WINK — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) joined Winkler County Judge Charles M. Wolf on Tuesday to celebrate the Winkler County Airport for receiving the state’s 2022 Most Improved Airport Award.

“Achievements like this are not possible without hard work and determination, something we have in spades out here in Winkler County,” Landgraf said. “Judge Wolf, members of the commissioners court and Winkler County employees are doing the work that needs to be done, making investments in their community with future generations in mind. It’s an honor to work alongside dedicated elected officials like Judge Wolf who truly care about serving their constituents and improving quality of life.”

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) presents the Most Improved Airport Award annually to the airport that has seen the most significant improvements thanks to local efforts and initiatives. Over the last five years, the Winkler County Airport has been transformed with renovation work on the terminal building, including a new AC system, complete roof replacement, and repairs to electrical and sanitation systems. Winkler County has invested more than $2 million to achieve these improvements.

“I’m grateful to receive this award from the state and appreciate TxDOT for recognizing the good work that has been done on our airport in recent years,” Winkler County Judge Wolf said. “We’ve made it a priority to improve our transportation infrastructure across the board here in Winkler County so that we can continue to be a hub for the state’s robust oil and gas industry long into the future.”

The Winkler County Airport started as a dirt runway before becoming a military training base during World War II. The airport is a key piece of the region’s infrastructure, serving as a landing spot for aircraft traveling from across the country, including the military and international businesses. Winkler County is uniquely situated near the center of the Permian Basin – the world’s most productive oilfield.

ODESSA — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has been endorsed for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives by the Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA) Political Action Committee.

“As state representative, I swore an oath to preserve and protect the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution,” Landgraf said. “I take that oath seriously, and have endeavored to take every opportunity to defend the constitutional rights of Texans as a result. It’s an honor to have TSRA’s endorsement based on my work to preserve and protect Second Amendment rights here in Texas.”

TSRA is considered the premier firearms association in Texas, with tens of thousands of members from across the state, including individuals from all walks of life who have a common goal in protecting the rights of the law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. The TSRA Political Action Committee works to educate elected officials, the media, and the general public about issues relating to the freedoms guaranteed by the Second Amendment and the Texas Constitution.

“Representative Landgraf has fought for the Second Amendment rights of Texans since the moment he first took the oath of office,” TSRA executive director Dianna Greenwood said. “He’s a leader in the Texas House, especially when it comes to the constitutional rights of Texans. TSRA is proud to endorse Representative Landgraf for re-election knowing full well he will continue to defend our constitutional right to bear arms in Texas.”

During the 2021 Texas legislative session, Landgraf supported efforts to expand the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Texans by co-authoring House Bill 2622 to make Texas a Second Amendment sanctuary state and supported House Bill 1927, also known as “Constitutional Carry.” Both bills were signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.

“I’ll continue standing strong for the right of law-abiding Texans to be able to defend themselves and protect their families,” Landgraf continued. “Texas now has some of the strongest 2A protections in the nation. I’m proud to live in a state where freedom and personal responsibility are prioritized, and I’ll keep working hard to make sure it stays that way.”

In addition to being endorsed by the TSRA PAC, Landgraf has also secured an “A” rating and endorsement from the National Rifle Association (NRA) for the 2022 primary and general elections. Landgraf is the only candidate in his race with those distinctions.

ODESSA — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has been endorsed for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives by the Texas Oil & Gas Association Good Government Committee, the Texas Alliance Oil & Gas Political Action Committee and the Oil & Gas Workers Association.

“Born and raised in the Permian Basin, I have a deep understanding and appreciation for the importance of the Texas oil and gas industry,” Landgraf said. “As I’ve said many times before, the Permian Basin is the goose that lays the golden egg for Texas. I’m blessed to be able to call the oil patch home and I’ll keep fighting to protect Texas energy jobs no matter what.”

Landgraf was appointed chairman of the powerful House Environmental Regulation Committee in 2021. As chairman, Landgraf killed Green New Deal legislation that would harm the Texas oil and gas industry, refusing to allow any such bill to get a hearing or pass out of his committee.

Landgraf also authored and passed House Bill 4472 to allow industry and innovation to flourish without the threat of shutdown from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Clean Air Activism–policy that allows Texas to balance its environment and economy in a way that’s beneficial to both.

