Elizabeth Ames Jones, Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, made a campaign stop in Bryan Friday morning to announce she will be vying for the U.S. Senate.

The Republican candidate stopped in at Victor's Boots, a Bryan small business, to make her announcement.

Bryan is but one of the stops on Jones’ 4-day, 14-city statewide announcement tour.

Here are some of her remarks:

"I am Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones and I am here today to announce my candidacy as a Republican for the United States Senate."

I am running for Senate "because my new vision, vigor, and energy is desperately needed to limit government to its basic responsibilities, and then make it get out of the way so people and small businesses can innovate and create the jobs America so desperately needs."

"We all heard President Obama tell us the other night that the state of our union is “strong.”

"I don’t see strength in 15 million Americans out of work. I don’t see strength in falling deeper and deeper in debt to the Chinese and other foreign interests. I don’t see the strength in tax policy and health care policy that cripples small businesses."

"The same small businesses we’re counting on to create jobs, to grow our economy out of this recession, and to forge a brighter future for this country are collapsing under the burden of government regulation and interference."

"If Washington met its most basic federal obligations – like securing our borders – and then got out of the way, we wouldn’t be in the fix we’re in."

Instead of focusing on how government can be more a part of our lives and our businesses, Washington should unshackle and unleash those engines of ingenuity and commerce and job creation – small businesses.

When Washington tries to be all things to all people, it siphons away the resources needed to fulfill its most basic purposes – like border security – and cuts short the hopes and dreams of the next generation of Americans.

The same government that can’t secure our border has no businesses running healthcare and forcing small businesses to pay the price.

What does this president not get about small businesses?

It must be the word small, because President Obama can only think big – big government … big regulations … too-big-to-fail bailouts for big businesses and big Wall Street banks.

Well, I say it’s time to think small and smart. Smaller government that doesn’t crush small businesses with small-minded policies that only an old Soviet central planner could love.

As Texas’ next U.S. Senator, I will stand up for small businesses. I will fight against burdensome regulations. I will demand we repeal Obamacare and the small businesses-killing regulations that come with it.

A little regulation here ... A few trillion in debt there ... A few tax increases …

… And pretty soon 15 million Americans are out of work.

I will make the tough decisions, regardless of the political consequences. I will fight to ensure my fellow Republicans hold true to our conservative principles because if we don’t, then we have no authority to lead.

I know we won’t spend our way to a better future. I know adding people to the government payroll is not the way to create jobs. And I know we will never tax our way back to prosperity.

I know that small businesses are the key to creating jobs, to growing our economy and to forging a brighter future.

Hard working Americans, families and small businesses can count on me to be their champion. That’s why I am here today to announce my campaign for the U.S. Senate and to ask for your vote."

Jones is one of more than a half dozen people who have indicated they will run for the Senate seat. The seat is currently held by Kay Bailey Hutchison who announced earlier this month she would not be seeking re-election