Thank you to The Woodlands Republican Women for inviting me to speak to your membership today. I appreciated the opportunity to share an update on our work in Senate District 4 and spend time with so many friends. I also greatly appreciate Commissioner Ritch Wheeler, Precinct 3 for the warm introduction and his continued service to our community. It’s always a pleasure to be with everyone in The Woodlands!

It was great to spend the evening with my son Austin and our good friends Jason and Michele Salter, cheering on the Aggies as Texas A&M beat Missouri! There’s nothing better than Texas A&M Football, great friends, and an Aggie win! Gig ’em! 👍🏻🏈

Whoop!!! 👍 It was a wonderful evening with fellow Aggies! @TAMU Susan Ballabina and Chancellor @Glenn_Hegar were very warm and inviting! Thank you to Katelyn at The Men’s Wearhouse in Conroe for the Aggie tux. Even the biscuits were celebrating the distinguished Alum from Texas A&M last night!

Thank you to @EntergyTX and all the crews working around the clock in tough conditions to restore power. Your efforts are truly appreciated! 9/3 10:00 a.m. UPDATE FROM ENTERGY: Tropical Storm Edouard continues to impact Southeast Texas. Heavy rain and thunderstorm bands continue to move through our areas slowing restoration efforts. Crews are unable to work when lightning occurs. Flooding is isolated to small pockets to the north of our service area and will slow restoration in those pockets. Entergy has over 2,000 personnel in the field performing damage assessment, vegetation management, and restoration work. *Outages (as of 8:00am): ~24,064 total, concentrated in Beaumont (~9,189), Silsbee (~5,418), Port Arthur (~4,253), and Orange (~3,709) — the hardest-hit areas. Please be safe as you navigate these areas. Stay away from downed power lines.

Thank you to the @EntergyTX crews and the many additional personnel working around the clock to safely restore power to Southeast Texas. ENTERGY TEXAS UPDATE | Wednesday, Sept. 2 Entergy Texas crews worked through the night following Tropical Storm Edouard, restoring power to nearly 25,000 customers in approximately 10 hours. About 54,669 customers remain without power, down from a peak of approximately 80,000. Entergy has 1,800 personnel working across Southeast Texas on damage assessments, vegetation clearing, and power restoration. The hardest-hit areas remain Beaumont (~20,204 outages), Silsbee (~16,369), Port Arthur (~9,206), and Orange (~8,311). Flooding, continued rainfall, and extensive tree and vegetation damage are limiting access and slowing restoration efforts. Crews are prioritizing critical facilities and areas they can safely access. Entergy generally expects restoration by 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, although specific restoration times are still being assessed in heavily damaged areas. Please remember: Stay away from downed power lines and always treat them as energized.

TROPICAL STORM EDOUARD UPDATE FROM @TravisABC13 : The storm is making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border, with the strongest winds expected to impact Jefferson County and then move into portions of Liberty County later this afternoon. For Senate District 4, residents in our eastern counties should remain especially weather-aware. Strong wind gusts are possible, and heavy tropical rainfall is expected around the storm’s core through Wednesday morning. While the heaviest rain currently appears likely to remain east of the Houston area, even a small westward shift could change local impacts. Please use extreme caution, particularly east of I-45, avoid flooded roadways, and continue monitoring local emergency officials and trusted weather sources for updates. Thank you to @TravisABC13 for keeping Southeast Texas informed.

It was great to meet with @CityofBaytown leadership and hear directly from them about the unique needs, challenges, and opportunities facing this important community. I appreciate Mayor Charles Johnson, City Manager Jason Reynolds, Council Member Kenrick Griffith, Council Member Laura Alvarado, Director of Public Affairs Thomas Reeves, and the entire City of Baytown team taking the time to visit with me. Baytown is an important part of Senate District 4, and I look forward to working with our local leaders to ensure the community has a strong voice in Austin and that we are addressing the issues that matter most to the people who live and work here.

As Texas students head back to school, this is an important conversation for parents and grandparents. Lt. Governor @DanPatrick sits down with Bonnie Wallace to discuss parental involvement in school libraries, the recent Fifth Circuit ruling, and Texas Senate Bill 13. Take a few minutes to listen and stay informed about what our children can access in their schools. This is just a clip. Watch the full episode and subscibe here: youtube.com/watch?v=ZKmjz2-E…

It was great to be among so many outstanding business and community leaders at today’s Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Willis. Thank you to Scott Harper and the entire Chamber team for hosting another outstanding event and for the opportunity to speak to a packed room of members. I appreciate everything y’all do to support our local businesses, nonprofits, and success of our community.

