AUSTIN, TX — The Texas Constitution requires all Texas Senate members elected after redistricting to draw lots to determine who will serve a two-year or four-year term. After that, senators serve four-year terms for the next decade. Yesterday, senators drew lots for term length and Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa drew a two-year term.

Senator Hinojosa released the following statement after drawing a two-year term:

“I am honored that the voters of Senate District 20 have placed their trust in me by re-electing me in 2020 and 2022. By drawing a two-year term, I look forward to the opportunity for re-election next year. I will work tirelessly this session to continue addressing issues that are a priority for our families, the business community, and that improve our quality of life and the Texas economy. I will do so by focusing on bread and butter issues such as education, health care, inflation, job training, and investing in infrastructure.”

AUSTIN, TX — Today, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa was sworn-in for his seventh term representing Texas Senate District 20. The ceremony took place in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement after being sworn in:

“I am honored to continue working representing my constituents of Senate District 20. We have 140 days to focus on addressing critical issues like border security, property taxes, affordable health care, education, workforce training, transportation, expanding broadband access, flood mitigation, power grid reliability, and human trafficking. With the $32.7 billion surplus Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced yesterday, we also have an incredible opportunity to not only fund the state’s needs, but also make significant investments that will further strengthen the Texas economy. This includes reducing high property taxes, increasing salaries for our state employees and our teachers, and investing in our infrastructure.”

AUSTIN, TX — This week, Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez announced he will be departing the agency effective December 15, 2022. Commissioner Alvarez was appointed as Commissioner Representing Labor by Governor Abbott in February 2016, and reappointed in March 2017.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa released the following statement:

“Commissioner Julian Alvarez did an outstanding job as the Commissioner Representing Labor at the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). I had the honor of voting for his nomination and did so without hesitation because I knew he had the experience, leadership, and knowledge needed to find solutions and serve the workforce development needs of Texans. As a native of South Texas, I knew that he understood the needs of our communities and would work tirelessly to advocate for funding and policies to increase workforce training and education for our workers.

One of the first meetings I had with Commissioner Alvarez was to discuss with him SB 1351 which I authored and passed during the 2015 session that transferred the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) program from the Comptroller to the TWC. This program provides grants to eligible entities to teach and prepare our students with the work skills they need to succeed. These grants help our students get the essential technical skills and helps put Texans back in the workforce in today’s job market. Commissioner Alvarez was a leader in promoting the grant program and in ensuring our school districts in South Texas, along with our community colleges — Del Mar College and South Texas College, received funding.

Commissioner Alvarez regularly travelled all across our state and had an open door for everyone. He was innovative and had many excellent recommendations and implemented policies that will benefit our workers and employers for many years. He was instrumental in the expansion of apprenticeship programs by hosting conferences and meeting with industry and business leaders to educate and highlight the importance of apprenticeships to build up our workforce. These efforts led to his appointment by the U.S. Department of Labor as the Apprenticeship Ambassador.

I appreciate Commissioner Alvarez’s service to the State of Texas. His passion for workforce training, education, apprenticeships, and building partnerships will be missed at the Texas Workforce Commission but his accomplishments and successes will have a lasting impact in the lives of many Texans. I wish Commissioner Julian Alvarez much success in his future endeavors.”

AUSTIN, TX — Yesterday, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved $44 million in financial assistance for the City of Edinburg for the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a wastewater system improvements project. The financial assistance will consist of $43,925,000 in financing and $75,000 in principal forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). By securing financial assistance through the CWSRF program, TWDB estimated that the City could save nearly $11 million over the life of the financing. Edinburg will not have to increase property taxes to pay for the financing. The City will pledge revenue from the wastewater system to cover all existing and proposed debt.

The City of Edinburg currently provides drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 30,500 water connections and 25,300 wastewater connections. The proposed three-phase project will make improvements to Edinburg’s wastewater treatment plant to expand its capacity in anticipation of the growing population expected by 2030. Edinburg is the fifth fastest-growing large city in the state and ranks in the top 20 in the country. The current population of approximately 105,000 and continues to grow by an average of about seven people per day. As result, to accommodate the population growth and comply with state regulations, the project will include construction of a new plant on the north side of the City’s service area and make improvements to address capacity issues to the existing plant. In addition, financial assistance will allow the City to address existing sanitary sewer overflows and conduct an emergency preparedness plan.

Senator Hinojosa released the following statement:

“The growth the City of Edinburg is experiencing make this project necessary. The funding approved by the Texas Water Development Board ensures that the City will continue to provide drinking water and wastewater services to all residents in the future. I want to thank Edinburg officials for their continued efforts in obtaining funding for this project.”

