Taking Texas to the Oval Office
Ken Paxton and I had an incredible meeting with President Trump on Tuesday in the Oval Office. The President loves Texas.
We had a great conversation with the President. Not only is he laser-focused on the Iran War and the economy, but he has also done an excellent job revitalizing and restoring the West Wing, the Oval Office, and all of D.C. for the 250th celebration of our nation.
With the National Guard on patrol in Washington, D.C., crime in the city has also been significantly reduced.
Our nation’s capital has never looked better.
The President shared this piece of artwork with me in the Oval Office.
President Trump knows how to paint a picture like no one else.
An Evening in the Rose Garden
On Wednesday, I attended a presidential dinner in the White House Rose Garden with the President’s appointed chairs of his major commissions. The President upgraded the Rose Garden with marble instead of grass. President Trump is restoring and revitalizing the White House after Biden let it fall into disrepair for four years.
I serve as Chair of the President’s Commission on Religious Liberty.
HUD Cabinet Secretary Scott Turner, a longtime Texas friend, former Texas House member, and Washington Redskins defensive standout, sat with me during the dinner. He’s an awesome man of God.
The President spoke and joined the dinner a few tables away.
The Truth About Alzheimer’s in Texas
Honored to receive the Alzheimer’s Association Humanitarian of the Year Award for my work to pass SB 5, establishing DPRIT
I am very proud of Senate Bill 5, a bill I wrote last legislative session that established the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT). DPRIT is focused on Alzheimer’s research in Texas.
Texas is #3 in the nation in Alzheimer’s diagnoses, and #2 in deaths related to Alzheimer’s disease. I took on this issue because I’ve seen the pain and suffering this terrible disease causes for our families. Alzheimer’s doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed; it affects the families who stand beside them.
Hispanics have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease than the general population. We need to find out why. Of the 27 top counties in Texas for Alzheimer’s, 23 are on or near the border.
I wasn’t looking to receive an award. But on Monday, I was honored to accept the Alzheimer’s Association Humanitarian of the Year Award for my work to pass SB 5, which established DPRIT. Over 1,000 delegates were at the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 Advocacy Forum, with over 50 delegates from Texas.
Because of DPRIT, Texas will be a national leader in Alzheimer’s research. I am proud of what we’re building together, right here at home. I want to thank former Speaker Tom Craddick for being my partner in the House in passing this momentous legislation, which commits $300 million per year for 10 years to Dementia research and prevention.
Texas voters overwhelmingly approved the constitutional amendment creating DPRIT last year.
What Germany Gets Right About Religious Education
Also on Wednesday, I met with the German Consul General at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., to discuss the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty. Interestingly enough, in Germany, all students are required to take a religious or ethics class every year starting in elementary school. She was surprised that American schools do not require it. I told her about Senate Bill 10, the 10 Commandments bill, and SB 11, the school prayer bill, that both passed last legislative session in Texas.
P.S., Look for a special email tomorrow for an exclusive tour of the White House!
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