Watching Texans help each other in light of this week's events reminds me once again of why I'm so proud to be a Texan.
Over the past week, we have seen unprecedented winter weather bring our state to a halt. While I will demand answers and accountability to ensure this never happens again, I pride myself in being a professional listener and finding the right solutions for our State.
We also saw exactly what is means to be Texas Strong. From neighbors venturing out in record cold conditions to check on and provide for their neighbors, to citizens answering their mayor's call to help thaw their frozen water main, Texans from all walks of life stepped up and showed the world that we take care of our own. Last Sunday I was in Harper where five volunteer fire departments and hundreds of people coordinated to distribute food and water donated by Silver Eagle Beverages, McLane Company, Central Texas Food Bank, San Antonio Food Bank, Mission of Hope, members of Lakeway Church and Brown Distributing to a community who went over 10 days without electricity or water. That is the fiercely independent and caring Texan spirit personified right in front of our eyes.
This week, we went back to work in Austin in multiple Senate Finance Committee hearings covering education and public health sections of the state budget, which when combined account for twothirds of the entire state budget. As a staunch fiscal conservative, service on the Finance Committee affords me a unique opportunity to put those values to work. Looking at this budget, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath testified this week - "It is very clear to me that the #1 priority of the Texas legislature is public education." He is right. Last session, the legislature made a historic investment into public education, and I remain committed to that priority.
We also covered the Public Health portion of the budget. As a physician, I always seek to find ways to increase access to quality patient-centered healthcare for Texans across the state while ensuring that we are doing so in the most fiscally responsible way possible.
As we continue to seek answers from the events that unfolded during the winter storm and ensure nothing like this ever happens again, we heard from both the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT at the Senate Business & Commerce Committee hearing. By hearing from both of these entities, we began to uncover what went wrong, and can begin to hold those responsible accountable. We owe it to you.
Texas has overcome countless obstacles before, and I have no doubt we will emerge from this as a stronger, more resilient state. May God bless you, may God continue to bless the great state of Texas, and may we forever remain Texas Strong.