Rep. Brad Boles Column: Committee Work Picks Up Pace

Many committee and subcommittee meetings, in addition to several advocacy days and special visitors, made for a packed schedule at the Capitol this week.

I presented five of my bills before their committees this week, and I'm pleased that all five passed unanimously. This week was also the first meeting of the House Energy Committee, which I chair.

Next week, I hope to have two more bills heard and passed through their committees as well.

On Monday, I had the opportunity to meet with Coach Barry Switzer in my office. As a lifelong Sooner fan, I've always admired Coach Switzer's success on the football field. After having met him on Monday for the first time, I think he's a great guy as well!

Coach Switzer is now helping kids all across America with the National Child ID Program, which we discussed in our meeting.

Every year, more than 800,000 children in America go missing. Sadly, when the National Child ID Program began, less than 2% of parents had copies of their child's fingerprints to use in case of emergency.

The National Child ID Program provides tools to parents to collect their child's identifying information, including physical characteristics, fingerprints and DNA, in the event the information is needed by law enforcement to locate a missing child. It is important to note that the parents keep this important information in a safe place to access in the future if ever needed. You can find more information on the great work they do at childidprogram.com.

Thursday was Rose Day at the Capitol, which is always a very moving day. Every year, hundreds of people gather at the Capitol to promote and support the lives of unborn babies. They meet with their state legislators to discuss pro-life policies and present them with a red rose, which represents the sanctity of the unborn.

The Bible says in Psalm 139:13-16: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

It was great to see many people here from House District 51 at the pro-life rally. As your state representative, I will always stand for life and will continue to defend the rights of the unborn who have no voice.

Next week will be another full week of committee meetings. Monday, Feb. 21 is the deadline to pass bills out of the Appropriation & Budget (A&B) subcommittees. Bills that pass their A&B subcommittees are then eligible to be heard by the full A&B Committee, where they'll receive another vote before moving to the House floor. We'll likely start hearing a few more bills on the House floor as well.