Protecting Our Youth
Each year, 28,000 Texans are killed due to tobacco abuse, emphasizing the importance of The Coalition, an organization in Angelina County dedicated to keeping our youth drug and tobacco-free. While meeting with them on Wednesday, I spoke to an impressive group of middle and high school students who have learned leadership skills, tobacco risks, and benefits of a tobacco-free lifestyle. Since 1988, members of The Coalition have devoted themselves to educating school children about substance abuse issues in Angelina County school districts. They currently have over 1,500 students across the State of Texas committed to stopping tobacco and illegal substance use among their peers.
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While curbing drug usage among young individuals is an ongoing effort, I’m proud to speak to an organization that regularly reduces underage drinking and marijuana usage. After successfully advocating for the passage of the Smoke-Free Lufkin ordinance in 2013, The Coalition remains a fixture of sincerity and effectiveness in the Lufkin community. The Coalition offers support and resources to prevent students from misinformation about the potential risks of tobacco and other substances. I hope this organization continues to inspire young people to fight against this issue in America.
One of the issues at the forefront of East Texas is broadband access. Some residents in rural areas like Nacogdoches are without access. Better broadband gives individuals greater tele-opportunities for their health needs, e-commerce, and responsive emergency phone calls. I'm committed to providing broadband access to attract moving families inclined to settle in the best communities Texas offers. 
Among them is a shortage of construction workers, which makes up six percent of Waco’s workforce. The City of Waco will benefit from increasing the number of skilled workers, allowing for economic growth and prosperity across McLennan County. I am committed to working with the chamber to bolster our city’s workforce pipeline to satisfy our current job surplus.
