Kay

It has been said that two kinds of people go to Washington: those who want to be something and those who want to do something.  Kay Granger went to do something for her constituents, her district and her country.

She began her career in public service as Mayor of Fort Worth from 1989 to 1995, where she cut crime by 49% in four years. In November 1996, Kay made history when she became the first Republican and the first woman ever elected to represent Texas Congressional District 12.  And that night, she promised the people of her district that she would “attack problems, not people.”  For the last 12 years, this philosophy has guided her.

Early on in her Congressional career,  she established herself as a leader on education, health care and national security issues.  As a freshman in Congress, she got legislation passed to help parents pay for college by providing tax incentives for prepaid college tuition.  She soon was asked to serve on the Speaker’s Health Care Task Force where she pushed for more access and better affordability on health care.  And in 1999, she began serving on the House Appropriations Committee.  Today she still serves on that committee and sits on the Defense, Homeland Security and Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Subcommittees. She remains a national leader in fighting for the men and women who fight for us.

But Congresswoman Granger’s career changed on 9-11.  She was at the Pentagon meeting with Secretary Rumsfeld that morning.  She viewed ground zero a few days later.  And she vowed that she would do everything she could to keep America safe from terrorism.

Today she serves as co-chair of the Iraqi Women’s Caucus and of the  Anti-Terrorism Caucus.  In the course of three congressional delegation visits during a two-year-period in the Middle East, she worked with and mentored Iraqi women who now either hold elected positions or are leaders in their communities. Congresswoman Granger received Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s first Global War on Terrorism Coin for her unwavering support of anti-terrorist efforts.

In addition to supporting the troops, Congresswoman Granger decided in 2006 that more could be done to protect America.  “The terrorists know what they are fighting against,” she said at the time, “but do we know what we are fighting for?”  Her response was a book she authored on American values and history called “What’s Right About America.” The book chronicles great moments in American history where events were shaped by a great leader standing up for a great value.

Congresswoman Granger has been inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame and the Fort Worth Business Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the National Association of Manufacturers Award for her pro-growth, pro-manufacturing, pro-worker voting record.

Today, Congresswoman Granger continues to go to work for the  people of District 12.  “I think about my kids and my grandkids,” she says. “I think about what America will look like for them.  The decisions we make today will shape their tomorrow.”