Brian Babin
Representative for Texas · Republican · United States
“Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend Representative Chris Smith for always standing up for life. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the Pro-Life Caucus for allowing me some time to give an off-topic speech, momentarily just departing from the very important topic of preserving and strengthening the Hyde amendment, of which we are celebrating th…”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Bob never stayed still for long, working outdoors on his property at Sebastopol, researching future real estate projects, playing golf, or enjoying a plate of spaghetti carbonara or a cup of hot chocolate with his wife in one of his favorite city eateries.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. This bipartisan bill reflects Congress' longstanding commitment to investing in America's ports, waterways, flood control systems, and infrastructure.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“{time} 1050 These provisions will help move critical projects forward, strengthen our ports and our waterways, and ensure that southeast Texas remains a critical engine of American commerce.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 283, the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, as amended.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“markets, undercutting the fishermen and seafood producers who play by the rules. {time} 1530 NIST scientists have developed chemical methods to identify the geographic origin of foods like beef, honey, fruits, and rice.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
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“Bob never stayed still for long, working outdoors on his property at Sebastopol, researching future real estate projects, playing golf, or enjoying a plate of spaghetti carbonara or a cup of hot chocolate with his wife in one of his favorite city eateries. He was an animated storyteller, keeping the attention of those closest to him as he worked his way to an important lesson, moral, or occasional punch line. Family and friends fondly recount receiving hard copies of newspapers with his favorite sections circled. It is often said that people's only legacy is their children, and Bob's is one that I can attest to. His daughter, Jenna, married my son, Leif, and my family has been a direct recipient of the love, the hard work, and the character that he instilled in his children.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend Representative Chris Smith for always standing up for life. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the Pro-Life Caucus for allowing me some time to give an off-topic speech, momentarily just departing from the very important topic of preserving and strengthening the Hyde amendment, of which we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the life and legacy of my friend, Robert ``Bob'' Melville Lee, who went to be with our Lord on August 17, 2026. While his many professional achievements are astounding, it is the titles of husband, father, grandfather, and friend that he was most beloved for. A close friend described him as an incredibly honest, forthright, and above all, loyal individual. Bob was born on August 7, 1945, in Columbus, Ohio. He moved to California shortly after.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“{time} 1050 These provisions will help move critical projects forward, strengthen our ports and our waterways, and ensure that southeast Texas remains a critical engine of American commerce. As the senior Texan serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee under the able leadership of Chairman Graves, I have seen firsthand how our Nation's waterways and ports support thousands of jobs, strengthen our Nation's energy security, and help keep American commerce moving. I greatly appreciate the work that Chairman Graves has put into ensuring this WRDA bill continues to deliver lasting benefits to our communities nationwide, and I look forward to seeing it advancing out of the House.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. This bipartisan bill reflects Congress' longstanding commitment to investing in America's ports, waterways, flood control systems, and infrastructure. This legislation hits close to home, as I represent the Port of Houston, the Houston Ship Channel, and Cedar Port, some of our Nation's most critical and busiest maritime assets. I am especially proud of how this bill delivers for southeast Texas and for the greater Houston region. It clarifies the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund allocation requirements for donor and energy transfer ports. It also authorizes the review of excess Federal lands in Chambers, Galveston, and Harris Counties and expedites the Cedar Port feasibility study.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“markets, undercutting the fishermen and seafood producers who play by the rules. {time} 1530 NIST scientists have developed chemical methods to identify the geographic origin of foods like beef, honey, fruits, and rice. This bill would build on that expertise to give law enforcement another tool to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and seafood fraud. Today's bill also incorporates edits made by the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee during our bipartisan markup earlier this year as part of H.R. 3706, the Standards for Understanding Source and Habitat Identification Act, also known as the SUSHI Act, which I sponsored. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 283, the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, as amended. This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology using chemical analysis to identify the country of origin of seafood. Both commercial and recreational fishing contribute significantly to the Texas economy. Red snapper, in particular, is highly sought after by the recreational fishing sector. This effort is especially important in the Gulf of America, where red snapper is a valuable resource for American fishermen and coastal communities. Illegally harvested seafood can make its way into U.S.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, the need for the United States to increase reliable baseload energy is very clear. To help meet this demand, the House has recently passed multiple bills to accelerate the development of geothermal energy. This legislation builds on those efforts and will help geothermal play an even greater role in meeting our Nation's energy needs. H.R. 8790 authorizes and directs the Department of Energy to support the research and development of next-generation geothermal technologies, helping ensure that American leadership in this emerging industry remains number one. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Harrigan for his leadership on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this simple bipartisan measure. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill and will include such letters in the Committee report on H.R. 8790. