20 April 2011

The Texas Capitol, Austin – Rep. Sergio Muñoz, is proud to announce that one of this year’s winners of the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards is Valley Proud Environmental Council.  Also known as, Valley Proud, it has forged  partnerships in 27 communities in its four-county region of deep South Texas. Their hard work includes conserving natural resources, enhancing economic development and tourism- the lifeblood of the region.  Valley Proud brings together private and public organizations in events aimed at improving quality of life for area residents. This grassroots initiative relies on the spirit of volunteerism in diverse individuals.

The Captain Crab Puppet Show, is one of Valley Proud’s activities that teaches environmental responsibility.  With characters like Captain Crab, Diego the Dolphin, and Patrick the Pelican they encourage kids to recycle and prevent litter.  More than 30,00 students at 120 different campuses have received Captain Crab’s message, reinforced by an advertised fine of up to $2,000 for littering.  Along with the puppet show, Valley proud has provided Port Isabel Independent School District with recycling containers, publicity, organization, training of campus staff, and coordination with the local recycling center.  Some students have also begun to take interest in promoting recycling, and acquiring supplies to do so.  In 2010, schools located in Port Isabel ISD have successfully collected 17 tons of paper and cardboard for recycling.

Project Rio Reforestation, has mobilized over 15,000 volunteers to plant more than 220,000 native tree seedlings on 750 acres of land.  Valley Proud works closely with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to identify appropriate tracts of land and then gathers, transports, and feeds an army of volunteer tree planters.  Valley proud organized successful events at 20 different sites since 1994 and continue to search for new locations.  A 28-page tree guide in English and Spanish, an Arbor Day Planning Guide and two native plant brochures have been produce to help people interested in planting trees on their own.

Texas high school seniors vie for $10,000 educational scholarship

The Texas Capitol, Austin -  State Representative Muñoz is teaming up with the Texas Hospitality Association (THA) to fight underage drinking and to promote alcohol responsibility through a statewide poster contest that will award one 2011 high school graduating senior a $10,000 educational scholarship.

THA will award the $10,000 scholarship to the Texas high school senior who designs and submits the best poster conveying the message or theme: “If you are under 21, it’s illegal to consume or purchase alcoholic beverages in Texas.”  The winning poster will be distributed statewide to Texas establishments selling or serving alcohol.

“I am eager to take the initiative in involving Texas high school seniors in coordinating a message that will combat underage drinking amongst Texas minors and that will also remind all Texans of the need for alcohol awareness,” said Representative Muñoz.

The contest is open to all 2011 Texas high school seniors.  Artwork must be an original design and may be computer or electronically generated, hand drawn or photographed.

Students have until May 6th to submit their poster to THA.  The winner of the $10,000 scholarship will be determined by a vote of each Texas House of Representatives office.

For complete details on the THA $10,000 poster contest go to:
www.texashospitalityassociation.com.

19 April 2011

The Texas Capitol, Austin – State Representative Sergio Muñoz Jr. is pleased to announce a grant to be awarded to the Boys and Girls Club of Pharr Texas by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.  The Community Outdoor Outreach Grant will enable 250 local participants to visit 9 different sites of the World Birding Center as part of a nine-week outdoor curriculum on birds in Texas.

The funds supporting this grant program are derived from a portion of the state sales tax on sporting goods.  Grants are issued upon review by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to allow tax-exempt organizations and municipal governments to provide outdoor recreation and environmental education activities to communities on a need and merit basis.  The Boys and Girls Club of Pharr is set to receive the grant in the amount of $44,500.

Speaking on the acceptance of the grant, Alfredo “Freddy” Mata, Jr. CPO of the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr issued the following statement:

“We are very excited to be a recipient of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Departments Community Outdoor Outreach Program Grant.  Although the Rio Grande Valley is a Mecca for bird watchers across the nation, local residents do not fully comprehend what we have in our own back yards.  We now have the opportunity to educate our community’s youth about the tropical birds that are found in our area.  Bird Brains: The Ultimate Journey is a collaborative effort between the Boys & Girls Club of Pharr, Boys & girls Club of Edinburg, and Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Madre and spans throughout Cameron and Hidalgo Counties.  This program will cater primarily to at-risk youth, who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in outdoor recreational activities.  These youth will participate in outdoor recreation and education activities throughout the summer months while visiting the nine sites that make up the World Birding Center in our area, three of which are Texas State Parks.”

