June 21, 2019

Thank you for subscribing to my e-newsletter. Below you will find updates from federal, state and local agencies. Should you have any questions about the information below, please do not hesitate to contact us using the contact details listed at the end of this newsletter.

Sunday was the last day Governor Abbott could sign or veto a bill. If he failed to take either action,the bill would automatically become law without his signature. In the end, he vetoed a total of 58 items, resulting in more than 1400 new laws in the State of Texas. For a full report of these items, you can visit Texas Legislature Online. We will continue to feature bills I authored or co-authored in future editions of the newsletter, as there was a large amount of other information to share with you this week.

I would like to take a second to thank everyone that reached out with well wishes for my birthday today. Janet, the kids and I are enjoying a much-needed vacation in Toronto, Canada, and your kind comments have added to that joy.

Should you have questions regarding anything in this newsletter, please feel free to contact us directly using the information provided at the bottom of this email.

Sincerely,

Download my May 2019 calendar by clicking the link below. This month is full of events in and around Texas that could be fun or useful to you and your family! This new format allows you to save the document for printing or sending to your family members.

 

Keep watch for these updated calendars at the beginning of each month. Important local and legislative dates and events will be posted here.

Harris County Flood Control District & San Jacinto River Authority Announce New Systems

The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) announced a project resulting from their ongoing partnership with Harris County Flood Control District to provide residents of Montgomery, Harris, and surrounding counties the ability to sign up and receive water level and rainfall alerts. Automated alert notifications will be delivered via text message or e-mail when defined rainfall or water level values are reached at specific rainfall and stream gauges, alerting residents of potential high water threats.

The Flood Warning System (FWS) rainfall and stream gauge alerts are based on information gathered at over 250 gauge locations across the region by numerous agencies, including Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston, and Waller Counties, City of Mont Belvieu, City of Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and SJRA.

“Water level determination is essential knowledge during potential flooding events,” said Chuck Gilman Director of Water Resources and Flood Management for the San Jacinto River Authority. “Our collaboration with Harris County Flood Control will take data from gauges across the region and give the public another tool to manage the threat of flooding in our area.”

“One of the biggest takeaways from Hurricane Harvey was the need for automated notifications to be delivered in a timely manner and this enhancement will help to accomplish that effort” stated Jeff Lindner, Director of Hydrologic Operations and Meteorologist for the Flood Control District. “ Residents can use the new alerts feature to make timely, informed decisions on how to protect themselves, their families, and property.”

The feature allows residents to create customized water level alerts or select from pre-defined rainfall and water level values that have been developed and utilized by local government officials. Create an account and sign up for alerts at www.fwsalerts.org .

One of the major river authorities in Texas, SJRA's mission is to develop, conserve, and protect the water resources of the San Jacinto River. Covering all or part of seven counties, the organization’s jurisdiction includes the entire San Jacinto River watershed, excluding Harris County. For additional information on SJRA visit our website at www.sjra.net or like SJRA on Facebook @SanJacintoRiverAuthority

Press Conference: Gov. Abbott to Deploy More Texas National Guard Troops to Border

Governor Greg Abbott today announced the deployment of 1,000 Texas National Guard troops to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) with the escalating humanitarian crisis at the southern border. In the past three weeks alone, more than 45,000 individuals from 52 different countries have been apprehended illegally crossing the border into Texas.

 

"The crisis at our southern border is unlike anything we’ve witnessed before and has put an enormous strain on the existing resources we have in place," said Governor Abbott. "With the deployment of these troops, we are taking action to confront the crisis at the border and keep potentially dangerous criminals and illegal activity out of our communities. By working together with our federal partners, we will continue to pursue a strong and comprehensive strategy to secure our border."

 

In the coming weeks, DHS will establish holding facilities in the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso for single adults entering the country illegally. The Texas National Guard troops will provide supplemental staffing support at the temporary holding facilities as well as supplemental enforcement support at ports of entry. These combined efforts will help alleviate the humanitarian crisis on our border as well as increase security for Texas communities.

 

"The massive increase in illegal immigration — on pace to exceed a million people this year— has been an emergency for months and Texas must continue to do everything we can to help secure our border, including deploying these additional troops," said Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. "Texas communities along the border and throughout the state are struggling to deal with this huge increase. Our health care system and schools are stretched to the breaking point and cost increases on everything from temporary shelter and policing to street cleaning have been astronomical. Governor Abbott, Speaker Bonnen and I are agreed that we must work with our federal partners and act now."

 

"As a longtime advocate for border security, I support today's announcement as yet another example of Texas stepping up and filling in the gaps where the federal government has fallen short," said Speaker Dennis Bonnen. "I have worked with Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and lawmakers in past legislative sessions to secure our border and ensure the safety of our citizens, and will continue to support measures to do so as we call on Washington to fulfill their duty to protect our citizens."

 

The federal government will pay for 100 percent of the costs associated with this short-term mission. Today’s announcement follows a series of actions Governor Abbott and the State of Texas have taken in the past four years to secure our border in the wake of inaction by Congress. Since Governor Abbott took office, the State of Texas has dedicated nearly $3 billion to confront the challenges that exist along our southern border. The State of Texas has also added 500 permanent Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers to the border region.

Web Video: Tax Reform That Puts Texans First

TEA: Texas Students Achieve Gains

on 2019 STAAR Test

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) today released results for the 2019 spring administration of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test. Results for high school end of course assessments were particularly strong, with gains in all subjects compared to 2018.

“This year’s STAAR scores demonstrate Texas students are learning more in the core subjects designed to set them up for future success,” said Education Commissioner Mike Morath. “More students are meeting grade-level expectations in Texas, and this is because of the incredibly talented work of our educators in classrooms around the state.”

Commissioner Morath also noted the important role recently passed legislation, including House Bill 3, will have in providing Texas educators the resources, including funding, and tools necessary to improve student outcomes.



“Governor Abbott and members of the Texas legislature have taken seriously the task of educating future generations. House Bill 3 will help increase opportunities to secure greater educational outcomes for our students and TEA remains committed to our work of identifying additional areas for improvement, growth, and progress.”

To review STAAR state-level reports, visit the Texas Education Agency website at  https://tea.texas.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=51539630517 .

Web Video: Making Texas Schools Safer For Students And Teachers 

86th Session Legislative Statistics

This information was last updated at 06/21/2019, and all numbers are final.

To view a report of all Legislative Statistics, please click here.

Our office is always ready to assist you. Call or email us and we will do our best to help. Many State Agencies also have hotlines or citizen assistance offices to assist you. That contact information is available at this link, in alphabetical order: 

http://www.lrl.texas.gov/genInfo/stateAgencies.cfm

All of the relevant information our office has gathered during the week will be posted to our Facebook page. By "liking" us, you will stay up-to-date about important matters across the state that affect you and your family. Click below to find our page.

This newsletter was not sent by State expense.

Paid political advertising by Friends of Dan Huberty.