On March 29, 1973, the last remaining members of the United States armed forces withdrew from Vietnam and returned home. To commemorate this day, in 2009, I passed legislation to designate March 29 as Texas Vietnam Veterans Day. Eight years ago, on this day, we dedicated the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument to welcome home our Texas Vietnam Veterans. This beautiful monument on the northeast grounds of the Capitol honors the loyalty and the courage of those Texans who served in Vietnam.

The Vietnam war was a controversial and unpopular war, where over 58,000 American soldiers lost their lives, and many others were MIA or POWs. It was a war that we as a country did not understand. We often confused its unpopularity with the courage and valor of our soldiers. Because of this, many of us never felt welcomed upon our return home to our own country.

Many of us Vietnam Veterans, still remember the rice paddies and jungles of Chu Lai, Da Nang, Huề, Khe Sanh, and of course Saigon to name a few. Every day of my life as I enjoy my freedom, I am grateful and reminded of my fellow Marines in Vietnam. In Vietnam, we created a family away from home. We were all Americans; we were united. We stood together ready to fight and die for our country — our freedom. We were all the same despite our different races, religions, backgrounds and cultures, and states of residence. We were all the same then, and continue to be the same now. We understood that our diversity represented what makes our country a great nation — The United States of America!

But who were these soldiers in Vietnam? Many of us were volunteers, and many were drafted without a choice. Many were taken away from their families to fight a war in an unknown place. Those soldiers were us — our brothers and sisters, our fathers and mothers, our neighbors, and our friends. They courageously answered the call to serve our country, and many died for our freedom and the freedom of others. Vietnam taught our country a lesson, one that I hope we never forget — and that is — always honor and respect our soldiers, their sacrifice and courage, whether fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam or other wars. Throughout our nation’s history, it is our servicemen and women and their families who sacrifice and stand committed to defend our country.

This Texas Vietnam Veterans Day, I hope you join me in honoring our Texas Vietnam soldiers and remember the 3,417 Texans who lost their lives in Vietnam. I will be remembering all my fellow servicemen including three of my high school classmates: Jesus Martinez, Walter Merle Langford, and Leonel Buntello. I hope that as long as we honor and remember our soldiers’ sacrifice, they will always be with us in memory and spirit.

Semper Fi. God Bless our country.

Senator Hinojosa proudly co-authored House Concurrent Resolution 36 during the 79th Legislative Session in 2005 authorizing a Vietnam Veterans War monument on the Capitol grounds. Senator Hinojosa then worked to secure funding through a legislative rider in 2011 by obtaining a $500,000 matching grant towards the installment of this historic monument. 

Finally, Senator Hinojosa passed legislation in 2009 to declare an official day of recognition specifically for Vietnam Veterans. On March 29, 1973, the last remaining members of the United States armed forces withdrew from Vietnam; thus, March 29 has been declared “Vietnam Veterans Day.”

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — Today, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa received the Gold Star Award from the Texas State Aquarium, its highest honor, in recognition of his contributions to the Aquarium over the past several legislative sessions.

As Vice Chair of Senate Finance, in 2015 Senator Hinojosa was able to help the Aquarium receive $9 million for the Caribbean Journey expansion, which nearly doubled the Aquarium’s indoor exhibit space. Along with the Coastal Bend delegation, he then helped build on this investment in 2019 by securing $500,000 for the construction of the Aquarium’s new Wildlife Rescue Center. The delegation continued their support for the Aquarium this session by obtaining $500,000 for the operation of the Rescue Center and a dedicated $3 million for the Aquarium’s Wildlife Research with federal stimulus dollars passed by the Biden administration.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“The work done by the Texas State Aquarium is nothing short of amazing. We all saw the incredible impact they had during Winter Storm Uri in helping protect and rehabilitate sea turtles, but their impact on our community has not stopped there. Their new state-of-the-art Rescue Center will both provide life-saving care to coastal wildlife and educate veterinary students.

Beyond the direct impact the Rescue Center will have on wildlife, it is also a teaching tool for visitors to learn about what they can do to protect our birds and sea life. Thousands of people visit the Aquarium every year and have the opportunity to learn about coastal wildlife and understand our role in preserving and protecting this critical ecosystem.

