AUSTIN, TX — September 1, 2021, is the first day of the new state budget that was approved by the Texas Legislature in May of this year. The state’s $248 billion budget for the next two years fully funds public education, contains investments in higher education, strengthens funding for mental health, and funds many Coastal Bend priorities.

“One of the most important responsibilities of the Texas Legislature is to pass a two-year state budget that is fiscally responsible and takes care of the needs of Texans across the state,” said Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa. “I was honored to work with my Senate colleagues and with the members of our Nueces County legislative delegation to ensure that our Coastal Bend priorities remained funded in the budget. Overall, we were successful in maintaining or increasing funding for our priorities.”

The state budget includes more than $145 million in funding for Texas A&M Corpus Christi, over $2 million of which supports the recently created civil and industrial engineering programs. “Education is the best equalizer and investments in our institutions of higher education and our students are critical in helping Texas recover more quickly from the pandemic,” said Senator Hinojosa. “Our delegation continues to strongly support and advocate for funding for new programs and financial aid for our students.”

This past session, the Legislature approved first time funding of $3 million to create the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Unmanned Aircraft Emergency Management program to provide public service to all the state by supporting critical emergency response and disaster relief demands. Moreover, the budget increased funding for Del Mar Community College by nearly $2 million; provides $8.5 million to the UT Marine Science Institute; allocates $8.6 million for the Healthy South Texas program administered by the Texas A&M Health Science Center, headquartered in Corpus Christi; and, includes $1.25 billion for financial aid programs for students enrolled in a higher education institution.

The Legislature also continued funding for grant programs that have benefitted the Coastal Bend. Approved funding includes: $40 million for Port Access Improvements grants and $30 million in Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance (DEAAG) Grants. “To date, the Port of Corpus Christi has been awarded nearly $10 million in grant funds from the Port Access Improvement program for safety improvements to the Joe Fulton International Trade Corridor and the three military installations in the region have received $7 million from the Governor’s DEAAG program,” said Senator Hinojosa. “I commend these entities, their staff and their leadership, for applying and securing these grants in the past. Our delegation will continue supporting their efforts and advocating for approval of future projects submitted for grant funding.”

Due to Texans supporting and passing Proposition 5 in November 2019, funding for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was increased by a total of $100.6 million to a total of $316.9 million in the 2021 session. Part of this funding includes $500,000 for the Texas State Aquarium Wildlife Rescue Center. “Securing these funds for the Texas State Aquarium was a priority this session,” said Senator Hinojosa. “The Coastal Bend has been hit by hurricanes and this year was impacted by Winter Storm Uri. These events not only impact humans, they also impact our marine animals and other wildlife in the region. Tom Schmid and his team work tirelessly and have a great reputation for rescuing and rehabilitating animals to return them to their natural habitat.”

Lastly, the approved budget increased funding for public education by $2 billion which includes $664 million for targeted programs to help students and schools affected by the pandemic; includes $8.4 billion in behavioral health funding across 25 state agencies; adds $10.2 million for women’s health programs for total funding of $352.6 million; and, includes $26.5 billion for highway planning and design, construction, and other purposes.

These are just some of the highlights of the funding approved by the Texas Legislature during the 2021 87th Regular Session that go into effect September 1st.

AUSTIN, TX — September 1, 2021, is the first day of the new state budget that was approved by the Texas Legislature in May of this year. The state’s $248 billion budget for the next two years fully funds public education, contains investments in higher education, strengthens funding for mental health, and funds many Rio Grande Valley (RGV) priorities.

“One of the most important responsibilities of the Texas Legislature is to pass a two-year state budget that is fiscally responsible and takes care of the needs of Texans across the state,” said Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa.” I was honored to work with my Senate colleagues and with the members of our South Texas legislative delegation to ensure that our RGV priorities remained funded in the budget. Overall, we were successful in maintaining or increasing funding for our priorities.”

RGV priorities that received funding in the state budget include increased funding at UTRGV by $29 million for a total of $364.3 million. This increased funding includes support of the School of Medicine which saw an increase of $3.8 million for a total of $72.8 million. The budget also includes $1.9 million for the Cervical Dysplasia Cancer Immunology Center which will be further enhanced by the recent announcement by UTRGV of their plans to build a new cancer and surgery center in the RGV.

Senator Hinojosa, author of SB 24 in 2013 which created the UTRGV School of Medicine said, “the medical school continues to help us transform the region and increase access to care for our families here at home.” He added, “our delegation continues working to secure the partnerships and investments necessary to fund top notch facilities and recruit world-class doctors for our region.” Funding for the Graduate Medical Education (GME) program, which helps fund doctor residency slots across the state also increased by almost $42 million for a total funding of $199 million. Since 2014, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance and UTRGV School of Medicine have been awarded more than $48 million in GME grants, significantly increasing the number of doctors in South Texas.

