What I Am Thankful For

On this Thanksgiving Day, I, like so many others, have reflected on the countless blessings our Lord has provided: a loving and supportive family, the fortune to be born in this the greatest country ever seen and to be given the opportunity to serve the community I love.

This ten year adventure into public service has been one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences I think I will have in my lifetime. It has been a journey that allowed me find purpose at a most difficult time by following HIS highest calling - the service to others.

Out of this came countless blessings to the larger community:

1. Health, Family: State-built Drug Treatment Center ($3M)

2. Health: UTPA Student Wellness and Recreation Center ($25M)

3. Education: UTPA Fine Arts Academic and Performance Complex ($40M)

4. Education: UTPA Regional Academic Health Center ($5M)

5. Education: Passage of future Valley Medical School

6. Child Safety: Jessica's Law and Other Tough Child Sexual Predator Legislation,

7. Military: Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Freddy Gonzalez and Pedro Cano, Military Toll Booth Exemptions

8. Veterans: Championed Construction of Veterans' Hospital for South Texas, Veterans Walk to San Antonio

9. Border and Homeland Security: Secured over $110M each Legislative Session for Border Region, Chaired Interim Committee on Emergency Preparedness, Internet Security from Foreign Attacks, University Emergency Alert System,

10. Election Reform: Championed Election Integrity Legislation, Passage of Voter ID, Petition Allowing County to Run City or School Elections

11. Anti-Crime, Pro-Business: Organized Retail Crime Bill

12. Jobs: HHSC "Maximus" Call Center; Provided Over 400 Jobs

13. More Jobs: Santana Textiles; Provided Over 800 Jobs

14. Parks: Secured Funding in the Amount of $750,000 for a Park at the New Edinburg Boys and Girls Club Facility

15. The Opportunity to Serve: Chairman of Criminal Jurisprudence and Technology Committees, Hispanic Republican Conference, Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness; Current Member of Redistricting, Voter ID and Voter Fraud, and Homeland Security Committees; Past Member of Powerful Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees.

I am eternally grateful to God and the citizens who have given me this opportunity. Despite the tenor of the times, I look forward with tremendous optimism towards the future. I wish you and your family the best this holiday season. I plan to remain eternally faithful to this community and betterment of it's future.

May God bless!