“These types of grants are a very welcome bonus for our children here in Deep South Texas,” added Muñoz. “It is another source of education and exposure to our natural resources right here at home.”

3 March 2011

The Texas Capitol, Austin – Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr. today encouraged community leaders, volunteers and philanthropists alike to consider lending a hand to rehabilitate the historic Saint Peter’s Novitiate which suffered through a fire in September 2009 and was partially demolished thereafter.  A number of concerned city and church officials halted the demolition, and what is left, is an effort restore the building so that it may carry on its mission to educate and benefit the surrounding community.

“This effort is about our community coming together for the common good,” said Muñoz. “We will ask our neighbors and colleagues to help us accomplish the noble goal of erecting a structure that the whole community will be proud of.”

Built in 1912 in the Spanish Revival style on the highest point of the La Lomita Historic District, St. Peter’s colorful history actually dates back to 1849 when Missionary Oblates began their work in the area.  The Oblates were welcomed by Frenchman Rene Guyard, a  merchant and Texas landowner whose vast ranchland included La Lomita and the site of the first La Lomita Chapel built in 1865.  The current effort will allow the history to live on… and the restored structure is slated to open as part of the Saint Juan Diego Academy in the fall of 2011.

In this initial effort, Muñoz is calling for volunteers to come to the site each of the following Saturdays through at least April, from 7:30 a.m. to sunset, where the duty of the day will be to collect, clean and sort bricks from the original Saint Peter Novitiate for use in the restoration.

25 March 2011

The Texas Capitol, Austin – Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday, March 24, signed House Concurrent Resolution 56 by Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Mission, and Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, which recognizes Saturday, April 9 as Welcome Home South Texas Vietnam Veterans Day.

HCR 56 was co-authored by the entire Valley legislative delegation in both the House and the Senate.

“This measure is a fitting tribute by the Texas Legislature and the state’s top elected leadership to the tremendous courage shown and the selfless sacrifices made by thousands of South Texas veterans who served in Southeast Asia, defending freedom from the tyranny of communism,” said Muñoz. “I am so grateful to them – and all U.S. veterans from throughout our nation’s history – for our precious liberties in America.”

Hinojosa, who served as a United States Marine combat squad leader during the Vietnam War, said the loved ones of America’s fighting forces in Vietnam share in the statewide honor.

“The men and women in uniform who heroically protect our nation, here at home and throughout the world, know that their families share much of the hardship and fears that come with the honorable responsibility of protecting our country and the ideals we stand for,” said Hinojosa. “We owe our way-of-life to the families of our veterans as well.”

Perry, himself a U.S. veteran, served in the United States Air Force between 1972 and 1977, flying C-130 tactical airlift aircraft in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.

“From our nation’s earliest beginnings, veterans have bravely protected the causes of freedom and liberty both within our borders and abroad,” Gov. Rick Perry said. “I am proud to call these fine individuals fellow Texans, and I join Rep. Muñoz and Sen. Hinojosa in recognizing and thanking Vietnam veterans in South Texas for their service to our nation.”

McAllen Convention Center to host major celebration

Muñoz said the legislative resolution is also intended to draw more attention to the major celebration – which is free and open to the public – to be held at the McAllen Convention Center on Saturday, April 9.

According to the event’s website, www.LZRGV.com:

On April 9, 2011, all of the five-county communities of South Texas (Zapata, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy) are invited to meet at the McAllen Convention Center to welcome home our Vietnam War era Veterans. The Vietnam era Veterans of South Texas were not given the welcome home acknowledgement that they justly deserved. The intention is to recognize the sacrifices many made during the Vietnam War. This event is intended to recognize all Vietnam War era Veterans in South Texas and honor the many that were killed-in-action and missing-in-action. Prisoners-of-war and those wounded while fighting for our country will also be honored. There is a special tribute planned for other veterans as well.

