I want to start this column by offering my thoughts and prayers to our friends and neighbors who have been affected by the recent flooding that occurred across the Deep East Texas region. The deluge of rain in recent weeks caused significant flooding, prompting the Governor to issue a disaster declaration in Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Panola, Shelby, and Tyler Counties. My office has been in contact with local elected officials, as well as state and federal emergency response agencies to ensure that all resources are readily available to communities in need to support their recovery efforts. As we continue the recovery process, I want to encourage anyone with damage to their home or business to file a report using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT), which can be accessed at www.damage.tdem.texas.gov. Should you have any trouble accessing the website, or need any assistance whatsoever, please contact my office and we will be happy to assist you.
With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…
Capitol Update
As many parents know, our children are more vulnerable than ever before to inappropriate or explicit material online. From easily accessible pornography to violent video games to chat rooms with predators masquerading as friends from school – our children face unprecedented danger online.
The Texas Legislature recognizes this ever-present threat and took decisive action during the 88th Legislative Session to protect the innocence of our children from the perils of today’s world. This past week, Speaker Phelan announced the House’s appointees for the new Joint Committee to Study the Effects of Media on Minors.
The committee was created by House Bill 18 during the 88th Session to study how social media, television, websites, and many other media formats affect the mental health and safety of our children. As a father of two young men, I have a deep appreciation for the need to protect our children from inappropriate and indecent material online. I was proud to co-author HB 18, and I look forward to the committee’s findings, which will lay the groundwork for additional safeguards to protect our children’s innocence in future sessions.
Governor Abbott announced this week that as a result of Operation Lonestar, Texas has transported 112,700 migrants to sanctuary cities across the country. To put that in perspective, that is nearly the entire population of Angelina, Houston, and San Augustine counties combined.
While I applaud the efforts of Governor Abbott to secure Texas’s border with Mexico, the fact remains that the federal government and the Biden Administration must do their part. The State of Texas will never have the abundance of resources as that of the federal government, and we will continue to be forced to use valuable resources and taxpayer dollars until the federal government does its job.
The mobile office is on the road again in May, and our District Director looks forward to seeing you on the following dates at the following times: May 1 at the San Augustine County Courthouse in San Augustine from 9-11 a.m.; May 8 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Livingston from 9-11 a.m. and the Tyler County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 p.m.; and May 15 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9-11 a.m. and the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762 and my Capitol office may be reached at (512) 463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will be posting regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and sharing information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
