Dear Friend,
These last few weeks are ones I will never forget. Much of my time in the District was spent in Santa Fe with the families, friends, and community as we all grieve the tragic loss and horrific events of Friday, May 18. There's a lot of hurt in Santa Fe right now, but there's also a lot of love and a lot of hope. This salt of the Earth community stands together in good times and in bad. I will continue to stand with and pray for Santa Fe.
With my heart in Santa Fe, we've been busy in Washington D.C. We recently passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2018, as well as the first set of appropriations bills. The President signed into law the VA Mission Act, which provides hard-earned and well-deserved care and opportunities to our veterans. And just yesterday, the Science committee's Energy subcommittee, which I chair, held a hearing on how to best modernize our electric grid. In bolstering our grid, we are protecting our national security from physical and cyber attacks.
As a point of caution, we've recently received several calls regarding potential scams involving charitable donations and work. If you believe you are being scammed, the following link has information that could be of use, and a complaint can also be filed online at this website: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/frauds-and-scams.
The latest jobs report is out, and it is clear our economy is flourishing. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, one million new jobs have been added to our workforce. In the May jobs report, unemployment is at an all time low and confidence is soaring. And by all accounts, the Texas economy has hit its stride. We're adding jobs, lowering unemployment, and producing more. This is great news.
As our first weekends of summer arrive, enjoy this time with family and friends.
Sincerely,
Randy K. Weber
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| SANTA Fe strong |
Hearing the news out of Santa Fe that fateful Friday morning, my heart broke many times over for the town I know so well. The gravity of the situation was tremendous. I caught the first flight back to be with our neighbors, and when I got home to be with y'all... wow. Santa Fe Strong is not just a hashtag. It's really how they live. It's something you always know, but times like this really show the depth of our area's strength and commitment to each other. Texans stand together.
Green and gold ribbons line the streets. Buildings, fields, houses of worship, billboards, t-shirts, you name it - we are honoring Santa Fe High School and the ten lives taken.
Santa Fe is hurting. We all are. But, they are standing with each other, grieving a great loss, and recovering together. We are Santa Fe Strong, and I am proud to stand with them.
This week in Washington, worlds collided as Santa Fe High School graduate Devin Belluomini, stationed at Bolling Air Force Base in D.C., laid a wreath in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Word cannot describe the power of the moment. Read more: Santa Fe High School Victims Honored at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, http://www.khou.com/article/news/local/santa-fe-high-school-victims-honored-with-wreath-at-tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier/562379236
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HARVEY & THE GLO |
Still recovering from Hurricane Harvey's devastation, we find ourselves at the start of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane season.
As the GLO distributes federal funds, they are seeking feedback from homeowners and renters. Their aim is to identify the most appropriate type of housing assistance needed for the 49 counties affected by Harvey and receiving Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery. From now until Monday, June 18, the GLO survey will be open. Results will be analyzed and reviewed. If you would like to voice your opinion, their survey can be found here: http://harveysurvey.com. The survey is a partnership between the GLO and UT Austin. |
| House Activity |
On Wednesday, June 6 the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018 passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. The vote was 408 to 2 - can you believe it? Talk about bipartisanship. This authorization of improvements to our ports, dams, inland waterways, locks, flood protection systems, and other water resource infrastructure ensures these various structures are given the attention and maintenance needed to operate properly and efficiently. Along the Texas Gulf Coast, WRDA works by authorizing the construction of levees in our counties. Additionally, WRDA recognizes the need for channel improvements to Galveston Harbor. An appropriate navigable depth is essential to the transportation of goods domestically and internationally.
On Thursday, June 7 the House passed the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act, H.R. 3. This bill rescinds $15 billion from expired federal programs. This money would be returned to the U.S. Treasury. In passing the bill, we exercised our constitutional duty to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer money. Funds sitting in expired programs are not beneficial to anyone. Our budget is out of control, and this is a step in the right direction.
On Friday, June 8, the House passed the first set of appropriations bills: Energy and Water Appropriations, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations, and Legislative Branch Appropriations. We target funds to increase our national security by way of nuclear energy research and modernization of our nation’s electric grid; we focus resources on our veterans and military to provide appropriate funding for medical care, guidelines for oversight, and funding for the structural support needed by our military families and wounded troops; and we specifically direct funds to our Capitol Police. These extraordinary men and women protect our guests, grounds, and staff.
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