By State Rep. Brooks Landgraf
As Christmas is approaching, West Texas is abounding in the holiday spirit. It is the most wonderful time of the year and I look forward to spending it with my family and loved ones. During this time, I am reminded of how blessed we all are to live in the Great State of Texas. Colorful lights illuminate our neighborhoods, and the Christmas trees sit in our living rooms.
It is truly a beautiful sight to behold. What makes this season so special, however, is the celebration of Christ, our savior, being born that one miraculous night in Bethlehem. Luke 1:14 states, “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”
Those words hold true to this day. Two millennia later we continue to rejoice.
This year work at the Texas Capitol kept me very busy and away from home for months, but I am extremely proud of the important work we accomplished in the legislature. Among the accomplishments I am most proud of was increasing funding for border security and public education, strengthening the state’s power grid, and derailing Green New Deal legislation that would’ve been harmful to the men and women that work in our oil and gas industry.
However, perhaps our biggest accomplishment of the year was passing legislation to protect our religious liberties and our right to worship.
I was the proud co-author of legislation that placed a proposition on the ballot for voter approval to amend the Texas Constitution to prohibit any governmental entity in the state from shutting down places of worship or limiting religious services. Texans voted and resoundingly approved this proposition adding another constitutional protection to the right to worship in Texas without government restriction.
Texans can rest assured that our freedom to worship is secure this Christmas season. I’ll be at Christmas services with my family, enjoying our freshly protected rights and enjoying the joyful fellowship of the Christmas season in church. We can all be proud to have taken a part in preserving that right for every current and future Texan. No matter what happens, Texans will always have access to their places of worship.
As always, I remain forever grateful for the opportunity to serve you in the Texas House. This Christmas season, many of you will undoubtedly be traveling across our great state to gather with your loved ones. I want to encourage you to be safe during your travels and to drive with caution on the road.
And from the bottom of our hearts, Shelby, Hollis Rose and I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! Our hope and prayer is that your holiday season is filled with many blessings and abundant joy.
God bless Texas!
