Today, House Republicans voted on the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which provides for the needs of servicemembers and their families through a pay increase, improved housing and access to healthcare, while equipping our military with the tools and resources to counter the rapidly growing threats from Communist China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. I voted for this legislation which passed the House by a vote of 219-210.

One of Congress’ most important constitutional duties is to provide for our national defense and support the men and women who serve in the United States military, while also making sure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly.

Under the Biden Administration, the Department of Defense has been spending Americans' hard-earned money on diversity, equity, and inclusion training, wasteful green initiatives, and redundant bureaucracy from the Pentagon instead of lethality.

Hardworking Americans deserve to know that every taxpayer dollar invested in the Department of Defense is being spent efficiently to keep them safe, deter adversaries like China, and maintain our technological advantage – not wasted on woke programs that do nothing to enhance our military capabilities or weapons that don't meet the best standards.

House Republicans brought forward a plan that shifts $39 billion from inefficient and woke programs, obsolete weapons systems, and unnecessary and harmful Pentagon bureaucracy to essential capabilities we need to defend our nation.

Our bill will also increases oversight and accountability of the Biden Administration’s defense spending to prevent waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption, so that no dollar goes unaccounted for.

It’s time for smarter investments in defense that support America’s position as the strongest nation in the world – House Republicans delivered to ensure the brave men and women defending our nation’s freedom have access to the weapons and resources they need to keep our country safe from threats.

NDAA background and provisions:

The annual defense legislation sets priorities and policies for the U.S. armed services. The FY24 NDAA saves taxpayer dollars while improving military readiness, increasing pay for servicemembers, countering aggression from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and making critical investments in the United States’ national defense. The FY24 NDAA provisions include:  

• A 5.2% increase in servicemember pay, the largest increase in 20 years.
• Rejecting the Biden administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the Navy.
• Increased funding for innovative new technologies needed to deter the CCP on future battlefields, including AI, autonomous systems, cyber, mobile micronuclear reactors, and high energy lasers.
• Increased funding for military information operations assistance to Indo-Pacific allies to counter Chinese influence operations.
• $240 million to reduce servicemembers out-of-pocket housing expenses to counteract the skyrocketing cost of rent.
• Saves $40 billion in taxpayer dollars – or 5% of current defense spending levels – without sacrificing national security.
• The NDAA also provides a path back to service for 8,000 servicemembers discharged for failing to take the COVID-19 vaccine by:
  • requiring the Secretary of Defense to inform each discharged servicemember of the process they can follow to be reinstated,
  • requiring the Service Secretaries to consider reinstating separated servicemembers at the same rank, and
  • treating the time away from service for any servicemember reinstated as a ‘career intermission’ so it does not impact future promotions.

 In October 2022, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a memo outlining new policies—without established authority from Congress—to use taxpayer funding for time off, lodging, and travel expenses for elective abortions. To implement the stated goals of the memo, the Department of Defense (DoD) unilaterally released directed policies on February 16, 2023. Put simply, these new DoD policies are taxpayer funding for abortions. 

Yesterday, I voted in favor of an amendment to the NDAA that prohibits the Secretary of Defense from paying for or reimbursing expenses related to abortion services.

But I want to know what you think!

I stayed busy in Washington this week!

I started my week off by meeting with Bethany Lloyd, a sophomore at Dickinson High School. She was in Washington for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's 2023 Children's Congress to share her journey with type 1 diabetes. It was a pleasure to sit down with her and her family. She even shared a scrapbook that she made about her experience with diabetes. 

On Wednesday, during a House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology markup I introduced an amendment to National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) Reauthorization Act. The amendment would update the potential uses for the Spectrum Relocation Fund (SRF).  The SRF, funded from the proceeds of spectrum auction sales, is used to finance upgrades to federal infrastructure in exchange for making more spectrum available to the private sector.

