Columns
Texas is the embodiment of freedom in the United States.
We are the most pro-business state in the country, with low taxes, fewer regulations and more freedom for entrepreneurs than anywhere across the United States. It is these principles that allow innovators to thrive and propel our world into the future.
Small businesses are the heartbeat of our nation and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected them in an extraordinary way.
I come to Congress from a retail background, where your livelihood depends on face to face interaction. Though adjustments have been made to keep doors open for the better part of 2020, Central Texas business owners have been dealt a harsh blow with further uncertainty on the horizon.
Our nation is facing a challenge unlike anything we've ever seen. There's no question that our way of life has been disrupted due to this invisible enemy and while there is no rule book on how to overcome a global pandemic in the modern era, I remain focused on providing the resources to restore, rebuild and renew the Texan way of life so we emerge stronger than ever.
Copperas Cove Leader Press
By Congressman Roger Williams
Expanding Access to Telehealth Services
Telehealth access is critical now more than ever as medical professionals have largely adapted to screening and appointments via technology so they can continue caring for patients when face to face visits pose too high a health risk. In our rural areas, this is even more significant as remote visits can mean the difference between life and death when there isn't enough time to drive to a clinic or hospital.
Fentanyl and synthetic opioid overdoses caused over 50,000 deaths last year alone in the United States and they continue to scourge communities nationwide. This epidemic is personal and doesn't discriminate based on age, location or wealth – it tears families apart and will keep plaguing our nation until we are able to eradicate it completely.
Texas farmers and ranchers are essential to keep America's food supply secure, working around the clock to keep food on our tables. Every sector of the agriculture industry has been adversely affected: row crops, livestock, dairy, specialty and horticultural crops, and produce. Despite facing devastating losses as a result of COVID-19, they've demonstrated a commitment and resolve to which we should all be grateful.
The Austin American-Statesman
By Congressman Roger Williams
Williams: Music venues are part of our fabric. They need our help.
This unprecedented health crisis has underscored the crucial role high-speed internet plays in our society as citizens depend on it for quality health care, remote work capabilities and continuing education during a forced government shutdown. The uptick in activity and heavier reliance on an internet connection since March has been noticeable across all sectors of our economy and in nearly every home. And none more so than in our rural communities.
The Washington Examiner
Congressman Roger Williams
Opinion: Rural health providers need relief
Rural hospitals are a crucial component in the U.S. healthcare system. They play a vital role all across the nation in regions that are underserved by larger hospitals. In Texas, they are often the only option for those who live miles away from the nearest healthcare facility, a distance that can mean the difference between life and death.
As the fight against COVID-19 continues, we must demonstrate that we can confront the challenges of the virus while still taking deliberate steps to safely reopen the economy. There is no substitute for restaurants filled with patrons, classrooms full of children, or retail storefronts packed with American consumers. Prior to the pandemic, our American economy was stronger than it had been in decades with more jobs than people and record low unemployment.