The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) hosted Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, one of the newest members of the Dallas Region’s congressional delegation, Monday, March 20, for its first Legislative Speaker Series event of 2023.
In keynote remarks and a conversation with DRC President and CEO Dale Petroskey, Rep. Crockett detailed her experience thus far as a freshman voice in the 118th U.S. Congress and what she hopes to accomplish representing U.S. House District 30 and the Dallas Region as a whole.
“It has been really tough, but it’s also been the most inspiring thing I could ever do,” Rep. Crockett said. “When I get to go home, visit with folks, and find out what they’re seeing about what’s going on in D.C. and get their impressions, it definitely gives me the motivation to keep going.”
Rep. Crockett previously served in the Texas of House of Representatives, an experience she believes prepared her well for working in a sometimes unpredictable environment.
“After going through the Texas House, I think I can deal with anything,” she said.
One of Rep. Crockett’s first actions after being sworn in was collaborating with other members of the region’s congressional delegation on a bipartisan letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to bring an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) headquarters to Pegasus Park in the Stemmons Freeway corridor. ARPA-H is a new federal science agency that will focus on finding biomedical innovations to cure major diseases, and as many as seven states are making the case to become home to its work.
“Here in Dallas, we are lucky to live in a region where scientific and medical research and innovation are invested in and celebrated,” Rep. Crockett said. “In Dallas, we’re not afraid of the future. We want to be on the cutting edge of medical breakthroughs and scientific research.”
Additionally, Rep. Crockett was selected to serve on the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture and the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, as well as the Democratic Freshman Leadership Representative.
Through her service on the Agriculture Committee, she is learning about and tackling the issues facing Texas’ farmers and food supply, including the topic of water conservation in both rural and urban areas.
“Urban America is having one conversation, while rural America is having another,” Rep. Crockett said, adding that she is working to have the committee host an additional listening session in an urban area. “The reality is we have to work together if we are going to survive.”
Lawmakers’ work on the 2023 Farm Bill—legislation passed every five years that sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy—will be critical for the committee, Rep. Crockett noted. She emphasized her commitment to ensuring every American family has equal access to quality food and protecting the country’s food supply through innovative partnerships.
“Protecting our food supplies and supply chains overall—whether it’s our food or medicine—can’t be done if we don’t support public-private partnerships,” Rep. Crockett. “I’m ready to work alongside the people of the Dallas business community to better the lives of the people of North Texas.”
The involvement of business leaders is critical to moving the needle on pressing issues, especially in Texas, she said.
“As you come up with these creative ideas about how to better connect our region, I want to know about it, I want to talk about it, and I want to see how I can support you – because if I support you, then that means I’m supporting my constituents.”
The congresswoman also assured attendees that she has every intention of continuing an important tradition established by Eddie Bernice Johnson, who represented District 30 for 30 years.
“When it comes to getting results for the people of Dallas, I intend to follow in the footsteps of my predecessor and work across the aisle to get things done,” Rep. Crockett said.
Toyota Motor North America is the presenting sponsor of the DRC’s Legislative Speaker Series. Waymo is a gold sponsor.
The DRC hosts hundreds of events each year; make plans to join us for more dynamic programming. Contact the Public Policy Team to learn how you can join advocacy efforts in Austin and Washington, D.C.