Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Earlier today at the State Capitol the Speaker of the House Joe Straus made his biennial announcement of committees that will carry the load of important work and other legislative priories during the 82nd Regular Session of the Legislature. In making those announcement Texas State Representative Roberto R. Alonzo (Dallas) was recognized for his past significant contributions and legislative priorities by receiving appointments to three key House committees including Higher Education Redistricting and Border & International Affairs respectively.
Returning for his seventh 2-year term in the House Rep. Alonzo remains confident that he will use his policy-making expertise veteran legislative experience and networking relationship with key lawmakers to advocate important legislation and pass significant measures that will improve the quality of life for all Texans.
I am honored and privileged indeed to continue serving the people of the DFW and North Texas regions at large and particularly those from House District 104 through my committee work which is traditionally considered the crux of the legislative process said Rep. Alonzo.
District 104 encompasses primarily southwest Dallas including parts of the communities of Oak Cliff Cockrell Hill northeast Grand Prairie North Oak Cliff and Arcadia Park.
I cannot wait to roll my sleeves start the legislative process and work on behalf of all Texans and my constituents in particular through these important committee assignments especially redistricting which will undoubtedly be one of the hottest button issues this legislative session. With the latest US census numbers now out and the State of Texas already declared one of the big winners nationally because of its tremendous population growth particularly among Hispanics the DFW region alone is among four regions that stands to gain more representation and seats in the US Congress as well as in various state House and Senatorial districts and other regionally-based elections. And as such I am determined to do my part in the redistricting and public hearings process to ensure that we get our fair share of representation at all levels of government. That is why I think redistricting will be so important to our region this coming session continued Rep. Alonzo.
Last month Rep. Alonzo received a letter from the State Demographer (as attached) declaring that the population of the State of Texas has grown by a little less than 19 percent….A large majority of the growth is attributed to the growth in the Hispanic population making up a little over 70 percent of the total population increase.
The Committee on Redistricting which consists of 15 lawmakers has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
(1) legislative districts both house and senate and any changes or amendments;
(2) congressional districts their creation and any changes or amendments;
(3) establishing districts for the election of judicial officers or of governing bodies or representatives of political subdivisions or state agencies as required by law; and
(4) preparations for the redistricting process.
The Committee on Higher Education on the other hand which is composed of nine lawmakers has primary jurisdiction over all matters pertaining: (1) education beyond high school; (2) all colleges and universities of the State of Texas; and (3) the following state agencies - the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board THECB the Texas Engineering Experiment Station the Texas Engineering Extension Service the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation the State Medical Education Board the Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board and the Texas Transportation Institute.
Education at all levels including accessibility of a college education for all students has consistently been one of my legislative priorities in the Legislature and I continue to keep that at the top of my agenda. I am excited that by serving on the Higher Education Committee I will be in an even more influential position to ensure that all colleges and universities in Texas address the needs of all students educators and communities alike.
I want to ensure more financial aid resources are accessible for all students to be able to afford a quality education and not only have the opportunity to attend but most importantly also graduate from college and become productive citizens of society. I also want to ensure that we do more to lessen the gap that currently exists between minority and non-minority students attending college.
And finally I want to ensure that we do more as a state to increase diversity among our campuses by enrolling more Latinos and other minorities in our institutions while at the same time encouraging more minorities to assume high-ranking collegiate positions that will serve as a role model for future generations. It is not secret that Latinos have now become the majority population in Texas but yet many of our colleges and universities still continue to show a disparity in diversity both among student bodies and college professors. That concerns me continued Rep. Alonzo.
The Committee on Border and Intergovernmental Affairs which is comprised of nine members has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
(1) the relations between the State of Texas and other nations;
(2) the relations between the State of Texas and the federal government other than matters involving defense emergency preparedness and veterans issues;
(2) and (3) Government Code) economic development public health and safety issues affecting the border tourist development and goodwill and economic development tourist development and goodwill in other areas of the state that have experienced a significant increase in the percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from other nations according to the last two federal decennial censuses or another reliable measure;
(4) international commerce and trade;
(5) international and border regions (as described in Sections 2056.002(e)
(6) the provision of public services to persons residing in proximity to Texas international border or in other areas of the state that have experienced a significant increase in the percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from other nations according to the last two federal decennial censuses or another reliable measure; and
(7) the following state agency: the Office of State-Federal Relations.
With immigration reform border security coupled with various Arizona-type proposals floating around the Capitol and other immigration-related matters becoming such a controversial matter too not only in Texas but nationally as well there is no doubt that the debate will continue through the 82nd session. As a result I see the Border & International Affairs Committee taking the spotlight as well concluded Rep. Alonzo.