AUSTIN, TX — Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the City of Corpus Christi has been awarded a $1,611,159 Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG) for the Wastewater Collection System Line and Manhole Replacement Projects at 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 replace the deteriorating 80 year old wastewater collection system at the base, allowing it to become compliant with Department of Defense standards. The funds will be used to and install a total of 21 manholes and replace wastewater collection lines.”

The City of Corpus Christi applied for the grant in August 2022 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 who have committed a $2.4 million match for this project.

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

EDINBURG, TX – On Tuesday, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa was re-elected to the Texas Senate. Senate District 20 includes Brooks, Hidalgo (part), Jim Wells, and Nueces Counties (part).

Senator Hinojosa released the following statement:

I am grateful to the constituents of Senate District 20 for re-electing me to continue serving you as your State Senator! I appreciate the voters of Brooks, Jim Wells, Nueces, and Hidalgo Counties. I am honored that you continue to place your trust in me to keep working and fighting for the needs of our South Texas families.

We could not have succeeded tonight without the efforts of so many supporters from the Coastal Bend to the Rio Grande Valley, as well as statewide. I want to thank my family for their unending support, and each member of my campaign staff and volunteers for their strong commitment, energy, and countless hours of hard work.

I will continue to strive for common sense solutions that address problems. As we enter another year facing Covid, we must deal with the effects it has had on our economy, our workforce, and our schools. There is still much more work to be done on critical issues like border security, property taxes, affordable health care, education, transportation, expanding broadband access, flood mitigation, power grid reliability, and human trafficking. I look forward to working on these issues and more when the Texas Legislature convenes in January. I am grateful to have won another term and I remain committed to you and our families.   

Semper Fi!

AUSTIN, TX — Today, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously named Dr. David Yoskowitz of Corpus Christi as the new Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Dr. Yoskowitz will replace Carter Smith who announced in June that he would be retiring in January 2023 after serving as executive director for 15 years. 

Dr. Yoskowitz has been serving as the Senior Executive Director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi since July of 2020. He has spent much of his career on the A&M-Corpus Christi campus, holding both faculty and administrative positions over the past 20 years.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has a $400 million per year budget and employs over 3,000 staff at 199 regional offices, state parks, wildlife management areas, fish hatcheries, and other facilities across the state. The mission of the agency is “to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.”

Senator Hinojosa released the following statement on the naming of Dr. Yoskowitz as the new executive director:

“Congratulations to Dr. David Yoskowitz on his appointment as the new Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. As a Texan, Dr. Yoskowitz knows and understands how important the functions of this agency are to Texans. As a Coastal Bend resident and Director of the Harte Research Institute, he has played a key role and worked on research and developed policies that balance both the economic and environmental health of the Gulf of Mexico region. I have no doubt that given his graduate degrees in economics, his decades of service at the Harte Research Institute, and his passion for conservation and education, Dr. David Yoskowitz will do a great service to all Texans. I wish him much success and look forward to working with him during the upcoming legislative session.

I would also like to extend my appreciation to Carter Smith for his leadership and service to the State of Texas. He was an excellent Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. His legacy includes acquiring new public lands, successfully managing and administering grant funding approved by the Legislature for parks in many communities across the state, launching initiatives and programs for children and families to get outdoors, and for protecting our natural resources for future generations of fishermen, hunters, and our families to enjoy. I wish him a happy and healthy retirement.” 

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 Finance, 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; Transportation, and Special Committee to Protect All Texans.

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Wednesday, September 21, 2022 commemorates the legacy of Dr. Hector P. Garcia, a Mexican-American civil rights leader who founded the American GI forum and fought for the rights of Hispanics in this country. In 2009, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa designated the third Wednesday in September as Dr. Hector P. Garcia Day through Senate Bill 495. The bill authorized the observance of the day by schools and state agencies to honor Dr. Garcia and teach our younger generations about his legacy. Senator Hinojosa also passed legislation naming a portion of State Highway 286 the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Highway in Corpus Christi.

Dr. Garcia was a legendary physician and World War II Veteran who fought for the rights of Hispanics and veterans who were denied educational, medical and housing opportunities. He also fought for labor rights, voting rights, and justice system reform. He selflessly served and advocated for the most vulnerable and underserved portions in our communities.

Dr. Garcia was the first Mexican-American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our country’s highest civilian honor, and earned a Bronze Star and six battle stars for his military service. He served as an advisor to Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter and served as the first Hispanic on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. 

