Tx House Representative: Larry Gonzales

Amanda Ryley Beauregard

  GOVT 2306 MW/9:00am-10:20am

Part I.  Texas State House of Representative

TX House Representative: Larry Gonzales

Party Affiliation:                  Republican

District:                          52

Contact Info:                         1801 East Old Settlers Blvd.   Round Rock, TX 78664     512-248-2558
Committee
Membership:                        Appropriations, Technology, Local & Consent Calendars, Redistricting, Government                                                 Transparency & Operation      

1) My Texas House Representative, Larry Gonzales, was elected into office in 2010. Gonzales, having served a two year term, will be up for reelection in 2016. He has served in this position for five years.

2) My representative, Larry Gonzales, has co-authored C.S.H.B. 440 that says its goal is to make adaptive curricula more widely available for those students with physical disabilities in each school district that offers kindergarten through grade 12. Adaptive curriculum encompasses the same components associated with physical education, providing safe, personally satisfying, and successful experiences for students of varying abilities. I find this bill very important because each child, especially while in grade school, absolutely needs some type of physical activity each day. Those with disabilities are given alternative options to participate in physical activities; such as: team building, learning to jump rope, brisk walking, stretching, aquatics, dance, etc. I firmly agree with this bill because students with disabilities who engage in physical activities, develop motor skills, become more self-discipline, strengthen their relationship with peers, and improve self-confidence and self-esteem. In fact, any child who participates in physical activities can overcome these obstacles, not just children with disabilities. As stated on oregonlive.com, Matt Peckinpah said his son Jesse’s improvements are very slow, but he's noticed a difference in the little things. He’s noticed that his son is physically getting faster. Jesse, 11, is developmentally delayed and doesn't talk, but he seems to enjoy the class. "There is an opportunity for him to find his strength in adaptive PE and experience some happiness," he said.  If I could make a change to this bill, I would make it mandatory for all schools to implement adaptive curriculum into their physical education because it should be diversified and include developmental and remedial activities. Having the adaptive curriculum can inspire many children with disabilities to do the activities and not look at themselves as different and helpless. Having a disability does not stop a person from performing physical activities, it just means, they must work a little harder to get the same outcome as students without disabilities. Schools without the mandatory adaptive curricula, make it much easier for disabled children to think they can’t do something or that it’s too hard for them to do, and that is why they feel neglected, different, and don’t have any self-confidence. This bill can truly change a disabled person’s outlook on things, and let them know they can do anything they work hard for and put their mind to.

My representative, Larry Gonzales, has co-authored H.B. 21 that says patients with certain terminal illnesses should have access to certain investigational drugs, biological products, and devices that are in clinical trials. This bill is extremely important because patients with a terminal illness do not have the luxury of waiting until an investigational drug, biological product, or device receives final approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The goal of investigational drugs is to introduce new therapies to clinical medicine by assessing benefits and risks associated with administering the new drug. Benefit assessment is performed with respect to the disease for which the drug may comprise an effective treatment. Though these methods and techniques are not FDA approved, they often benefit the patient or they are not effective. The use of available investigational drugs, biological products, and devices is a decision that should be made by the patient with a terminal illness in consultation with the patient's physician, and is not a decision to be made by the government. According to life extension.com, in May 2003, an announcement emanating from the Yale University School of Medicine stated that phenoxodiol induced 100% cell death in ovarian cancer cell lines, including those cells resistant to chemotherapy drugs such as Taxol® and carboplatin. While a number of studies of phenoxodiol are currently underway, it remains unapproved. People are constantly going through these clinical trials because modern FDA options aren’t working. These techniques are less brutal and are very beneficial, and if not, majority of the time, there is no effect to testing these drugs. I solidly agree with this bill because of the indefinite potential they have to fight patients diseases, or even completely cure them. With this bill being passed, there is an exponential amount of lives that could be saved. This bill should remain unchanged, because if these drugs can save a persons life and make them feel just as an FDA approved drug would, then why not let these patients have access to the investigational drugs, biological products, and devices that are in clinical trials? The FDA has an archaic process of approving these new drugs and treatments. They need to be more open minded and loosen their policies on the drugs that have the potential to be more beneficial to patients. H.B. 21 serves a rational, well thought purpose for terminally ill patients who would otherwise be forced into harsh treatments that don’t always have the most beneficial outcomes.

Part II.  Texas State Senator

TX State Senator:               Charles Schwertner

Party Affiliation:                  Republican

District:                          5

Contact Info:                         501 S. Austin Avenue   Georgetown, TX 78626     512-863-8456
                                Suite 1250

Committee
Membership:                        Finance, Administration, Business & Commerce, State Affairs

1) My Texas State Senator, Charles Schwertner, was elected into office in 2012. Schwertner, having served a four year term, will be up for reelection in 2019. He has served in this position for three years.