Thank you, Lt. Governor @DanPatrick, for bringing these important conversations to Texans. In Part One of his discussion with Dr. Phil McGraw, they explore the growing impact of smartphones and technology on our children and our society. Beginning around the 13-minute mark, Dr. Phil shares strong advice for parents about setting healthy boundaries with technology and applauds Texas for banning cell phones in classrooms, emphasizing the importance of reducing distractions and helping students focus on learning. These are important conversations for every parent, educator, and community leader. 📷 Watch Part One here: youtube.com/watch?v=JHh5_trZ…

Lt. Governor @DanPatrick has released seven additional interim charges for the Texas Senate to study ahead of the 90th Legislature. These issues affect Texas families, children, consumers, and communities. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues as we examine these matters and prepare responsible legislative solutions for the next session. Read Lt. Governor Patrick’s full announcement:ltgov.texas.gov/2026/07/27/l…

Our team was especially “Proud to be EMC” today as we joined the Greater EMC Chamber for its Leading Ladies Luncheon. Thank you for recognizing the many contributions women make throughout our business community. It was especially meaningful to hear from Meagan McCoy Jones of McCoy’s Building Supply, who shared an inspiring message about the strength found in teamwork and gratitude. Thank you as well to the San Jacinto River Authority for welcoming our team to your table! #ProudToBeEMC

Thank you, Governor @GregAbbott_TX, for your leadership in protecting Texas families while ensuring our state remains a leader in innovation and economic growth. As Texas continues to attract new data center investments, Governor Abbott has made it clear that these projects must put Texans first. ✅ Data centers must pay for all electric infrastructure costs, ensuring residential ratepayers are not burdened. ✅ Data centers must add new electric generation capacity, not simply increase demand on the existing grid. ✅ Data centers must use water-efficient, closed-loop cooling systems to protect Texas water resources. ✅ Data centers must reduce impacts on neighboring communities through responsible setbacks, noise reduction, and other best practices. ✅ Large data centers must annually report their electricity and water usage to increase transparency and accountability. ✅ Governor Abbott is also seeking to eliminate outdated tax incentives for data centers that do not meet these expectations. These common-sense standards help ensure Texas continues to welcome economic development while protecting our electric grid, conserving natural resources, and preserving the quality of life for communities across our great state. This week, a proposed data center in Henderson County was withdrawn after the developer determined it could not meet Governor Abbott's directives and community expectations, demonstrating that Texas is serious about holding these projects to a higher standard. [read details here: gov.texas.gov/news/post/east… ]

Our team had the opportunity to visit the courtrooms of Judge Scharlene Valdez and Judge Amy Tucker with Child Advocates of Montgomery County to learn more about their incredible work. Every child in foster care has a dedicated advocate working to ensure the best possible outcome. Thank you to Child Advocates for being a voice for our most vulnerable children. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to serve, consider becoming a volunteer! 💙 @CasaChild

Our office receives many messages asking me to support the Sunshine Protection Act. We appreciate hearing from constituents and wanted to provide some clarification. The Sunshine Protection Act is federal legislation, so it is not voted on by the Texas Legislature or Texas State Senators. It must be approved by the United States Senate before it can be sent to President Trump. Texas has already taken action by passing Texas Time, a state law that is designed to take effect if federal law is changed to allow states to observe permanent daylight saving time. In other words, Texas has positioned itself to implement the change if Congress authorizes it. The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed the Sunshine Protection Act, and the bill now awaits action in the U.S. Senate. President Trump has indicated that he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk. I hope this helps explain why this issue is currently being decided at the federal level rather than by the Texas Senate. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to share your thoughts.

It was great to be with our friends at the @kwteaparty last night and hear from Texas Land Commissioner @DrBuckinghamTX! From preserving the Alamo to protecting our coastline and managing the lands that belong to the people of Texas, Commissioner Buckingham is doing important work to safeguard our state’s history, natural resources, and future. Thank you to the Kingwood Tea Party for the invitation and to Commissioner Buckingham for sharing an update on the important work taking place at the Texas General Land Office

Our SD4 team enjoyed visiting with the Kingwood Area Republican Women and hearing Judge Ken Wise share the story of our nation’s founding and the principles behind our governing documents. Congratulations to our new SD4 Harris County Chairman, Shannon Brinkley, on the tremendous success of this year’s Fourth of July Republican float! Thank you for your leadership!

Great to visit with friends at the Port of Port Arthur! Our ports are critical to Texas’ economy, supporting jobs, trade, and economic growth across the state. Thank you to the Port of Port Arthur team for your hospitality and for all you do to help keep Texas moving. #SD4 #TXLege #PortArthur

Congratulations to Texas on earning its 13th Gold Shovel Award for outstanding job creation and business investment! This recognition is another reminder that Texas continues to lead the nation because we embrace policies that encourage economic growth, attract new investment, and create opportunities for hardworking Texans. Thank you, Lt. Governor @DanPatrick , for your leadership and unwavering commitment to keeping Texas the best state in the nation to live, work, and do business.

Today, our office was honored to have District Liaison Mike Wright attend the dedication of the Deputy Constable Omar Ursin Memorial Highway in Harris County. Thank you to @RepCharlesC and @HCCP3 for honoring Deputy Ursin's life and service. May his sacrifice never be forgotten, and may we continue to keep his family and fellow deputies in our prayers. 💙🖤