“Those on the left are cutting off their nose to spite their face by attempting to phase out oil and gas production in the name of the environment,” Landgraf continued. “I will not stand idly by as our state and nation are made weaker and more dependent on foreign powers. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander: strengthening the Permian Basin oil and gas industry is in the best interest of the Great State of Texas and the United States of America. Period.”

In addition to passing HB 4472 and killing Green New Deal bills in 2021, Landgraf filed HB 1683 to prohibit any state resources from being used to implement or enforce new federal oil and gas regulations that are not already on the books. HB 1683 passed out of the Texas House of Representatives by a vote of 110 to 33, but failed to pass out of the Senate before the conclusion of the regular session. Landgraf is committed to refiling the legislation in 2023. 

“Energy independence is within our grasp, and we owe it to everyone from our Founding Fathers to future generations yet unborn to achieve this goal. I’ll keep my nose to the grindstone, using that work ethic I learned growing up in dusty, hot West Texas to protect Permian Basin jobs and secure energy independence for our children’s children,” Landgraf concluded.

ODESSA — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has been endorsed for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives by Texas Alliance for Life.

“Like most West Texans, I believe that every human life is a gift from God, and I’m unapologetically pro-life,” Landgraf said. “I’m thankful Texas Alliance for Life is part of the fight to protect the unborn in Texas and I’m proud to have their pro-life endorsement.”

Texas Alliance for Life is a nonprofit organization committed to protecting the fundamental right to life of all innocent human beings and to promoting respect for their value and dignity from the moment of conception until natural death. Dr. Joe Pojman is the founder and executive director of Texas Alliance for Life.

“State Representative Brooks Landgraf has been a champion for the unborn during his service to the state as a member of the Texas House of Representatives,” Dr. Pojman said. “His voting record speaks for itself, a man of faith and principle, Rep. Landgraf is someone we are proud to endorse in the 2022 primary and general elections. Texas needs more leaders like Brooks Landgraf.”

During the 2021 Texas legislative session, Landgraf supported several successful efforts to advance pro-life legislation including Senate Bill 8, also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act. SB 8, which Landgraf co-sponsored, prohibits abortions from being performed or induced after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, protecting unborn babies from abortion. Landgraf also co-authored House Bill 1280 in 2021, which completely protects unborn babies from abortion if the Supreme Court overturns critical Supreme Court cases Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. SB 8 and HB 1280 both passed and were signed into law by Governor Abbott. 

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done to protect the unborn in Texas,” Landgraf continued. “I’ll continue to work hard to see that any legislation that promotes life and protects the unborn is passed into law. That means protecting babies, of course, but also protecting mothers. I’m committed to doing what it takes to make Texas the best place to live, work and raise a family in the 21st century.”

In addition to aiding in the passage of HB 1280 and SB 8 in 2021, Landgraf filed and passed House Bill 902 in 2019, which increased the penalty for assaults against pregnant women to a third-degree felony to reflect that such a heinous act is a crime against both the mother and her unborn child. Prior to the passage of HB 902, assaults against pregnant women were treated like any other assault. During his time as state representative, Landgraf has also worked to provide additional funding for the state’s Alternatives to Abortion program, most recently supporting efforts to increase funding for the program by 25% to $100 million in the state budget for 2022-2023.

ODESSA — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has been endorsed for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives by Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis.

“Sheriff Griffs is dedicated to his community and serious about public safety,” Landgraf said. “It’s an honor to have his trust and confidence. I’ve supported law enforcement officers throughout my time as state representative, so I feel like I’m doing a good job when the county’s number one law man endorses me.”

During the 2021 legislative session, Landgraf filed House Bill 523 to allow county sheriffs in his district to be able to enforce commercial motor vehicle safety standards. This legislation was requested by sheriffs in Landgraf’s district, where heavy truck traffic from the energy industry brings both prosperity and public safety challenges to the region. County sheriffs and deputy sheriffs in the counties of Andrews, Ector, Ward, and Winkler are now eligible to apply for certification to enforce commercial motor vehicle safety standards thanks to Landgraf’s work in 2021.

“Representative Landgraf is a man of his word,” Sheriff Griffis said. “He walks the walk and talks the talk. He doesn’t just say he supports law enforcement, he takes action. He is the best man to represent our community in the Texas House.”

In addition to Sheriff Griffis’ endorsement, Landgraf has been endorsed for re-election by Ward County Sheriff Frarin Valle, Winkler County Sheriff Darin Mitchell and Andrews County Sheriff Rusty Stewart, meaning he has the support of every sheriff in his West Texas district.

