and women on the planet. I want you to think with me for a second here. When the world has a calamity, it doesn't matter whether it is a hurricane, whether it is a tsunami, whether it is an earthquake, whether it is pestilence, famine, or rebellion, invasion. When the world has a calamity and they dial 911, who is it that answers? It is the United States of America, isn't it? With the greatest fighting force of men and women this world has ever known. When America is safe, the world is a safer place. To the families, the Gold Star families, whose family members gave all, we owe them a debt of gratitude, and not just us, but the world as well. Mr. Speaker, may God bless them, and may they rest in peace.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 233. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Aderholt (Moolenaar) Carson (Butterfield) DeSaulnier (Thompson (CA)) Fulcher (Meuser) Grijalva (Stanton) Horsford (Jeffries) Katko (Joyce (OH)) Kelly (PA) (Keller) Kirkpatrick (Stanton) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lowenthal (Beyer) Maloney, Carolyn (Velazquez) McEachin (Wexton) Meng (Jeffries) Napolitano (Correa) O'Halleran (Stanton) Payne (Pallone) Porter (Wexton) Rush (Underwood) Sires (Pallone) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Wild (Axne) Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of amendment No. 109 within this en bloc. My amendment identifies an immediate need of the United States nuclear industry, the need to provide full funding for construction of the Department of Energy, the DOE, versatile test reactor project. As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Energy for the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I know that there is no clean energy future without advanced nuclear. The best vehicle to accelerate us down the road of emissions reductions is nuclear energy. The versatile test reactor is an absolutely critical piece of DOE's R&D infrastructure that will allow U.S. nuclear researchers to validate and test a wide range of advanced reactor designs right here in the good old U.S. of A. Any responsible U.S. nuclear energy strategy must include robust support for this facility. Madam Speaker, last Congress, as part of the sweeping nuclear provisions in the Energy Act of 2020, we were able to authorize robust funding for the versatile test reactor. It was a tremendous bipartisan--that my friend from Arkansas is pointing out--achievement I was proud to lead. But this authorization is all for naught without the yearly appropriations to back it up. That is why I am very concerned to see that the 2022 appropriations bill provides no funds, zero, zip, zilch, nada, to keep the versatile test reactor project on budget and on schedule. If we are serious about our clean energy future, Madam Speaker, and we want to decrease our dependence on competitors like China and Russia for advanced nuclear R&D, we must commit to our investment in this essential research infrastructure. The United States can and should lead the world in advanced nuclear. Moving forward, I will continue to work with my colleagues to prioritize nuclear innovation and keep America safe, energy independent, and globally competitive. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Lucas and the chairwoman of the full committee, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson. With this bill, the two of them have perfectly demonstrated how a committee can actually function--even with occasional disagreements--to prioritize shared goals and produce truly great bipartisan products. They are to be congratulated. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3593, the Department of Energy Science for the Future Act. After over a decade of budget requests, hearings, stakeholder input, and information-gathering, I say with a sigh of relief and a great deal of joy that the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has a bipartisan and comprehensive Office of Science authorization. Although it has taken a little longer than I would have expected, it couldn't come at a better time. America's scientific enterprise has never faced a more serious threat from global competition than it does right now--today. Innovative science discoveries and advance technology development aren't just aspirations; they are the actual key to our national security, as well as our economic prosperity. That is because innovation and technology are exactly what the Chinese Communist Party has prioritized in its goal to overtake the United States of America as a global leader in industries of the future. Mr. Speaker, if we want to maintain our key edge in technology areas, like quantum information science and artificial intelligence, and combat the threat of another country controlling the development of those cutting-edge technologies and standards, we must take action now. Mr. Speaker, the solution is really quite simple. We have to invest in American innovation. Just that simple. We must invest in our facilities and our research right here in the United States so that we can ensure the United States remains the global leader in science. How exactly we go about that might be the subject of some debate, but I fully believe that the bill that we have before us today is the best course of action. The Department of Energy's Office of Science has time and time again demonstrated that basic science research is the most effective way to encourage development of those new technologies. And as the largest Federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences, with unparalleled research capabilities and infrastructure, the Office of Science and its national laboratories are uniquely equipped to help America compete. By authorizing cutting-edge