The situation at the border is not just a Texas problem – it is a national crisis. Sadly, the Biden administration refuses to take responsibility for the chaos they have created.

As Texans, we will not stand idly by while our communities are put at risk. We will continue to fight for secure borders and the safety and prosperity of our great state. In Texas, we mean business when it comes to securing our border.

I joined Bill Hemmer on Fox News' America’s Newsroom yesterday to talk about this and more. Click here to watch.

Banning Discriminatory DEI Policies

I was on Fox News late Tuesday night, where I spoke with Laura Ingraham about banning discriminatory “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) policies, which have done nothing but divide us and promote reverse discrimination. You can click here to watch the clip.

Our priority should be to treat everyone with respect and provide equal opportunities for all, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or any other characteristic. DEI policies have only served to create a toxic environment where people are judged based on their identity rather than their merit.

As Texans, we value hard work, integrity, and fairness. We will not allow divisive policies to undermine these values. That's exactly why SB 17 — Banning Discriminatory “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) Policies in Higher Education, by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), is one of my top priorities this session.

Texas Actor Dennis Quaid Pays a Visit

One of my favorite actors, Dennis Quaid, visited the Texas Capitol this week and stopped by my office. He is the narrator of a new documentary "Grid Down, Power Up" and he is working on a new movie now where he plays Ronald Reagan.

He also appeared as Sam Houston in the remake of The Alamo. I have artifacts from the Alamo and from many of the Alamo movies in my outer office. He held a replica of the Crockett rifle and an actual cannon ball from the battle. He was particularly interested in the Alamo model I commissioned (with no tax dollars) that tells the story of the battle with 900 miniature hand-painted soldiers.

He is a Texas native, graduate of The University of Houston, and a down-to-earth, nice guy.

The Texas Senate’s Dedication to Securing our Southern Border is Unwavering

The Texas Senate’s dedication to securing our southern border is unwavering, and our commitment is exhibited by the $4 billion in our base budget to continue Operation Lone Star. In addition, Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) has filed SB 2424 so the State of Texas is empowered to truly protect our border, as the Federal Government has completely abdicated its constitutional responsibility.

Sen. Birdwell’s bill creates a new state crime for entering Texas illegally. SB 2424 authorizes Texas law enforcement to arrest and prosecute all people who cross the border illegally anywhere in Texas. Punishment starts with up to 1 year in jail for a first-time offender, two years in state jail for a second-time offender, and up to life in prison for convicted felons who illegally cross the border.

Making it Easier to Vote, Harder to Cheat

Maintaining the integrity of Texas’ elections has been a top priority of mine since I was elected to the Texas Senate and throughout my tenure as Lt. Governor. For years, I have been explicit in saying that I want to make it easier for Texans to vote and harder to cheat.

Here’s my official statement following the Texas Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 2, Restoring Illegal Voting to a Felony, by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola).

Catching up with Kent Hance – The Best Storyteller in Texas

It was great catching up with my friend, Kent Hance, on his podcast a few weeks ago. You can click here to listen to the clip.

The Texas Senate is Working Hard

In case you missed it, last Friday was the final day to file legislation. All of our top 30 priority bills we posted weeks ago were filed by the deadline, and two already have the bi-partisan support of all 31 Senators.

To learn more about the historic bills we are working on this session and see other legislative highlights, click here.

There are many other important bills that have been filed and will be passed this session out of the Senate. If you want to read more on these bills you can go online to www.capitol.texas.gov and look in the middle of the page to search legislation. Type in SB and the bill number (example: SB 2) to read and track the bill as it makes its way through the legislative process. If you don't know the number of a bill, you can type in a key phrase. If you are looking up a House bill, you can type in HB and the bill number.

On the right of that page, it says “Legislative Activity”. That is where you can watch live sessions and hearings, as well as past videos under “Audio/Video Archive”.

Thank you all for your support and everything you do to keep Texas red. May God bless you and your family, and may He continue to bless the greatest state of all—Texas.

Sincerely,

Dan Patrick
Lieutenant Governor of Texas

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"Whomever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant."
Matthew 20:26 (NLT)

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