Perhaps the greatest policy and moral issue of our time is how we meet the challenges of climate change. Earlier this session, Senator Ellis called for swift action on a series of legislation which will reduce emissions, combat global warming, increase renewable energy use, create new high-tech green jobs and boost energy efficiency in Texas.

Sadly, there has thus far been little progress on major environmental initiatives. However, this week the Senate Economic Development Committee passed SB 108, legislation which would position Texas to create hundreds of thousands of green jobs in the coming decade.

There is tremendous opportunity for economic growth in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green building and retrofits. The Governor’s State Energy Plan projected that two-thirds of all energy jobs created over the next decade will be in renewable energy. Green jobs training is also a priority in the recently passed federal stimulus package, which provided $500 million for green jobs training. Senate Bill 108 would position Texas to draw down some of those federal dollars to create thousands of new jobs in clean energy.

There is tremendous opportunity for economic growth in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green building and retrofits. The Governor’s State Energy Plan projected that two-thirds of all energy jobs created over the next decade will be in renewable energy. Green jobs training is also a priority in the recently passed federal stimulus package, which provided $500 million for green jobs training. Senate Bill 108 would position Texas to draw down some of those federal dollars to create thousands of new jobs in clean energy. Green jobs are the wave of the future, and Texas needs to do everything we can to now to start planning for that future today. The Economic Recovery Act provides $500 million to the states to create green jobs. Senate Bill 108 moves us forward and will help us take advantage of those unprecedented efforts and make us more energy efficient.

Green jobs are the wave of the future, and Texas needs to do everything we can to now to start planning for that future today. The Economic Recovery Act provides $500 million to the states to create green jobs. Senate Bill 108 moves us forward and will help us take advantage of those unprecedented efforts and make us more energy efficient.

“We have suffered so much, but soon, now, when I can hug him and know that he is free, we will have peace.”

That is what Dorothy Henderson of Huntsville told the Houston Chronicle about her son, 47 year-old Ronnie Taylor who was released from prison the after being locked up for 14 years for a rape he didn’t commit. Read the rest of this entry »

During this past 80th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, I worked extremely hard to pass important legislation that will benefit my Houston area constituents. Some of these victories include improving our environment, working to improve access to affordable and quality health care for Texas children, increasing the number of college TEXAS Grants available to students, creating a more fair and just criminal justice system, combating the spread of HIV/AIDS, creating opportunities for more Texans to own their first home and fighting genocide in Sudan.  Read the rest of this entry »