I am honored to receive this recognition from the Aquarium, but the true honors belong with those doing this important work for our community. I will continue to advocate for the Aquarium to ensure they are able to maintain their critical contributions to our Coastal Bend community.”

Austin, TX — Today, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced new interim assignments for multiple Senate committees which include the appointment of Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa as Vice Chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I am honored that Lt. Governor Patrick has entrusted me with the important responsibility of serving on the Senate Finance Committee as Vice Chair. I look forward to re-joining this committee and working with Chair Joan Huffman and the committee members to meet the financial needs of our state while keeping taxes low to benefit our Texas families and ensure our state’s continued prosperity.

Texas has the 9th largest economy in the world and despite the ongoing COVID challenges, our revenues have continued to outperform expectations. That said, we will continue monitoring situations around the world, inflation, and supply chain issues that can change our budget outlook at any time.  

I am fully committed to using my experience and knowledge of the budget process to continue prioritizing funding for education, health care, infrastructure, public safety, growing our economy and creating jobs. I will also continue advocating for and ensuring the needs of South Texas are put at the forefront of critical discussions and negotiations.”

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence and the Senate Committee on Redistricting, and serves on the Senate Committees on Border Security; Criminal Justice; Natural Resources & Economic Development; and Transportation.

Austin, TX — On March 10, 2022, the Texas Tribune reported that employees of The Refuge, a state-contracted facility located in Bastrop, TX, charged with caring for female foster children who are victims of sex trafficking, were found to be abusing and trafficking the same children in their care. Reports allege that multiple children suffered from sexual and physical abuse, neglectful supervision, and medical neglect.

According to the article, an employee of the Refuge originally reported the abuse to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on January 24, 2022, but the children were not removed until five weeks later.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“This is infuriating and unacceptable. Our children are our most precious gift and should never undergo this type of abuse. I’m pleased the Texas Rangers will be investigating and pursuing charges against any suspect involved in this matter. However, this should not stop there. For a facility to subject already-victimized children to further abuse and trafficking is absolutely repulsive, especially after the Legislature has dedicated nearly $120 million over the past two session for prevention, investigation, and prosecution of these very activities. We must have a legislative hearing at the appropriate time to discuss this issue, hold those responsible to account, and work to prevent this from happening again.”

Austin, TX — Today, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick appointed Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa to the newly created Border Security Committee. The committee will oversee the funding and policies of Texas’ effort to secure the Texas-Mexico border. The members of the committee will work closely with Governor Greg Abbott’s office, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Texas National Guard and other state agencies.

Senator Hinojosa offered the following statement regarding his appointment:

“I appreciate Lt. Governor Dan Patrick appointing me to the Border Security Committee. It is important to have someone on the Committee from the border who understands the challenges we are facing. As a lifelong border resident, I am proud of our border communities, culture, thriving economy, and proximity to Texas’ number one trading partner, Mexico. However, we cannot ignore the challenges we face along the border such as human trafficking, stash houses, drug smuggling, damages done to fences along our ranches and farms by smugglers, and the large number of immigrants seeking asylum in our border cities that stretch public, private, and non-profit resources to the limit. Responding to these challenges requires cooperation, coordination, and consultation between our local, state, and federal partners to work together to keep our communities safe.

For these reasons, I have supported funding and legislation that strengthens our border security efforts without harming our businesses, our relations with Mexico, and that allows our region to continue to thrive. While this is a federal issue, we the state, cannot turn a blind eye to the federal government’s inadequate response. As a state, we cannot just throw up our hands and give up and ignore the problem. It is also our responsibility to protect our communities.

I do not support open borders. As a nation we have the right to define and defend our border. A country that fails to secure its border ceases to be a nation. We also have the right to know who comes into our country to keep our communities safe. I look forward to working with Lt. Governor Patrick, Chairman Brian Birdwell, Chairman Bob Hall, the Governor’s office and our state agencies to provide oversight of our border security funding and monitor implementation of our policies.”