LZ:RGV program themes are derived from three main components: proclamation, education and celebration. This living memorial offers everyone the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the Vietnam War era veterans’ achievements.

In addition to several regional veteran resources and services, other activities include a locally-produced play from the Pharr Literacy Project on the South Texas Vietnam War experience called “Pat and Lyndon”, poetry readings, photography, videos, the traveling Vietnam War “Healing Memorial”, a military vehicle exhibit, and a special Vietnam era music tribute featuring recording artists Carlos Guzmán, Freddy Martínez, Sunny Ozuna and other special guests.

Muñoz expressed appreciation to the professional and financial contributions of the major sponsors for the event: H-E-B; Entravision Communications; the City of McAllen; McAllen Convention Center; the City of Edinburg; the City of Pharr; the City of Harlingen; the City of Brownsville; the American Legion; the Veterans Alliance; the Veterans of Foreign Wars; the Rio Grande Guardian; Entrevision Communications; (Hidalgo County Judge) Ramón García; TIS (Total Imaging Solutions); The Del Rio Agency; Border Media; Godínez Communications; The Monitor; Advertir; Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, Attorneys-at-Law; and Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation.

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was waged for numerous key reasons, but primarily to stop the expansion of communism. Communism is a political philosophy that gives all power to the government, including severely violating crucial human rights, such as freedom of speech, private ownership of property, and freedom of religion.

Major American involvement in Vietnam spanned from the 1960s to the early 1970s, pitting the U.S. and then-South Vietnam against North Vietnam, a communist nation aided by the then-Soviet Union and China. The losses and casualties for the U.S., South Vietnam and North Vietnam were huge: 58,220 Americans were killed (mostly military personnel) and 303,635 (mostly military personnel) were wounded; South Vietnam suffered 220,357 killed and 1,170,000 military personnel and civilians wounded; and North Vietnam lost 1,176,000 military personnel and civilians with another 600,000+ wounded.

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 56

WHEREAS, Proud South Texas veterans of the Vietnam War are being officially welcomed home at the LZ:RGV event at the McAllen Convention Center on April 9, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Short for Landing Zone: Rio Grande Valley, the event honors the service and sacrifice of the South Texans who were among the 2.59 million Americans who served in Vietnam; during that conflict, more than 58,000 Americans died, including 3,400 from Texas, and over 300,000 were wounded, including 75,000 who were severely disabled; approximately 2,000 Americans are still listed as missing, and hundreds spent time as prisoners of war; and

WHEREAS, These brave men and women served with honor and distinction at a time when the nation was divided in its support of the war; returning home, they were caught in the crossfire of debate and protest and never received the recognition that they deserved; and

WHEREAS, In order to rectify that omission, a coalition of groups in South Texas has come together to organize, promote, and host a long overdue tribute for the region’s veterans; sponsors include Hidalgo County Judge Ramón

García, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Veterans Alliance, the cities of McAllen and Edinburg, The Monitor and the Rio Grande Guardian, Total Imaging Solutions, and Entravision Communications; and

WHEREAS, The LZ:RGV event will include a dedication ceremony for the Veterans War Memorial of Texas, lectures, a keynote address, and a concert; visitors may also learn about the war and its veterans from information booths, a portrait gallery, exhibits, and documentaries; and

WHEREAS, Citizens of this state and nation owe our brave Vietnam veterans an eternal debt of gratitude, and the LZ:RGV event in McAllen will celebrate those South Texans who served and came home and will pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice; now, therefore, be it further

RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate April 9, 2011, as LZ:RGV Welcome Home South Texas Vietnam Veterans Day and extend to the event’s organizers, supporters, and participants sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable day.

10 May 2011

The Texas Capitol, Austin – On Tuesday May 10th 2011 The Texas House of Representatives passed HB 12, the so-called “Sanctuary Cities” bill.  The legislation, dubbed an emergency item by the Governor, is riddled with policies that local law enforcement officials do not want, and was marred from the beginning of the debate with unfair tactics used by the Republican super-majority in the Texas House.

