Education: Education starts locally
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), and Congress is scheduled to reauthorize this legislation during the 110th Congress.
As a former member of the Midland Independent School District Board of Trustees, I am committed to the improvement of our schools. Education starts locally, and I believe that the state and local authorities know how to best educate our children. I support the policies set forth in NCLB and believe that as they continue to be implemented, we will show tremendous progress in the quality of our entire education system.
The President has proposed reforms that would notify parents of how schools are performing and offer choices to parents whose children are trapped in schools that fail to live up to educational standards. I support these reforms, as well as rewarding high-performing schools that narrow the achievement gap. I believe we must provide some alternative ways to test children with special needs so that we will truly have a system in which no child is left behind. I am a supporter of alternative education and I encourage schools to also provide vocational and technical training for those students who do not want to pursue a college degree.
I appreciate the information that teachers and parents relay to me regarding NCLB and ways it can be improved. It is our responsibility to raise our children to be independent and productive members of society and to provide them with the life-skills they will need as adults.
Activist Judges: Protecting our culture, heritage and family
Our nation was built on the principle that we are all endowed by our Creator with a right to life and liberty. I believe we must protect our family values as they have come under attack from liberal judiciaries that choose to legislate from the bench. It is time for us to stop these few activists from imposing their agenda on our culture. Recent attempts by activist judges to erase God from the foundation of this country cannot and should not be allowed. America was founded with Judeo-Christian principles and values that define our society. As a Member of Congress, I will support legislation that promotes and protects freedom of religion.
Abortion: Life begins at conception
I believe that life begins at conception and I am adamantly opposed to abortion, except in cases that would prevent the death of the mother. In Congress, I work hard to promote compassionate alternatives to abortion, such as helping women and families in crisis through pregnancy centers, encouraging adoption, and supporting federal legislation requiring parental notification and waiting periods for minors. I have voted to prevent expanding government-funded abortions. I am proud to have earned the support of Texas Right to Life, the oldest and largest pro-life group in Texas.
Stem Cell Research: Conscience in Science
I encourage the search for crucial all-purpose stem cells, from sources other than embryos, for life-saving research. It is vital that this research be carried out in a way that respects the sanctity of life. Recent studies have discovered alternative ways to create stem cells. In truth, alternative types of human stem cells drawn from adults, children and umbilical cord blood have already achieved therapeutic results in thousands of patients with many different diseases. Adult stem cells have benefited patients suffering from at least 72 diseases and conditions, including various forms of cancer, Parkinson's disease and Sickle Cell Anemia. The fact is that stem cells can be obtained without killing human embryos and taxpayers should not be forced to pay for research that sacrifices life for science
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