research programs with a responsible, scalable funding increase and a strategic roadmap for DOE, federally funded discoveries made through the Office of Science will pave the way for both public and private American innovators to license technologies and to launch those startups. Mr. Speaker, in addition, the Office of Science research in materials and chemical science, biological and environmental research, and fusion energy will not only maintain our lead in science, but will also lay the foundation for the next generation of clean, secure, and exportable energy technologies. Don't miss that: Clean, exportable, and secure technologies. Maximizing the Office of Science's role in our Federal research enterprise is how we win. This great legislative body and the Federal Government as a whole cannot and will not duplicate a nonmarket economy by forcing mandates and regulations. Instead, we can arm our dynamic private sector with the tools necessary to commercialize sustainable, affordable, and scalable energy solutions. Again, don't miss that. Through the DOE Science of the Future Act, we are prioritizing critical research areas and investing in the science and technology that will drive development of those technologies into the next generation. This will allow America's economy to thrive while reducing global emissions and allowing market-based solutions to flourish. Don't miss that. Robust and consistent support for the Office of Science is crucial to the success and security of the U.S. innovation ecosystem, U.S. energy independence, and U.S. security. Mr. Speaker, this bill does that in a clear, streamlined fashion. It is not bogged down by outside interests or unrelated provisions. We won't just keep up with China and other foreign adversaries; we will outpace them and lead, just like the United States of America has always done. That is a good thing. That is a very good thing, by the way. Mr. Speaker, I take a moment to thank the many stakeholders who have worked so hard to get this critical legislation done right. Hats off to all of them. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is a great one. It is high time we had this one on the floor.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the exemplary life of one Mr. W.L. Pate from Beaumont, Texas. Words cannot adequately express how deeply saddened Brenda and I were to hear of W.L. Pate's passing just the other day. As I think back, Madam Speaker, we are hard-pressed to remember anyone who gave more to their community than W.L. did to his--or ours, for that matter. The list of W.L.'s considerable accomplishments and contributions are far too numerous to be listed here, but here are just a few. W.L. was a two-term mayor of Beaumont. He was an Army veteran and had 14 years of service as a city councilman. W.L. was the past president of the Texas Association of Mayors, Council Members and Commissioners. W.L. was on the board of the Texas Municipal League and served as TML president for Region 16. Never missing a chance to give back, W.L. assisted the District 14 office every single year with military service academy nominations, and he was good at it and proud to be able to do it. I am particularly proud of W.L.'s passion project in recent years. W.L. was the driving force behind obtaining the Presidential Medal of Freedom that was posthumously awarded to Babe Didrikson Zaharias, a fantastic female athlete, given by President Donald Trump. I recognize and thank W.L. Pate for his servant leadership. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends, especially his daughters, Jennifer and Suzanne. This is a tremendous loss for Beaumont and the Nation. W.L.'s remarkable legacy of service and sacrifice is the epitome of what it means to be a great American. Our country would be well-served to have many more with such a servant's heart. Rest in peace, my friend. W.L. Pate, you done good.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Madam Speaker, today, the House moves to establish June 19 as the Juneteenth National Independence Day, a national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. June 19 marks the day Union troops arrived in my district in Galveston, Texas--I wasn't alive back then, let me get that out there-- in the heart of what is now the 14th Congressional District of Texas, the Gulf Coast of Texas. Those troops arrived to announce and enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. On that day, General Gordon Granger delivered the news of President Abraham Lincoln's proclamation, which had abolished slavery more than 2 years before, on January 1, 1863. That was his intent. It was the law, and it should have been done. But we had a ways to go, didn't we, to abolish slavery? We really did. The abolition of slavery was a key milestone toward fulfilling our Founders' promise, underwritten by the self-evident truths of natural law, that all humans are created equal and should enjoy the same protections under the law. Ingrained in Texas culture, my great Texas, this special day has already been recognized, which the chairwoman eloquently spoke about, in 47 of the 50 States here in the United States, and it is long overdue to be recognized as a Federal holiday. I have been working on it myself for several years with my friends, Sheila Jackson Lee and John Cornyn, and others. This year's celebration should be rooted in the works of repair we have done, still need to do, and will continue to do, Lord willing, as a country that has endured periods of racial tension, which have tried to divide our people. Let it not be so. As President Abraham Lincoln notably quoted from the Bible, he said: ``A house divided against itself cannot stand.'' Our country can and should--and, Lord, I will say ``will''--unite beyond the divisions that we have faced. And this is a long way toward that. The forces that try to divide our Nation will not prevail as we stand firm in our identity as Americans. We are a people refined through the trials of fire and made stronger and stronger than ever. Juneteenth reminds us of the freedom so bravely defended by many, many Americans, and it encourages us to remain steadfast in the good fight against division. It also reminds us we have a ways to go. ``A house divided cannot stand.'' That is absolutely true. But a house that is united is unshakeable. Mr. Speaker, this is a step toward that unification.