“He’s a man of action, he gets things done and truly cares about law enforcement and doing what he can to keep people safe. He’s Permian Basin homegrown, and it shows. I know he has our back,” Ward County Sheriff Valle said of Landgraf. 

“Landgraf picks up the phone when I call and always acts fast to ensure we have everything we need from the state. We have a strong working relationship and a strong voice in the Texas House,” Winkler County Sheriff Mitchell said.

“Andrews County is thankful to have a state representative who is willing to go to bat for us. We have been well-represented by Representative Landgraf,” Andrews County Sheriff Stewart said.

Landgraf has also been endorsed for re-election in 2022 by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) and the Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA). In addition to authoring HB 523 and sponsoring SB 901 to support local law enforcement during the 87th Texas Legislative Session in 2021, Landgraf co-authored House Bill 1900 to penalize cities that try to defund their police departments. The bill eventually passed, going into effect on September 1, 2021.

Pictured from left to right: Andrews County Sheriff Stewart, Ector County Sheriff Griffis, Rep. Landgraf, Winkler County Sheriff Mitchell, Ward County Sheriff Valle

ODESSA — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) submitted a letter to Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath on Friday calling for a suspension of STAAR testing during the 2021-2022 school year.

“I’ve always opposed high-stakes testing,” Landgraf said. “We have all of the same reasons to suspend the STAAR test in 2022 that we had in 2020, only now there seems to be even greater mental health concerns in our public schools. We need to cancel administration of the STAAR test in 2022, and take what we’ve learned from the last few years to come up with a different assessment method for the future.”

In 2020, after receiving calls to cancel the STAAR test from Landgraf and other legislators, Commissioner Morath obtained waivers from the U.S. Department of Education to waive statewide assessment and accountability requirements for the 2019-2020 school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. States are required to assess student and teacher progress annually in order to draw down federal dollars for public education funding unless waivers are granted by the federal government.

“I understand that assessment is necessary, but the high stakes nature of our current system does not work, and that is especially true in times of crisis like we are experiencing now,” Landgraf continued. “That is why I have joined with West Texas students, parents and teachers in calling for the STAAR test to be cancelled in 2020, 2021, and now again in 2022, and why I will continue fighting to eliminate high stakes testing when the legislature reconvenes for the next legislative session.”

In 2021, Landgraf joint-authored House Bill 764, which would have reduced testing requirements as much as allowable by federal law, eliminating the writing tests for 4th and 7th graders as well as the social studies test for 8th graders and replacing end-of-course exams for high schoolers with a process to allow high school students to take the SAT or ACT instead. HB 764 passed out of the Texas House of Representatives with overwhelming support, 136-6, but was not taken up for consideration in the Texas Senate prior to the end of the 87th Texas Legislative Session. Members of the Texas House and Senate will convene at the Texas Capitol for the next legislative session on January 10, 2023.

ODESSA — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has been endorsed for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives by the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT).

“I’m always proud to Back the Blue. And it’s an honor to have them back me as I run for re-election,” Landgraf said. “The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas’ political action committee has endorsed me as their candidate in this election.”

Landgraf was informed of the endorsement in a letter, a portion of which reads, “The brave and courageous men and women of Texas law enforcement deserve representation, advocacy, and results they can count on. It is with pride that we endorse your campaign for State Representative of District 81.”

“CLEAT is the largest law enforcement organization in Texas, and they fight hard on the side of Texas police officers, sheriffs deputies, state troopers and other LEOs,” Landgraf continued. “I’m proud to be right there with them in that fight.”

During the 87th Texas Legislative Session in 2021, Landgraf co-authored House Bill 1900, a bill designed to penalize cities that try to defund their police departments. The bill eventually passed, going into effect on September 1, 2021.

ODESSA — The Texas Conservative Coalition is recognizing State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) for his leadership during the 87th Legislative Session and subsequent special sessions. 

The Texas Conservative Coalition is known as the “Conservative Caucus” of the Texas Legislature. Following each session, TCC recognizes Courageous Conservatives based on record votes taken during the session that adhere to the caucus’s principles of limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise, and traditional values. 

“Chairman Landgraf has one of the most conservative voting records in the Texas Legislature and is a steady, unwavering conservative voice in the Texas House of Representatives,” said State Representative James Frank (R- Wichita Falls) who chairs the Caucus, “Throughout the 87th Session and Special Sessions, Landgraf cut taxes, protected the unborn, defended the Second Amendment, prioritized securing our border, and stood strong in  Texas’ fight to protect Texans from the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates.”

