Eliminating Sanctuary Cities in Texas is Long Overdue

Last session, I authored legislation to put an end to sanctuary cities in the State of Texas. Unfortunately, we were one vote shy of passing this crucial legislation in the Texas Senate. 
 
Shortly after the session, Kate Steinle was murdered by a previously incarcerated criminal alien that was on the streets due to San Fransisco's unwillingness to honor an immigration detainer. Her tragic death led to a national uproar highlighting why we cannot have policies that allow for violent criminal aliens to walk our streets freely.
 
Put simply, sanctuary city policies are any policies that prevent law enforcement from enforcing immigration laws already on the books. This can include, but is not limited to, prohibiting officers from inquiring about immigration status of suspected criminals or ignoring immigration detainers in our corrections system. 
 
The recent election was truly a referendum on the lawless Obama Administration that set aside the basic foundation of civil society - the rule of law - to advance their personal agenda. The fight to end sanctuary cities at its core is no different. Government entities should not be able to ignore the rule of law and refuse to follow our immigration laws to advance their personal political agendas. When law-abiding citizens begin to feel that our laws are applied differently to various individuals, based on nothing more than politics, you undermine the basic fabric of society. 
 
Americans spoke loud and clear this election that reigning in our illegal immigration crisis must be a priority. During this election cycle, candidates on the ballot from top to bottom made securing our border the corner stone of their campaigns. 
 
It is easy to see why the voters are fed up. For years, politicians in both parties have promised to do something about illegal immigration, but failed to significantly address the problem. Meanwhile, entities at the local level have ignored the rule of law and implemented sanctuary city policies that either explicitly or implicitly undermine our immigration laws currently on the books. 
 
More than 204,000 criminal aliens have been booked into local Texas jails between June 1, 2011 and October 31, 2016; of those, 66% were identified as being in the U.S. illegally at the time of their last arrest.  These arrests include 1,101 homicide charges, 65,118 assault charges, and 5,745 sexual assault charges.
 
If we are going to spend $800 million on border security as a state, not a penny of that money should go to entities that undercut our laws with sanctuary city policies. We cannot allow our local governments to undermine state and federal efforts to curb illegal immigration.
 
This year, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has named this legislation a top 10 priority for the session, I am honored to once again be the author. Statewide conservative leaders including Governor Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz have also voiced support for passing this measure. 
 
This legislation will reinstate trust in the legal system and protect our citizens by giving us another tool in the tool box to combat criminal aliens.  With your help, we can pass a strong bill that will save lives and ensure local entities are beholden to the rule of law.

 

Newsletter: September 2016

Friends,

It is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the month of September. 

Over the last couple of weeks much has happened in Senate District 28. Please take a moment to read the newsletter below and pass it along to anyone who might be interested in reading it. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns never hesitate to reach out to my office!

For Texas,

Senator Charles Perry

10 COMMANDMENTS AT O'DONNELL HIGH SCHOOL:

Last week, the 'Freedom From Religion Foundation' threatened O'Donnell High School with a lawsuit over their display of the Ten Commandments. 

For years this organization has fought to intimidate Christians into eliminating all public displays of faith from our society. Last year they unsuccessfully targeted the Kountze Cheerleaders and the Childress Police Department. 

I support the rights of students to display their faith, but I also recognize that it is when that faith is challenged it tends to grow the most. I want a level playing field. The Christian faith wins every time we stand in faith, regardless of any man-made obstacle. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31 

There will always be challenges to displays of faith as long as we have a federal government that uses funding dollars as coercion to corrupt local communities. We must pull back the reigns on the federal government and ensure both our First and Tenth Amendment Rights are protected!

OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY INVESTING TO CONSERVE WATER:

Earlier this week, the Abilene Reporter News published my editorial on the importance of the oil and natural gas industry in Texas and their efforts to conserve water. You can read it here or below:

Oil and gas production in Texas began on January 10, 1901 when the Lucas No. 1 well spewed mud, oil, and gas more than 100 feet into the air. Although capped nine days later, Spindletop changed Texas forever. Little did we know that cold winter day near Beaumont would give us the energy resources necessary to power railroads, cars, and other equipment that would, in time, diversify our state's economy from its rural agricultural roots to a modern, urbanized, and industrialized economic behemoth that currently is the world's 10th largest economy. 