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding work of Mayor Becky Ames, the 41st mayor of Beaumont, Texas. Since being elected, Mayor Becky Ames has spearheaded several initiatives to better the Beaumont area, such as establishing the One Stop Shop in city hall to help businesses and homeowners with their various needs. Becky has also helped develop the 311 call centers to help residents with nonemergency issues. Mayor Ames' most significant contributions to our district include the emergency preparation and management before and after several tropical storms and hurricanes that have impacted Beaumont. Mayor Ames' experience and leadership during these storms were instrumental to recovery efforts and restoring Beaumont's infrastructure. I have seen them up close and personal. I recognize and I thank Mayor Becky Ames for her many years of selfless service to Beaumont and our 14th Congressional District of Texas. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Becky on her well-earned retirement.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the victims of the heinous attack on Santa Fe High School on this day back in 2018. Three years ago, Santa Fe, Texas, a salt-of-the-earth town in my district, was confronted with an incomprehensible evil. Instead of revisiting those horrendous acts of violence, today I rise to honor the lives that were tragically cut short: 15-year-old Aaron Kyle McLeod; 15-year-old Angelique Ramirez; 14-year-old Kimberly Vaughan; 63-year-old Cynthia Tisdale; 17-year-old Sabika Sheikh; 17-year-old Jared Black; 16-year-old Shana Fisher; 64-year-old Glenda Ann Perkins; 15-year-old Christian Riley Garcia; and 17-year-old Christopher Stone, who was adventurous, understanding, and easy to talk to. Both Christopher and Christian have received medals of honor for the deed they did. Madam Speaker, it was a solemn day.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. The girl that was followed into the bathroom by the gentleman who said he self-identified as a female that day, turns out that that man's teeth were knocked out by the girl's father who self-identified as the tooth fairy.

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, this bill smacks of President Barack Obama's transgender bathroom policy several years back. I remember that, how ridiculous that was. It was reported in Texas a young girl went into a bathroom in a package store, was followed by a male who said he self-identified as a female that day. More about her in a minute. This is not an Equality Act. This is going to erode religious freedom. This expressly exempts RFRA from being a defense if someone has a sincerely religiously held belief. The comment was made earlier that we are using God as an excuse. I hardly think so. The Founders of the Constitution knew exactly what they were doing when they provided for those protections. If the Equality Act is passed, individuals with religious views will be disfavored by this bill and it will not have RFRA as a tool to defend against a violation of their religious freedom. H.R. 5 will politicize the medical profession to the detriment of the practitioners and the patients. It is unbelievable.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my concerns regarding the irregularities and improprieties in the 2020 General Election. As I have said time and time again, the American people deserve to have full faith in our elections. The numerous votes cast by mail this year--due to the pandemic--have been plagued by allegations of fraud and wrongdoing. I watched with great concern as President Trump's legal team brought forth witnesses, sworn affidavits, and reams of legitimate evidence to courts in various states. There are countless, incontestable examples wherein governors, election officials, and judges altered states' election procedures in clear violation of Article II of the U.S. Constitution. Article II grants state legislatures--and only the state legislatures--the explicit power to determine the manner of appointing presidential electors. In keeping with this constitutional responsibility, state legislatures have established detailed rules by which that state's electoral process and appointment of presidential electors should be conducted. However, in the months before the 2020 election, it is undeniable that--in several key states--either state court judges or state executive officials acted deliberately to fundamentally change state election law, usurping the state legislature's express authority under the Constitution. In violation of the Constitution and with full knowledge of mail-in voting vulnerabilities, state officials, activists, and Democrat-led lawsuits in numerous states opened our electoral processes to fraud and abuse. The sheer volume of mail-in voting alone triggered not just administrative errors and clerical mistakes but actual election crimes. As an alumnus of the Texas House of Representatives, I understand and guard zealously the prerogatives of state legislatures. As such, I feel strongly that the Supreme Court should have upheld the authority of those legislatures to establish