Family Values

A strong America relies on strong family values.  I am proud to be a voice for West Texas values in Congress.  

It is important that our laws and government respect human life.  Abortion is a very personal and emotional issue for Americans. I believe the sanctity of human life must be honored and the rights of the unborn need to be protected from the point of conception.  I will continue to work closely with fellow members of the bipartisan Pro-Life Caucus to ensure that abortion is not supported by federal funds and that the rights of the unborn are protected.

I believe that marriage in the United States should only consist of the union of a man and a woman.  The institution of has proven vital to the existence of society and the raising and protection of children.  The Obama Administration has decided to ignore its constitutional responsibilities and halt its enforcement of the Defense of Marriage Act – a 1996 law that defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.  Accordingly, I, along with numerous other Members of Congress, sent a letter to the Administration condemning the decision and reaffirming that it is the role of the courts, not the Executive Branch, to make determinations of the constitutionality of a law.  I have also cosponsored H.J. Res 45, which proposes a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union of a man and a woman.

I am also a member of the House Values Action Team (VAT), which is a coalition between the pro-life and pro-family organizations and similar-minded Members of Congress.  The goal of this group is to unite conservative Members with pro-family coalitions by establishing legislative goals and executing action items that would lead to conservative victories.   The VAT team meets once a week to strategize, educate, and assign action items for VAT Members and staff to complete.

I am also pleased to be a member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, a bipartisan group of House Members who meet each week to seek God’s wisdom and guidance as we try to make wise decisions for the American people.  I believe the United States Constitution as drafted by our Founding Fathers was never intended to provide freedom from religion, but is intended to provide freedom of religion. It is my desire to use opportunities provided to me to address attacks on our nation’s religious heritage and to protect our inalienable rights to practice our religious freedom. If you would like more information on the Prayer Caucus please click here.

See the results of my August 2012 survey on marriage in America.