Karen Cuneo Newton, President 2018-2019 Federation of Republican Women

Welcome to the Texas Federation of Republican Women Legislative Day 2019. There is nothing better to see than our members sporting so many shades of red while descending upon the Texas Capitol in Austin. You are a true inspiration to Republican women across the state with your unending enthusiasm to unite others to join our mission to keep Republican values at the core of Texas politics.

While visiting the offices of your Elected Officials at the State Capitol, personally thank them for our strong economy, unprecedented jobs growth rate, and the solid leadership we have in our state. We are proud of all Texas has accomplished under strong, Republican leadership.

Congratulations to Vice President of Legislation Julie Faubel on a job well done in planning and executing this event. Preparing for a day like Legislative Day is no small task, there are so many moving parts; activities, speakers, transportation, and schedules, but Julie met the challenge and has done an exceptional job. Thank you, Julie!

Hats off to First Vice President Glynis Chester and Community Engagement Chairman Kit Whitehill for their creative approach to organizing both Belles ‘N Boots and the fabulous Live Auction. Their attention to detail was apparent in every aspect of the party held at the historic Scholz Garten.

Vice President of Finance Becky Berger spent hours working behind the scenes to secure sponsorships for both Belles ‘N Boots and Legislative Day. Always with our fabulous TFRW members in mind, her motivation was to make sure that our members’ tickets were priced at cost.

TFRW is so appreciative of all that Julie, Glynis, Kit, and Becky did to make our April activities come to life and be so successful.

Your job as an attendee at Legislative Day is to bring all your experiences and your newly learned information back to your clubs and inspire them to unite and achieve our goal to keep Texas RED past 2020! We appreciate you and all that you do; thank you for being part of Legislative Day 2019!

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Order of Events Locations: Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol and the Texas Capitol

**Times are approximate; please be prompt for each event during the day.

Wednesday, April 24th

3:00 - 5:00 PM Early Registration - Sheraton Austin Hotel Lobby

5:30 - 10:30 PM Mini Bus service loop to Scholz Garten

Thursday, April 25th

7:30 AM REGISTRATION OPENS - Capitol Ballroom Foyer

7:30 AM Buses begin transporting to Capitol. Buses will loop until 12:15 PM.

9:00 AM TFRW Group photo South Capitol Steps or Rotunda (weather to determine)

**Those wanting to attend the House session must be in the gallery by 9:30 AM.

10:00 AM House Convenes – TFRW to be recognized in the House Chamber

**Those wanting to attend the Senate session must be in the gallery by 10:30 AM.

11:00 AM Senate Convenes – TFRW to be recognized in the Senate Chamber

Noon Luncheon Sheraton Austin Hotel Capitol Ballroom*

1:15 - 1:45 PM Free time to visit TFRW Gift Shop and 2019 Convention Booth

1:45 - 2:30 PM Workshops – Session 1

2:45 - 3:30 PM Workshops – Session 2

4:30 - 6:00 PM Patron’s Event - Governor’s Mansion Bus transportation is available from the Sheraton.

*Your table number for the luncheon is on your ticket in your name badge.

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Belles ‘N Boots Sponsors

DANCE HALL SPONSOR Speaker Dennis Bonnen

TOE TAPPIN’ BAND SPONSORS Senator Robert Nichols Representative Sarah Davis

BIG GUNS TABLE SIGNAGE SPONSORS U.S. Congressman John Carter Land Commissioner George P. Bush Senator Senator Senator Senator Senator Senator Bryan Hughes Senator Representative Todd Hunter Representative Doc Anderson Representative John Kuempel Representative Cecil Bell Representative Ed Thompson Representative Will Metcalf Representative Representative Mayes Middleton Justice Bill Whitehill, Fifth Court of Appeals Sue De Villez, TFRW District Director SD 5 TFRW Sharp Shooters: Gail Teegarden, TFRW Deputy President Region XI Merryl Jones, TFRW District Director SD 22 Zenia Warren, TFRW District Director SD 24

