Energy & Climate

Texas is the energy capital of the world and a leader in clean energy. We have been blessed with vast natural resources but it’s up to us to preserve our environment. We’re facing a record drought and inclement weather events are becoming more frequent such as hurricanes, winter storms, flooding, and wildfires. While serving in the Texas Legislature, I was a founding member of the Texas House Energy & Climate Caucus because we need policies at every level of government to meet our climate goals. In order to protect our natural resources which are foundational to both our energy and agriculture economies, we must take immediate action to address climate change. I firmly believe that any meaningful climate policy must include globally coordinated action.

Senate Priorities

The road to American energy independence runs through Texas and will rely on using an “all of the above” approach to energy production. We have more wind power than any other state and are about to be the top in solar production as well. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration’s rollback of Biden-era tax incentives on wind and solar projects has already led to an increase in Texans’ utility bills. I am also concerned about the impact of Trump’s foreign policy on Texas’ energy economy as he strains our export power with tariffs and floods the market with Venezuelan oil reserves -- Texas continues to get hit the hardest. I support Midland, not Maduro.

Work with our allies and global superpowers to embrace a collaborative approach, starting with rejoining the Paris Agreement.
Reinstating the Inflation Reduction Act incentives for wind and solar energy that boosted investment in energy production and storage and brought low-cost energy to consumers.
Oppose drilling on public lands, as public safety must be paramount.
Boost funding for flood mitigation projects across the state.
Embrace a global framework to regulate AI.
Setting a national standard for AI and data centers while allowing states to have their own further restrictions.
Rebuild the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the administrative tools it needs to regulate and enforce our laws.
Codify the Chevron Doctrine that was overturned by the Supreme Court to support the EPAs regulatory work.
Establish USDA training programs for Texas farmers and ranchers to reduce methane emissions while improving productivity, drought resilience, and long-term profitability.
Break up Big Agribusinesses and prohibit anti-competitive mergers that harm our local family-owned farms.
Restore environmental protections to safeguard the air we breathe.
Remove dangerous contaminants like lead and PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” from Texas drinking water.
Reinstate tax credits for electric and alternative fuel vehicles.
Ensure year-round access to affordable and reliable heating and cooling in every Texas household.
Expand and modernize the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) so Texas families facing high utility costs can keep the lights on.
Protect and restore Texas’ Gulf Coast ecosystems, supporting coastal communities, fisheries, and storm resilience while protecting jobs
Protect our public lands and outdoor spaces from privatization by special interests.
Provide incentives for private investment to redevelop long-neglected land, turning abandoned sites into engines of opportunity and good-paying jobs.
Establish an Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice to enforce environmental laws and hold polluters accountable.
Hold Big Tech and Big Agribusinesses accountable for environmental damages, including the pollution of air and water, AI data centers stealing water from low-flow communities, and Texan’s rising energy costs.

My Work in the United States Congress

I introduced the Farm to Fuselage Act to boost domestic production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel by integrating SAF into USDA farm programs, creating new markets for American farmers through agricultural feedstocks, and strengthening U.S. energy security by reducing reliance on traditional jet fuel.
I cosponsored the Heating and Cooling Relief Act to ensure year-round access to affordable and reliable heating and cooling for lower-income households who experience disproportionately high energy burdens by expanding and modernizing the severely underfunded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Reduce the cost of utilities by reinstating the Inflation Reduction Act incentives for wind and solar energy that boosted investment in energy production and storage and brought low-cost energy to consumers
I co-sponsored the Texas Flood Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025 to deliver emergency FEMA funding to help Texas communities recover from severe flooding and rebuild after disaster.
I co-sponsored the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability (WATER) Act to expand access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water by removing contaminants like lead and PFAS “forever chemicals.”
I co-sponsored the Freedom to Move Act to fund fare-free public transportation and improve transit systems in rural and urban communities by replacing lost fare revenue with federal grants.
Worked across the aisle to co-sponsor the Economic Opportunity for Distressed Communities Act to encourage the redevelopment and revitalization of properties that have been contaminated by hazardous waste, pollutants, or other contaminants.
Cosponsored the Empowering and Enforcing Environmental Justice Act to establish an Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division that will enforce environmental laws, hold polluters accountable, and support state and local environmental enforcement capacity.
Introduced the “Enteric Methane Innovation Tools for Lower Emissions and Sustainable Stock Act” or the “EMIT LESS Act,” as it relates to our farms and being smarter about the emissions that are contributing to the warming up of our planet.