Debate on the bill touched-off the most emotional and passionate interactions that the House has seen thus far this session.  HB 12 has Hispanic lawmakers on edge, who know that if the bill becomes law, that the progress made on civil rights in the last 50 years will be turned back.

Opponents of the bill point out that the authors of HB 12 have yet to identify a “sanctuary city” anywhere in Texas, and that the entire issue has centered around proposing unneeded solutions to a set of problems created by those on the far right of the political spectrum.

“We are making every effort to hold the line on this type of offensive legislation,” said Rep. Muñoz.  “It is difficult to imagine that in the Texas that our parents and grandparents fought so hard to make a better place, a place that has become more fair and has offered vast opportunities to people of any color, will take this horrendous step backwards.  It is un-American and unacceptable!”

By virtue of prohibiting local government entities from adopting rules, orders, ordinances, or policies that prohibit the enforcement of state or federal immigration law, HB 12 would allow certain law enforcement officials across Texas to question the immigration status of any person who is lawfully detained for the investigation of a criminal offense or arrested. The bill also stipulates that any law enforcement entities that prohibit officers from engaging in immigration checks shall be denied state grant funds.

“In effect, HB 12 creates de facto immigration officials out of every law enforcement officer in Texas, and we have no business asking our local police to enforce federal immigration laws,” added Muñoz.  “We need to allow federal officials to do their job and not burden local law enforcement with duties that takes specialized training and additional resources.”

As a result of the added duties, emergency response times will rise, prisons will become overcrowded, and state tax dollars will be spent enforcing federal laws.  At a time when the Texas Legislature is attempting to put an end to unfunded mandates, HB 12 will significantly increase the financial burdens felt by law enforcement entities across the state.  The McAllen police chief, among an overwhelming sample of law enforcement officials and other entities, have all displayed their opposition to the bill at meetings leading up to tonight’s debate.

The following were present at the committee hearing on HB 12 to speak in opposition to the bill: The Austin Police Department, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Equal Justice Center, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, the Border Network for Human Rights, MALDEF, Bishops of the United Methodist Churches of Texas, American Gateways, Arizona Employees for Immigration Reform, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Texas Catholic Conference, Coalition for Immigration Reform of DFW & North Texas, ACLU of Texas, Texas Impact, Anti-Defamation League, American Immigration Lawyers Association of Texas Oklahoma & New Mexico Chapter, University of Texas/Longhorn LULAC, the Coalition for Immigration for North Texas, the Houston Peace and Justice Center, University Leadership Initiative, the North Texas Dream Team, the Daughters of Charity Advocacy & Social Justice Committee, the Southwest Workers Union, Iranians for Peace & Justice, the Texas Municipal League, RITA, the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Border Network for Human Rights, and Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce.

“One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings.”
~Franklin Thomas

9 May 2011

The Texas Capitol, Austin – On Monday May 9th 2011 The Texas House of Representatives debated the merits of the so-called “Sanctuary Cities” bill late into the night.  The legislation, dubbed an emergency item by the Governor, is riddled with policies that local law enforcement officials do not want, and was marred from the beginning of the debate with unfair tactics used by the Republican super-majority in the Texas House.

“Those of us opposing the bill were threatened with restricted debate and minimal amendments which in essence silences the minority,” said Rep. Muñoz.  “Even a freshman legislator like myself recognized that the House was breaking with the tradition that has always allowed extended debate on such important policy matters.”

HB 12 would allow law enforcement officials across Texas to question the immigration status of any person who is lawfully detained for the investigation of a criminal offense or arrested. The definition of “lawfully detained” is so broad that even a person who jaywalks would be considered making a criminal offense. The bill also stipulates that a law enforcement agency may not prohibit an official from sending any immigration information to another law enforcement agency, state or federal, and any law enforcement entities that prohibit officers from engaging in immigration checks shall be denied state grant funds.