Senator Hinojosa, while vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee from 2009 to 2020, was instrumental in securing the following border security items for South Texas:

• Created the Texas Transnational Intelligence Center (TTIC) & the Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) Center in McAllen.
• Established the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence at South Texas College.
• Created a Texas Ranger Company focused on border crimes.
• Enhanced funding for the Border Prosecution Grant Program.
• Provided Funding for Local Law Enforcement Agencies for border security efforts.
• Worked with TABC to establish the Special Investigation Unit to combat human trafficking and money laundering along the border and in our state.
• Built and expanded a hangar at the Edinburg airport to stage border security equipment.
• Millions in funding for law enforcement equipment: Pilatus aircraft; Marine vessels; Helicopters.

An ongoing federal investigation has recently revealed that energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) were being used to make kickback and bribe payments to local elected officials in western Hidalgo County. The wide-ranging investigation involves Performance Services Inc. (“PSI”), an Indiana-based company that convinced these local governments to borrow millions for “energy savings” projects. The investigation came to light after five local governments and more than a dozen public officials or companies affiliated with them received federal grand jury subpoenas in May 2021. As the FBI continues its investigation, federal prosecutors already secured the conviction of a La Joya ISD trustee who admitted to receiving more than $234,000 in kickbacks.

ESPCs have been abused in other ways. This past session, I passed House Bill 3583 that begins to address the misuse of ESPCs. Recently, there have been instances where local governments used ESPCs as a back door for no-bid contracts to circumvent procurement statutes related to public works projects. ESPCs were being inappropriately expanded beyond their original scope to build unrelated facilities and structures.

Understanding this type of procurement misuse requires some background of how ESPCs are formed. Often times, the idea of using an ESPC comes from construction contractors or service companies with the pitch to local officials that they are losing thousands of dollars in energy costs and that the solution is an ESPC. Although ESPCs are often thought of as a financing mechanism, ESPCs are more accurately characterized as a construction procurement method for energy, water, renewables, and resilient capital improvement projects that are paid for using money saved from improved energy efficiency and reduced operating expenses. Local governments obtain the services of companies like PSI using the same procurement method for the professional services of architects and engineers. State law prohibits the use of the more comprehensive procurement method used for construction projects which provides more regulation of bidding and transparency. This law, as it relates to ESPCs, needs to be changed.

The cost of ESPCs can be increased by millions of dollars by simply executing a “change order” proposed by the contractor. What starts out as a defined, narrowly focused ESPC project to address certain facilities may soon grow into a proposal through a change order to overhaul heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting, plumbing, and water systems. Expanded project scope increases will result in an even larger financial burden to taxpayers if the promised savings fail to materialize.

HB 3583 partially addresses this problem. HB 3583 prohibits certain change orders to ESPCs and specifies that ESPCs do not include the design or new construction of certain water projects. The new prohibitions apply to counties, cities, and other political subdivisions of this state; but not to school districts. ESPCs were never intended to open the door to accruing massive public debt under the auspices of energy savings and undermining transparency and competition.

In practice, ESPCs may be based on “too good to be true” guarantees that fail to deliver the promised savings, leaving taxpayers on the hook for expensive construction-related projects. Government entities commonly enter into lease-purchase agreements (“LPAs”) with the service company to finance the upfront costs of the ESPC. LPAs create a problem because LPAs are also a debt instrument that does not require an election seeking taxpayer approval. Entities can often avoid voter referendums by treating LPAs as “off-balance sheet” transactions if the LPA includes the right clauses. PSI has contracts with the City of Mission in 2021, La Joya ISD in 2017, and Agua SUD in 2018. La Joya agreed to borrow a total of $44 million for their two-phase project, Mission agreed to borrow nearly $17.3 million for their project, and Agua SUD’s ESPC project reached $11.5 million.

Considering the FBI’s ongoing investigation, I will continue to study the procurement method of ESPCs and the lack of oversight of local governments and school districts using ESPCs. Unlike ESPCs for state agencies and institutions of higher education, there is no state agency providing guidelines and approving contracts to verify that ESPCs contain the required amount of guaranteed savings. I will also look into extending the change order limitations established under HB 3583 to school districts. Eliminating this loophole, which poses significant financial and operational risk, should be applicable to all governmental entities.

AUSTIN, TX — Today, State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa was awarded the Mayor Leo “Polo “Palacios Service Award at the City of Pharr’s 2022 State of the City held at the newly built Natatorium in Pharr.

