Joe Biden and House Democrats’ open borders, mass releases, and zero enforcement policies have created the worst border crisis on CBP record. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, there were 234,088 illegal crossings of our southern border in April alone, the worst month in CBP history. This is a 30% increase from 2021 and OVER a 1,200% increase from 2020. 
 
BIDEN’S BORDER CRISIS BY THE NUMBERS:

• Since Biden took office, OVER 2.6 MILLION illegal immigrants have been apprehended at our southern border.
• According to new CBP data, there were 234,088 migrant encounters at our southern border in April. 
  • That’s the highest in U.S. history for one month.
  • That is up 30% from April 2021
  • That is a 1,268% increase from 2020. 
  • 117,989 migrants were released into the U.S. in April.
  • 113,248 were expelled, the majority of which were under Title 42.
  • April was the 14th straight month of encounters OVER 150,000.
• These staggering numbers come as the Biden administration plans to lift Title 42 in just one week, a decision that will only worsen the historic border crisis.
  • A federal judge temporarily blocked President Biden’s repeal of Title 42 last month and is expected to rule on the repeal any day.
  • According to a Morning Consults poll, the majority of Americans disapprove of Biden’s upcoming repeal of Title 42.

• The Biden administration is putting America LAST by shipping pallets of baby formula to the southern border even as American families struggle with empty shelves. 

• 42 people on the Terrorist Screening Database have been apprehended attempting to illegally enter the U.S. since Joe Biden was sworn in.
• A new report shows drug overdoses, mostly from opioids, hit an all-time high in 2021 of OVER 100,000.
  • To date, CBP has seized 340,000 pounds of drugs in FY22. This includes 5,300 pounds of fentanyl, enough to kill 2.4 billion people.
• Border Patrol and Secretary Mayorkas have confirmed that over 700,000 known “gotaways” have evaded CBP apprehension at the southern border since Biden took office.

BOTTOM LINE: This is an invasion. A country without secure borders is not a country. Border security IS national security

It was a true privilege to attend the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring World War II United States Merchant Marine Veterans this week. Honored in this ceremony was George Offenhauser of Friendswood. We are truly grateful for his distinguished service in the Pacific during WWII.

During WWII, U.S. Merchant Marines were responsible for transporting the Arsenal of Democracy from ports to the combat theaters it was needed in. It was known as a dangerous job.

This week, Congress honored the Mariners’ valor and legacy by presenting the living veterans with a Congressional Gold Medal as a token of the country’s appreciation for their service.

I would like to extend congratulations and much gratitude to George Offenhauser and his fellow veterans on receiving this much deserved honor.

Legislation cosponsored:

• H.R. 7834 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from selecting certain activities relating to the development of anti-racism plans as clinical practice improvement activities under the Medicare program.
• H.R. 5232 - Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act
• H.R. 7824 - To deter foreign financial institutions from providing banking services for the benefit of foreign terrorist organizations and from facilitating or promoting payments for acts of terrorism.
• H.Res. 1131 - Expunging the January 13, 2021, impeachment of President Donald John Trump.
• H.R. 419 - No Taxpayer Funding for the World Health Organization Act
• H.R. 7798 - To amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to prohibit sale or transactions relating to human fetal tissue.
• H.R. 515 - Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act of 2021
• H.R. 7786 - To amend the Public Health Service Act to limit certain authority of the Department of Health and Human Services to require individuals to wear a mask, a face covering, or any other accessory during domestic air travel, to require the refund of civil fines imposed for refusal to wear such an accessory, and for other purposes.

Friends,

This week, the price for a gallon of gas hit an all-time high for the tenth consecutive day. Instead of offering real solutions to address this crisis, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats are passing the buck and blaming oil and gas companies for America’s energy crisis, which is their war on American energy.  
 
MAKE NO MISTAKE: House Democrats' bill to punish oil and gas companies for skyrocketing gas prices by accusing them of price gouging does nothing to address the pain at the pump Americans are feeling daily. This bill will only make America’s energy crisis WORSE by price-fixing. Instead of helping to unleash American energy dominance by rolling back government imposed regulations restricting the industry, House Democrats continue to block House Republicans’ American Independence From Russia Act, showing they have NO intention of easing this pain at the pump for Americans.
 
THE FACTS ABOUT HOUSE DEMOCRATS’ SOCIALIST ENERGY PRICE FIXING ACT (Courtesy of House Energy and Commerce Republicans):

• Gives President Biden power to declare an energy emergency, arming the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with tools to impose de-facto, arbitrary caps on “Mom and Pop” gas stations for the price of fuels, such as gasoline, diesel, and propane.
• Will lead to even less domestic oil and gas production at a time when we desperately need to increase both.
• Attacks small businesses and retailers who have no control over rising energy prices and the Administration’s failures to fix supply chains.
• Like in the 1970s, this will lead to fuel shortages and massive lines at the pump, affecting Americans’ ability to go to school, go to work, and live their lives. They are already suffering enough under the inflation, energy, and supply chain crises created by President Biden’s failed agenda for more government command and control.

BIDEN’S ENERGY CRISIS BY THE NUMBERS:

• Americans are smart. They know this is Biden’s Price Hike - no one-else’s. 
• The national average for a gallon of gas is $4.58 as of Thursday.
  • This is the tenth record high for gas in a row - an all-time record.
• Earlier this month, U.S. natural gas prices rose to the highest point in 13 years.
  • Crude oil is currently at $107.39.
  • Crude oil has remained above $90 a barrel, a 2014 record, for over three straight months.
  • Skyrocketing gas prices will now cost the average American household an extra $2,000 per year.
    • Americans will spend $5,000 this year on gas, a 78% increase from the $2,800 Americans spent a year ago.

WHAT BIDEN SHOULD BE DOING: 

1. End the federal freeze on new oil and gas leases.
2. Fast-track pending LNG export permits
3. Expedite approval of all pipeline and energy development
4. Stop the regulatory assault on U.S. energy development and financing

But I want to hear from you!