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Legislative Day Sponsors

TEXAS SENATE SPONSORS Senator Jane Nelson Senator Donna Campbell Senator Joan Huffman Senator Lois Kolkhorst Senator Dawn Buckingham Senator Angela Paxton

TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPONSOR Speaker Dennis Bonnen

WORKSHOP SPONSORS Senator Representative Geanie Morrison

LUNCHEON TABLE SIGNAGE SPONSORS Senator Senator Charles Perry Representative Phil King Representative Geanie Morrison Representative Cecil Bell Representative Representative John Cyrier Representative Ben Leman Representative Brad Buckley Representative Jared Patterson Commissioner Charlie Riley, Montgomery County Pct 2 Georgetown Area Republican Women

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Special Thanks to Our Volunteers! Your help behind the scenes for support both practical and otherwise is appreciated more than you can ever know! Thank- you to all of the volunteers who stepped in at the last minute!

Kristi Antonick Pearl Maggio Becky Berger Michelle Martin Carla Birk Cindi McIntyre Amy Byers Alice Melancon Toni Anne Dashiell Corrine Miklosh Rossy Fariña-Strauss Crystal Moore Belinda Frisk Lillian Murphy Denise Fitzhugh Wendy Osburn Lesli Fitzpatrick Cindy Payne Susan Friedrich Michele Samuelson Linda Hagler Daphney Skelton Mary Heffernan Jill Tate Betty Sue Howard Connie Taylor Robbi Hull Renee Thomson Patti Johnson Zenia Warren Mary Lea Kirk Kit Whitehill Jennifer Lambert Michelle Wittig Marie Maggio

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Texas Federation of Republican Women Legislative Day Luncheon April 25, 2019

Welcome Karen Newton TFRW President

Invocation The Honorable Angela Paxton Texas State Senator

Pledges of Allegiance

United States Flag The Honorable Angie Button Texas House of Representatives

Texas Flag The Honorable Candy Noble Texas House of Representatives

Remarks The Honorable Donna Campbell Texas State Senator

Introduction The Honorable Sarah Davis Texas House of Representatives

Remarks The Honorable Dennis Bonnen Texas Speaker of the House

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Texas Federation of Republican Women Legislative Day Luncheon April 25, 2019

(Continued)

Introduction Toni Anne Dashiell RNC National Committeewoman

Remarks Ronna Romney McDaniel RNC Chairwoman

Sponsor Recognition Becky Berger TFRW Vice President of Finance

Special Announcement Glynis Chester TFRW First Vice President

Closing Remarks and Julie Faubel Workshop Announcements TFRW Vice President of Legislation

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Workshops: 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

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TFRW Legislative Day 2019 Workshops “Impacting Human Trafficking – Reports from the Front Line” 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM & 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM Capitol Ballroom A-D

SUSAN PETERS DETECTIVE JOE SCARAMUCCI

Moderator: Jill Tate, TFRW Caring for America Chair

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“Impacting Human Trafficking”

TFRW Workshop Leaders’ Biographies

SUSAN PETERS is the Executive Director of UnBound, an anti-human trafficking organization founded in Waco in 2012. In addition to leading UnBound Waco, Susan oversees UnBound's other chapters in five U.S. cities and Mongolia.

Susan is Co-Founder and Chair of the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition. Susan has also served as a pastor at Antioch Community Church since 2006 and received her Master’s in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2015. She and Marty, her husband of thirty years, live in Waco, where they raised their four daughters.

DETECTIVE JOE SCARAMUCCI began his career in law enforcement in 2004, and was promoted to Detective in 2008 with the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, investigating Crimes Against Persons. Since initiating investigations in Human Trafficking in 2014, Detective Scaramucci has participated in John Suppression events, arresting over 450 sex buyers with his partner in a period of eight months.

In the last three years he has conducted sting operations resulting in the arrest of approximately 125 individuals for Human Trafficking and related offenses, which lead to the recovery of approximately 212 trafficking victims and seizure of more than $300,000 in Currency and assets.

