Issue Position: Investing in our Kids

Issue Position

As Sheriff, I saw what a failed education system could mean for a city. It is why, as your Congressman, I will prioritize efforts to keep children out of trouble and on the right path. I will champion early childhood education programs, reinvesting in after school programs and developing new job training programs.

When human capital is wasted, it not only fails to produce economic gain but also creates costs associated with crime and government services. Houston's economic future is at risk if we fail to prepare our youth for the dynamic global economy in which our local businesses must compete. This is why, as your Congressman, I will promote proven programs aimed at keeping children out of trouble and on the right path. I will work with Houston's business community and trade associations and offer leadership to support early childhood programs for our youngest learners, reinvestment in after school programs, and the development of job training programs.

The economic value of Houston lies in the ability of its people. Investing in Houstonians provides the most valuable return. Expanded educational opportunities for Houstonians -- beginning in pre-K and continuing through to apprenticeship and degree programs -- have shown to enhance the competitiveness of a city through the development of a high quality workforce.

Many will say that the City has no substantial role to play in the public education system in Texas. However, the City spends thousands of dollars and serves thousands of our children with after school programs. We can better utilize City facilities, such as libraries and community centers, as hubs to connect Houstonians to educational opportunities and, subsequently, to jobs.
Houston on the Move

Traffic in Texas costs our State almost 500 million extra hours of travel time, more than $10 billion in delay and fuel costs and more than $2 billion in truck freight moving costs. Houston currently ranks 6th in the nation for congestion delays, and our region is expected to maintain the incredible population growth that will surely compound our traffic challenges should they remain unaddressed.

The solution to traffic congestion: multimodal transit solutions. Our economy cannot grow if Houstonians cannot move effectively. As your Congressman, I will work to ensure Federal dollars flow to further an integrated, multimodal transportation system and smart development plan that allows for more Houstonians to move around by bus, bike, train and by foot. We must plan for the immediate future to create mobility initiatives that are ready to accommodate increased tourism and the additional one million new residents expected to call the Greater Houston area home by 2025. I'm committed to helping Mayor Turner the trail network and environmental restoration in our Bayou Greenways 2020 plan, which will give us the largest urban trail network in the country.
Enhancing Economic Growth in the Global Economy

Houston is commonly said to have four pillars in our economy: the Energy sector, the Healthcare sector (Texas Medical Center is the largest in the world), the Logistics and Transportation sector (the Port of Houston is the highest foreign tonnage port in the United States) and Aerospace and NASA. We must strengthen and reinforce these drivers of our economy.

As your Congressman I will work to protect the Affordable Care Act, broaden American energy, fund our transportation infrastructure, and ensure NASA is fully funded.

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