Senator Molly Cook of Texas unveiled her "Nurse First" legislative agenda at a press conference held at the State Capitol in Austin. The agenda is informed by her background in public health and emergency room experience, as well as input from constituents in Senate District 15.
Senator Cook's policy priorities are structured around six main pillars: access to healthcare, safe homes and infrastructure, a clean environment, opportunity through education, belonging and connection, and healthy and fair systems. She emphasized the importance of affordable healthcare, quality housing, environmental care, public education, community connection, and government transparency.
The legislative packages under this agenda include:
1. Expanding CPR and AED Access Package:
- SB 1550 focuses on CPR instruction in schools.
- SB 1551 mandates accessible AEDs in schools.
Dr. Lisa Weiss commented on this package: "Even if you know CPR, in a crisis, it can be hard to think straight. Training young people to respond with confidence will save lives."
2. Transportation Safety & Health Package:
- SB 1768 involves health impact assessments for transportation projects.
- SB 2092 establishes a highway construction mitigation program.
- SB 1770 accommodates various road users.
Michael Moritz said: "Good transportation planning prioritizes people’s health and safety."
3. Housing Package:
- SB 882 addresses tenant-landlord rights.
- SB 759 requires fee disclosures by landlords.
4. Protecting Youth from E-Cigarettes Package:
- Includes multiple bills like SB 1313-1317 focusing on advertising restrictions and age limitations for tobacco products.
Dr. Audrey Nath remarked: "The developing brain has a special susceptibility to addictions."
5. Hurricane Beryl Recovery & Preparedness Package:
- Includes bills like SB 1312-271 focused on power service during emergencies.
Edna Griggs said: "Hurricane Beryl showed us how unprepared we are for extreme weather."
6. Criminal Justice Reform Package:
- Includes bills like SB 2263 addressing out-of-state prisoner duties.
Sarah Knight shared: "My son Jaleen Anderson was rendered invisible when he died pretrial."
7. LGBTQ+ Rights Package:
- Includes bills like SB 1765-2723 focused on discrimination prevention and rights evaluation.
Austin Ruiz noted: "Our rights and culture in the LGBTQ+ community are repeatedly attacked."
8. Women’s Healthcare Package:
- Includes bills like SB 2094-2768 focused on healthcare services access.
9. Education and Opportunity Package:
- Includes bills like SB 1764-1767 focusing on school accountability and nurse employment.
10. Anti-Corruption Package:
- Includes bills like SB 2261-2889 addressing campaign contributions and financial disbursements.
For further details or interviews regarding Senator Cook's legislative plans, Daphne Alcala can be contacted via email at daphne.alcala@senate.texas.gov.
Information from this article can be found here.
