I recently had the pleasure of congratulating a dear friend of mine—Dr. Keven Ellis, of Lufkin—on his recent appointment by Governor Abbott to chair the State Board of Education. This occasion reminded me of how important it is to have individuals from East Texas serving in leadership capacities. Did you know that the Governor of... Read More

Governor Abbott recently declared a state of emergency due to flooding in southeast Texas from Tropical Storm Imelda. My prayers are with all of those who have again been affected by immense rainfall from this natural disaster. As usual, our brave first responders are already helping save lives and mitigate damages for those affected by... Read More

It’s September, and that means football season in Texas is back in full swing!  Like so many of you, I relish spending my Friday nights this time of year under the bright lights of a football stadium, munching on a box of popcorn, and supporting our East Texas schools.  From the band to the drill... Read More

With the month of September just around the corner, school is officially underway, football stadiums will light up the Friday night sky, and sportsmen and women will finally have a chance to get back in the field with a shotgun for dove season. With that in mind, I want to encourage all of my fellow... Read More

Since my last column, selfish and hateful acts of violence carried out by a white supremacist took the lives of 22 people in El Paso, Texas. Just hours later, nine more were killed in Dayton, Ohio at the hands of another sick and demented individual consumed with hate. As Texans, and as Americans, we grieve... Read More

A cool front in late July?  In many areas across East Texas, records were shattered this past week as temperatures plummeted into the upper 50s and lower 60s.  The cooler temperatures were welcome relief to many as we were just settling in to the dog days of summer.  As we approach and enter the month... Read More

While some suggest that the general sense of patriotism is dipping across America, I am happy to report that pride for the United States was as prevalent as ever in House District 57 over the July 4th holiday weekend. I had the honor of participating in a parade with countless others dressed in red, white... Read More

On a hot Summer day in July 1776, members of the Second Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia to boldly declare that the thirteen American colonies would no longer be subject to the monarch of Britain. The ratification of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th is still celebrated today, over 200 years later, just as... Read More

With the Legislative Session in the rearview mirror, I’ll be returning to a bi-weekly column schedule to provide periodic updates on what’s happening around the state and in the district. Though the heavy legislative lifting behind us, it’s never too early to start preparing for the 87th Legislative Session, which will not begin until January... Read More

By the time you read this column, the Texas House will have adjourned Sine Die (meaning without assigning a day for a further meeting), closing the curtain on the 86th Legislative Session. While in previous sessions, legislators returned home with the looming possibility of a special session, Governor Abbott has indicated that given the productive... Read More