Issues
2nd Amendment - Right to Bear Arms
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Our forefathers found our Right to Bear Arms as important to our overall survival as a nation and as free citizens that they encompassed it in our Bill of Rights. It is crucial that we not let our constitutional rights be infringed upon. As a gun owner, CHL holder and a supporter of our Constitution, I unequivocally support and defend our Second Amendment right to bear arms.
Education
Today’s Education system is broken. We are spending the most money per student out of all the other developed nations in the world (excluding Luxembourg) and yet we are falling short of properly educating our youth. According to the 2010 PISA report, the US ranked 14th in Reading, 17th in Science and a dismal 25th in Mathematics out of 34 nations. For a nation that prides itself with being the sole Super Power in the world and putting a man on the Moon, the new report shows our embarrassing failure to our students. This is UNEXCEPTIBLE. As your next Congressman I propose the following solutions:
1. Education Starts with The Parents
A. This statement may sound offensive but it is the truth. As a Chemistry teacher and a student whose father made certain I studied every night, I know the importance of parental involvement. We need to start a national campaign to educate Parents on the importance of responsibly making sure their children are completing their homework and studying every night.
A. Teachers should have absolute discretion to remove disruptive students from their classroom along with protection from recourse when doing so.
B. Expand Alternative Education centers for repeatedly disruptive students and get highly qualified specialists and counselors to help get to the root of the student’s problems.
3. Variations of Diploma Requirements
A. While there are currently different levels of diplomas, states should move to institute a technical diploma whereas students who have natural talents and love for an area can develop a marketable trade when they graduate high school. Such trades may include, auto shop, cosmetology, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, construction, graphic design, A.C. Repair. We strongly believe nurturing a student early on will not only save them time and money spent in a pricey private technical school, but it will spur entrepreneurship and with it living the American Dream.
4. Allocate More Resources to Underserved Areas
A. “All but three nations…—the U.S., Israel and Turkey—spend as much, or more, on those schools serving disadvantaged students as they do on those serving more privileged students.” (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/12/international-education-rankings-suggest-reform-can-lift-u-s/). All the top performing countries allocated more resources to areas where schools were disproportionately underserved and had the greatest challenges. We should do the same. I am a strong believer in duplicating where others have had success and there is no reason why we should not reclaim our position at the top of the world rankings.
Energy
In the interest in National security and stopping the greatest and fastest transfer of wealth the world has ever seen, we MUST take two approaches immediately.
1. Drill Now. We need to open up more Federal areas to extract natural gas and oil. It is vital that we no longer be a slave to foreign oil exporting BILLIONS of dollars a year to countries who would love to see our destruction. I said it once and I will say it again…Drill here and DRILL NOW!
2. We must invest HEAVILY into alternative energy developments such as Solar, Wind and expand Nuclear facilities. Our great country has always excelled in creating new inventions and innovations and I whole heartedly believe we can solve our energy problems if we just dedicate enough resources to it.
Jobs
Where are the Jobs? Sadly they have been sent overseas. America must get back to becoming a Manufacturing giant as it was in the past. Corporations have long promised lower taxes would spur corporate expansion and with it the creation of American jobs. Currently, this has not been true. While I don’t believe in high taxes, I believe closing tax loop holes and granting tax breaks to companies who can show it created a lasting American job would be best suited to spurring the economy.
GAMA – Getting Americans Moving Again
I want to introduce legislation that would have Congress sponsor a national day twice a year where communities and non-profit organizations, such as Texas’ Work Force Solutions and The Chamber of Commerce, would team up in communities across the nation to have a day where prospective employers and employees can meet and interview for all available job vacancies.
Veterans
Veterans are committed to the United States of America and its people, it is only right we honor our commitment to them. As your Congressman and a current military service member, I vow to fight endlessly with every resource available for a full State-of-The-Art VA Hospital in our District. I have the leadership, dedication and tenacity to see this mission through. I will not rest until the commitment to our Veterans is fulfilled.