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation. Sincerely, Brian Babin, D.D.S., Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Bruce Westerman Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Westerman: I write concerning H.R. 8790, the ``Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act'', which the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology ordered reported on May 20, 2026. I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Natural Resources will not formally consider H.R. 8790 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Further, this does not prejudice the Committee on Natural Resources with respect to the appointment of conferees, and should a conference on the bill be necessary, I appreciate your agreement to support my request to have the Committee represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would ask that a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Natural Resources in the bill be included in the Committee Report and Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 8790 on the House floor. Sincerely, Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources. ____ Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, July 14, 2026. Hon.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House of Representatives in an expeditious manner, and accordingly agree that the Committee on Natural Resources shall be discharged from further consideration of the bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that by the forgoing consideration of H.R. 8790 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation that falls within the Committee on Natural Resources' Rule X jurisdiction. We also request that the Committee on Natural Resources' Rule X jurisdiction. We also request that the Committee on Natural Resources be appropriately consulted and involved on this or similar legislation as it moves forward.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Madam Speaker, I will express my appreciation for the work of Representatives Harrigan and Salinas on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, July 13, 2026. Hon. Brian Babin, Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Babin: I write concerning H.R. 8790, the ``Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act'', which the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology ordered reported on May 20, 2026. There are certain provisions of H.R. 8790 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“This comes at an important time as we race to connect baseload energy to the grid to ensure that we have both reliable power and the grid stability needed to support continued economic growth and technological advancement. {time} 1730 The bill directs the Department of Energy to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of the Interior to facilitate the sharing of geothermal data and to improve understanding of the subsurface. This legislation also provides a critical update to the Department of the Interior's drilling data repository by including additional data sources, periodic updates, and standardized data to enhance its overall functionality and usability. Curating data from public lands gives the government, academia, and industry a better understanding of the subsurface and the resources beneath our feet.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8790, the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, sponsored by my colleagues, Representatives Harrigan and Salinas. This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to include novel geothermal approaches and directs the Department of Energy to support these baseload energy-producing technologies. Thanks to breakthroughs in drilling methods pioneered by the oil-and- gas sector, we can now drill deeper and increase rock permeability. As a result, regions of the United States that were once unable to support baseload geothermal electricity generation are now viable for power production.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas. General Leave”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8790) to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities in support of next-generation geothermal and closed-loop geothermal systems in various conditions, and for other purposes, as amended.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Madam Speaker, H.R. 3029 is a practical, targeted bill. It directs NIST to develop the science-based standards and best practices needed to make the screening of synthetic DNA much more reliable, helping to ensure that the very technology driving American biotechnology cannot be turned against us. That is why this bill earned bipartisan support in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and why it deserves the support of the full House today. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3029, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“I thank Representatives Salinas and McCormick for their work on this bill, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“3029 directs NIST to carry out the measurement research needed to make this screening more accurate and reliable by improving screening tools, securing databases of concerning sequences, and developing ways for providers to demonstrate that their screening systems work as intended. It also directs NIST to convene a consortium of the people who actually do this work, including industry, universities, and nonprofit organizations, to develop consensus best practices and a roadmap for the future. This legislation does not create a new regulatory regime for American biotechnology. It strengthens our biosecurity while safeguarding the innovation that keeps us ahead of our competitors, and it passed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee on a bipartisan basis.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“However, the same technology that lets us build the biology of the future could, in the wrong hands, potentially be used to assemble the genetic material of a dangerous pathogen. Responsible providers already guard against this. They screen incoming orders against sequences of concern and verify the identities of their customers. However, as this field continues to advance rapidly, the lack of common technical standards and best practices for screening presents an emerging biosecurity risk. That is exactly the kind of work the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, was built to do. NIST is our Nation's measurement and standards laboratory. It does not regulate industry. It provides industry with the tools and benchmarks and the best practices needed to get this right. H.R.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3029, the Nucleic Acid Standards for Biosecurity Act, introduced by Representative Salinas of Oregon, along with Representative McCormick of Georgia. This bill is about protecting two things we all care about: American leadership in the life sciences and the security of the American people. Today, an American company or university laboratory can legally order made-to-order DNA, the basic building blocks of biology, and have it delivered in a matter of days. This technology powers new medicines and vaccines, stronger crops, and advanced manufacturing. It is a real source of American strength.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3029, the bill now under consideration.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Salinas) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas. General Leave”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3029) to amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to support nucleic acid screening, and for other purposes, as amended.”