the manner of appointing electors. Moreover, it was incumbent upon the court to determine the constitutional validity of any ballots that were cast under rules and procedures established by entities other than state legislatures. Put bluntly, the usurpation of legislative power in several states produced unconstitutional ballots. As we asserted in our amicus brief that accompanied the Texas case, any state executive or judicial attempt to determine the manner of choosing electors-especially any attempt that directly contradicts the will of the state legislature--is void ab initio (``from the beginning''). Regrettably, on December 11th, SCOTUS denied Texas' motion for lack of standing, without ruling on the merits of the case or the questions of fact therein. However, Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, disagreed with the high court's ruling, writing that, ``In my view, we do not have discretion to deny the filing of a bill of complaint in a case that falls within our original jurisdiction . . . I would therefore grant the motion to file the bill of complaint . . . '' I, too, believe that the Supreme Court got it wrong. That highest court has original jurisdiction over, specifically, suits involving two or more states. Today, we the Congress--on behalf of ``We The People''--will exercise our constitutional duty as the final judge, jury, and arbiter of all contested congressional, senatorial, and presidential elections. The legitimacy of our republic rests on the foundation that our elections-- whether for President of the United States or any other office--are transparent, fairly administered, and above board. With the undeniable knowledge of illegal changes to various state election laws, enacted by parties other than the respective state legislatures, we (the Congress) constitute the last line of defense in ensuring the trust of our citizens in the integrity of their ballots. Every single member of Congress swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. Our constitutional republic has endured for nearly-two and a half centuries based on the consent of the governed. That consent is grounded in the confidence of our people in the legitimacy of our institutions of government, the most fundamental being free and fair elections. The erosion of that foundation jeopardizes the stability of the republic. I will therefore join my colleagues today in objecting to counting the electoral votes of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, to restore the integrity of our electoral process.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today, with my fellow Texan, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, to bring attention to my bill, H.R. 8768, the ``Keeping America's Energy Resources Moving Act,'' a bill that would solve a thorny issue that has arisen in the U.S. lightering industry, and which affects our nation's energy independence and our national security. A bipartisan group of House members have worked with the House Judiciary Committee, the State Department, and Customs and Border Protection to raise awareness of this critical problem and to identify a solution acceptable to the House, executive agencies, and industry groups. I am grateful for the considerable work put in by my congressional colleagues, the House Judiciary Staff, and affected industry groups to craft this legislative fix, and I hope that the House will act soon to make it law. For those who do not know, lightering is the use of ``lighter'' vessel to load and off load crude oil and natural gas from very large tanker ships whose draft is too deep to access U.S. port facilities. Lightering vessels and the seafarers who work onboard these vessels are key to supporting and maintaining our domestic energy exports and ensuring imports of needed crude oil as feedstock for our domestic refiners along the Gulf Coast, in Southern California, and in Delaware. That is why the industry is vital to the transport of crude oil and natural gas both in and out of our domestic ports, the lifeblood of the American energy and petrochemical industries. This industry quietly forms the connective tissue that has enabled American energy to power the world. Without the ability to ensure that lightering can take place, there could be crude oil shortages for U.S. refineries resulting in the lack of production of gasoline for our cars, jet fuel for our planes, and heating oil to heat U.S. homes in the winter. It is just that simple. The problem in question stems from the disconnect between the visas that seafarers rely upon and the necessities of the employment contracts of lightering crews. These seafarers must transit through a U.S. port of entry and remain on board their vessels operating in and out of U.S. waters for up to 180 days in order to perform their tasks as part of a lightering vessel crew, but, under current law, they can only remain for 29 days without being granted parole by Customs and Border Protection--a cumbersome administrative process allowed under U.S. law but one we should not have to rely upon. A fix is needed to replace this band-aid approach. By providing statutory authorization for liquid lightering crewmembers to transit the United States for up to 180 days, this bill will streamline a cumbersome multi-agency process and ensure that the domestic energy production and refining capacity that underlines our economy and national security can continue. For this reason, and this reason alone, we introduced legislation to solve this problem and provide certainty to this industry, and thus to our economy. Unfortunately, we are now in the closing days of the 116th Congress and have run out of time to enact this technical, but necessary, legislative fix. Therefore, I plan to reintroduce our bipartisan bill, the ``Keeping America's Energy Resources Moving Act,'' in the opening days of the 117th Congress, and I remain committed to solving this problem then.