FORT BEND STRONG

Photo source: fortbendcountytx.gov.

“It ain’t bragging if it’s true.”

Anonymous Texas quote Every time a colleague asked me questions like these, a big Fort Bend Strong smile appeared on my face. My answers were facts we all know. Our H owdy, y’all! Welcome to a new, regular Having the honor of being the elected United States Congressman for nearly all of Fort Bend County for twelve years, I have a unique perspective on why we economy? Booming. Our job creation? Explosive. Our recovery from Harvey? Great. Our public schools? Outstanding and diverse. Terrible roads? Nope. column in the absolutely! are Fort Bend Strong. It comes from be- Dependent on money from Washington? focus media family of ing one of 36 Members of Congress from Huh?!? magazines. We’re calling Texas and one of 441 Representatives They would all shake their heads in it Fort Bend Strong. Our from all 50 states, five territories and one federal district. disbelief, especially friends from California and New York. A few accused me of intent is to point out why One of the things Members of Con- bragging without facts. They really did. It Fort Bend County is the gress typically talk about is their home. became clear very quickly that my colgreatest place in the We ask a lot of questions. “Tell me about leagues’ reactions weren’t about unjustiUnited States to raise a the district you represent. How’s your local economy doing? Are you adding fied Texas bragging. They were about an overwhelming jealousy of Texas. family, start a business, jobs? How are you doing with recov- Since Texas jealousy rages in every and chase your ery from natural disasters – hurricanes, other state in the United States, we felt it American Dream. That’s floods, tornadoes, fires, etc.? Are your was important that y’all have the necesFort Bend Strong! public schools in trouble? Are your roads one massive pothole? Do you ever wish sary tools to teach “the uninformed” why Texas is so special. Even some of our your home wasn’t so dependent on dol- Texas neighbors who don’t live in Fort lars coming from Washington, DC?” Bend County are jealous of Fort Bend. Fort Bend Strong is a way to correct these misguided attitudes. Each Fort Bend Strong column will share real stories about real Fort Bend residents – ordinary neighbors who respond to life’s challenges in a self-sacrificing manner that makes all of us better – Fort Bend Strong. Some of these stories may bring tears of Fort Bend pride to your eyes. That’s Okay – that’s Fort Bend Strong. You can help. If you have a Fort Bend Strong story, please send it to pete@ absolutelyfocusmedia.com. Fort Bend Strong is not about politics. If you want political viewpoints and comments, feel free to watch MSNBC or Fox News. Our columns will be only positive and only about us. Fort Bend Courthouse in Richmond. We are Fort Bend Strong!