Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee continues to be committed to three primary objectives that will help improve the nation's economy.

1. Creating jobs;
2. Saving the taxpayer money, and
3. Shrinking the size of the Federal government.

In the first session of the 112th Congress, the Committee held over 70 hearings, 14 listening sessions and 7 roundtables focusing on legislation and issues that will create jobs, save the taxpayer money, and shrink the size of the federal government all while improving the safety, security, and efficiency of the country's transportation systems and infrastructure for years to come.

The Committee also crafted and passed several important pieces of legislation dealing with the nation's aviation, highway, rail and safety programs:

•  H.R. 2838, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011, which is a fiscally responsible reauthorization of the U.S. Coast Guard that includes reforms to help ensure the Service better utilizes resources and more efficiently replaces its again assets.
• H.R. 2594, the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011, which rejects the European Union's (EU) plans to impose a costly fee on any civil aviation operators landing in or departing from EU airports.
• H.R. 2018, the Clean Water Cooperative Federalisma Act of 2011, retores the historic and blanced partnership between EPA and the states in regulating the nation's waters. It ensures EPA works with the states in setting reasonable, sound water quality standards.

Committee on Government Oversight and Reform
As a member of the Committee on Government Oversight and Reform, I am working to cut red tape and break down federal government inefficiency. Regulatory burdens and excessive administrative rulemaking stifles business development and hurts our fragile and recovering economy. During hearings I ask tough questions about failed government programs and inititives and work to unleash America's productivity and promise.

Committee on Homeland Security
As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I am focusing on the best policies and resources to secure both the land and maritime borders of 27th District of Texas and the United States.

It is imperative that we conduct rigorous oversight regarding the threat of spill-over violence stemming from the rise of drug cartels and the increasingly violent conflicts along the Texas-Mexico border. Having both the Port of Corpus Christi and Brownville in the 27th District, I am also focusing on various aspects of port and maritime security. This includes the screening of vessels, passengers, cargo, and crew for potential terrorists, terrorist weapons, and contraband.

I am working to study what additional policies and resources are necessary for the Department of Homeland Security to gain operational control over the land and maritime borders of the United States, including staffing, technology, infrastructure, and improved coordination between state and federal officials. The committee will assess the progress of programs to harden U.S. land borders from illegal entry by terrorists, criminal organizations, other unknown individuals, and contraband through the deployment of personnel, infrastructure, and technology.