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Rick Perry was sworn in as the state's 47th Governor on December 21, 2000. Governor Perry is focused on moving Texas forward by creating greater opportunities for citizens across our state.

Governor Perry has prioritized public and higher education, health care accessibility and affordability, better transportation systems, and economic opportunity for all of Texas. Since 1998, Perry successfully championed new reading and math initiatives, strong student accountability measures, and $9 billion in new funding for Texas public schools, colleges and universities. He worked with Democrats and Republicans to increase health care funding by nearly $6 billion, including the creation of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Perry also signed measures streamlining and strengthening Medicaid, protecting personal medical records, and improving nursing home and border health care.

A strong fiscal conservative, Governor Perry held the line against new income, sales, property and nursing home taxes; protected the state's Rainy Day fund; signed a balanced state budget and used his line-item veto authority to trim more than $500 million in new spending from the state budget.

As Lieutenant Governor, Perry worked with legislators of both parties to pass a balanced state budget that included record tax cuts, record teacher pay raises, and an historic school funding increase.

He earned high marks as the president of the Senate for his bipartisan leadership. The Dallas Morning News wrote, "…Rick Perry stands out as one of the session's brighter lights. He draws almost universal praise for besting expectations and for evenly running the Senate." The El Paso Times editorialized, "Promises made, promises kept. That is the slogan by which Texas Lt. Governor Rick Perry should be remembered…"

Prior to being elected Lieutenant Governor, Perry served two terms as Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. From 1985 to 1991, Perry served in the Texas House of Representatives, representing a rural West Texas district.

A fifth generation Texan, Governor Perry hails from the rolling plains of West Texas, where farming, ranching and public service run in his family. His father, Ray Perry, was a long-time Haskell County Commissioner and school board member. First Lady Anita Perry served on the Haskell ISD School Board.

Between 1972 and 1977, Governor Perry served in the United States Air Force flying C-130 tactical airlift aircraft in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. Perry is a 1972 graduate of Texas A&M University where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, a junior and senior yell leader, and an animal science major.

Governor Perry grew up in the small community of Paint Creek, 60 miles north of Abilene, on his family's farm and ranch. The younger of two children, Governor Perry was an active Boy Scout, Eagle Scout, and helped his father and mother, Amelia, on the farm. Perry met Anita during their elementary school years. Perry remains active in the Boy Scouts and is a lifetime member of American Legion Post #75.

Rick and Anita Perry are the proud parents of two children - Griffin, 18, and Sydney, 15. The Perrys are members of Tarrytown United Methodist Church