By State Rep. Brooks Landgraf
As we enter the holiday season, marked by the changing hues of leaves, family gatherings around the table, and reflections on the passing year, it’s evident that despite the challenges we’ve faced, West Texas is truly a place of blessings, and we have much to be grateful for.
In West Texas, sometimes adversity is woven into the fabric of our daily lives. Yet with perseverance and our heads held high, we confront each day’s challenges, always prepared to respond to the needs of our families and communities. Serving as your state representative fills me with immense pride, and I am grateful for the opportunity to champion your cause in the Texas House of Representatives.
That gratitude inspired in me the resolve to persevere through an unusually long and demanding year at the Texas Capitol. The regular and special sessions of 2023 have meant many months of hard work and many long days that kept me away from the friends, family, and community I love. However, I’ve remained determined to fight for West Texas every day.
As 2023 comes to an end and I reflect on my time spent at the Texas Capitol this year, and the many victories brought for the Permian Basin assure me it is all well worth it.
My advocacy for improved healthcare access in West Texas resulted in significant victories, including securing an additional $86 million for our behavioral health center, $10 million for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center telehealth program, and $6 million for UTPB healthcare workforce development. These are monumental strides toward enhancing the quality of life and healthcare accessibility in the Permian Basin. No longer will our fellow West Texans have to undertake lengthy journeys to Lubbock or San Angelo for mental health services.
And as a member of the House Transportation Committee, my efforts to secure increased transportation funding in the Permian Basin have also borne fruit.
This year TxDOT has both invested over $500 million for projects in the Odessa TxDOT district — the largest investment ever — and approved a 10-year plan allocating $4.3 billion in the district, signifying a transformative era for our region. These funds will support the comprehensive reconstruction of I-20, safety enhancements to SH 191, widening of US 285, and the development of intersections and overpasses on Loop 338. This monumental progress aligns with ongoing and future construction projects, ensuring safe roads for years to come.
Throughout the whole year I have felt the strength of your support and the power of your prayers, for which I’m profoundly thankful. It’s evident that our voice continues being heard at the Texas Capitol, and I recognize that without your unwavering support, my role would be impossible.
I’m also especially thankful for my family: my wife, Shelby, and our daughter, Hollis Rose, who continue to push and motivate me to be a better husband, father, and Texas State Representative. This season, I encourage you to cherish those you love and reflect on the many blessings we are given, and from my family to yours, happy Thanksgiving.
God bless Texas!