The Mayor Leo “Polo “Palacios Service Award is awarded annually at each State of the City Addresses to an individual, who like Mayor Palacios did for many years, carries the torch of service, leadership, and pride for the Pharr community. This year, Senator Hinojosa and State Representative Terry Canales were recognized as the co-recipients of the award for their work during the 2021 legislative session. Mayor Hernandez recognized them as two champions of the Texas Legislature who were instrumental in stewarding transportation issues that were of significant importance to the Pharr International Bridge.

Senator Hinojosa released the following statement:

“I am honored and humbled to be the recipient of the Mayor Leo “Polo” Palacios Award for Service, Leadership, and Pride. Mayor Polo Palacios was a longtime public servant, and as Mayor of the City of Pharr, paved the way for many of today’s accomplishments.

I appreciate Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez and the City Commission for recognizing the work and the legislation Chairman Terry Canales and I passed during the 2021 legislative session that will benefit the residents of the City of Pharr. Being successful during the legislative session requires teamwork, communication, and quite frankly, the right issues that need to be addressed. Mayor Hernandez and his team brought two important issues to our attention that would benefit the Pharr International Bridge and we passed legislation to get it done.

The City of Pharr has become one of the most innovative cities in South Texas due to the leadership of Mayor Hernandez and the City Commission, the work of their staff, and the support of many Pharr community leaders. They are leading in providing broadband internet at an affordable rate; leading in imports and exports of produce; investing in health care infrastructure and services; investing in parks and projects like the natatorium; and, due to their advocacy and support, the Pharr Interchange is being reconstructed to reduce congestion. All these projects improve and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Pharr. I’m honored to share this award with Chairman Canales and look forward to continue passing legislation that benefits our South Texas communities.”

Legislation from the 2021 Regular Legislative Session

Senate Bill 1334 gives city and county owned toll bridges another funding tool to invest in their port of entry infrastructure. Before the passage of this bill, cities and counties were not permitted to issue bonds to invest in facilities, technology, or other infrastructure to donate to the federal government for port improvements. Now, this can be done.

Senate Bill 2243 updates the state permitting process for existing international bridges. This update in law not only allowed the City of Pharr to expedite the expansion of its bridge, it also saved the City over half a million dollars by aligning the state process with the federal process.

AUSTIN, TX — Today, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the City of Corpus Christi has been awarded a $800,000 Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG) for the Clear Zone Easement to support the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (NASCC). Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa has been a longtime advocate for these grants. During the 2021 legislative session he supported the appropriation of $30 million for grants to military defense communities.

“These grants are critical to our military installations and allows them to build up their infrastructure, to increase the military value of their base, and help avoid a potential BRAC closure,” said Senator Hinojosa. He added, “This grant will be used to acquire the final piece of Clear Zone property for the NOLF Cabaniss Field not currently owned or controlled by the Navy. NOLF Cabaniss Field is the only multi-engine training airfield for primary flight training in the entire U.S. Navy. By obtaining this easement, NASCC will be able to carry out this essential mission and ensure incompatible development does not hinder that mission in any way.”

The City of Corpus Christi applied for the grant in November 2021 and included a letter of support from Senator Hinojosa. The project is an important part of the continuing partnership between the City and the Navy to protect Clear Zones and Accident Potential Zones from encroachments by residential, commercial, or other incompatible developments.

“I am pleased the Texas Military Preparedness Commission recognized the importance of providing these funds to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi,” said Senator Hinojosa. He also added, “I appreciate the leadership of the City of Corpus Christi for working with the U.S. Navy and submitting the application requesting DEAAG funds. I am committed to continue working to protect the mission of our Texas military installations.”

Today, across Texas and the United States of America, we celebrate Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. It is a day to honor the brave law enforcement officers who serve and protect our communities. To many of us, they are our partners or spouses, sons or daughters, brothers or sisters, or friends. They go out in the front lines every day to protect our communities, sacrificing their lives to keep our families safe.

Our law enforcement men and women risk their lives on a daily basis. There is no routine traffic stop or routine response to a call for help. We thank our officers for keeping us safe and patrolling our neighborhoods, streets, and highways day and night. We thank their families for the sacrifice they have to make and for their suffering, pain, and heartache when their loved one does not come home. Actions speak louder than words and this past session, the Texas Legislature kept its promise in ensuring law enforcement has the resources they need to do their jobs.

