Issues
Winning the Global War on Terrorism
Preserving America’s freedom and way of life is not just a campaign talking point. For almost twenty years, I have worked under an Oath to “Preserve, Protect, and Defend the Constitution” and those words instill a deep sense of responsibility in me.
As a former Navy pilot and action officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I know first hand that we still live in a dangerous world where countries and state-sponsored terrorist organizations are focused on destroying America and harming innocent civilians. This is a war we did not ask for, did not provoke, but one we must win.
The brave men and women who serve on the front lines in our Armed Forces and their families back home are true American heroes. I am committed to making sure they have the resources they need, the manpower necessary to win, and a Congressman who will stand up to support their mission to kill or capture terrorists wherever they may be hiding, training, or plotting attacks.
While many in Congress support a retreat from Iraq and cutting off funding for our troops, I believe Iraq is the central front of this global war and it is a front we cannot abandon. I strongly support the surge of troops to Iraq and General Petraeus’ strategy to engage the enemy throughout Iraq in order to hold territory and allow the Iraqi’s to establish security and police forces capable of maintaining order.
As Congressman, I will be steadfast in my promise to take the fight to the enemy before the enemy has a chance to take the fight to American shores.
- Veterans Health Care – As a veteran and Naval Reserve Officer, I am committed to making sure the men and women who have protected America are cared for after their service. Our area is home to thousands of veterans who need a first class medical facility. To better serve these veterans, I’m proud to have worked with Senators Gramm and Cornyn to increase funding for the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. In Congress, I will continue to work to improve the quality and access to medical services and therapy our veterans have earned with their steadfast devotion to our country.
Strengthening National Security
One of the biggest lessons from the September 11th attacks is that our country can never be too vigilant and never be too cautious in how we protect America. It is a lesson Democrats in Congress seem to have forgotten.
Having handled defense and intelligence related issues for Senators Gramm and Cornyn, I will work tirelessly to strengthen and protect our ability to defend America from future attacks. This defense begins with good intelligence and surveillance – we must use every tactic available to intercept terrorist communications, disrupt their funding, infiltrate their ranks, and keep them from carrying out their dreams of destruction on American soil.
Because of our trade, commerce, petrochemical facilities, and population size the Houston/Galveston region is a major target for terrorists. I believe we must invest more in Port security and funding for first responders. We cannot afford to take the safety and security of our region lightly.
Energy Independence for America
I will work tirelessly to help create a new energy boom in America that makes us the envy of the world.
I believe in the innovation and genius of our engineers, our scientists, and the businesses who strive every day to expand America’s energy sources. Unfortunately, they don’t always have the support of Congress.
The Administration and Congress must STOP limiting access to America’s own natural resources. We can’t become energy independent if we can’t access and develop our own energy – I am leading the fight against the Obama Administration’s moratorium by introducing legislation that will end the offshore drilling moratorium. The Obama moratorium is destroying thousands of jobs in Texas along the Gulf Coast, and as a result making us more dependent on foreign oil. My legislation will prevent a second tragedy from occurring in states from Texas to Florida—the loss of income for thousands of families who work for both large and small businesses which supply, support, and provide critical services for deepwater drilling operations. We need to allow more exploration and production of America’s oil, natural gas, and coal resources.
We must also encourage and create incentives right now in order to expand alternative energy sources like nuclear power, wind, solar, geothermal, oil shale, hydrogen fuel cells, and next generation batteries.
Our economy and indeed our national security are directly tied to the development of America’s energy. The days that your family’s finances and our country’s economy are tied to the world’s dictators and fanatics must come to an end.
Our economy deserves better. Our families deserve better. And our future generations deserve better.
Stopping Illegal Immigration
If we don’t know who is coming into our country, how will we know they don’t want to harm us?
I believe in strengthening our borders with fences, increased surveillance, increased man power, detention facilities, and an increased commitment to FULLY enforce our laws – no excuses, no delays, and no second chances for those who break our laws. Amnesty is not an option.
I won’t support new benefits for illegal immigrants – that only entices more people to come to our country illegally. It’s wrong, it makes no sense, and it is a policy that Texans reject.
