Lonestar Weekly: August 29

Statement

Last Tuesday, I traveled to Fort Worth where I met with Mayor Betsy Price and toured Lockheed Martin's aerospace facility. This facility produces the tried-and-true F-16 fighter that has served America and her allies for over three decades, as well as the next-generation F-35. For several years Taiwan, constantly under threat by its Communist neighbor China, has expressed a deep interest in purchasing new F-16s to replace its aging fleet. Unfortunately until recently the Obama Administration had refused to decide whether or not these aircraft will be sold to Taiwan to bolster its air force. I have continually pressed Secretary Clinton for a decision on the sale, which she has indicated to me will now come by October 1.

The idea that we may be neglecting our allies due to our fiscal obligations to countries who are at odds with American interests is inconceivable. A Taiwan that is able to defend itself is certainly in our best interest. It's good for America, it's good for Taiwan, and it's good for Texas, where the F-16s are assembled. I have joined 44 of my colleagues in the Senate in signing a letter to President Obama and Secretary Clinton urging them to approve the sale. I will continue to do everything I can to see this through, and am exploring possible legislative action should this Administration decide to abandon an important ally in the region.

Visit to Fort Bliss

I traveled to El Paso on Thursday and had the great privilege of welcoming home from Afghanistan seventy servicemen and women at the Fort Bliss Soldier Family Assistance Center. I also had the honor to meet with sixty soldiers at the Army's Warrior Transition Battalion Complex there. The goal of this facility, which opened in June, is to give our injured and ill soldiers the best possible care while helping them transition back to military duty or civilian life. Having this opportunity to thank our troops and spend time visiting with them was one of the highlights of my week. We owe our troops a debt of gratitude for their selfless service, and as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I will do all I can to make sure they're taken care of with the respect and dignity that they're due. The selflessness and dedication of our men and women in uniform never fails to inspire.

Dunes Sagebrush Lizard

While in Midland on Wednesday, I met with local business owners who expressed their frustration about the job-killing regulations coming out of Washington. In particular they cited the overzealous pursuit of protecting the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, also referred to as the Sand Dune Lizard, which the Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed adding to the Endangered Species list. I believe this decision needs to be supported by sound science, not ideology. The fact is, the science behind this proposal is virtually non-existent. As the Board of Regents for the UT System wrote in a letter to the FWS, the proposed listing "is based on faulty science, inadequate data, and seriously erroneous assumptions." Midland leaders explained how this would have devastating effects on the local economy, and possibly even prevent the construction of a much-needed water pipeline to the area. This is just another example of the Obama Administration's harmful and misguided regulations that are stifling economic growth. I will be working hand in glove with the Texas delegation in Congress to insure that this regulation does not reach the books.

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