The state budget also includes funding for facilities and infrastructure in Hidalgo County. The South Texas International Airport in Edinburg was allocated $5 million which is in addition to the $5 million from the previous budget. These funds will be combined to build a hangar for DPS, the Military Department, and for other emergency response needs in the region. The budget authorizes the Texas Water Development Board to award up to $10 million for the Raymondville Drain project and it directs the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to award $3.5 million for the Center for Urban Ecology at Quinta Mazatlan. “These investments in our facilities and our infrastructure will create jobs and help improve the quality of life in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Senator Hinojosa.

Another accomplishment this past session was the continued funding for Border Infrastructure (Rider 11b) which has led to $60 million per biennium being allocated by the Texas Transportation Commission. “This past year, $17.5 million of Rider 11(b) funds were combined with $4.5 million of RGVMPO funds to fund the Anzalduas bridge project,” said Senator Hinojosa. The budget also includes $500,000 for the Trade Agricultural Inspection Grant Program which will help expedite the flow of commerce and produce at the ports of entry.

The state budget includes funding for border security and public safety including $1 million in grants for the Border Zone Fire Departments; $500,000 for the Texas Transnational Intelligence Center in McAllen; and, $10.1 million for local border security grants.

Lastly, the approved budget increased funding for public education by $2 billion which includes $664 million for targeted programs to help students and schools affected by the pandemic; includes $8.4 billion in behavioral health funding across 25 state agencies; and, includes $1.25 billion for financial aid programs for students enrolled in a higher education institution.

These are just some of the highlights of the funding approved by the Texas Legislature during the 2021 87th Regular Session that go into effect September 1st.

AUSTIN, TX — Today, Texas Workforce Commissioner representing Labor, Julian Alvarez presented a Texas Talent Connection grant award to Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA). Commissioner Alvarez presented the grant check to representatives of VIDA at a ceremony in Mercedes, TX.

VIDA was awarded $350,000 in Texas Talent Connection Grants to support innovative education and workforce skills training programs that lead to successful job placement, increased wages, and improved job retention, as well as programs serving workforce populations with special needs. This grant will benefit workers in the Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley area.

“I appreciate Texas Workforce Commissioner Julian Alvarez for coming to the Rio Grande Valley to make this grant presentation and for being a tireless advocate for the workforce needs of South Texas,” said Senator Hinojosa. “VIDA is a great organization that has been successful in partnering with the private sector and identifying the needs of the business community. They provide the training and skills necessary to unemployed or underemployed individuals so that they can help meet the needs of the business community. Just as important, more skills means better jobs and more money for workers to support their families,” added Senator Hinojosa.

The Texas Talent Connection grant program is funded by Wagner-Peyser 7(b) federal funds, which are allocated to each State Office of the Governor on July 1 of each year for grants to fund workforce training and job placement services.

The challenges we are facing at the border with the immigrants seeking asylum is now a crisis. The finger pointing and political rhetoric from Republicans and Democrats must end and we should come together to find short-term solutions and a response that is humane and secures our border. We must take appropriate action that not only protects migrants but also protects the residents of our communities. All, while at the same time being aware that we are still dealing with a pandemic and our hospitals are again facing both staffing and ICU bed shortages.

Just last week, the Chief Patrol Agent of the Rio Grande Valley Sector stated that the “RGV has encountered a significant increase in apprehensions that has strained the capacity at RGV Border Patrol stations.” He also added, “In Fiscal Year 2021, RGV’s apprehensions are up approximately 529% as compared to Fiscal Year 2020.” These statements are alarming and are concerning to me and our border communities as many of the migrants being tested have been COVID positive.

Making matters worse, is that there is no one supervising the migrants that have tested positive for COVID. It has been reported that these individuals and their families are going into our communities, our restaurants and stores, without masks — potentially spreading the virus to others. This is especially concerning as we have the DELTA variant spreading very rapidly across our state and our nation.

While we are blessed to have organizations like the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, under the leadership of Sister Norma Pimentel, who provide shelter, food, and clothing to immigrants, they too are at capacity. It has left Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, and other city mayors with no other option than to issue local disaster declarations. These declarations are to address concerns with the lack of resources and infrastructure in place to continue sheltering and facilitating the release of migrants from federal custody.

It is clear that public, private, and non-profit resources have been stretched to the limit and Congress has done nothing to help us respond to this immigration crisis. Members of Congress visiting South Texas for discussions on border security have just been here for photo-ops and press conferences with no real action. This immigration problem has been going on for far too long and enough is enough.