“In effect, HB 12 creates de facto immigration officials out of every law enforcement officer in Texas, and we have no business asking our local police to enforce federal immigration laws,” added Muñoz.

As a result of the added duties, emergency response times will rise, prisons will become overcrowded, and state tax dollars will be spent enforcing federal laws.  At a time when the Texas Legislature is attempting to put an end to unfunded mandates, HB 12 will significantly increase the financial burdens felt by law enforcement entities across the state.  The McAllen police chief, among an overwhelming sample of law enforcement officials and other entities, have all displayed their opposition to the bill at meetings leading up to tonight’s debate.

The following were present at the committee hearing on HB 12 to speak in opposition to the bill: The Austin Police Department, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Equal Justice Center, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, the Border Network for Human Rights, MALDEF, Bishops of the United Methodist Churches of Texas, American Gateways, Arizona Employees for Immigration Reform, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Texas Catholic Conference, Coalition for Immigration Reform of DFW & North Texas, ACLU of Texas, Texas Impact, Anti-Defamation League, American Immigration Lawyers Association of Texas Oklahoma & New Mexico Chapter, University of Texas/Longhorn LULAC, the Coalition for Immigration for North Texas, the Houston Peace and Justice Center, University Leadership Initiative, the North Texas Dream Team, the Daughters of Charity Advocacy & Social Justice Committee, the Southwest Workers Union, Iranians for Peace & Justice, the Texas Municipal League, RITA, the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Border Network for Human Rights, and Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce.

“One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings.”
~Franklin Thomas

3 April 2011

The Texas Capitol, Austin – Saying he is hopeful that the Texas Senate will force a compromise with House Republican leaders, Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr., a Democrat from Mission, on Sunday, April 3, voted against House Bill 1, the state budget plan that was approved late that night by the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.

House Bill 1 is a $164.5 billion budget proposal for the state government’s upcoming two year budget, which begins September 1, that slashes $23 billion from all major state obligations, including public and higher education, nursing homes, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), transportation, and public safety.

Muñoz said that HB 1 would slash up to $8 billion in state funding from public education statewide, likening the leadership’s budget cutting techniques to “using a machete to chop off an injury rather than a surgeon’s scalpel to heal the wound.”

The South Texas lawmaker, who says that “education is the top priority for all Texans,” predicted that such deep budget cuts to public schools in Texas would have a far-reaching negative effect on the state’s economy.

“These cuts could easily lead to layoffs of 100,000 school district employees, and another 140,000 related private sector jobs,” said Muñoz. “Such a move would also result in more crowded classrooms and a lower quality of education for Texas’ children. These schoolchildren are our responsibility, and more importantly, they are the future of Texas.”

Muñoz did co-author a successful amendment that restored funding for South Texas College’s Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) program, working with the entire Valley House delegation to get it passed. The amendment restores $630,000 for the next two-year budget to the STC program, one of only three such programs in the state.

“While I voted against House Bill 1, based on principles that I swore to uphold – my duty to provide an adequate budget to fund our schools, be responsible about health care, and to provide for the public safety and transportation – I am thrilled to have restored total funding for STC’s BAT program,” explained Muñoz.

The college offers BAT Degrees in Technology Management as well as in Computer and Information Technologies.  STC is one of only three Texas community colleges accredited to offer bachelor degrees and the only Texas community college accredited to offer two bachelor’s degrees.  The first class of BAT student graduated from the college in May 2007.

Muñoz also supported numerous amendments that would have offered additional financial protections for our neighborhood public schools, nursing homes jobs, and financial aid for state universities. “I am proud to have supported amendments that would have lessened some of the burden this budget will place on Texas and our local communities,” he said.

Fortunately, Muñoz noted, the Senate is considering its own state budget plan, which provides $5 billion more than the House budget plan, with the potential of raising to $10 billion after a Senate committee looking for non-tax revenue sources makes its recommendation to the Legislature.