Senator Hinojosa commented on the value of commemorating Dr. Garcia’s contributions:

“Dr. Hector P. Garcia was an American hero who showed everyone the value of standing up for marginalized people in our society. His dedication to equality and bettering society for everyone is something we can all learn from and do more of every day. Dr. Garcia broke down the barriers the Hispanic community faced in receiving an education, health care, fair labor practices, and housing. He demonstrated leadership and sacrifice in his fight to protect our liberties and ensure that all Americans are treated with dignity and respect.

Dr. Garcia embodies the spirit of selflessness and public service. As a private American citizen, he exercised his constitutional rights to elevate awareness about the plight of neglected Americans. As a physician, he provided access to medical care to underserved communities. As a soldier, he demonstrated valor and sacrifice as he fought to protect our liberties. Dr. Hector P. Garcia never wavered in his commitment to the United States Constitution and equality for all.”

September is suicide prevention month. We should take this opportunity to both raise awareness of those who tragically die each year by suicide and remember there are concrete steps we can take to prevent such deaths from occurring in the future.

Every day, more than 6 Texans die by suicide and another 30 are hospitalized due to an unsuccessful attempt. Equally as troubling is the increased rate of suicide amongst veterans, who die by suicide at nearly twice the rate as non-veterans. And perhaps most troubling of all, suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth ages 15-24.

These tragic events are preventable through increased awareness, smarter policies, and empowering people to help others or themselves. This past session, I passed SB 279, which requires all student ID cards for students in 6th grade or higher to include the contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This simple step ensures children have easy access to this life-saving information, as they typically carry this card daily.

On top of this effort, during the past two legislative sessions we invested more than $330 million in the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium, which helps address mental health challenges and service disparities for our children. This will allow for early intervention for students at risk of suicide, substance abuse, or becoming a danger to themselves or others.

We also know that limiting quick access to lethal means is a proven way to reduce suicides. Over 70%  of people with highly lethal suicide attempts thought about suicide for one hour or less prior to the attempt. Since we know that people tend to think about suicide for short periods of time, putting time and distance between a person and their chosen method for suicide is an effective way to decrease suicide attempts and deaths. This includes locking these items away or removing them from the house altogether and having a friend or family member stay with the person at risk.

Lastly, it is important that we speak up when we are concerned that someone we know might be considering suicide. Connecting individuals with 988, the new number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a proven way to prevent current and future risk of suicide. Also, informing family, teachers, and friends helps increase the likelihood of positive intervention. Talking about suicide and reducing the stigma around such feelings is something we can all do and saves lives.

Let’s all remember, we have the power and tools to save lives. Through seemingly small actions, we can save someone’s life. So this suicide prevention month, let’s do more to eliminate suicides in our communities and ensure no one has an empty seat at the dinner table or vacant home next door because of a suicide.

AUSTIN, TX — On Thursday, the Texas Transportation Commission (Commission) met and took action on items that benefit Nueces County. The projects are included in the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) 2023 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) adopted unanimously by the Commission. The UTP includes all transportation projects that TxDOT is developing for construction over the next ten years and guides the development of those projects.

The Commission unanimously approved the 2023 Unified Transportation Program which includes the following projects:

Nueces County:

• $52 million to upgrade SH 286 in Corpus Christi from FM 43 to South of FM 2444. The funding for this project was increased by $10.4 million to fund the $52 million project.
• $28 million to widen SH 286 in Corpus Christi from SH 358 to Horne Rd. This is a New Authorization project.
• $40 million for freeway ramps on SH 358 from Nile Drive to Staples St.
• $21.3 million to widen FM 624 from CR 73 to Wildcat Dr.
• $17.9 million for safety and operational improvements to Park Road 22 from Aquarius St. to Whitecap Blvd.  

These projects are in addition to the ongoing $1 billion Harbor Bridge replacement project, the $50.7 million for the SH 358 (SPID) eastbound ramp reversal in Corpus Christi, and a regular maintenance budget of $51 million.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“Infrastructure is key to continue the economic growth of the Coastal Bend. I appreciate the Texas Transportation Commission’s unanimous vote to approve the 2023 Unified Transportation Program.

The Coastal Bend legislative delegation has been working closely with the Commission and TxDOT leadership to make our priorities known and to continue advocating for additional investments in transportation infrastructure projects in our region. Our efforts have led to more than $1 billion in ongoing construction projects and the approved 2023 UTP includes another $2.3 billion in planned projects over the next ten years. The Commission and TxDOT leadership continue to show their support and commitment to Corpus Christi and the counties in TxDOTs Corpus Christi District. These investments in our transportation infrastructure create jobs, strengthen our economy, and prepare us for future growth.”

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 Finance, 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; Transportation, and Special Committee to Protect All Texans.