The Biden administration needs to work with Congress to reform our broken immigration system and fix the underlying problem. However, in the short-term, just taking the necessary actions to slow the rate of immigrants crossing the border and having better control of their release, will help keep our communities safer and secure.

We must define and protect our borders. We have the right to know who is coming into our country. A country is no longer a nation if it doesn’t defend and protect its border. For our current crisis, I’m not blaming immigrants. They are following the message they are hearing from our federal government which is come to the U.S and with catch and release currently in place, if you make it here you will likely stay. I place full responsibility on the federal government for this message and for the failure to control and secure our border.

The Hidalgo County Water Improvement District No. 3 (“District”) continues to prove it is an unnecessary layer of government that has outgrown its purpose.  To the detriment of McAllen residents, the District will increase rates for the water it provides the McAllen Public Utility (“Utility “), effective September 1, 2021. Even though the Utility currently provides top tier water service to McAllen residents at one of the most competitive rates in the state, the rate increase is expected to have a negative impact. The City of McAllen pays the District nearly $1.3 million per year for water. The District already has the highest water rate compared to other districts within the region. They are about 80 percent higher than the City of McAllen pays other water providers. The District’s notice to the Utility leaves the door open for additional rate increases in the future. The new water rate increases by the District will lead to higher water bills for Utility ratepayers.

The District partially justifies the increase to fulfill its new “responsibilities” required under the bill I authored and passed this year. As enacted, Senate Bill 2185 is intended to improve transparency, end conflicts of interests, such as the District’s General Manager also being the President of the Board, and prohibit contracts such as those entered by the District with private businesses owned by this same individual. State audits have revealed these unethical practices of the District’s leadership which have plagued the District for more than a decade. Essentially, with this new rate increase, the District is passing on the costs to correct years of improper actions, mismanagement, and abuse of power that has financially enriched the District’s President at the expense of the ratepayers in McAllen. The new revenue for the District from September’s rate increase will also go towards recouping the money spent by the District to hire a highly compensated team of lobbyists who opposed Senate Bill 2185’s anti-corruption, common-sense reforms.

As introduced, the Senate Bill 2185 would have eliminated this unnecessary layer of government the District has evolved into and enabled the Utility to provide the same water services but in an efficient and transparent manner.  The initial version set forth an option for the City of McAllen to dissolve the District and upon dissolution would take over its obligations, rights, operation, and responsibilities. As the Utility testified in the hearing for the bill, the City of McAllen was (and remains) in the position to continue to serve Utility ratepayers and the District’s few agricultural customers without any disruption of services throughout the district’s territory. These safeguards were included in the bill. Because the Utility’s board of trustees is elected by the public, any rate increase proposals made by the Utility’s board are scrutinized by the public. Unlike the District, the Utility board of trustees answers directly to the residents they serve, making accountability a paramount priority. Had the Senate Bill 2185 passed as it was originally written, there would be no increases in water rates for McAllen ratepayers.

AUSTIN, TX — Texas’s highly successful annual Sales Tax Holiday is scheduled this year from Friday, August 6th through midnight Sunday, August 8th and will offer Texans an opportunity to save millions in sales tax on clothing and various back-to-school items. The Texas Comptroller’s office estimates that shoppers will save an estimated $107.3 million in state and local sales tax during this sales tax holiday. With the new school year almost upon us, the timing is perfect for students of all ages to stock up on clothes and supplies.

“The back-to-school season is an excellent opportunity for our Texas families to find bargains and low prices, and at the same time is an economic driver for our local businesses. I encourage our families to take full advantage of the sales tax holiday and save more of their hard-earned dollars by shopping this coming weekend. These purchases can be done in stores or from an online seller doing business in Texas,” Senator Hinojosa stated.

Texans who shop during this weekend will not have to pay sales taxes on clothing, school supplies, face masks, backpacks, or footwear priced under $100. Items sold online and layaway plans qualify, as well. The following link to the Texas Comptroller’s webpage will provide more information and a complete list of tax-free items: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-490/

Today, Legislators had a call with Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt to discuss COVID-19. He made it very clear we are again at a CRITICAL point. We are seeing a surge of COVID cases and hospitalizations across the nation, and Texas is NO EXCEPTION!

The Delta variant is more transmissible, more deadly, and individuals with underlying vulnerabilities are at higher risk of severe infection and death. 95-99% of those currently hospitalized are unvaccinated. The slides below prove that the vaccine works.

We cannot eliminate this terrible and deadly disease without more individuals in our state getting the vaccine. If you have not gotten the vaccine, please get one as soon as possible. The vaccine not only protects you, it protects all of us.