Fast forward 80 years and George Mitchell is experimenting with different hydraulic fracturing techniques in the Barnett Shale, trying to identify and perfect a way to economically extract oil and gas from shale rock. By 2013, fracking was in widespread use across the state and country. This caused an economic boom in Texas and was broadly credited for causing the "shale revolution" that has made American energy independence a real possibility. 

 Click here to continue reading.

UPCOMING TOWN HALL FORUMS:

Town halls are a great away for citizens to get engaged in the political process without traveling all the way to Austin. Hearing directly from the people I represent is one of the most valuable things I do as a State Senator. 

Below are some upcoming town halls in the 51 counties I represent:

Wednesday, September 21st: (w/ Rep-Elect Mike Lang)
2:00 - Breckenridge, TX
TSTC - Technology Center
401 N Breckenridge Ave.
Breckenridge, TX 76424
 
3:30 - Albany, TX
Aztec Theatre
141 S Main St.
Albany, TX 76430

Tuesday, October 11th:
8:30 - Levelland, TX
South Plains College
1401 South College Ave.
Levelland, TX 79336
 
Monday, October 24th (w/ Rep. Drew Springer)
9:00 - Crosbyton
Public Library
114 W Aspen St. 
Crosbyton, TX
 
10:30 - Floydada
Covey's Smokehouse
102 S. 5th St.
Floydada, TX

1:00 - Matador
District Courtroom
701 Dundee
Matador, TX

2:30 - Dickens
Dickens Co. Annex
Multi-purpose Room  
Dickens, TX
 
4:00 - Guthrie
King Co. Courthouse - Hwy 83
Commissioners Courtroom    
Guthrie, TX

5:30 - Paducah
Paducah Community Center
711 Richards St.      
Paducah, TX

Tuesday, October 25th (w/ Rep. Drew Springer)
8:00 - Post
Community Room
129 W. Main
Post, TX

10:00 - Jayton
Community Room
156 W. 4th St.
Jayton, TX

12:00 - Roby
Courthouse Coffee Room
112 N. Concho St. 
Roby, TX
 
2:00 - Aspermont
Senior Citizen Center
516 Washington Ave. 
Aspermont, TX
 
3:30 - Haskell
Haskell City Hall
301 S 1st Street
Haskell, TX

5:00 - Throckmorton
Imprint Ministries
131 N. Minter
Throckmorton, TX
 
Wednesday, October 26 (w/ Rep. Drew Springer)
8:30 - Vernon
Vernon College Auditorium
216 S Main
Willbarger, TX

1:00 - Quanah
Three Rivers Ballroom
216 S Main
Quanah, TX
 
2:30 - Childress
The 501 Winery
109 Ave. E. NW
Childress, TX

STAR OF TEXAS AWARDS: HONORING FIRST RESPONDERS:

Over the last year, we have unfortunately seen more hostility toward our law enforcement and first responders than ever before. 

As you are aware, peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders across Texas place themselves in harm's way to serve their fellow Texans. To recognize the sacrifices of these first responders, the State of Texas created the Star of Texas Award in 2003. This award serves to honor the bravery of Texas' first responders who have been killed or sustained serious injuries in the line of duty.

This year's awards took place last Monday, and I was proud to help recognize the following individuals who were seriously injured in the line of duty:

·        Deputy Ryan Burns (Lubbock County Sheriff's Department)
·        Sheriff (Retired) Richard Doane (Concho County Sheriff's Office)
·        Corporal Ryan Durrett (Lubbock Police Department)
·        Officer Jacob Flores (Lubbock Police Department)
·        Officer Michael Orndorff (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
·        Officer Ricky Wallace (Texas Tech University Police Department)
·        Officer Brian Jackson (San Angelo Police Department)

Below are some pictures from the event:

EDITORIAL: Oil and gas industry investing to conserve water

Oil and gas production in Texas began on January 10, 1901 when the Lucas No. 1 well spewed mud, oil, and gas more than 100 feet into the air. Although capped nine days later, Spindletop changed Texas forever. Little did we know that cold winter day near Beaumont would give us the energy resources necessary to power railroads, cars, and other equipment that would, in time, diversify our state's economy from its rural agricultural roots to a modern, urbanized, and industrialized economic behemoth that currently is the world's 10th largest economy.

