An Annual Tradition: Sen. Cornyn’s Texas Service Academy Send-Off
“Honor, respect, strength, and fortitude.” The embodiment of what it means to be an American. That’s how Matthew, one of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s newest cadets, describes his uncle, a retired Colonel who inspired him to serve in the military. Luke P., who will report to the U.S. Naval Academy this summer, […]
Birding Has Blossomed
An old saying tells us that if a bird poops on your head, it’s a sign of good luck. Well, lucky or not, Texans have a higher chance of this occurrence than most. Birding has really taken flight in our great state, and April in particular is the perfect time to spot one of the […]
Texas’s February Freeze Showed Our State’s True Character
In the face of hardship, I’m always in awe of the way Texans show up for one another.We’ve seen countless inspiring stories of “Texans helping Texans” in the past, and during last month’s winter storms, Texans stepped up to help their neighbors once again in ways big and small. There are stories like that of […]
Do You Know the Third Most Spoken Language in Texas?
Sometimes I have some fun stumping my colleagues in Congress with Texas trivia. Do you know the third most spoken language in Texas? Most quickly count out English and Spanish on their fingers, but they always scratch their heads at number three. The answer won’t come as a surprise to Houstonians who have stopped for […]
The Ballad of Bee Cave Bob: Groundhog Day with a Texas Twist
We all know the story. On February 2nd, people come from all over to gather and watch a diminutive critter crawl out into the sun. If he sees his shadow? Six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring begins. But we’re not talking about a groundhog from a small town in Pennsylvania who can […]
Christmas Will Continue
With Hanukkah recently concluded and Christmas just around the corner, we’re all gearing up to celebrate the holidays the best we can. While the pandemic bars some of our usual traditions, it’s no surprise that Texans are working hard to keep the Christmas spirit alive and doing their part to spread only joy this season. […]
An Elite Club: Eagle Scouts and Gold Award Recipients Will Lead the Way
Uncertainty and weighty decisions plague the near future. Texans are hurting from the coronavirus and the pandemic’s many consequences. But – let’s have hope – I’m here to tell you our future is bright. This time of year I’m reminded of how smart, driven, and compassionate the next generation of young Texans are. Our future […]
You Can Always Count on Texans
It’s been seven months since COVID-19 fundamentally changed Texans’ lives. Seven long months – and longer for some. But what was true in March is still true today, which is that when the going gets tough, you can always count on Texans to help each other out. Take Karlee Greer for example. After tragically losing […]
Save Our Stages
Beyoncé, Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, Selena, George Strait, Usher, Kenny Rogers, Erykah Badu, and Roy Orbison. You’ve likely heard of a few, if not all, of these music icons. But did you know that before they hit the world stage, all these musicians got their start right here in Texas? When Willie Nelson was first […]
Juneteenth and the Ongoing Fight for Equality
Each Juneteenth, Texans celebrate the anniversary of the end of slavery in our state, and our nation’s continued progress towards equality. This year, our nation is grappling with how far we still have to go. As a history buff, I stand by the old adage: Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat […]
Texans Helping Texans
During tough times like these, I’m always inspired by the generosity some of my fellow Texans. Just like we saw in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, people are coming together to help their neighbors and friends weather this virus. Right now, when extending a physical hand is one of the worst things you can do, […]
Victory or Death
As we celebrate 184 years of Texas’ independence, I’ll be partaking in a more “modern” tradition – one that goes back just 59 years. I’ll have the honor of sharing one of our state’s most fabled letters with the nation. You may recognize it from its three most iconic words: Victory or Death. The letter […]