Help us put COVID behind us. Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you by clicking on this link, www.vaccines.gov.

AUSTIN, TX — On Friday, July 23rd, the Office of the Governor and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) announced the awarding of $52.9 million in Housing Stability Grants to 31 organizations across the state for housing stabilization in the state. Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa invited several eligible entities to participate on the call for applications and commends the entities that submitted an application for funding consideration.

The organizations awarded in Senator Hinojosa’s senate district include: Community Action Corporation of South Texas ($998,297), Accessible Housing Resources, Inc. ($250,000), and the Salvation Army of the Coastal Bend ($225,000), serving the counties of Nueces, Brooks, and Jim Wells. These organizations must use the funds by August 31, 2022. The final contract may reflect additional or fewer counties in order to increase coverage areas or to avoid duplication of services. The $52.9 million is coming from $1.3 billion TDHCA received from the U.S. Treasury Department through the Consolidated Appropriations Act to help income-eligible residents struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I appreciate Governor Abbott and TDHCA awarding over $50 million in federal funding for the new Housing Stability Grants that will benefit many residents within my district,” said Senator Hinojosa. He added “I especially appreciate and congratulate the organizations who very quickly responded to the call to apply for these funds. I am encouraged by these awards as these grants will help prevent evictions and support renters and homeowners who are still recovering from challenges and economic hardships caused by the pandemic and Winter Storm Uri.”

The grants will be used for housing stabilization activities that include outreach and shelter services. The grants will also allow TDHCA to partner with the Texas Veterans Commission and connect veterans experiencing homelessness, or those at risk, with direct local assistance that includes housing, transportation, and mental health services. The organizations may use the funds for various activities including hosting clinics to help access the Texas Rent Relief Program, providing landlord incentive payments and helping with job placement. TDHCA is also giving a $20 million grant to the Texas Access to Justice Foundation so attorneys can provide advice for rent relief and evictions.

AUSTIN, TX – At the Texas Transportation Commission (Commission) meeting on June 30, 2021, the Commission awarded the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) $27 million in grant funding for the State Highway 365 Project which is from FM 396 (Anzalduas Highway) and extends east and south to US 281 (Military Highway), a distance of approximately 12.2 miles in Hidalgo County. The members of the Hidalgo County legislative delegation have been working with the Commission, RMA leadership, and TxDOT staff to secure these funds to move this project forward.

“I appreciate the Texas Transportation Commission’s unanimous approval of the $27 million in grant funding so that the RMA can move forward with the construction of the SH 365 Project,” said Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa. He added, “For the past several years I have been working with RMA Chairman David Deanda, facilitating meetings with TxDOT staff, and making sure this project remained in the Unified Transportation Program (UTP).” The UTP is TxDOT’s 10-year plan that guides the development of transportation projects across the state. “I also want to thank Terry Canales, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, and all the members of our legislative delegation for their letters of support, phones calls to the Commission, and tireless commitment to this project,” said Senator Hinojosa.

In a letter Senator Hinojosa sent to the Commission prior to the meeting, he wrote, “This is a project that will significantly improve our communities by diverting nearly one million international trucks per year from our local roads through neighborhoods and school zones where they cause significant safety issues and are a strain on an already congested system.” After the meeting, Senator Hinojosa re-emphasized the importance of this project, “In a recent report from TxDOT, it is estimated that the number of northbound commercial vehicles and rail crossings in the Texas-Mexico border is forecast to grow from a combined 5.6 million in 2019 to 14.9 million in 2050,” said Senator Hinojosa. “For this reason, it is important that we invest in our infrastructure so that Texans can reap the financial benefits and the number of jobs trade with Mexico generates for the Texas economy. This is an important investment for the future of the Valley.”

The State Highway 365 project was a priority for the Hidalgo County RMA, the RGV Metropolitan Planning Organization, and many business and community leaders in the Rio Grande Valley. The Hidalgo County RMA now has until May 1, 2022 to execute a construction contract for this project.

AUSTIN – Today, Senator Jane Nelson, chair of the Senate Finance Committee announced she will not be seeking re-election, ending her legislative career after nearly three decades in the Texas Senate.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa released the following statement:

“Senator Nelson made history when she was appointed chair of the Senate Finance Committee in 2015, making her the first woman to hold this powerful chairmanship. I had the honor and privilege of working with her as vice chair of the Senate Finance committee for three sessions. With her leadership we crafted and passed budgets that invested in public education, healthcare, including mental health and GME expansion, higher education, and infrastructure. I congratulate her for her long, successful, and historic legislative career, and wish her much success in her future endeavors.”