Detective Scaramucci has worked both State and Federal investigation as a Task Force Officer with H.S.I., which has led to investigations and arrests throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has also lead and trained numerous agencies throughout the U.S. on how to conduct these operations, along with operations targeting Illicit Massage Parlors.

Detective Scaramucci is certified in Courts of Law as a Subject Matter Expert in Human Trafficking. He is further employed as a consultant for the Polaris Project, Aequitas, and Collective Liberty, training more than 113 agencies throughout the country, along with providing technical support for their Human Trafficking Operations and Investigations.

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TFRW Legislative Day 2019 Workshops “Inside the Legislature – The Staffers’ Perspective” 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM & 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM Capitol View Terrace

MIA GARZA MCCORD

CARRIE SIMMONS

MIRIAM CEPEDA

Moderator: Kristi Antonick, Republican Women of Wood County, Texas

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“Inside the Legislature”

TFRW Workshop Leaders’ Biographies

MIA GARZA MCCORD is the Interim President of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute. A South Texas native, McCord began her work in Texas government and politics after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004. In January 2005, Mia interned for former-Representative Elvira Reyna (R- Mesquite), the first Hispanic Republican elected to the Texas House of Representatives, through the Moreno/Rangel Legislative Leadership Program with the Mexican American Legislative Leadership Foundation. After the 79th Legislative Session, Mia gained political fundraising experience through her work as an account manager for Lilly and Company, an Austin based Republican political fundraising firm. There she worked with candidates at both the state and federal level and in 2006 led the fundraising effort for the Republican State Convention in . Mia returned to the State Capitol in 2007 to work for then freshman State Representative (R- North Richland Hills) during the 80th Legislative Session. Deciding that she equally enjoyed both policy and campaigns, she returned to work for Representative Hancock as his chief of staff for two additional legislative sessions, while using the interims to work on grassroots campaigns for State Representative Todd Hunter (R- Corpus Christi) and Congressman Lamar Smith (R- San Antonio). After serving as a campaign advisor on his Senate race, Mia served as Senator Hancock’s chief of staff in the through 2014. Prior to her joining TCCRI, she was a government affairs consultant with the consulting and lobby firm of Sabrina T. Brown. Mia currently serves on the Board of Directors for Red State Women, is the Past-President and a founding member of Capitol Republican Women, and was a 2018 Woman of the Year Candidate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She is married to John McCord and they live in Leander with their two children, John Mark and Estela. The McCords are active members of Lake Hills Church.

CARRIE SIMMONS joined Texas Lobby Group in fall of 2014 and was named #1 “Rising Lobby Star” by Capitol Inside. Prior to joining TLG, Carrie served as a legislative aide in the Texas House of Representatives, and later as an account associate at Elizabeth Christian Public Relations and Affairs firm, Carrie was able to obtain the experience of passing, promoting and driving legislative solutions.

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“Inside the Legislature”

TFRW Workshop Leaders’ Biographies

(Continued)

In 2009, Carrie was hired as the Executive Director of the Texas House Republican Caucus. She provided legislative research and communication strategy to all 95 Republican Legislators in the Texas House of Representatives for over six years, three legislative sessions and multiple special sessions, providing a unique expertise. After the 83rd Legislative Session, Carrie joined forces with fellow female Republican leaders to start Red State Women PAC. Red State Women was founded to engage, empower, and inspire women to become politically active within the Republican Party. RSW was active in driving female voters out across the state. Carrie holds a degree in Public Relations from the University of Texas at Austin.

MIRIAM CEPEDA is the City of Edinburg’s Governmental Relations Liaison representing the City’s interests up here at the Capitol and Washington, D.C. Before this role, she worked for two years with conservative think-tank, Empower Texans, as the Rio Grande Valley’s Bureau Chief. Prior to that, she worked on Donald J. Trump’s Presidential Campaign. Miriam is a second-generation Mexican American, she was raised in Rio Grande City, a small border town, where she grew up with memories of the Rio Grande river (and all the complications that come with it) as her backyard. Raised in a fiscal conservative household, her father taught her life’s lesson, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” It wasn’t until college, she noticed her friends “milking the system”, meanwhile she had to work her way through to pay for her everyday expenses. It was then; Miriam realized the Republican Party aligned with her ideals as a Christian American. Miriam’s undergraduate degree is in History with a minor in Art History from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her Master’s Thesis, which she is currently working on is the “Reconceptualization of American Women Defined in the 19th Century,” where she has identified “Woman as the creator of our society.” She currently serves as a Member on NFRW’s Public Relations Board, bringing a fresh voice and face to the Republican Women’s Group on a national level. And she has previously served as a Delegate for Hidalgo County’s GOP at Texas Republican Conventions in 2016 and 2018, Texas Young Republicans, and a vocal advocate for Latinos for Trump.“

