Rodeos Round-Up Texas Traditions

As if Texans needed a reason to grab their boots and hats, Rodeo Austin kicks off today and continues an annual Lone Star tradition that delights millions of families each year.

Steeped in the celebrated customs of family fun, cowboy heritage and agriculture, our action-packed Texas rodeos offer world-class roping and riding, one-of-a-kind fair food, carnival rides, petting zoos and the biggest stars in music. No wonder our Texas pride has a worldwide reputation.

And while they feature more fun than you could hope to corral in a day, Texas rodeos also are very educational. You really do walk away with a new appreciation for agriculture and the hard work of our farmers and ranchers who help make Texas a $100 billion powerhouse of productivity.

The dust may have settled in Fort Worth and San Antonio, but with Austin saddled up and the world’s largest rodeo event in Houston running through March 17, there is still plenty of cowboy culture and agriculture to enjoy with your family and friends. Round ‘em up and rodeo, Texas.

For more Rodeo Austin information, go here. For Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo info, go here.

A Hard Fight for Texas Independence

Imagine the scene 177 years ago. Texas declares independence from Mexico, March 2, 1836, only days before some 150 men committed to the Texas cause died fighting during the final assault of the Alamo and only weeks before more than 300 unarmed Texan prisoners faced execution by the Mexican Army at Goliad. Families across what is now Central and South Texas became refugees as they fled the ongoing warfare.

Safe to say, victory was not a sure thing for the new Republic of Texas. It’s a story that still stirs Texas pride and patriotism.

This Texas Independence Day, an important artifact from the Texas Revolution returns to its point of origin as the famous “Victory or Death” letter written by commander William B. Travis is displayed at the Alamo for the first time since leaving there by courier 177 years ago.

The letter, addressed to “the People of Texas & All Americans in the World,” calls for reinforcements and supplies for the badly outnumbered Texian fighters at the Alamo. Though Travis didn’t receive those reinforcements in time, the 13-day Battle of the Alamo kept Santa Anna from marching into East Texas where delegates, including Sam Houston, were meeting to officially declare Texas a free and independent nation.

Texas Independence Day is our yearly reminder of the bold and even brash ideas and actions that helped build our great state. That can-do, determined spirit still drives Texans today and makes me proud to call the Lone Star State my home.

Honoring Democracy on Presidents Day

The history of our great nation is often remembered in presidential chapters. From Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt to Kennedy, Reagan and Obama, the United States has weathered good and bad under the watches of 44 men.

Regardless of their politics, achievements and shortcomings, each of these men holds the elite distinction of reaching the highest and most powerful office in the world. As citizens, we can choose to agree or disagree with each president’s charted course, but we must do it with the respect and dignity befitting of the Oval Office. We must also recognize that our voice – whether in agreement or opposition – is afforded to us by the democracy that each president is sworn to protect.

As we celebrate Presidents Day on February 18, let’s be mindful and thankful of the political process it represents. Each of our 44 presidents was voted into office by a free citizenry that is constitutionally empowered to do so. That democratic process makes us the envy of the world. Let us also always remember that while we, the people, select a president to lead, we, the people, have a responsibility to participate in the process and demand on accountability and transparency every step of the way. Our responsibility doesn't end with voting.

On Presidents Day and every other day, may God continue to bless democracy and America.

Mexican Drug Kingpin is ‘Public Enemy No. 1’

Anyone who still thinks Texas and other southern border states are crying wolf when pleading for additional border security may be interested to know Mexican drug cartel kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has been named Chicago’s “Public Enemy No. 1.”


Yes, Chicago – as in Chicago, Illinois. The nation’s third-largest city and some 1,400 miles away from the Mexican border. The same city that is home to President Obama and an escalating homicide rate that counted more than 500 murders last year. Coincidence? I doubt it.

Perhaps more telling is the fact that “Public Enemy No. 1” was the distinction first – and last -- held by notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone during the days of Prohibition. The Chicago Crime Commission has not used the label since. That is, until today. In fact, according to this news report, the DEA claims Guzman is actually more dangerous than Capone. Cause for concern? It should be.

If you’re asking yourself how a ruthless criminal hiding in Mexico can be Chicago’s “Public Enemy No. 1,” allow me to shed some light. The U.S. border with Mexico stretches 1,969 miles, yet according to the General Accountability Office, only 44 percent of that entire border is under operational control. In other words, our porous border is an open invitation to thugs like Guzman and his merciless henchmen.