Fast forward 80 years and George Mitchell is experimenting with different hydraulic fracturing techniques in the Barnett Shale, trying to identify and perfect a way to economically extract oil and gas from shale rock. By 2013, fracking was in widespread use across the state and country. This caused an economic boom in Texas and was broadly credited for causing the "shale revolution" that has made American energy independence a real possibility.

Energy independence isn't the only benefit of oil and gas production. The oil and gas industry directly employs more than 400,000 people in Texas with an average annual salary over $124,000. Additionally, 570,000 Texas families receive annual royalty income of $16.5 billion. In 2015, oil and gas activity contributed more than $135 billion to the Texas economy and paid $13.8 billion in state and local taxes.

This year, it is estimated that oil and gas companies will pay more than $2 billion in severance taxes to the State of Texas, which will be used to provide health care to the poor, teach our children, and maintain our roads. Without the oil and gas industry, there would be significantly less funding for roads, schools, universities, water projects, and there would be no Rainy Day Fund. The tax burden on hardworking Texans would be much greater.

There is no doubt that Texas is better off with a thriving oil and gas industry than without it. However, there are challenges to production that deserve to be acknowledged and monitored. As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs, what comes to mind first and foremost is the large amount of water used by oil and gas production. The Railroad Commission estimates that it takes 1.2 million gallons of water to hydraulically frack a well in the Barnett Shale and more than 3.5 million gallons in the Eagle Ford Shale.

According to the Texas Water Development Board, nearly 220,000 acre-feet, or more than 72 billion gallons of water, was used for mining in 2014. This is roughly the same amount nearly two million average Texans use to drink, cook, clean clothes, wash dishes, and bathe for an entire year. While this seems high, water used for mining, which includes oil and gas production, accounts for less than 1% of the total amount of water used in Texas. Furthermore, the TWDB expects water used for mining to rise to 343,000 acre-feet in 2020 and then decrease to around 290,000 acre-feet by 2070.

This expected decrease in water usage is no accident. Using les water is good for oil and gas companies because it is good for the environment and their bottom line. Oil and gas companies have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to better manage, conserve, and recycle water. These companies have participated in a joint research project with industry, agriculture, academics, and the government to irrigate a West Texas cotton crop using recycled water from energy operations, and have invested in using less fresh water by substituting recycled water or brackish groundwater. These efforts are the reason it takes 1.3 million gallons of less water to frack a well in the Eagle Ford today than it did just a few short years ago. The responsible and informed use of natural resources by companies using innovative technologies should always be the rule, not the exception.

The oil and gas industry and Texas have enjoyed a long, productive, and mutually beneficial relationship. The industry continues to employ hundreds of thousands of Texans and pay billions in taxes every year by producing millions of barrels of oil and gas a day — all while using less and less water. For these reasons, I expect the great relationship between the oil and gas industry and Texas to continue long into the future.

See full editorial here.

Statement on O'Donnell Ten Commandments

For years the "Freedom From Religion Foundation" has fought to intimidate Christians into eliminating all public displays of faith from our society.

Last year they unsuccessfully targeted the Kountze Cheerleaders and the Childress Police Department. Today, they are threatening O’Donnell High School with a lawsuit over their display of the Ten Commandments.

I am proud of the hundreds of students at O'Donnell that are standing up for their faith and starting a movement to save the Ten Commandments at their school. Our office is working to ensure the school is in touch with the necessary experts to explain their rights and determine a plan of action.