Funding to keep our communities safe and providing law enforcement with the tools and resources needed was one of our priorities this past session. The state budget included $22 million for DPS to equip their vehicles with bullet resistant windshields and $10 million for bullet resistant personal body armor. We appropriated $15 million for grants to local law enforcement agencies to establish a body-worn camera program. The budget also included $200,000 for the Peace Officer Mental Health Program; $15 million for border prosecution grants; $10.2 million in grants for local border security; and $7.9 million for the anti-gang activities, among others.

This past session the Legislature established COVID-19 as a presumptive illness for first responders who die from or are disabled by complications related to the virus. This will simplify the process of obtaining benefits, compensation, and assistance. The state also now requires that certain first responders be provided all employee benefits and compensation if they are ordered to quarantine or isolate due to a possible or known on-duty exposure to a communicable disease.

To prepare Texas peace officers for the incredible amount of responsibility and complexity that comes with their career, the state must provide robust and effective training and the resources necessary to adequately train new officers. H.B. 3712 requires the basic training course to include training on the prohibition against using certain neck restraints like chokeholds, an officer’s duty to intervene and stop or prevent another officer from using excessive force against a suspect, and an officer’s duty to request emergency medical services personnel and provide first aid or treatment in certain circumstances.

To protect both citizens and the law enforcement community, we passed S.B. 24 in response to the growing number unfit officers bouncing from one law enforcement agency to another following termination. This bill requires law enforcement agencies to review an applicant’s criminal history, personnel files, and prior conduct before hiring them. The hiring agency must then certify to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement that it has reviewed the required materials. If a hiring agency fails to comply with these basic requirements, TCOLE will suspend the peace officer license of the head of the law enforcement agency.

Just as important, we focused on addressing the mental health needs of law enforcement officers. According to reports, there were 228 law enforcement officers who died by suicide in 2019, nearly double the number killed in the line of duty (132). That same year, there were 19 law enforcement suicides in Texas alone. This past session, I was pleased to co-author S.B. 64 which will create a voluntary peer-to-peer support network focused on training our officers to provide support to each other. I also supported S.B. 1359 which requires each law enforcement agency to develop and adopt a policy allowing the use of mental health leave for peace officers who experience a traumatic event while on the job.

Lastly, this past session I authored S.B. 1071 to provide totally disabled state peace officers with a monthly retirement payment based on today’s salary schedule. It is crucial that we take care of the peace officers who put their lives on the line for our families every day.

Join me on this Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, in thanking our law enforcement men and women for their service, dedication, and commitment to keep our communities and our families safe.

[Picture above: Senator Hinojosa with Trooper Danny Shown and members of the Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol. Picture was taken to commemorate the passage of SB 1071.]

AUSTIN, TX — Today, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved the City of Corpus Christi’s request of $4.751 million in financial assistance from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) to address the flooding of the Oso Creek. The City of Corpus Christi’s project includes planning and design of stormwater system improvements.

Oso Creek, which serves as the natural storm water conveyance for the region, extends 24 miles through the City’s limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction and terminates on the Cayo del Oso. The creek has been subjected to severe floods including four major storm events occurring in September 2010, May 2015, September 2018, and most recently July 2021. Each event resulted in flooding of several neighborhoods, including the Lakes, Kings Crossing, Sun Valley Estates, Oso Parkway, and Cedar Ridge on the north side of the creek.

For other cities, counties, or water seeking funding, the cost savings through the CWSRF can be significant. The program is a federal-state partnership that provides communities with below-market interest rate loans for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects. As part of the $4.751 million, the City of Corpus Christi is eligible for $1,190,000 in principal forgiveness because the service area of the project qualifies as a disadvantage community under the CWSRF. The City is also saving approximately $348,614 over the life of the financing based on a 20-year maturity schedule and current interest rates.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I am pleased that the TWDB has approved the City of Corpus Christi’s project funding request of $4.751 million to deal with the flooding of the Oso Creek. Over the past eleven years, the Corpus Christi area has experienced higher number of extreme storms and an increase in severity. Flood mitigation is necessary for this fast-growing region. The proposal will have a positive impact on approximately 123,300 people living in the service area of the project.”