Washington has been patting itself on the back of late by propping up statistics showing an increase in border protection resources over the past few years. Just because 10 agents is more than nine doesn’t mean 10 is enough. Closing a door halfway does not allow it to be locked.

While I am eternally grateful to the federal, state and local men and women who risk their lives to protect our border and citizens, I cannot rest easy knowing Washington deprives them of maximum backup and fortification. I also find it deplorable that our border region citizens are subjected to these heavily armed narco-terrorists who brazenly trespass and threaten violence while trafficking drugs and humans across our border and deep into Middle America.

And while Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano tours the southern states proclaiming our border is more protected than ever, USAToday tells us January was the deadliest month Chicago has seen in a decade.

So what’s the president’s solution to the rising crime rates in his hometown? Take away self-defense abilities from law-abiding citizens by restricting gun ownership. I’ve got news for the president – criminals don’t obey laws.

When Chicago’s most dangerous criminal is a known Mexican drug cartel kingpin, it should be impossible to pretend our porous border has nothing to do with the skyrocketing murder rates taking place in our president’s hometown.

Are we crying wolf in the southern states? Not when real tears are being shed as far away as Chicago.

Congratulations to our Partners in Ag

Agriculture is big business in Texas made possible thanks to longstanding partnerships like the ones we share with the newly appointed 83^rd Legislative Texas House Agriculture and Livestock Committee, and the Texas Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security.

The Texas House Agriculture and Livestock Committee is chaired by Rep. Tracy King (D-Batesville) and composed of Vice Chairman Charles “Doc” Anderson (R-Waco), Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt (R-Lexington), Rep. Drew Springer (R- Muenster), Rep. Mary Gonzalez (D-Clint), Rep. Kyle Kacal (R-Bryan) and Rep. James White (R-Houston).

The Texas Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security is chaired by Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls), and composed of Vice Chairman Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio), Sen. Glenn Hegar (R-Katy), Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen) and Rep. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown).

These committees and the Texas Department of Agriculture will continue working together to prioritize agriculture for rural, suburban and urban Texans.

I look forward to working with these new committees to ensure Texas agriculture continues leading the nation while also fortifying our economy, empowering rural communities and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Congratulations to our new committee members and my thanks to each of you for your dedication to Texas agriculture. 

Remembering Columbia 10 Years Later

Today we remember the seven astronauts who lost their lives 10 years ago when Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart over Texas during re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere. The mission was 16 short minutes from landing safely at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Many in Texas recall hearing the explosion and seeing the white line of destruction cut across the clear, blue sky. I remember the tragedy vividly. As a state senator, I spent much of the days and weeks following Feb. 1, 2003 in East Texas (photo lower left) mourning the lives of the Columbia crew and working with volunteers and state, local and federal officials to facilitate recovery and search for answers.

As they did 10 years ago, my heart and prayers still go out to NASA and the families and friends who continue to mourn the loss of the Columbia crew. Those seven astronauts, like the ones before and after, were pioneers who inspired us all.

As we remember the tragedy of a decade ago, I’d like to also thank the men and women of the space program for their courage, ingenuity and patriotism. Though today the space shuttle program is shuttered, I hope the mystery and adventure of space will continue to inspire future generations to reach for the stars.     

Golden Opportunity for Americans and Immigrants

It’s past time for properly securing our borders and reforming our immigration policy, but citizenship should not be a consolation prize for circumventing our laws. Today, the president announced his plan for resolving our immigration problem. Unfortunately, it amounts to amnesty bundled up in a new box with a fresh bow. We did this in 1986 when we said, “If you come here illegally, we will award you citizenship for breaking our laws.”

Does anyone really think the undocumented are here because we have a broken citizenship process? No, they are here in the shadows because we have a broken workforce documentation process and a broken border.

Our president and other leaders in Washington must understand that changing our current citizenship process is not necessary to repairing our failed immigration system. Further, inserting a change to our citizenship process for certain people only continues to send the message to others that the U.S. rewards circumvention of our laws.

Any new policies must focus on securing our border and addressing workforce needs rather than rubber stamping citizenship through amnesty. We can be pro-legal immigration and pro-economy without creating a situation where we encourage future illegal entry. The president’s proposal is nothing more than convenience citizenship. We already have a pathway to citizenship; it is our naturalization process, let’s not undermine the process for becoming a US citizen.

