Qualifications: What training, experience and characteristics qualify you for this position?
ISSUES: What are the two (2) most pressing issues that you will face in the office that you seek? Describe your specific plans/ideas for addressing these issues.
Lauren Ashley Simmons
In my first legislative term, I worked hard, across party lines as necessary, and won more than $26 million in new investments for my district (half for TSU). The achievement that gives me the most pride, however, is HB107, my first bill. This bipartisan bill, a speaker priority, sets up the state’s first sickle cell registry, a major step toward expanding research, improving care and saving lives. As I understand it, passing a priority bill as a freshman in the minority party is unheard of. For this and other work, the House Democratic Caucus honored me as “Freshman of the Year”. I’m the founder and chairwoman of the Labor and Workforce Caucus. I want to build on this experience and accomplish more in my second term.
First, state politicians have limited our voting rights, taken over HISD, and even eliminated minority and women-owned business rights. They've censored what we can teach our kids and are removing “DEI” programs and curriculum at universities. They’re trying to reinstate mass incarceration policies. I will continue to use every tool at my disposal, including extraordinary actions like the quorum break I was a part of, to fight back. Second, public school students and families are being harmed by the TEA takeover, Gov. Abbott’s voucher program, and the ongoing attacks on public school teachers. I got my start as an elected official by fighting Mike Miles and the unjust TEA. I'll never stop fighting for our teachers, kids, and schools.
New Paragraph
