Randy K. Weber, Sr.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 174, and YEA on Roll Call No. 175.

Mr. Speaker, on May 18, 2018, the Santa Fe community experienced a tragedy that forever changed families across Texas. Ten innocent lives were taken during those dark 30 minutes. Students and teachers who should still be with us today were ripped away from their loved ones in an act of unimaginable evil and violence.

Like so many neighbors of mine, I will forever remember that day and the tremendous weight it carried with it. I remember the heartbreak that swept across Santa Fe, the fear that parents felt as they tried to reach their children and the grief that settled over the entire community in the hours, days, and years that have followed since.

Eight years later, that moment is still very real for so many families. The memories of that day have never faded. The angels we lost will always be remembered by this community.

Even in the midst of the unspeakable tragedy, the people of Santa Fe showed extraordinary strength, faith, and love for one another. Churches opened their doors for prayer and comfort. First responders ran toward danger to protect innocent lives. Neighbors stood beside grieving families and carried one another through the darkest days. The people of Santa Fe came together as one community, and that spirit of unity continues to this very day.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us: ``The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.''

Today, Mr. Speaker, we honor the precious lives that were taken far too soon. We continue to pray for the families, the survivors, the teachers, the first responders, and every person whose life was forever changed.

May we never forget those that we lost. May God forever bless Santa Fe, the great State of Texas, and our country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. He is on the right track. When I was in the Texas House, we were already being concerned about that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on something that ought to go without saying, but here we are. In the United States of America, as my colleague so eloquently pointed out, there is one law of the land: the Constitution of the United States, period--not foreign law, not some imported systems, not, if I can be a little backward, not nothing else, Mr. Speaker, not anything else, period.

That is why I am proud to stand with my fellow Texan, Congressman Keith Self, and support the Sharia-Free America Caucus.

Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, this is not new for me. I already said back in the Texas House in 2009 through 2012 that it was a problem. We knew it. I tried to get a bill in that actually the chairman of the committee wouldn't take, stating that no court in the State of Texas could use sharia law as a legal basis, none. Yet, he said: Oh, you don't need to fight that battle yet.

That was in 2019. I am afraid we have waited way too long. I led the fight against sharia law back then from ever taking root in our courts. I am so glad that Keith Self, along with Chip Roy, has put this caucus together.

I knew where it was headed back then, and here we are today. Now, we are seeing examples that should wake the folks up who claim to be woke.

In Irving, Texas, Mr. Speaker, you see a neighborhood developed by Hamra Homes with street names like Ali Akbar Court, Salma Jameel Court, and Hasina Drive, all built around a mosque.

Folks can live however they want to and however they choose. That is America. But hear me clearly: You don't bring a separate legal system into the United States of America, not on my watch, not now, not ever.

We are one nation under one Constitution with one standard of law that applies equally to every single American. That is what the Sharia- Free America Caucus is all about. It is about drawing a line, standing firm, and saying that we will not compromise on the foundation of this country--not now, not then, and not ever.

We are founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and that is what we are going to keep it on. We will defend our Constitution, and we will keep America America.

God bless Texas. God bless the United States of America. God bless our caucus.