Under the rules of the legislature, when the House and Senate versions of the budget bills do not reconcile, a handful of senators and state representatives are appointed to a conference committee to work out the differences in the bills.  That process will begin as soon as the Senate approves its version of the bill in the next few days or weeks.  It is during the conference committee’s deliberations that Rep. Muñoz and many of the democrats in the Legislature will continue to influence a better budget plan than found in HB 1.

Upon completion of the Conference Committee on HB 1′s work, the entire House and Senate will have the final say on any new state budget, and the Governor would have to approve it or veto (kill) it, or even veto specific line items of funding.  A veto could require state lawmakers to meet until August 31 to come up with another version of the state budget.

“I will work for a better state budget as hard and as long as it takes,” said Muñoz. “We are going to fight for a state budget that is fair, that improves, not hurts, our economy, that provides for our children and our elderly, and which protects the most vulnerable in Texas.”

Muñoz Votes to Tap Rainy Day Fund

In related action on Thursday, March 31, Muñoz voted for a separate legislative measure, House Bill 275, which will allow the use of $3.1 billion from the state’s Rainy Day Fund in order to keep state government running through the end of its current fiscal year, which ends August 31.

The Rainy Day Fund is the state’s savings account, which draws much of its money from taxes on natural gas and oil.  Thursday’s vote allows the state to use the money for the remainder of this budget cycle only – for only the next five months.  Muñoz has argued to extend the use of the Rainy Day Fund into the coming budget cycle; even after Thursday’s allocation of $3.1 billion, the fund contains $6 billion available to the Legislature for budgeting purposes.

“I cannot think of a better time or a better use of the state’s Rainy Day Fund,” said Muñoz.  “After hearing from, visiting with, and reading correspondence from thousands of Texans who are being affected by these drastic cuts, I believe it is fair to determine that it is STORMING and the use of the Rainy Day Fund is in order!”

Potential Revenue Sources Don’t Involve Tax Increases

There are many options to raise revenue to offset the base budget cuts and the resulting job losses, noted Muñoz.

“These new sources of money, which do not involve tax increases, would generate billions of dollars to help pay for our most important state programs and services,” he said.

Among some of the new revenue sources Muñoz favors are:

• Continuing to tap into the $9.4 billion Rainy Day Fund ($6 billion remaining after HB 275) to help provide needed state money for the most crucial state services;

• Delaying the date of payments by the state by one day into the next fiscal year, a tactic used effectively in the past and that could save the state $3 billion to $4 billion; and

• Prioritizing $550 million from the Available School Fund for digital and print materials for pre-kindergarten, English as a second language, and writing and science. The Available School Fund, which has almost $2 billion, is a program that sets money aside from the state to help pay for the public school system.

21 May 2011

The Texas Capitol, Austin – Standing firm on his commitment to provide an adequate budget to fund schools, to be responsible about health care, and to provide for the public safety and transportation for the people of his Deep South Texas district, Rep. Muñoz voted against HB 1811, the so-called “fiscal matters” bill.  Although the legislation had the backing of the legislative leadership and passed the House today, the bill is being criticized for including accounting gimmicks and for “kicking the can down the road.”  The bill is a quick fix that aids and abets the leadership’s cut to the budget, instead of addressing the ongoing structural deficit created by a broken revenue system.

House Bill 1811 contains numerous provisions that if finally passed will create about $2.5 billion for the next biennium.  Although the additional revenue sounds welcome, it is a false choice and does not constitute sound fiscal policy. The majority of the revenue in the bill, $2.2 billion, would come from deferring the last Foundation School Program payment of the biennium to school districts from the end of the biennium to the beginning of the next biennium.  Most agree that the deferral is not real money and the Legislature should not involve itself in this type of accounting.

“This is not the fiscally responsible way to raise revenue,” said Muñoz.  “This measure would only create a bigger funding problem for us next session; it is a smoke & mirrors approach to a serious structural problem that this state has in its revenue system.  Further, after all of the negotiations and after thousands of school teachers, school children, Medicaid advocates and others have visited the Capitol and sent a very clear message to all of us here…  we are still cutting $4 billion from schools and almost an equal amount from Medicaid and other programs,” added Muñoz.  “We do not need to do this to our fellow Texans; not as we leave billions of dollars in the State’s Rainy Day Fund, and not as we are learning that the fund is growing at a higher rate than expected.”