House of Representatives20 July 2026Source ↗
“I encourage every other Member to please join us to lift up the faith that guides us, to celebrate the freedom that protects us, and to remember that enduring truth that has been proclaimed from generation to generation: ``Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.'' May we never take our religious freedom for granted, may we steward it wisely, and may we always seek to lead, to serve, and to govern with humility, with conviction, and that unwavering faith.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“Each of us comes from very different backgrounds here and with very different traditions, but the thread of faith that is woven through the fabric of our national story, we must always remember to honor that. Our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and our Declaration of Independence are built on those principles, those Biblical principles. From prayers whispered on battlefields long ago to hymns sung in chapels, from the simple faith of farmers to the heartfelt petitions of families, faith has carried America through many, many trials, through triumphs and every moment in between, win or lose. Sometimes we profit when we lose, because we learn and we make ourselves better people that way. During this Faith Month, I am very proud to stand alongside my colleagues right here and speak of my Christian faith right on this very floor.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“I get so weary of hearing people say: Oh, we don't want to hear about politics in church or we don't want to hear about church in Congress. Well, politics in church has become something--if it has to do with morals and good and evil, then it is not politics, folks. That is church. We will talk about this very thing. It says right there before us: ``In God We Trust.'' We know where our Forefathers stood on this issue. Without a doubt, we are going to continue this great thing called the United States of America and what we were built on. We will honor this tradition. We recognize that faith is not something to be hidden away but is something to be lived out boldly and with joy. The Scripture reminds us that we are called to be a light on a hill, not to hide this light under a basket but to let it shine for all to see.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank my very good friend (Mrs. Miller of Illinois), a very strong lady of faith, for this Special Order. We really appreciate this. I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to recognize and to celebrate what we call Faith Month, a time when we proudly and openly give voice to the faith that strengthens and sustains so many of us who serve up here and all across this great Nation of ours, both here in Congress and, as I said, the United States of America that was built, as my good friend Mrs. Miller said, based on the Judeo-Christian Bible and faith that we were handed by our forefathers. America was built on this foundation, as she said, of religious liberty: the very first freedom enshrined in our Bill of Rights. Our Founders understood that faith was not just a private matter but a powerful force for good in public life.”
House of Representatives29 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1534 is commonsense legislation that passed unanimously last Congress. It has the support of major industry associations, including the Portland Cement Association, the National Asphalt Pavement Association, and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. It also has the endorsement of those groups affected by downstream impacts, like the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. This diverse support is a testament to just how important it is for the United States to retain its global competitive edge when it comes to advanced industrial technologies. I urge my colleagues to join me in backing this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1534, the bill now under consideration.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1534) to strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of American industry through the research and development of advanced technologies to improve the efficiency of cement, concrete, and asphalt production, and for other purposes.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1368, the DOE and NASA Interagency Research Act is a smart piece of legislation that will ensure that we stay competitive in the global race to return humans to the Moon and then send crewed missions on to Mars. Without key partnerships like this, we would be unable to take the crucial steps in energy production and propulsion technologies necessary to extend our reach beyond Earth. I thank Representative Begich and Representative Whitesides for their leadership in moving this bill forward. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1368, the bill now under consideration.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1368) to provide for Department of Energy and National Aeronautics and Space Administration research and development coordination, and for other purposes.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1350, the bill now under consideration.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1350) to provide for Department of Energy and National Science Foundation research and development coordination, and for other purposes.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, this bill passed the House with unanimous support last Congress. That is because smart, bipartisan legislation rarely faces opposition. I thank former Science, Space, and Technology Committee chairman, Mr. Lucas, and Ranking Member Lofgren for once again leading this effort. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1326, the bill now under consideration.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1326) to provide for Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture joint research and development activities, and for other purposes.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, as I said previously, commercial remote sensing provides us with critical information related to a number of fields important to U.S. competitiveness. H.R. 1325 will ensure that Congress receives the updates necessary to monitor industry regulations. Updating these reporting requirements will ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in this crucial sector. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1325, the bill now under consideration.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1325) to provide for transparent licensing of commercial remote sensing systems, and for other purposes.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the government needs clear and explicit guidance for our agencies and federally funded researchers. While this body has passed multiple bills to protect American research, unintentional ambiguity has created confusion within the academic research community. H.R. 1318 will eliminate confusion around the implementation of research security requirements and increase protections of our R&D enterprise. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this simple and noncontroversial bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1318, the bill now under consideration.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1318) to amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to clarify the definition of foreign country for purposes of malign foreign talent recruitment restriction, and for other purposes.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 730, the bill now under consideration.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 730) to coordinate Federal research and development efforts focused on modernizing mathematics in STEM education through mathematical and statistical modeling, including data-driven and computational thinking, problem, project, and performance-based learning and assessment, interdisciplinary exploration, and career connections, and for other purposes, as amended.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered.”
House of Representatives24 March 2025Source ↗