A seventh generation Texan, Van Taylor is a family man, businessman, and decorated Iraq War Veteran. Growing up, Van earned his Eagle Scout from the future President George Bush.

On 9-11 Van swore to always serve and make a difference.

Van deployed to Iraq where he fought with 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company. For his service in Iraq, the Marine Corps awarded Captain Taylor the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Navy Commendation Medal with “V” for valor.

Van and his wife, Anne, married after his return from Iraq and are the proud parents of three young girls: Laura, Helen, and Susie.

From April 2010 to January 2015, Van Taylor represented District 66 in the Texas House of Representatives. From January 13, 2015 – January 3, 2019, Taylor served as a Member of the Texas Senate, representing the Eighth Senate District of Texas. On January 3, 2019, Van Taylor was sworn in as a Member of the United States Congress, representing Texas Third Congressional District.

Congressman Van Taylor is proud to serve on two influential House Committees in the 116th Congress: the Committee on Homeland Security, specifically, the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation (CIPI) and the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management and Accountability (OMA) and the House Committee on Education, where he serves on the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

Today, Van, his wife, and their three daughters reside in Plano near the land Van’s great-grandfather farmed during the Great Depression.

Linda is the founder of Shared Hope International and is a leader in the global effort to eradicate sex trafficking through expanding education, fighting for justice, and partnering in restoration efforts in the United States and abroad.
Linda is the primary author of From Congress to the Brothel, Renting Lacy, Invading the Darkness: Inside the Historic Fight against Child Sex Trafficking in the United States, and co-authored The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking and the DEMAND Report. Linda has testified before Congress, presented at national and international forums, and has been published in news outlets and journals. Linda served as a Washington State legislator from 1983 to 1993 before she was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1994 as a result of a write-in campaign. She has served as the President of Shared Hope International since founding the organization in 1998.

Shane Pruitt and his wife, Kasi, live near Dallas, Texas, with their five children. Pruitt has been in ministry for more than 17 years as a denominational leader, church planter, and traveling communicator. He holds a B.S. in biblical studies and a PhD in Christian counseling. Shane serves as Director of Evangelism for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. A popular blogger, Pruitt has written for Relevant, Christianity Today, the Christian Post, ChurchLeaders.com and other online journals. A video showing their children celebrating the surprise arrival of one of their adopted siblings went viral and the story was covered on ABC News and Inside Edition, as well as many other media outlets.

By: Lia Eustachewich - pagesix.com - February 18, 2019 Jussie Smollett auditioned for a role in a play that shares eerie similarities to his alleged attack — and he may have used Instagram to tip off ...

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