For more information on these or any other committees or any other legislative issue Rep. Alonzo encourages interested individuals to contact his offices in Austin or Dallas or visit the Texas House of Representatives website at www.house.state.tx.us.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Earlier today at the State Capitol the Speaker of the House Joe Straus made his biennial announcement of committees that will carry the load of important work and other legislative priories during the 82nd Regular Session of the Legislature. In making those announcement Texas State Representative Roberto R. Alonzo (Dallas) was recognized for his past significant contributions and legislative priorities by receiving appointments to three key House committees including Higher Education Redistricting and Border & International Affairs respectively.
Returning for his seventh 2-year term in the House Rep. Alonzo remains confident that he will use his policy-making expertise veteran legislative experience and networking relationship with key lawmakers to advocate important legislation and pass significant measures that will improve the quality of life for all Texans.
I am honored and privileged indeed to continue serving the people of the DFW and North Texas regions at large and particularly those from House District 104 through my committee work which is traditionally considered the crux of the legislative process said Rep. Alonzo.
District 104 encompasses primarily southwest Dallas including parts of the communities of Oak Cliff Cockrell Hill northeast Grand Prairie North Oak Cliff and Arcadia Park.
I cannot wait to roll my sleeves start the legislative process and work on behalf of all Texans and my constituents in particular through these important committee assignments especially redistricting which will undoubtedly be one of the hottest button issues this legislative session. With the latest US census numbers now out and the State of Texas already declared one of the big winners nationally because of its tremendous population growth particularly among Hispanics the DFW region alone is among four regions that stands to gain more representation and seats in the US Congress as well as in various state House and Senatorial districts and other regionally-based elections. And as such I am determined to do my part in the redistricting and public hearings process to ensure that we get our fair share of representation at all levels of government. That is why I think redistricting will be so important to our region this coming session continued Rep. Alonzo.
Last month Rep. Alonzo received a letter from the State Demographer (as attached) declaring that the population of the State of Texas has grown by a little less than 19 percent….A large majority of the growth is attributed to the growth in the Hispanic population making up a little over 70 percent of the total population increase.
The Committee on Redistricting which consists of 15 lawmakers has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
(1) legislative districts both house and senate and any changes or amendments;
(2) congressional districts their creation and any changes or amendments;
(3) establishing districts for the election of judicial officers or of governing bodies or representatives of political subdivisions or state agencies as required by law; and
(4) preparations for the redistricting process.
The Committee on Higher Education on the other hand which is composed of nine lawmakers has primary jurisdiction over all matters pertaining: (1) education beyond high school; (2) all colleges and universities of the State of Texas; and (3) the following state agencies - the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board THECB the Texas Engineering Experiment Station the Texas Engineering Extension Service the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation the State Medical Education Board the Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board and the Texas Transportation Institute.
Education at all levels including accessibility of a college education for all students has consistently been one of my legislative priorities in the Legislature and I continue to keep that at the top of my agenda. I am excited that by serving on the Higher Education Committee I will be in an even more influential position to ensure that all colleges and universities in Texas address the needs of all students educators and communities alike.
I want to ensure more financial aid resources are accessible for all students to be able to afford a quality education and not only have the opportunity to attend but most importantly also graduate from college and become productive citizens of society. I also want to ensure that we do more to lessen the gap that currently exists between minority and non-minority students attending college.
And finally I want to ensure that we do more as a state to increase diversity among our campuses by enrolling more Latinos and other minorities in our institutions while at the same time encouraging more minorities to assume high-ranking collegiate positions that will serve as a role model for future generations. It is not secret that Latinos have now become the majority population in Texas but yet many of our colleges and universities still continue to show a disparity in diversity both among student bodies and college professors. That concerns me continued Rep. Alonzo.
The Committee on Border and Intergovernmental Affairs which is comprised of nine members has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
(1) the relations between the State of Texas and other nations;
(2) the relations between the State of Texas and the federal government other than matters involving defense emergency preparedness and veterans issues;
(2) and (3) Government Code) economic development public health and safety issues affecting the border tourist development and goodwill and economic development tourist development and goodwill in other areas of the state that have experienced a significant increase in the percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from other nations according to the last two federal decennial censuses or another reliable measure;
(4) international commerce and trade;
(5) international and border regions (as described in Sections 2056.002(e)
(6) the provision of public services to persons residing in proximity to Texas international border or in other areas of the state that have experienced a significant increase in the percentage of the population that consists of immigrants from other nations according to the last two federal decennial censuses or another reliable measure; and
(7) the following state agency: the Office of State-Federal Relations.
With immigration reform border security coupled with various Arizona-type proposals floating around the Capitol and other immigration-related matters becoming such a controversial matter too not only in Texas but nationally as well there is no doubt that the debate will continue through the 82nd session. As a result I see the Border & International Affairs Committee taking the spotlight as well concluded Rep. Alonzo.
For more information on these or any other committees or any other legislative issue Rep. Alonzo encourages interested individuals to contact his offices in Austin or Dallas or visit the Texas House of Representatives website at www.house.state.tx.us.
