AUSTIN – Today’s ruling by a federal court dismissing Texas’ efforts to get proper notification before any refugee resettlement from the federal government is disappointing. We are particularly concerned because, earlier today, the CIA director told Congress that ISIS may use refugee programs such as the one in question to smuggle in terrorists. Texas has… Read more »

AUSTIN – Today, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced the appointment of four Senate members to the Texas Rural Health and Economic Development Advisory Council, and the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee. The Texas Rural Health and Economic Development Advisory Council reviews and advises on rural policies and programs and makes recommendations regarding the… Read more »

AUSTIN – Today, the Senate Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, Charles Schwertner, the Senate Chair of the Finance Committee, Jane Nelson and I sent a letter to President Obama and the Texas Congressional delegation urging swift action and coordination between local, state and federal government to combat the Zika virus in Texas. Texas is… Read more »

AUSTIN – Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced today that he has selected Sherry Sylvester to serve as a senior adviser. “I am very excited to welcome Sherry to our team,” said Patrick. “We have worked together on numerous issues over the years. She brings a world of experience to our staff and will be a… Read more »

AUSTIN – I welcomed the recent announcement by Speaker Joe Straus that he intends to make school finance a focus for the Texas House in 2017. Having served for 8 years on the Senate Education Committee including as Chair, and 2 years on Senate Finance, I have learned a great deal about school finance and… Read more »

AUSTIN – Jan and I extend our deepest condolences to those affected by a fatal water rescue accident at Fort Hood today. I ask you to keep the families of three lost soldiers in your thoughts and pray the six soldiers still missing will be found safe and unharmed.

AUSTIN – During a PBS NewsHour interview recently, President Obama said this in response to his transgender policy (Title IX guidance letter) that threatens school districts throughout the country unless they allow boys in the girls room: Obama: “I’m not the one that is making a big issue of it.” I find his comment totally… Read more »

AUSTIN – Three weeks after calling on Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Kent Scribner to resign, for adopting a transgender bathroom policy without a school board vote or allowing public comment from parents and the public, today Lt. Governor Dan Patrick requested an opinion from the Attorney General (AG) on the legality of Scribner’s… Read more »

AUSTIN – It is clear that the Obama administration is trying to force an ill-advised, eleventh-hour bathroom edict on Texas and all American schools that ignores both common sense and common decency. Obama’s bathroom policy, which applies to grades K-12, creates a problem where none existed. It will disrupt schools across Texas, creating potentially embarrassing… Read more »

AUSTIN – Since the devastating floods that occurred last Memorial Day, Texas has directed $6.8 million in emergency appropriations to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The purpose of these funds is to expand and improve weather-monitoring systems in order to better inform Texans of potential flood hazards. By making flood preparedness a priority, the… Read more »