We must also step up enforcement in the vast interior portion of our country. Houston has already seen the violence that can be brought to our streets by cartels, human smugglers, drug traffickers, and illegal immigrant gangs. We shouldn’t have gun battles in our neighborhoods between these gangs and police officers being shot by criminal illegal immigrants.
I will work to help our local law enforcement get the funding and training necessary to help in our national fight against criminal illegal immigrants.
And I will support our border patrol and border sheriffs. It makes little sense to have good men under criminal prosecution for trying to protect us from human smugglers and drug traffickers while the criminals remain free.
Tax Policies that Respect Families
Many politicians talk about family values, but few of them actually create policies that value families.
We all agree the tax code is broken and should be completely replaced. Until we get this achieved, the next best thing is to restructure the tax code to provide maximum benefits to families.
Our middle class families are the backbone of this country, our economy, and our future. It’s time Congress fully recognized the sacrifices they make raising children, working to pay the bills, and helping our country grow. I am committed to writing and passing tax policies that greatly increase child tax credits and provide tax breaks for stay at home parents – we want to encourage families to grow and make sure they have the resources necessary to create opportunities for their children.
Another idea I support is the creation of a stay at home parent GI Bill, where stay-at-home parents earn credits to be used for continuing education once their children are grown or enrolled in school. This will allow a parent to learn new skills, gain experience, and get back in the workforce at a level deserving of the time they spent caring for our next generation of American leaders.
Health Care
The passing of Obama Care will burden our Federal and State governments with future debts that we can’t afford. I reject the vast increase the role of the Federal government plays in our lives and the burden that is thrown on businesses in the form of new taxes and regulations.
I support allowing small businesses and individuals to band together and negotiate affordable coverage like large companies and the federal government do. As well as providing incentives to lower the cost of coverage and plans that would encourage states to open their borders and allow portability so that your insurance moves with you if you lose your job, get another job or move to another state.
Reducing the Size of Government
I doubt our Founding Fathers ever intended the federal government to have grown into the behemoth it is today. Our country’s national debt stands over $13 trillion dollars because Washington refuses to make tough choices to live within a budget.
Too many people in Washington have forgotten that government does not get better just because it gets bigger.
Not surprisingly, I think Washington can learn something from Texans. Like we do in Austin, I will support new laws which will require every federal agency to prove its value or be eliminated. If an agency is not serving the people, we send it off into the sunset.
You can count on me to fight for a smaller government that costs less. I look forward to joining with other Budget Hawks to fight excessive spending, excessive earmarking, and excessive taxation being heaped on families in order to pay for new programs.
NASA
The JSC and NASA are not just local treasures but national assets. Growing up in Clear Lake, I dreamed of one day becoming an astronaut and marveled at the accomplishments of our Space Program as we reached higher into the Heavens.
America must maintain our rightful place as the international leader in space exploration. Unfortunately, President Obama has made it a priority to cancel the Constellation program and make the United States beholden to foreign countries in order to continue the research and exploration of space. We have come a long way since JFK’s bold program to put an American on the moon – the research, technological advancements, and products that have benefitted our lives as a result of manned space exploration are countless. The Obama Administration wants to throw this progress down the drain and I will continue to fight them.
Respecting the Sanctity of Life and Marriage
I am pro-life and pro-traditional marriage.
I believe that life begins at conception and every life has a soul. Abortion as a means of birth control horrifies every fiber of my being. Our country should work to protect innocent life and I will vote that way in Congress. In the case of a mother’s life being in danger I would understand abortion being necessary.
I am also devoutly pro-traditional marriage. As Senator John Cornyn’s Chief of Staff, I helped him lead the fight to pass a Federal Marriage Amendment that would define marriage as being between one man and one woman. In Congress, I would again work to make sure this legislation is passed and traditional marriage is upheld as the law of our country.
Protecting the Second Amendment
The right to bear arms is a vital element of our Constitution. As a gun owner and a member of the National Rifle Association, I will always vote to protect our Second Amendment rights.