SEN. PERRY SELECTED TO JOIN ‘2015 CLASS OF EMERGING LEADERS’

Lubbock, TX – GOPAC, a conservative think-tank organization that prides itself on “educating and electing a new generation of republican leaders”, today announced its 2015 Class of Emerging Leaders. Included on the list is Texas State Senator Charles Perry (R – Lubbock)

Sen. Perry was one of only 23 members of the nationwide class nominated for the honor by the organization’s Legislative Leaders Advisory Board.

“Our Emerging Leaders program ensures a roster of prepared and tested Republicans ready to lead in their state legislatures,” said GOPAC Chairman David Avella. “As evidenced by past honorees, this program has proven effective at advancing the Republican Party’s next generation.”

“It is an honor to be recognized by GOPAC as part of the 2015 Class of Emerging Leaders,” said Senator Charles Perry. “Leadership is an essential quality that we need to incubate nationwide to ensure we are able to address the major issues of the day.”

Perry was elected to the state senate in 2014 after two sessions in the state house. Earlier this session, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick appointed Perry as the first freshman committee chairman since 1993.

Here’s the entire list of GOPAC’s 2015 list of Emerging Leaders:

* Kentucky State Senator Ralph Alvarado
* Nevada Assemblyman Derek Armstrong
* Oklahoma State Senator Stephanie Bice
* Florida State Senator Rob Bradley
* Wisconsin State Representative Robert Brooks
* North Carolina State Representative Brian Brown
* Ohio State Senator David Burke
* Michigan State Representative Lee Chatfield
* West Virginia State Senator Ryan Ferns
* New Hampshire State Representative Bart Fromuth
* Alabama State Representative Danny Garrett
* Texas State Representative Craig Goldman
* South Carolina State Representative Daniel Hamilton
* Indiana State Senator Erin Houchin
* California Assemblywoman Young Kim
* Indiana State Representative Cindy Kirchhofer
* Ohio State Representative Sarah LaTourette
* Georgia State Senator P.K. Martin
* Virginia House Majority Whip Jackson Miller
* Arizona House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro
* Texas State Senator Charles Perry
* New Jersey Assemblywoman Maria Rodriguez-Gregg
* Utah State Senator Todd Weiler

To learn more about this program please visit: GOPAC.org/emerging-leaders

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Press Release: Perry Files Education Reform Legislation

PERRY FILES EDUCATION REFORM LEGISLATION

LUBBOCK, TX – Today, Senator Charles Perry filed SB 13 to improve access to college courses in high school and encourage career and college exploration in middle school. The announcement of this bill occurred earlier today at an education press conference with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Education Committee Chairman Larry Taylor.

“Last session, I was proud to help pass House Bill 5, the most sweeping education reform in recent memory,” said Senator Charles Perry. “SB 13 acts in tandem with HB 5 to improve outcomes and workforce readiness in our public schools.”

SB 13 is made of four components. The bill lifts the current cap on the number of dual enrollment courses a student may enroll in each semester. It requires community colleges to either approve or deny applicants desiring to teach dual enrollment within 60 days. It additionally helps rural Texas by extending the Skills Development Fund to allow rural schools to apply for funds and establish an MOU with a community college to ensure the course standards are met.

The bill also creates a high school, college, and career exploration class for middle school students to ensure they start thinking about their future early in life. This course will have students explore the various graduation plans, learn about the endorsements created in HB 5, college preparation, and potential career choices and the education necessary to enter those careers.

“The future of Texas depends on us – reducing the dropout rate, making sure every student is ready for a career or college,” said Lt. Governor Dan Patrick at this morning’s press conference. “Together we are going to lead the senate and lead the state in continuing to reform education so that every student has the opportunity to live the Texas and American Dream.”

“There are some students that are graduating high school with an associate’s degree as well as their high school diploma,” said Education Chairman Larry Taylor. “Community colleges working with our schools is a great way to spread our resources and make them go as far as they can without a whole lot more resources.”

“Texas is on the right path by moving away from the one-size-fits-all standards of the past,” continued Senator Perry. “It is my hope that this bill will give our local school districts the tools they need to ensure all students graduating high school have a path — be it towards a vocation or college.”

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