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TFRW Legislative Day 2019 Workshops “Ready to Lead – Republican Women on the Campaign Trail” 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM & 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM Capitol Ballroom E-H

BARBARA CARGILL

THE HONORABLE DEBI HAYS

CINDY SIEGEL

Moderator: Alice Melancon, TFRW Deputy President Region II

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“Ready to Lead”

TFRW Workshop Leaders’ Biographies

BARBARA CARGILL earned her undergraduate degree in education from Baylor University and a Master of Science in Science Education degree from Texas Woman's University. She taught biology for almost ten years in public schools. Her interest in creative, hands-on learning for children and a love for science motivated her to found the Wonders of The Woodlands Science Camp program in 1995. With a team of thirty-two certified teachers and staff and fantastic curriculum, the program attracts over 1,200 children each summer. Barbara also trains teachers year-round to help them improve their science teaching. Barbara is honored to be serving her 15th year on the State Board of Education! Twice she was appointed as Chairman of the Board by Governor and chaired the maximum four years allowed. Barbara is proud to have founded the board’s Student Hero award. Every year, fifteen students (one per SBOE district) are honored for their character, integrity, and how they have worked to help others. It is a great privilege to serve as a conservative voice in Austin for the children, parents, and teachers of Texas! Barbara has been married to Terry Cargill for over thirty-four years, and they live in Conroe. They are blessed with three amazing sons and now a daughter-in-law, too!

On June 11, 2018, DEBI HAYS was appointed by the Ector County Commissioner’s Court to finish the unexpired term of Judge Eckert as the Ector County Judge since she won her primary election in March and did not have an opponent in November. Debi has thirty-seven years of business management experience in a broad range of business environments. She was Senior Vice President for Banc Home Savings/HAS Mortgage for twelve years. Debi worked as a consultant for Arthur Anderson putting companies back on track to making a profit. She has also purchased, restructured, and sold a number of businesses. From 2014-2017 Debi was president of Ector County Republican Women and during her tenure she organized a membership drive that increased membership by 600% in six weeks which moved ECRW into the second largest TFRW club in Texas. She is Vice President for Ector County Republican Party and TFRW Leadership Chairman. Debi has been recognized with a number of awards by the Republican Party for her dedication and hard work in keeping Texas Red. Debi has been married to the love of her life Dwayne and will celebrate forty years of marriage this May.

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“Ready to Lead”

TFRW Workshop Leaders’ Biographies

(Continued)

CINDY SIEGEL is the President of the Greater Council of Federated Republican Women. She is also the TFRW District Director for SD 17. Cindy has been serving as the Treasurer for the Harris County Republican Party for the last 3½ years and is a Harris County precinct chair. She also is the past Treasurer for GHC and is a past president for the Magic Circle Republican Women. Cindy serves on the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority Board of Directors and is the 2nd Vice- Chairman of the Metro board. Prior to that, she served as the Mayor of the City of Bellaire for eight years before being termed out in 2011 and as a Bellaire City Councilman for six years. In 2009, Cindy was selected as one of the Houston 50 Most Influential Women by the Houston Women’s Magazine. Cindy is a Certified Public Accountant with thirty-five years of experience providing accounting and tax services for small businesses and individuals. She has been married for over twenty-five years and has two beautiful daughters.

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32nd Biennial Convention

October 3-5, 2019

Moody Gardens Hotel & Convention Center Galveston, Texas

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