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TEXAS FRESHMAN IN CONGRESS SHARE LESSONS LEARNED, FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS, NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

December 24, 2019

WASHINGTON – Texas sent an unusually large freshman class to the House this year, with five new Republicans and four new Democrats joining the state's 36-member congressional delegation by way of open seats and Election Day upsets.

What a consequential — and often contentious — first year it has been.

Not only did the Democrat-run House vote along party lines to impeach a president for only the third time in American history. The chamber also took up weighty debates on everything from border security to a North American trade deal to prescription drug prices to voting rights.

With 2019 coming to a close, The Dallas Morning News reached out on a lighter note to every Texas first-termer to ask them what's been the most valuable lesson they've learned since entering office.

The News also used the opportunity to ping those lawmakers with some oddball questions, including queries about their favorite holiday tradition and their top non-political New Year's resolution. The House members were asked to answer at least five questions from a set of six.

Here's what the seven lawmakers who responded had to say:


What's the most valuable lesson you've learned during your first year in Congress?


Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas: "There are more points of agreement in Congress than it might appear from the outside. Watch a Veterans Affairs, Foreign Affairs, or Transportation and Infrastructure hearing, and you'll see broad areas of agreement."

Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso: "Your life is no longer your own."

Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston: "What the Constitution means to me and my country and why we have to protect it at all costs."

Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Terrell: "Before I got to Congress, my predecessor, Jeb Hensarling, told me that nothing ever starts on time in D.C., and I've saved myself lots of waiting around because of that advice."

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin: "There is no other place on earth that has more activity for less productivity than Congress."

Rep. Van Taylor, R-Plano: "Nobody is happy with the current system. Everyone is frustrated with the dysfunction and inability to accomplish even the most basic responsibilities of government. This is important because it means it can be fixed. … That and don't trust anyone that says there is good barbecue in D.C. or any other state's queso recipe."

Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington: "Don't sign up too early. A bipartisan bill a member may support early in the process may be added to a larger bill later that they are ultimately forced to oppose."


What do you find yourself missing most from back home while you're in D.C.?


(Editor's note: The News asked them to set aside family, friends and constituents.)

Allred: "Top Pot donuts and dinner at Gloria's and Cafe Momentum."

Escobar: Her cats, including Baby, Cremito and Princess.

Garcia: "I miss Tex-Mex the most."

Gooden: "Mexican food and barbecue and a vehicle. I walk or ride the Metro most places."

Roy: "Texas country music and barbecue."

Taylor: "The common sense of Texans and the lunch specials at Taverna Rossa."

Wright: "Good Tex-Mex."


What's your favorite holiday tradition?

Allred: "Eating tamales on Christmas and black-eyed peas for New Year's."

Escobar: "On Christmas morning, ever since the kids were little, we get up very, very early, make a big pot of coffee, open gifts, and listen to a Charlie Brown Christmas."

Garcia: "Attending Christmas Mass with family, then returning home to eat tamales and/or menudo."

Gooden: "Being with family is the only tradition I need. All in the last month my wife and I welcomed a new daughter into the world, and a few weeks later, my father passed away. So I'm just happy to be home for a few weeks and be with those I love."

Taylor: "There is something really special about attending the Christmas Eve service with my wife and three daughters. This time of year can be busy and stressful and the service the evening before serves as an important reminder of what this season is really about and a great way to reflect upon the past year."

Roy: "Christmas Eve service at church."

Wright: "The multiple family get-togethers, being able to see my grandchildren and eating things that are bad for me."


What's your top non-political New Year's resolution?


Allred: "To introduce my son, Jordan, to baseball and to make it to a Rangers game in the new stadium with him."

Escobar: "Always to try to eat healthier. And every year, I fail in that mission."

Garcia: "To be better to myself in terms of self-care, rest and reading."

Gooden: "I've lost 15 pounds in three months by eating better. I'm adding exercise to the mix starting next year."

Roy: "More Bible, more family and more beer. What I mean by that is to take time to worship, spend more time with family and remember to take a breath every now and again."

Taylor: "To be more present during the time I have to spend with my three daughters. They're all at fun ages right now and growing up so fast. I want to soak up all of the time with them I can."

Wright: "Stop eating things that are bad for me, which goes along with my favorite holiday tradition."

Which non-Texan in Congress have you bonded with most? Why him or her?

Allred: Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich. "Haley and I are co-presidents of the freshman class but also very good friends. We share many of the same priorities and have a similar approach to consensus-building politics. She is also one of the funniest members of Congress."

Escobar: "The Texan is Sylvia Garcia, who is my compañera. The non-Texan is Debbie Mucarsel-Powell [D-Fla.]. The three of us have really bonded because we're Latinas, we're on [the House] Judiciary [Committee], and Judiciary this year has really been intense."

Garcia: Rep. Chuy Garcia, D-Ill. "We have developed a great friendship. We refer to each other as the ‘Garcia Caucus.' While a movie has already been made by the name of ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,' the Garcia Caucus can wait for the updated ‘The Garcias Go to Washington.'

Roy: Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. "He has a lot of interests outside of Congress, including a healthy desire to exist off the grid and living off the land … He is an extremely principled rep."

Taylor: He couldn't narrow down his list. "Congress gets a bad reputation, but I have been impressed with so many of the men and women I have met."


What's the coolest Washington place you've visited or experience you've had since coming to D.C.?

Escobar: "Recently we had a staff dinner at Oyamel," a restaurant owned by chef José Andrés. "That is not just a beautiful restaurant with great food, but I love supporting a chef who is a national treasure."

Garcia: "The spectacular view from the Speaker's balcony. You experience such a sense of place and history, overlooking the Mall and all its tranquil beauty."

Gooden: "Flying with President Trump on Air Force One to Dallas for his rally was pretty cool. He's the same in person as he is when the cameras are around, and it was a great day."

Roy: Arlington National Cemetery Easter sunrise service.

Wright: "Being able to meet with students from the 6th District and, when possible, giving them a personal tour of the United States Capitol. There is nothing more fun than that."