Denton Area Institutions 

·         UNT Student Rec Center and Health Center (HB 461 and 462, - 2003) – Allowed UNT students to hold an election for the construction of a new Student Recreation Center, and obtain better student medical care. 

·         Texas Academy of Math and Sciences (HB 4, 2005) – This legislation allowed the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at UNT to become independent from the Denton Independent School District, while recognizing TAMS had no taxing authority. 

·         Business Leadership Building at UNT (HB 1, 2007) - Secured Tuition Revenue Bonds for the construction of the recently completed Business Leadership Building. 

·         Nursing Program at TWU (HB 1, 2009) - Secured increased funding for much needed nursing student programs at Texas Women's University and other institutions. 

·         Apogee Stadium at UNT (Senate Bill 473, 2009) - After approval by the student body, the UNT Board was authorized to implement a student athletic services fee that was used to help fund the construction of Apogee Stadium. 

·         UNT Law School (Senate Bill 956, 2009) - Created the University of North Texas Law School.  UNT Law will be the first publicly funded law school in the North Texas area. 

·         Denton County District Court (House Bill 4833, 2009) - Created a much needed and new District Court for Denton County.  

·         UNT Pharmacy School (House Bill 4, 2011) - Created a Pharmacy School within the UNT System. 

·         Denton State Supported Living Center - Every Session that I have been here I have worked with the Parents and guardians of the Residents of the Denton State School to defend the State School System from  attacks by special interest groups that seek to profit from the privatization of services to our most vulnerable citizens.

Energy Resources and the Barnett Shale  

In 2007, I was appointed to the House Energy Resources Committee and I have served as the Vice-Chair of the Committee for three legislative sessions.  During that time period gas drilling in the Barnett Shale has drastically impacted our area.  I have worked hard as your State Representative to balance the rights of landowners, and to protect all of our health and safety.

Health, Safety, and the Environment 

·         Chemical Disclosure (House Bill 3328, 2011) - Landmark legislation making Texas the first state in the nation to require that gas drilling operators disclose the chemicals they use in the fracking process. 

·         Pipeline Safety Inspectors (Senate Bill 1658, 2009) - Raised the safety fee on pipeline companies to fund 13 additional pipeline safety inspectors for the Barnett Shale area. 

·         Carbon Capture and Storage (Senate Bill 1387, 2009) - Model legislation for the nation on the regulation of Carbon Capture and Storage Technology that allows Texas industry to reduce CO2 emissions from industrial sources and increase production of Texas oil through Enhanced Oil Recovery. 

Landowner Protection 

·         Surface Clean Up (House Bill 2259, 2009) - Requires oil and gas operators to clean up equipment on the surface of the land and increases the required financial assurance to protect landowners. 

·         Pipeline Right of Way (House Bill 1526 rolled into HB 2572, 2009) - Required pipelines to use public right-of-way rather than private property whenever possible. 

Newborn Screening 

In 2005, I learned that Texas only screened newborns for four of the 29 genetic disorders recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics.  The 29 disorders recommended are treatable disorders if caught early in a child's life.  However, many of the disorders can cause horrible complications and even death if they go undiagnosed until symptoms appear.  Not only is that a tragedy for those families, the health care costs to the family and the state greatly outweigh the costs of newborn screening.  I filed House Bill 790 to expand newborn screening to all 29 disorders.  The Department of State Health Services began screening all newborn Texans for 28 of the disorders in 2006, and in 2009 I fought for funding to add Cystic Fibrosis.   

·         Since 2005 over 500 newborn Texans have been successfully diagnosed with a treatable genetic disorder. 

·         Since 2010, 93 newborns have been successfully diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis 

Smoke Free Workplace 

For the past three legislative sessions I have worked very hard to pass a statewide ban on smoking in the workplace.  Those efforts have so far been unsuccessful.  However I am committed to continuing the fight.   A statewide ban ONLY applies to the areas of a business that are BOTH:

·         Indoor and enclosed; AND

·         Businesses that are open to the public (restaurants and bars). 

A statewide ban provides a level playing field and regulatory certainty for businesses.o   Supported by the Texas Restaurant Association Secondhand Smoke kills 53,000 Texans every year.  The Legislative Budget Board estimates that a smoking ban would save Texas over $30 million in Medicaid Savings alone.  No one should have to choose between their health and their paycheck. 

Health Savings Accounts 

One of the other pieces of legislation I have worked on for multiple sessions and will continue to work on is providing state employees with the option to choose a Health Savings Account combined with a high-deductible health plan.  There is no doubt that the increasing cost of health care is a problem today.  Health Savings Accounts are the only proven way I have seen to actually lower healthcare costs.