On Thursday, I had the pleasure of meeting with constituents across TX-14 and the entire state of Texas at the Texas Tea! I had the chance to speak with multiple constituents visiting Washington this week. If you are visiting Washington, don't forget to reach out to YOUR (we work for YOU) office and schedule a tour of the Capitol. You can also visit our website to book a tour!

Today, I introduced the bipartisan Federal Mechanical Insulation Act (FMIA) of 2023 to ensure federal buildings are maximizing energy efficiencies, which results in taxpayer savings and emissions reductions. Mechanical insulation provides large-scale and long-term energy efficiency, emissions reductions, cost savings, and safety benefits at manufacturing facilities, power plants, refineries, hospitals, universities, and government buildings while creating thousands of American jobs, with nearly all of its manufacturing occurring here in the United States. For 35 years, I owned and operated an air conditioning company, and I understand the importance of strategic federal energy conservation and efficiency measures. I am proud to introduce a bill that is a win for the nation’s energy preservation and will lower the burden on taxpayers forking over their hard-earned dollars to power federal buildings. 

It was a busy week in TX-14, full of community engagement and hurricane preparedness! Team Weber attended the Groves Chamber of Commerce Monthly Coffee, hosted by Pizza Artista. Then they participated in the Galveston Chamber, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, to dedicate the newly renovated chapel at The Meridian Retirement Community. In Beaumont, FEMA provided valuable updates on ongoing recovery operations and the upcoming 2023 Hurricane Season at a regional briefing. The FEMA Region 6, National Weather Service gave us an insightful outlook on this year's hurricane season. 

Team Weber also had the privilege of a virtual presentation by Director Marcus Coleman from the DHS Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, who emphasized the importance of their work and the opportunities for faith-based and community partners to prepare for the hurricane season. And finally they attended the Vidor Chamber of Commerce's Quarterly Luncheon featuring an informative preview of the upcoming school year with Vidor ISD Superintendent Dr. Jay Killgo.

Are you traveling this summer? This is your reminder to CHECK your passport. 

The standard passport renewal process, which typically takes a few weeks, can now take up to 13 weeks, while even expedited service could take up to nine weeks.

Here are some helpful tips: 

Plan ahead:

• Do not rely on a last-minute appointment.
• Plan around the current processing times.

Apply as soon as possible:

• We recommend to apply 4-6 months in advance of travel.
• Save $60 by applying for routine service and reduce last minute planning stress.

Check your expiration date:

• Some countries require that your passport be valid at least six months beyond the dates of your trip.

Wait times

• It may take up to two weeks after applying before your application is " In Process".
• Routine applications take 10-13 weeks and expedited applications 7-9 weeks.

Check Status online

• The online tool (passportstatus.state.gov) provides the same info as the call center.

Urgent Issues

• For urgent U.S. Passport issues, please CALL the closest District office to you as soon as possible.
  • League City Office: (281) 316-0231
  • Lake Jackson Office: (979) 285-0231
  • Beaumont Office:  (409) 835-0108

Legislation cosponsored:

• H.R. 4547 - To establish a fund to promote the inspection and consumption of shrimp and products containing shrimp or shrimp parts.
• H.R. 3455 - TSP Act
• H.R. 3792 - U.S.-Israel Partnership and Abraham Accords Enhancement Act of 2023
• H.Res. 538 - Expunging the December 18, 2019, impeachment of President Donald John Trump.
• H.Res. 547 - Expunging the January 13, 2021, impeachment of President Donald John Trump.
• H.R. 4468 - To prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a proposed rule with respect to emissions from vehicles, and for other purposes.

It is a privilege to represent our district in Congress.  While we’ve faced many challenges in recent years, through strength and prayer, we have persevered. 

Please know that we are always a resource for you.  Call or stop by any of the offices (YOUR offices, we work for you), whenever you need assistance or want to talk about an issue before Congress.

For assistance or more information, please call or go online to visit us at weber.house.gov.

God Bless you and God Bless Texas!