Emergency Items for the Legislature

Governor Abbott State Of The State Address 

The Governor has prioritized five key emergency items for the Legislature to address during the 140-day legislative session.  Each of these items can be taken up during the first 60 days of the session; unlike other bills affected by the 60-day calendar rule.  

Additionally the legislature was also tasked with prioritizing other critical issues as follows:  

Election Integrity – We must never allow our elections to be hijacked.  We will be shoring up loopholes where fraud runs rampant.  

Protecting Life – Ensuring the life of every child is protected and not targeted for abortion.

Religious Freedom – Protecting the First Amendment by preventing any governmental entity from shutting down or oppressing religious activities within Texas.  

Second Amendment Sanctuary State – 2nd Amendment rights shall not be infringed and we will preserve constitutional right to bear arms. 

Small Business Protections – Small business is the backbone of our economy so we need to help ensure those businesses are protected from liability during the pandemic.

I look forward to working with Governor Abbott and my other colleagues in the Texas Legislature to pass these critical initiatives and protections into law.  I am working on several of my own initiatives in these key areas.       

Keystone Pipeline Cancelled  – Killing Jobs in America and Canada

With President Biden’s decision to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline, he effectively destroyed thousands of jobs in America and Canada. The Keystone XL pipeline was set to carry oil about 1,200 miles from the oil sands of the Canadian province of Alberta all the way to Steele City, Nebraska, where it would join an existing pipe to our Texas coast. This pipeline could carry over 800,000 barrels of oil a day. 

Not only is President Biden’s decision to cancel the pipeline a huge blow to both countries’ economies, but it is also a huge insult to one of our closest allies to cancel this pipeline on the administration’s first day in office. Alberta’s premier, Jason Kenney, even called it a “gut-punch.”

Sadly, this is just another example of how the left has cut jobs, destroyed economic opportunity, and hurt hardworking families. It’s time for Texas to step up. And I’m ready to lead the way to a more prosperous future by standing with Canada and standing up to President Biden. This session, I am making it a top priority to champion initiatives that support the energy sector. I will fight to restore oil and gas jobs so that Texas can remain a beacon of hope and a land of opportunity. 

 Spotlight on HCR 14 – 10th Amendment Resolution

Recently, I filed a HCR 14 claiming state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution over all powers otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the US Constitution

This resolution is to certify that the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees we have states’ rights that the federal government may not usurp. Unless it is specifically enumerated in the Constitution, Texas has the authority to govern its people according to our own values, beliefs, and wishes.

I am very proud of this resolution and will always champion initiatives that give Texas the freedom to act without the oversight of the federal government. I am confident this resolution will give us the opportunity to assert our own rights and shine a light on our independent and trailblazing spirit.