Albert Witliff
DemocraticQ1 In June 2026, USDA confirmed New World screwworm in Texas livestock for the first time in decades; as of early July, dozens of infestations have been confirmed across South Texas (USDA APHIS , 2026). USDA estimates a full-scale outbreak comparable to past infestations could cost the regional economy billions of dollars (USDA APHIS). What policies, if any, would you support to respond to the current outbreak and improve Texas’s agricultural biosecurity (practices and safeguards that prevent pests and diseases from spreading through livestock populations), and what evidence or considerations would inform that approach?
It is important we continue to support the use of the sterile insect technique to manage New World screwworm populations in Texas and across North America. Additionally, continued research in insect traps and development of vaccines and treatments for livestock could mitigate risk of infestation. One resource for information is the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension which researches and communicates best-practices in agriculture.
Keywords: Sterile insect technique; vaccines; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Q2 Texas is on track to become the nation’s leading data center market within the next three years (Bloom Energy, 2026). The state’s grid operator has more than doubled its 2030 forecast for data center power demand over the past year (ERCOT, 2025). Such growth brings economic opportunity while placing significant demands on water, land, and energy systems, raising questions about tax incentives, utility costs, and local community impacts. What policies, if any, would you support around water/energy allocation, tax incentives, or utility costs for data center development in Texas, and what evidence informs that position?
People are rightly concerned about the rapid growth of these projects when we don’t have a clear picture of the impact to the grid and water system. Data centers should pay their fair share for the infrastructure and resources they require to develop - not burden Texans. The University of Houston has researched, modeled, and synthesized data into recommendations for sustainable data center development.
Keywords: Not burden Texans, sustainable
Q3 Texas faces flooding while simultaneously experiencing water scarcity driven by drought, groundwater depletion, and population growth (TWDB, 2024). Hundreds of Texas waterways are listed as impaired for bacteria, mercury, and other pollutants, threatening water quality for communities across the state (TCEQ, 2024). Agriculture is the largest consumer of the state’s groundwater, yet it is also well positioned to be a valuable partner in conservation efforts. What policies, if any, would you support to improve Texas’s water infrastructure, and what considerations would guide your approach to the state’s agricultural economy?
Water conservation and fixing aging infrastructure will go a long way to ensuring Texans have enough water. Working with the Texas Water Development Board, we must invest in the most impactful infrastructure projects to conserve the water we already have and prudently manage our supply for the future.
Keywords: Conservation; infrastructure
Q4 The Texas power grid continues to face strain from extreme heat and increasing demand, including from data centers. What policies, if any, would you support to improve grid reliability for Texas consumers and businesses?
Texas can improve grid reliability and lower costs by embracing our abundant, renewable sources of energy rather than using them as a scapegoat. This year, wind and solar power have helped us avoid scarcity even during extreme heat. We also need to modernize our energy transmission system and explore interconnection with national power grids to keep the lights on in our homes.
Keywords: Renewable energy; avoid scarcity
Q5 Texas universities and hospitals receive approximately $1.9 billion annually in NIH funding across 118 research sites, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and driving medical and scientific innovation (FASEB, 2025). NIH grants reimburse institutions for both direct research costs and indirect costs, the facilities, administration, and support infrastructure that make research possible. A 15% indirect cost cap proposed by NIH in 2025, currently blocked by federal courts, would sharply reduce this reimbursement below the rates Texas institutions have negotiated, cutting an estimated $300 million in annual support that institutions would need to absorb or backfill (Kamerlin & Elias, 2025). What policies, if any, would you support at the state or federal level to protect the long-term stability of Texas’s research infrastructure, and why?
Fortunately, the proposed 15% NIH indirect cost cap was permanently blocked earlier this year. At the state level, it is important for the legislature to continue funding for our public universities to conduct research and maintain endowments that endure beyond the 2-year budget cycle.
Keywords: Fund public university research; maintain endowments
Q6 Texas kindergartners’ measles vaccination rate fell to 93.24% in the 2024-2025 school year, a decline from prior years amid a national resurgence (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2025). That year, Texas recorded 762 confirmed measles cases, including the deaths of two unvaccinated school-age children, in the state’s largest outbreak since 1992 (Texas DSHS, 2025). Measles can cause serious complications: roughly 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who contract it are hospitalized, and it can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, or death (CDC). As a policymaker, how do you approach engaging with communities that have concerns about infectious disease outbreaks and vaccine safety, and what policies, if any, would you support related to these issues, and why?
Unfortunately, bulwarks of public health are facing political attacks in our country. When engaging with communities that do have concerns, it is helpful to work with a trusted messenger in that community and to provide evidence-based education and resources calmly. I would support a narrowing of vaccine exemptions and require a higher threshold for the exemption to be granted.
Keywords: Trusted sources; evidence-based education
Q7 Scientific evidence is generated through the systematic testing and evaluation of ideas. It provides knowledge the helps us understand the world and predict the likely consequences of different choices, such policy making related to public health, energy, agriculture, and environmental regulation. What role, if any, should scientific evidence and expert input play in your policymaking process, and how would you evaluate competing or uncertain scientific claims when making policy decisions? What role, if any, should that process play when scientific consensus and public opinion diverge?
Scientific evidence supported with facts and expert input will be key to my policymaking process. When evaluating competing or uncertain claims, I would consider the sources of the data and try to understand the underlying data behind the claim. When scientific consensus and public opinion diverge, it is key to share scientific facts through a story or experience people can connect with. Scientists find the evidence, and good legislators use the information to construct policy and message the information to their constituents.
Keywords: Facts and evidence to support decisions