Speaker Creates New Committee - I'm Vice Chair

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has just appointed me Vice Chair of the newly created House Select Committee on Federal Legislation, which will have a specific emphasis on health care reform efforts. I am honored by the Speaker's confidence in my work and abilities, and look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure Texas comes out a winner with federal health care reform and other legislation. My friend and colleague, Representative John Zerwas was appointed Chair of the Select Committee.

As part of the Progressive States Network and President Obama's State Legislators for Health Care Reform, I've been very involved with and closely following developments in Washington, D.C. This new committee will help to ensure that wise and prudent counsel from Texas is heard by federal policymakers.

In that vein, you may have heard that Governor Perry is calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would bind the hands of our President and Congress as they work to clean up the economic mess created by the previous administration. The Governor requested I support his efforts; today I sent him a response respectfully declining his invitation. You can read my letter to him here (*.pdf). Embracing knee-jerk policy positions in an effort to score political points harms our state. Instead, we should be partnering with Congress and the President to craft wise public policy.

You can read the press release from Speaker Straus on the creation of the committee below. My appreciation and gratitude goes out to Speaker Straus for his vote of confidence, and I congratulate the new members of the committee. I look forward to our work in the coming months.

I will keep you updated on the work of the House Select Committee on Federal Legislation and continue to keep you informed on how federal health insurance reform legislation will impact you.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

SPEAKER JOE STRAUS ANNOUNCES HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL LEGISLATION

AUSTIN--- Today, Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) announced the formation of the House Select Committee on Federal Legislation. The committee will closely monitor significant pending federal legislation with specific emphasis on health care reform efforts. The committee will also work to improve the exchange of information between Texas and Washington, D.C., by communicating the impact of pending federal legislation to the state economy and citizens.

"Like many Texans, I have serious concerns regarding the impact of federal legislation on the state," said Speaker Straus. "The committee will help the House respond in a fiscally appropriate manner regarding Texas' specific needs and challenges."

Speaker Straus has appointed Representative John Zerwas (R-Richmond) to chair the committee and Representative Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) to serve as vice chair.

The committee members include Representatives Dan Branch (R-Dallas), Warren Chisum (R-Pampa), Ellen Cohen (D-Houston), Donna Howard (D-Austin), Susan King (R-Abilene), Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio), Tommy Merritt (R-Longview), Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria), Elliott Naishtat (D-Austin), Solomon Ortiz, Jr. (D-Corpus Christi), Tara Rios Ybarra (D-South Padre Island), and Mark Shelton (R-Fort Worth).

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