(UPDATE- 1:36 PM) — Senator César Blanco has released the following statement on being selected to serve of the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty:
“I’m grateful to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick for the opportunity to serve on this committee. Religious liberty is a fundamental right protected by the First Amendment and remains a cornerstone of our democracy. As a Navy veteran, I took an oath to defend the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. That includes the right of every Texan, regardless of faith or belief, to practice freely, without interference and without having another set of beliefs imposed on them. My focus will be on upholding the Constitution and ensuring religious liberty is protected equally for all. We have a responsibility to approach this work with fairness, respect, and a clear commitment to the rights of every Texan.”
AUSTIN, Texas (KVIA)- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick created the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty Monday to be chaired by Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford.
The committee is meant to find ways to educate Texans on their religious liberty rights, according to Lt. Governor Patrick.
Lt. Governor Patrick issued the following statement on the creation of the committee:
“For the past year, I have had the honor of serving as Chairman of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission in Washington, D.C. Through the Commission’s important work, I have learned that many Americans, and Texans alike, do not fully understand their God-given religious liberty rights secured under the First Amendment. Today, I am appointing the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty to find ways to educate Texans on their religious liberty rights and to make sure Texans do not have those rights infringed upon.”
The following are the Senators that were chosen for the committee:
Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, Chair
Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Vice Chair
Sen. César Blanco, D-El Paso
Sen. Brent Hagenbuch, R-Denton
Sen. Adam Hinojosa, R-Corpus Christi
Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Tyler
Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock