Defending Innocent Lives
This week the Senate passed Senate Bill 575 (SB 575) by Senator Larry Taylor. The bill prohibits any qualified health plan offered through the Texas state exchange from providing health benefit coverage for elective abortions, except in the case of a medical emergency. It further prohibits elective abortions from being covered in private health insurance plans as well as various state employees’ health benefit plans, except in the case of a medical emergency.
It’s imperative that we continue to fight for those who do not have a voice. We should never be forced to pay for someone else’s decision to end an innocent life. The Senate will protect the unborn at all costs.
Lt. Gov. Patrick, Parliamentarian Davis and senators having a discussion at the dais.
E-Verify For Texas
Senate Bill 374 (SB 374) by Senate Chairman Charles Schwertner passed out of the Senate this week. It requires state agencies to participate in an online system (E-Verify) that compares potential employee eligibility status, to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration data systems. This bill ensures that taxpayer money goes to those who are eligible to work in the U.S. This is a crucial part of the Senate’s work to secure our border.
Lt. Gov. Patrick presiding over the Texas Senate.
Celebrating Texas’ First Prison Seminary Graduating Class
Several years ago, Senator John Whitmire and I established Texas’ first-ever prison seminary in Rosharon, Texas. Thursday we held a press conference in anticipation of the 2015 Darrington Prison Seminary Graduation ceremony this Saturday. 33 inmates serving long sentences will now be pastors.
This year’s seminary graduates will be the first to provide a variety of prison community services, which include worship services, bible studies, grief counseling and hospice ministry. It’s a second chance for a better life, for many of the inmates. We hope to expand the program to further change the prison culture across the state. This is truly a great cause and I could not have done it without Sen. Whitmire.
(Read my full press release here and watch the full press conference here under 05.07.2015.)
Lt. Gov. Patrick and Sen. Whitmire at a press conference discussing
the prison seminary program and upcoming graduation.
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God Bless Texas,
“Whomever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”
Matthew 20:26 (NLT)