Rest in Peace, My Dear Friend
It is with great personal sadness that I’ve learned my friend and American icon, Chuck Norris, has passed away.
Chuck, his wife Gena, and I go back many years. Chuck was one of the first people to endorse me when I ran for the Texas Senate in 2007. He was a committed Christian and a rock-solid conservative.
In 2017, he and Gena had lunch with me at the Capitol on my birthday. They sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. I asked Chuck to cut the cake, and he did it only as Chuck Norris would. Our joke was that Chuck could cut the birthday cake with a karate chop and not get icing on his hand.
He was a true American success story. Injured in South Korea while serving in the military, he took up martial arts to help heal. Later, he trained movie stars in martial arts. Steve McQueen told him he should be an action star. The rest is history.
He became one of the most famous and recognizable people in the world. His martial arts movies and Walker, Texas Ranger were popular worldwide.
He was one of the finest people I’ve ever met. He was the best of the best in every way. He started the “Kickstart Kids” program in Texas schools, which taught kids the discipline of martial arts. He loved those kids.
I once asked him what his favorite Chuck Norris joke was (he loved those). He said, “When the boogeyman goes to sleep at night, he’s afraid Chuck Norris is in the closet.”
I don’t cry often, but today is an exception. I will miss him. Everyone who knew him will miss him, and so will his millions of fans.
I love you, Chuck! Please keep Gena and the Norris family in your prayers.
Religious Liberty Commission Holds Its Sixth Hearing on Healthcare and Social Services
The latest hearing of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission focused on healthcare, including foster care and social work, end of life issues, abortion and vaccinations. We heard heartbreaking testimony from doctors and nurses who lost their jobs over their religious beliefs and parents who were denied their rights.
This hearing, yet again, highlighted the need for our Commission and its important work.
Unsurprisingly, nearly all of these violations occurred in Democrat states during the Biden Administration.
Later this year, the Commission will deliver strong recommendations to President Trump to ensure believers never have their religious liberty rights violated again, whether in healthcare or any other facet of American society.
Click here to watch the hearing.
In Case You Missed It: My Conversation with Luke Macias
Primaries, Runoffs, and the Road Ahead…
ICYMI: I joined Luke Macias the week before last to discuss my priorities for next session and call for Republican unity following the primaries and runoffs. Click here to watch.
Thank you for all your support over the years and for everything you do to keep Texas red. May God bless you and your family, and may He continue to bless the greatest state of all—Texas.
Sincerely,
Dan Patrick
Lieutenant Governor of Texas