Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is rallying coastal communities to participate in a free public outreach event aimed at keeping Texas waters clean and preparing residents for storm season. The “Ready & Willing” event, scheduled for September 19, 2025, marks another initiative in Buckingham’s expanding portfolio of environmental and educational priorities.
The event will run from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Seadrift Civic Center, bringing together multiple agencies including the Texas General Land Office (GLO), Seadrift Police Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard to promote coastal protection and hurricane preparedness. “Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., encourages Texans to attend a free event promoting the importance of keeping coastal waters clean and oil free,” according to a statement from her office.
Breaking New Ground
Buckingham, who made history as Texas’ first female Land Commissioner, has been reshaping the office since taking the helm. “It is truly an honor to serve as Texas’ first female Land Commissioner. Ensuring Texas remains the best place to live, work and raise a family will always be my priority,” she noted in official communications.
Perhaps her most significant achievement to date has been securing a landmark agreement with ExxonMobil to lease over 271,000 acres of submerged state lands for carbon capture and storage. These leases are projected to generate a staggering $10 billion over the next three decades, with proceeds directly benefiting Texas public education through the Permanent School Fund (PSF).
What exactly does the Land Commissioner do? Far more than many Texans realize. The GLO oversees 13 million acres of public lands and manages the PSF, which has grown to become the largest sovereign wealth fund in the United States, currently valued at $56 billion. Under Buckingham’s leadership, the fund has contributed $1.5 billion toward public education this year alone.
Energy and Education
“I will unapologetically defend the oil and gas industry to ensure we continue to fund the next generation of Texans,” Buckingham has asserted, highlighting the connection between energy production on state lands and educational funding.
That robust support for oil and gas might seem at odds with coastal environmental protection efforts like the upcoming Seadrift event. But Buckingham appears to be pursuing a balancing act between resource development and conservation.
“My mission statement for the General Land Office is clear: We are here to serve the people we are supposed to serve and do it well,” the Commissioner explained. This approach encompasses maximizing revenue for education while simultaneously protecting natural resources and supporting Texas veterans.
Disaster Response
Beyond her regular duties, Buckingham has positioned the GLO as a key player in disaster recovery. Following catastrophic flooding in Texas Hill Country earlier this year, she pledged support for affected communities.
“The GLO stands ready to help federal, state, and local leaders through the long-term recovery process. We continue to pray for those who are grieving and those putting their lives on the line for their fellow Texans,” Buckingham said at the time.
This disaster response experience informs the upcoming coastal preparation event in Seadrift, where residents will receive information on hurricane readiness alongside environmental protection guidance.
The September gathering represents a microcosm of Buckingham’s broader vision: bringing together community stakeholders, government agencies, and educational institutions like Texas A&M to address the intertwined challenges of coastal management, environmental protection, and disaster preparedness that face the Lone Star State’s extensive shoreline.
