Rep. Pete Gallego, who represents Texas House District 74, one of the border districts, released a statement yesterday explaining why he supports Representative and LTC Rick Noriega for U.S. Senate. This is especially meaningful as there was buzz this spring about Gallego entering this race:

This past weekend, 47 members of the House of Representatives joined me in asking our friend and colleague, Lt. Col. Rick Noriega, to run for U.S. Senate. We asked our friend to run because now, more than ever, we need his strength and leadership to get Texas and our great nation back on the right path.

While certain politicians were talking about the "war on terror", Lt. Col. Noriega was actually fighting it by serving a 14-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. While certain politicians were failing the test of leadership in response to Hurricane Katrina, Lt. Col. Noriega was brought in to serve as Incident Commander and direct logistics at the George Brown Convention Center, helping thousands of Katrina evacuees. While certain politicians were talking about the need for immigration reform and border security, Lt. Col. Noriega was actually securing the border as the Commander for the Laredo Border Sector. Texas needs leadership by example, the type of leadership Rick Noriega has given his state and country.

For more than a decade, Rick has also been on the front lines fighting for a better Texas. He and I have stood side by side to protect and defend our children by providing children's health insurance. We have worked together to give teachers a necessary and needed pay raise, and put more resources into public education. We have worked together to protect our environment and clean up our air, especially in places like Houston.

At this crucial time in the history of our state and nation, Texas needs Rick Noriega's leadership in the U.S. Senate. I am grateful to my 47 colleagues in the Texas House who joined me in asking our friend and colleague to run for U.S. Senate. I have every reason to believe Lt. Col. Noriega will once again answer when duty calls.

(To read the letter from the Texas Legislators drafting Rick Noriega for Senator, click here.)