Dear Friend,
Sometimes, it's still hard to believe we are fast approaching the one year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey. In the last 10 months, I've listened to you and taken your concerns to every meeting with colleagues, leadership, Administration officials, and State officials. I will not let Harvey be a forgotten storm. Just this week, several of my colleagues and I visited with Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to discuss how funds can be dispersed. OMB is the agency who releases all federal funds.
Texans know best how to help each other, As such, the Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas and the General Land Office are charged with overseeing rebuilding. We will rebuild and be stronger than before.
The Houston-Galveston Area is taking public comments regarding disaster funding through Friday July 6th (at 4 p.m.). More information may be found here: www.h-gac.com/harvey/cdbg-disaster-funds/default.aspx.
Other helpful websites are: www.glo.texas.gov/recovery/partnerships/regional-partners/index.html
and texasrebuilds.com and www.rebuildtexas.today.
The Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program ends today. TSA offered 308 days of support, and we are so grateful for all they have done and the many extensions they provided. Final checkout is July 1. Survivors still have resources and help when moving on from TSA. Visit: www.fema.gov/news-release/2018/06/14/fact-sheet-resources-are-available-survivors-femas-transitional-sheltering for more information. In the months following Harvey, nearly 55,000 Texans were sheltered at hotels through this program.
We've come a long, long way.
Sincerely,
Randy K. Weber
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| TX14 Talented Artist |
Brooke Langston, Texas 14's 2018 Congressional Art Competition winner, and her parents joined families from around the nation at the annual Congressional Art Competition ceremony, held at the U.S. Capitol. From a number of submissions, a panel of judges selected her piece, “T-bone,” as this year’s winner. Brooke is a sophomore from Friendswood High School; last year, she received honorable mention for her submission.
“Not only is “T-bone” a great piece of art, but it also captures Texas and the heart of Texas 14. I remember Brooke’s artwork, ‘Lillian,’ from last year and was so pleased when she won first place this year,” Congressman Weber said. “Each year, I’m excited to see the artwork our talented young artists submit. Brooke’s talent and commitment are commendable.”
Brooke used colored pencils to capture the color, value, and texture of her artwork. Knowing how hard she worked on her art, and that there were so many good pieces entered, Brooke is definitely proud of this piece.
“T-bone” will be displayed in the Capitol for the following year. The other top three pieces of art will be displayed in the district offices in Beaumont, Lake Jackson, and League City.
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| History and Tradition |
As July 4th approaches, I can't help but reflect on our nation's heritage. The United States is truly remarkable. In the long history of our world, no nation really compares. We have a history filled with moments of triumph and challenge. We know the burden of sacrifice. We have a responsibility to each other, to treat each other with kindness and respect. We are guided by our conscience and our constitution. Ronald Reagan once said, “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” His words ring true today. We are One Nation Under God. We mustn’t lose sight of that.
With this in mind, I proudly co-sponsored Mike Johnson's bill, The History and Tradition Protection Act of 2018. Religion runs deep in our veins. Our Declaration recognizes our Creator and the protection of Divine Providence. In God, we place our trust. In our Pledge of Allegiance, we affirm this. Why then, has religion come under attack? The History and Tradition Protection Act aims to protects religious expression from the abuse of power being demonstrated by lawyers filing threatening lawsuits.
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| SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS |
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Just this week, your U.S. House of Representatives passed the Defense Appropriations bill. In an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 359 to 49, nearly every member rose in support of the legislation. For the world to be safe, America must be strong. We are rebuilding our armed forces, restoring military readiness, and supporting our troops. For years, our military suffered under budget cuts. That was unacceptable. With this round of appropriations, we are ensuring our military has the tools necessary to restore its strength, repair its equipment, and keep our men and women in uniform safe.
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