“I’m 100% opposed to governments mandating COVID-19 vaccinations, and I believe that free people should be able to make the choice for themselves and their families,” Landgraf said. “That is why I have done everything within my constitutional authority as a state representative to fight back against the Biden administration’s unconstitutional COVID-19 vaccine mandates.”

Landgraf, coauthored House Bill 168 during the most recent session of the Texas Legislature to protect Texans from being forced to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine. 

In addition to his leadership as a lawmaker, Landgraf has signed multiple briefs to the U.S. Court of Appeals opposing the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates, including one that was spearheaded by the Texas Conservative Coalition. 

The State of Texas, through the Texas Attorney General, has challenged each federal COVID-19 mandate in court. Governor Greg Abbott, through executive order, has forbidden Texas government entities and businesses from forcing vaccine mandates on Texans. 

“I have supported and will continue to support the state’s successful legal challenges to vaccine mandates as the courts are the last venue available for this fight to play out absent a change in federal law,” Landgraf continued. “Like many Texans, I’m fed up with government overreach into our daily lives,” Landgraf said. “The Biden Administration has abandoned the limited government principles laid out in our Constitution.”

“If the governor exercises his constitutional prerogative—which only the governor has—to call a special session to further ban government mandates of the COVID-19 vaccine, I will proudly be there to again support that bill and vote for it,” Landgraf added.

ODESSA — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) joined U.S. Representative August Pfluger (TX-11), Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis, and Kevin Sparks in Del Rio on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, for an update on federal border security efforts and Operation Lone Star.

“We are a country that is guided by the rule of law, and out-of-control illegal immigration makes a mockery of this principle,” Representative Landgraf said. “That is why I'm proud to have supported efforts to improve border security at every turn and why I will not stop fighting until the Texas border is secure."

Representative Landgraf helped allocate an additional $2.9 billion for Texas border security operations in 2021-2022, and did so without raising or creating any new taxes. This funding paved the way for Operation Lone Star, a joint effort between the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas National Guard to prevent human smuggling and drug trafficking coming from Mexico into Texas. The operation deploys air, ground, marine, and tactical border security assets to high-threat areas along the border. Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, thousands of pounds of drugs such as meth, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl have been seized. DPS reports, the amount of fentanyl seized so far is enough to kill 36 million people. The operation has also resulted in over 185,000 apprehensions of illegal migrants.

"Where the Biden administration has failed to act, Texas has stepped up, and I’m proud to be a leader in our state’s fight," Representative Landgraf said. "After visiting Del Rio on Tuesday, I saw with my own eyes just how much more work needs to be done and I'm not going to let up."

"On this visit, we learned that the Del Rio sector saw more illegal migrant crossings in 2021 than in the past nine years combined," Congressman August Pfluger explained. "Without Texas’ border security resources, DPS officers, and law enforcement personnel—the chaos we are seeing along the border would be even worse. I applaud the efforts of the Texas Legislature—including Rep. Landgraf, Rep. Murr, Speaker Craddick, and others—as well as Ector County Sheriff Griffis and all of our law enforcement heroes in this district who are pitching in and working tirelessly to secure our border."

Texas is also picking up the slack when it comes to the border wall, providing $1 billion to finish the work halted by the Biden administration. Construction of the barrier, which is also being partially funded by private donations, is already underway on state owned land.

"It’s the federal government’s job to secure our border, but in Texas, we don’t ask for permission to defend our sovereignty and protect our communities—and we aren’t going to ask for forgiveness either," Representative Landgraf stated. "The brave men and women in uniform stationed at the border are heroes, making every Texan safer. They are catching some of the world’s worst criminals, preventing crimes before they happen and liberating countless children from the shackles of human trafficking."

Show your support for a secure Texas border by voting for State Representative Brooks Landgraf on March 1, 2022. Early voting for the Republican Primary Election runs February 14 - 25, 2022.

Brooks Landgraf has the support of Texas Law Enforcement across the state, with the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) endorsing Landgraf for reelection.

CLEAT's endorsement reads in part: “Because of your commitment to law enforcement and criminal justice issues and your public position regarding issues that will impact the rank-and-file officers in the state, the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, or CLEAT, has endorsed your candidacy for State Representative."