The Texas legislature is in session from now through mid-May. Thank you to everyone who has contacted our legislators this year. Our democracy only works when we engage in it to tell our representatives what we expect from them.
Texas Democrats have had historic triumphs this week:
- Thanks to Rep. Toni Rose’s unyielding dedication to Texas women, the Texas House passed HB 12, extending critical medical assistance for women under Medicaid up to 12 months post-pregnancy.
- During a hearing on HB 2744 — which proposes raising the age to purchase automatic rifles to 21 — Rep. Rhetta Bowers fiercely confronted an NRA lobbyist who chose to subject Uvalde and Santa Fe families to disrespectful and lie-filled testimony. Watch her powerful takedown here:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/e-230421
While our Texas Democratic champions were fighting for Texas families, Republicans continued their culture wars.
- Republicans passed HB 2127, stripping local control, attacking labor unions, enabling workplace discrimination against veterans, and rejecting protections for workplace sexual assault victims.
- They voted to ban books in Texas schools and libraries, setting us on a slippery slope toward extremist censorship.
- Senate Republicans passed SB 17, a bill that would dismantle DEI offices in public universities, ban mandatory diversity training, and restrict hiring departments from requesting diversity statements from applicants.
Senate Republicans also spent precious legislative time attacking the US Constitution by requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
Republicans are working overtime to dismantle our democracy and weaken the strength and safety of our public schools. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it: we MUST elect Democratic leaders who will put the people first, and wealthy extremist donors last.
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Read This Week in the Texas Senate: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GHhcBA14vmby1Wq-2AMgS4cYyj6g3rtY/view
Contact Rep Smith and Sen. Springer to let them know how you feel on these issues:
https://graysondemocrats.org/representativess-contact-information/#state-reps-austin