The bill also requires agencies to file and deliver required reports and publications exclusively by electronic means, but this attempt to appear to save agency money will come at a cost, because over a quarter of a million households in Texas still do not have internet access.  Many of these low-income and elderly citizens need access to state services, and it is imperative that they receive information via hard copy mail.
HB 1811′s provision allowing agencies to modify eligibility requirements for persons who receive agency benefits is written too broadly and could allow an agency to restrict eligibility and deny services to Texans who desperately need care.  Texas already has a weak safety net for citizens, and this provision could weaken it further.

Muñoz could not in good conscious vote for a bill that would create so many uncertainties for Texans.  “The people of my district elected me to make things better in South Texas; unfortunately, this bill did not offer that opportunity.”

20 May 2011

The Texas Capitol, Austin – Almost $7.1 million in federal money to pay for a wastewater treatment plant, a fire station, and a loan program for small businesses in the cities of Hidalgo, Alton and Palmview, respectively, were announced on Thursday, May 19, in the Mission legislative center that houses the district offices of Rep. Sergio Muñoz, D-Mission, and Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo/McAllen.

“Our concerted efforts continue to pay off,” Muñoz said. “These important projects will help many of my constituents in House District 36 with the resources that will result in improved public safety, public health and economic development, as these three cities continue to grow and prosper.”

Muñoz, who is in Austin for the final weeks of the regular session of the Texas Legislature, thanked Cuellar for the congressman’s continuing and effective support for South Texas, including working with the state legislative delegation and local elected leaders on this latest round of federal funding.

“In order to best serve our constituents, especially in our smaller cities, there has to be a strong partnership from city hall all the way to the halls of the Texas Capitol and Congress,” said Muñoz. “When we approach these funding sources with a united front, it solidifies our goals and make it more difficult for a federal or state agency to deny us money for which we are qualified.”

Cuellar, whose congressional district includes portions of Muñoz’ state House District 36 and Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa’s Senate District 20, shared Muñoz’ assessments of how U.S. and Texas government agencies often decide whether or not to fund key projects at the local levels.

“One of the things that federal agencies look at is what sort of support they have in the local communities,” said Cuellar, himself a longtime state representative before he was elected to Congress. “If (local projects) have the support of the state legislators such as Rep. Muñoz and Sen. Hinojosa, that helps a lot.”

The money is being provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, whose financial programs support such essential public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service, Muñoz added.

“When local communities reach out for federal assistance, we make their requests a top priority. When we can take significant steps such as this to increase public safety, improve infrastructure and create jobs, every family in the area benefits,” Cuellar said.

The City of Hidalgo will receive $5,975,000 in federal funds to construct a new 1.5 million gallons per day wastewater treatment plant. The new plant will be located adjacent to the existing wastewater treatment plant and will increase total capacity to 2.7 million gallons per day.

The City of Alton will receive $1,000,000 in federal funds for the construction of a new fire station. Repairing the current fire station, which is too small to serve the growing community, would not be cost effective. The new fire station will be centrally located and will house first responder personnel 24 hours a day seven days a week. The station will also have bays with easy access to vehicles and fire trucks that can get to main thoroughfares quickly, allowing for faster response times.

The City of Palmview will receive a grant of $121,275 to begin a Revolving Loan Fund to aid small and emerging businesses. Under the program, a loan is made to a small business and as repayments are made, funds become available for new loans for other businesses. The goal of the loan program is to increase economic development and create one full time job for every $25,000 loaned. Some potential recipients that have expressed interest and qualify include: a bakery, an adult daycare center and a road side service business.

“Facility upgrades and new business development are essential items needed for the sustainability of growing rural communities,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Paco Valentin.  “USDA Rural Development is pleased to offer funding for these services and projects that will increase the quality of life for residents of Hidalgo County.

José Borjon contributed to this article.