Congressman Brian Babin was in Orange on Friday. The United States Representative for Orange County and southeast Texas came to KOGT and talked with Gary Stelly about a variety of topics.
The Republican congressman expressed his dissatisfaction with the way the withdrawal from Afghanistan was handled by President Joe Biden. Babin is concerned this action by the current administration opens up the United States to another attack like the one perpetrated by terrorists in September of 2001.
Stelly asked Babin the reason for his visit to Orange which was to visit small businesses in the area including Rogers Lumber Company. Rogers is a fourth generation family business located just west of Orange
Rogers Lumber is back to operating a sawmill following a fire there. The group took a tour of the company right where the fire was, there is now new equipment, and it looked like things were rolling along very well according to Babin. “They’re a great example of the American dream, that hard work pays off, they contribute a lot to the payroll of this county, and I’m very proud of that outfit,” Babin praised.
Congressman Babin has also been working with Orange County Judge John Gothia to try to get FEMA to pay the county its reimbursement from the debris cleanup after Hurricane Laura in 2020. Babin stated his frustration with the federal agency which has not only been slow reimbursing Orange County but did the same with the Vidor Independent School District after the flooding of two schools in that area of the county.
The slow progress by FEMA to reimburse the county is just inexcusable as stated by Babin. “We are absolutely begging these people and demanding they reimburse Orange County the way they should,” expressed Babin.
A doctor of dentistry, Babin still practices his profession part-time when he is not serving in Washington. Babin is very concerned about the recent trends in the Coronavirus with the number of cases on the rise again.
Babin said he has received both of his shots for the COVID vaccination and strongly encourages everyone to do the same, especially those with compromised health issues. The congressman, though, is very much against vaccinations being mandated through legislation or other government action.
The Interstate 14 project is looking good as updated by Babin. The planned highway that will cross Texas is being called “the forts to ports interstate” and has been authorized through the efforts of Babin who serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in Congress.
The date has not been established when construction is scheduled to start on the proposed interstate since there is no funding appropriated for it yet, but Babin emphasized it will be a huge shot in the arm for the economy and national security. The route of the highway will run from Fort Bliss near El Paso, through Fort Hood in central Texas, to Fort Polk in Louisiana, and then culminating at Fort Garden in Georgia.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT
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