ABezilla

Representative ABezilla: Texas- "The Lone Star State" Political party: Independent (on the democratic side) Congress person most agreed with: Jodie Laubenberg. [|Click here] to visit her web page. __Here are some facts about the fine state of Texas: __
 * The capital of Texas is Austin, named after an important figure in the Texas war for independence, Stephen Austin.
 * 24 million people live in the state
 * Between 7 and 9 million illegal immigrants live in Texas
 * 16 million cattle live in the state as well
 * The highest record temperature in Texas was 120 degrees F., and was recorded on August 12, 1936
 * Uncertain, Texas is home to Texas' only natural lake.
 * Texas contains approximately 3,700 named streams and 15 major rivers
 * Illegal immigrants cost the Lone Star State's taxpayers over $4.7 billion a year
 * Along with being know as "The Lone Star State", Texas is also known as "The Friendly State"
 * The word Texas comes from the Spanish word "tejas", meaning friend
 * Texas is called "The Lone Star State" because of the single white star on its flag
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The state pledge of allegiance goes as follows: "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Dr. Pepper was invented in Waco, Texas, in 1885
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The state flower is the blue bonnet
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The state bird is the mockingbird
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The state tree is the pecan tree
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The Rio Grande river serves as the Texas- Mexico border

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The three issues that are most important to me are illegal immigration, renewable energy, and Texas' water supply/resources. For my bill (HB61), we (me and Maryland Rep GAldredge) chose the subject of renewable energy.

__<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Illegal Immigration __ Since Texas borders Mexico, it recieves many illegal immigrants. It is estimated that taxpayers spend about $750 per household for illegal immigrants per year. Many illegal children attend public school systems as well, and since the governmen does not know that they are there, schools sometimes recieve insufficient funds. I believe that if it were made easier to immigrate legally, than fewer people would immigrate illegally. It can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to become a full citizen of America, and even after such a long wait, many are stil denied citizenship.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 99%;">__ Natural Resources __ As of now, the United States uses billions of barrels of oil each year, sending literally tons of pollutants into the air (which along with breaking down the ozone layer and heating up the atmosphere, makes it difficult to breath). Texas suffers particularly due to its large population. Only **.**7% of Texas energy comes from renewable resources. If the government were to create renewable energy plants, creating them and then running them would create jobs, also helping the economy. An electric or magnetic public rail system would have the same affect, and would provide transportation as well.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__Water Supply/ Resources__ Texas has more than 191,000 miles of streams and rivers that play a vital role in supplying Texas's water, resevoirs, bays, and estuaries. The increasing population is leading to a decrease in water supply (and an increase in water bills). Reduced stream flow, impaired bays and estuaries, and aquifer depletion are just some of the issues Texas faces about water, as well as river and bay poisoning due to large amounts of waste that are dumped into rivers. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> __Here are five facts that relate my issue:__


 * The average two car household emits 10 tons of carbon dioxide per year
 * The added carbon dioxide in our atmosphere creates a warming greenhouse effect
 * Hybrid cars can reduce air emissions by up to 90%
 * Most hybrid vehicles can travel approximately 250 miles before having to be recharged
 * Typical gasoline-run cars emit about 5.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide, while typical hybrid cars emit 3.5 tons of carbon dioxide

__HB61__ Basically, our bill promotes the manufacturing of hybrid cars. We plan to do this by giving participating car manufacturers a tax break if they turn out a new hybrid by 2016. The hybrid is required to have the same standard features as a regular car, reduce air emisions by at least 60%, and be able to travel at least 500 miles before being recharged. Although many dealerships offer hybrid cars, most of them do not meet all of these expectations. In fact, no hybrid so far is able to travel as far as we require. If dealerships were to start offering more practical, energy/cost effective vehicles, then more people would buy them. The more people buy them, the less harm we do to the environment. We feel that this is a simple, practical way to help the environment. To learn more about our bill, visit our bill page HB61

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