Much of my time is spent each day listening and learning from constituents and representatives of numerous interests including librarians, title companies, lenders, nursing homes, and county government. I particularly enjoyed meeting these undergraduate research students from UT-Tyler and LeTourneau University, Rachel Follingstad and Sam Nemati (shown here with their professor, Karen Rispin).
Legislation in the Works
This week was spent preparing legislation and resolutions which I intend to propose concerning traveler dignity and freedom, surface property rights, limits of eminent domain authority for non-governmental entities, government transparency, and self-defense. I met with staff from the Attorney General’s and Governor’s offices and consulted with numerous constituents and professionals concerning these various concerns.
On the House floor, my bills to ban taxpayer funding of
abortions (
HJR 22 and
HB 85) and for the right of eligible students and faculty to
carry concealed weapons on campus (
HB 86) continue to garner support. These bills have been referred to the Committees on State Affairs and Homeland Security and Public Safety, respectively.
I am proud to support as a coauthor
HB 187, which requires
zero-based budgeting to
encourage fiscal responsibility, and
HCR 66, which requests that Congress
restrict the power of the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases. The EPA is attempting to usurp the powers of the states and of Congress in a way that will harm Texas’ economy and cause job losses.
There was great news this week for
the defense of life! Senator Patrick’s
sonogram bill passed in the Senate. I regret that the 24 hour waiting period was removed from the bill prior to passage, but this is still a good step forward in the defense of unborn children.
I also got to meet and hear
former State Representative Suzanna Gratia Hupp (below) speak at UT-Austin about self-defense and the need for concealed carry.
Her own experience is a frightful lesson that we should learn from.
