Rep Edwards, fellow co-authors and author Rep Branch on the House floor
As Co-author of HB 51, which passed this session and will provide a path forward for certain Texas universities to become top tier national universities, I support the expansion of Tier 1 Higher Education institutions in Texas. HB 51 will provide a path for University of Houston to become a Tier 1 university through increased research and funding opportunities, contingent upon passage of a constitutional amendment in November. Texas currently has only 3 Tier 1 institutions, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and Rice University. In order for Texas to stay competitive economically and educationally with the likes of New York & California, we must add more top tier institutions.
