Issues & Accomplishments

Leadership

  • Chair, Senate Committee on Education
  • Member, Senate Committee on Finance
  • Member, Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security
  • Co-Chair, Study Commission on Region C Water Supply
  • Board Member, Children’s Medical Center of Dallas
  • U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Presidential Appointee
  • Former Chair, Senate State Affairs Committee
  • President Pro Tempore, 2005
  • Governor for a Day, 2005
  • Former Chair, the Texas Senate Republican Caucus and was first female to lead a majority caucus in either party or either chamber of the Texas legislature
  • Namesake of the Florence Shapiro High School in McKinney, Texas
  • Paul Harris Rotary Fellow
  • Past President, North Central Texas Council of Governments
  • Past President, Texas Municipal League
  • Dallas CAN Academy, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2010
  • The Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Distinguished Service Award, 2010
  • Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) Friends of Education Award, 2010
  • The Bob Bullock Award for Public Stewardship
  • “Legislator of the Year Award” from The Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, 2008
  • “Jack Lowe Award for Community Leadership in Education” from The Dallas Bar Association, 2008
  • “Champion for Social Change Award” from the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, 2008
  • “Outstanding Legislator Award” from the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas, 2007
  • “Legislative Honor Roll” from the Texas Association of Realtors, 2005, 2007
  • “Fighter for Free Enterprise Award” from the Texas Association of Business, 2003, 2005, 2007
  • “Guardian of Free Enterprise” from the National Federation of Independent Business
  • “Property Rights Protector” from the Texas Builders Association
  • “Legislator of the Year” from the Texas Association of College Teachers
  • “Law and Order Award” from the Texas District and County Attorneys Association
  • “Legislative Star Award” from the Texas Classroom Teachers Association
  • “Distinguished Service Award” from the American Public Works Association

Results Through Leadership

  • Authored and championed “Ashley’s Laws” a series of bills that protect children against sex offenders who prey on children
  • Developed landmark legislation creating an innovative funding mechanism called the Texas Mobility Fund which has allowed Texas to expand our capacity to build roads
  • Developed and authored legislation creating the Emerging Technology Fund which provides funding to new, emerging technologies and helps promote business growth in Texas
  • Authored and carried Texas’ first homeland security legislation to coordinate communication and develop strategies to ensure effective response in the event of a terrorist attack
  • Played a key leadership role to pass the largest school property tax cut in Texas history while ensuring a commitment to providing more money for classrooms and teachers
  • Authored legislation to phase out the antiquated TAKS test and replace it with end-of-course exams so teachers are not forced to teach to the test.
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