Friends,
Recently, I commended our law enforcement for attesting an alleged ISIS terrorist in Houston. He came to this country as a refugee. Court documents show he is accused of planning to bomb shopping malls in Texas. This is why I join Governor Abbott in fighting the president on sending refugees to Texas or any state in our nation.
Human Trafficking Prevention Month
This month Texas is raising awareness about a very serious issue that involves human smuggling and trafficking. This horrific practice must come to an end. Preventing human trafficking starts with securing our border and providing the resources our law enforcement agencies need to do their job effectively. This is why the Senate unanimously passed legislation that improves identification and reporting of human trafficking while bolstering prosecution of this offense. The bill also creates the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit within the criminal justice division of the governor’s office. The Senate also provided an unprecedented $800 million towards border security.
2016 has only begun but your senate has been busy preparing the path for another successful legislative session in 2017. This week I had the opportunity to attend events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where I discussed the importance of lowering property taxes, securing our border and reforming education.
Building Towards a Better Future
The Greater Fort Worth Builders Association invited me to speak to them about what the senate is doing to prepare for the demand of additional building professionals to our workforce. I’ve charged the Senate Education and Higher Education Committees with a joint charge to better prepare our students for postsecondary education and workforce training. I will not rest until Texas has the strong workforce our economy needs.
More School Choice for Texas Students
I also had a fun and rewarding experience speaking to the 7th graders of Young Jr. High School in Arlington. I discussed the importance of our state government and how it works. Their future is brighter because of the legislature’s work and my leadership in providing more flexibility in school course selection to prepare them for college and a career.
Speaking to Young Jr. High School 7th graders in Arlington, TX.
I also had the opportunity to speak with 8th grade students about career technical opportunities and how the Texas Senate continues to work on making it easier for them to transition into the workforce. The Senate passed a bill last session that allows students to begin learning about careers available to them in middle school.
Just last week I went into greater detail at a Texas Public Policy Foundation panel on why expanding school choice is right for Texas. It has been one of my top priorities since I first joined the Senate in 2007 and it continues to be a top priority for me today. I have charged the Senate Education Committee during the interim, with looking into school choice programs and tax credit scholarship programs enacted by other states. This will better prepare the Senate for an even more successful 85th legislative session in 2017. Every parent in Texas deserves the right to send their child to the school they think best for their child’s future.
Touring a career tech classroom with 8th grade students in Arlington, TX.
Directly From the Source
Visit my website at www.ltgov.state.tx.us for the latest updates from the Lieutenant Governor’s office.
Follow me on Twitter @LtGovTX and Instagram @LtGovTX and LIKE us on Facebook at Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas.
God Bless Texas,
“Whomever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”
Matthew 20:26 (NLT)