By Jamie Culley, Republican candidate for U.S. House District 13

Hello Everyone and Happy Thanksgiving in the 13th Congressional District!

I am Jamie Culley, your Congressional candidate. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to spend with family and friends. We’re celebrating Thanksgiving in Fort Worth with family as you are whether in Texas or other parts of the world. I am looking forward to talking with you individually or in town hall meetings.

My family and I are blessed to be spending this time with one another talking about family traditions, and the freedoms afforded to us. As I gathered signatures in Wichita Falls and many other communities, I have met and talked with wonderful people who proclaim the same patriotic sentiments with certain unalienable Rights afforded to us under the Bill of Rights and additional Amendments in conjunction with our Constitution. I am an unrelenting conservative constitutionalist for our Bill of Rights to remain in place, unmolested, guaranteed 232 years ago. Today, it is trampled on amid absurd violations of the Constitution in our daily news.

My family and I want to express our gratitude to our President, military, first responders, and their families for the sacrifices they make daily, protecting our nation and protecting the citizens of the 13th Congressional District. As one who loves Wichita Falls, I will work assiduously to ensure the economy in the 13th Congressional District is growing for your families’ welfare.

As you know, our district is one of the largest in the State. The 13th Congressional is larger than 13 states combined - as large as Kentucky. Our district is as uniquely diverse as it is large. Our local economies are well diversified. In Wichita Falls, our economy is supported by the “Sheppard Air Force Base as the largest employer representing approx. 20% of our local economy – $1.1 billion.” Through teaming with ongoing advocacy work led by the Sheppard Military Affairs Committee (SMAC), I will seek out programs to stimulate growth and military programs for our airmen, both active and retired, and the continued safety of our Air Force members.

For a small business dealing with government sectors, the federal procurement process may appear to be overwhelming throughout the solicitation process alone. It is important to develop simplified steps to establish strong relationships between suppliers and governmental organizations. Programs exist to bridge this gap. I will champion bringing parties together to take advantage of the Small Business Administration’s programs, targeting Historically Under-utilized Business Zones (HUB Zones) throughout the district. I would support federal funds to the local communities to ensure businesses dependent on government contracts have the opportunity to pursue these contracts with available federal training programs. Rural market-based businesses utilizing government programs yield higher successes for the U.S. economy.

In Amarillo, the predicted GDP economic growth is 3.9%. It is always a goal to increase economic growth for a community by increasing employment opportunities. Amarillo’s renewable wind industry is expected to represent most of the 17% of all energy generation in Texas. This industry is viewed as a benchmark for this energy sector with more than 13,000 industrial turbines in the state. However, the industry needs fossil fuel backing it up. It takes years to undergo approval through the burdensome regulatory process. Streamlining these bureaucracies benefits the Amarillo region as well as removing the carbon tax.

For Texas’ $6.3B Foreign exports, Amarillo’s history embraces global trade for the US economy in petroleum, coal products, and manufacturing exports, by lifting crude oil’s 1975 exportation ban in 2015, it is expected to reduce the “trade deficit by $22.3B in 2020.” Additionally, opportunities exist to leverage emerging market. Cotton and beef dominate exports in our unique district. These are some of the sectors to focus our attention on.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!