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we have taken the Bible and God out of school. We are so smart. We have replaced Him with armed police officers, drug-sniffing dogs, and metal detectors. We have kicked Biblical training and principles out of schools. And now, we have broken families, absentee fathers, single moms struggling, and disrespect like we have never seen before. So much for what Jesus teaches us in the Bible: Love others as you love yourself. Or do unto others as you would have them do unto you, a/ k/a, the Golden Rule. Today's moral-less culture's motto seems to be, do unto others and then split, but not before you get a selfie and put it on Facebook. Disrespect is rampant--witnessing the rioting in the cities recently, the burning of the American flag. The courts decided in their infinite wisdom that flag burning is a protected form of speech. All I ask of those who are going to burn the flag, wrap themselves in it first. Mr. Speaker, courts have decided that you can't pray in schools, you can't pray at football games. We wouldn't want to invoke God's blessings on our gatherings. So much for the commandments in the Bible: Love, respect, duty, commitment, et cetera. Our country has gotten away from Biblical principles. Marriages have been destroyed, drugs are rampant, killing of unborn children. So much the order of the day, that now the abortion crowd wants to kill people after they have botched an abortion. Mr. Speaker, think of it. America's great fighting men and women can be fighting a vile enemy; we can wing one of their soldiers and we will do everything we can to nurse that soldier back to health, that enemy. But we won't try to save a baby we just tried to abort. God, help us. Lord, help us if we don't get back to Biblical principles. It is God's guidebook, his plan that this country was founded on. America, you had better get back to the Bible.

Mr. WEBER of Texas

Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I also thank Representative Bera for introducing this bill with me. I am proud to rise in support of H.R. 5760. Mr. Speaker, cyber and physical threats to our electric grid are constantly evolving in technique and increasing in number. This challenge is magnified by its complexity. No two attacks are exactly the same. Last year in the United States, the energy sector ranked ninth in industries most targeted by cyberattacks. In fact, IBM estimated that cyberattacks against vital energy sector technologies, like industrial control and operational systems, increased by more than 2,000 percent-- 2,000 percent. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that we must be prepared to address this threat as we continue to build on the success of our clean energy future and long-term international competitiveness. Every single aspect of our daily lives in each economic sector in our Nation is dependent on the uninterrupted flow of power. I like to say that the things that make America great are the things that America makes. How do we do that? With an uninterrupted, affordable flow of power. Therefore, we must focus heavily on early-stage research into new technologies that will improve the resilience, the reliability, and the emergency response capabilities of our electric grid. H.R. 5760 does that by authorizing a multi-agency research and development program to bolster the cyber and physical security capabilities of the energy sector. It authorizes key Federal agencies, like the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, to support early-stage research, development, and demonstration activities that will advance critical cybersecurity technologies and enhance the security of energy sector information systems. Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to say, as the ranking member did, that this bill is truly bipartisan. We worked closely together to develop good legislation, and we included a key Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Republican priority; that is, a critical infrastructure research program and test facility. This provision, originally offered by my good friend, Ranking Member Lucas' bill, H.R. 5685, the Securing American Leadership in Science and Technology Act, was accepted as an amendment at committee markup. In coordination with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, the DOE-led research program and test facility will allow for U.S. researchers to conduct a variety of high-priority tests on critical infrastructure systems at the industry scale. This facility is a perfect example of the research asset that the Federal government is best suited to provide. As recent events have shown us, it is not a question of if the U.S. power grid will face a significant physical or cyber threat, it is only a matter of when. In order to improve the cyber and physical security of our Nation's energy sector, we, in Congress, must continue to prioritize R&D to modernize and strengthen the national electricity system. We can't agree on everything--I get that--especially when wish lists and partisan messaging exercises rule the day. However, when we identify our shared goals and work together in good faith, we can put together real legislation and find a path forward for the benefit of the American people. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Dr. Bera for introducing this legislation, and Members and staff of both sides of the aisle for working in a collaborative manner to reach a consensus on this standalone bill. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. There is real power in doing so.