There are more than 11 million illegal immigrants living with us today in the United States and I support a plan that allows them to become a legal part of the workforce. These hard-working immigrants living in the shadows should be allowed to come out of the darkness, pay a fine, submit to a criminal background check, secure verifiable employment and then attain legal worker status. I also welcome all who want to become a U.S. citizen through our naturalization process, but don’t want to make the mistakes of past amnesty that will only perpetuate the problems.

We can solve this problem and still ensure America is the land of golden opportunity for immigrants around the world, but let’s make sure we do this the right way and fix the broken system by taking the politics out.  

Americans Want Protection

I’m sure your heart broke just like mine after hearing the news about the Newtown, Connecticut elementary school shooting that so tragically ended the lives of 20 innocent children and six staff members. As a father, my emotions ranged from utter sadness at the senseless loss of life to rage against the one who could so callously end the boundless future of those so young.

Who wouldn’t do whatever it takes to ensure this never happens again? Any sane person would do whatever necessary. The grim reality is the entire clamor over gun restrictions and gun laws being proposed today would not have saved those poor, innocent children nor would it deflect the heartache and sting that surely will follow those families for decades.

As a lifelong supporter of the Second Amendment and gun owner rights, I had hoped the dialogue following this tragedy would center on school safety and ways to better detect someone so obviously mentally deranged. I also had hoped discussion would turn to intervention techniques to mitigate future acts of such violence. The need for access to firearms for self protection has not changed since the penning of the Second Amendment, and had a law-abiding civilian been armed or a law enforcement officer been present, he or she could possibly have stopped the shooter at Sandy Hook before lives were taken.

Landowners along the Texas-Mexico border know full well the reason for the Second Amendment, and have to rely on it every day. Dangerously armed drug cartel members move illegal narcotics across private land on what seems a nightly occurrence. Most everyone tries to avoid any encounter with these narco-terrorists, because they are ruthless beyond description. Many times these vicious criminals have assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Why should any American citizen have anything less? Why should our government impose restrictions on the innocent to give the bad guys the upper hand? Response time for law enforcement in these rural areas is sometimes just too long to wait. In this instance, the best 9-1-1 is often a .308.  

I would suggest the reason the loss of life on the U.S. side of the border is at a minimum compared to that on the Mexican side is due, in part, to the fact that American citizens are guaranteed by our Constitution the ability to protect ourselves. We are armed and we will defend our families. I cannot imagine a country where this liberty is limited to our detriment.

Think of it like this: On Monday, our president took the oath of office and then walked down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House. During this walk, he was surrounded by men carrying assault-type weapons with high-capacity magazines. All Americans want this protection for him. Should all the rest of us Americans be denied anything less than the opportunity for similar self-protection? 

Remembering the Lessons of Dr. King

While history is often filled with the heroic and grand moments of our country’s past, there were painful and difficult challenges that paved the way to where we are today. Looking back is always easier than living through the growing pains of our nation’s racial divide, institutionalized prejudices and hatred that have taken many forms throughout the years. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day represents a stark reminder that these challenges are not in the far off distant past, and we must continue to work to attain Dr. King’s vision of equal opportunity for all.

What Dr. King did to evoke the change that was so desperately needed should encourage our generation to strive daily for a community, country and world free of prejudice and injustice.  Celebrating MLK Day should be a reminder that each of us can be a force for change. We need to look beyond legislation toward attitudes that reflect appreciation for all of our fellow men and women. 

Thanks to Dr. King and all those who came before and after to pave the way for the dream we all hope to achieve.

Bowl Season Good for Texas Teams

The final whistle has blown on this year’s college football season and what a season it was! I want to congratulate all of our Texas schools for their impressive performances in this year’s bowl games.

I am especially excited about the Aggies’ big win at the Cotton Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners. Aggies Coach Kevin Sumlin, Heisman trophy-winning quarterback, Johnny Manziel, the many other instrumental team members and the famous "12th Man" were great representatives for our state.

In addition, I am also proud of The University of Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, SMU and Rice who all ended their seasons with bowl wins. TCU, in their first year in the Big 12, proved themselves as well in a competitive game that left them just a point behind Michigan State. And while Sam Houston State University came up a bit short in the Football Championship Subdivision game, the players proved to be good sports and managed to put up a good fight.

Great job Team Texas! Now let’s hear it for the Houston Texans as they continue to battle their way to Super Bowl XLVII.