YCT Testimony in Favor of HCR 50 – Affirming the 10th Amendment

 Good afternoon Chairman Solomons, and Vice chairman Menendez. I’d like to thank you and all the Representatives on the House Affairs Committee for the opportunity to speak before you today.

My name is Dustin Matocha. I am the Chairman of Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) at the University of Texas where I am also a freshman. I am here today on behalf of our statewide organization to support HCR 50.

We believe the resolution should be adopted primarily because it correctly interprets the Constitution and the Founders intent. It is the right of Texans to assert their sovereignty over issues delegated to the states. Finally, we see the resolution especially necessary and timely as the federal government is expanding at exorbitant rates.

The Founders knew that the federal government was not fit for making decisions for far away local citizenry. This is why they carefully and explicitly limited Federal Jurisdiction to the enumerated powers. They saw what happened when government became over-reaching and over-centralized. Those who wrote our Constitution risked their lives to escape that very situation. They witnessed firsthand, just how bad things can get when citizens don’t have the power to govern themselves.

Texas is loosing its right to govern itself daily. YCT believes it is in the best interest of Texans to reassert their Constitutional right to take care of Texans better than the Federal Government can.

The expansion of the Federal Government in this administration especially is worrisome. When the President of the United States took an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land, he swore to uphold the entire document, not just bits and pieces he thought were relevant. The tenth amendment guarantees the sovereignty of not only each individual state, but the people of this country as well.

The federal government needs to be reminded that the 10th Amendment exists, and it’s principle of federalism upheld. It is the state and local governments that know what’s best for each state and municipality, not Washington D.C.

I’m not claiming that the situation we are in today warrants a revolution, or even succession, but the parallels in American History are there. Action must be taken, and HCR 50 is a step in the right direction.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.