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October 19, 2018

Thank you for subscribing to my e-newsletter. Below you will find updates from federal, state and local agencies on events from this week.

Early Voting for the November 6th General Election begins this Monday, October 22nd at 8 AM, and continues through Friday, November 2nd, at 7 PM. During this time, registered voters may vote at ANY early voting location in Harris County. Be sure to confirm your polling location before you go.


You can also print and keep a Sample Ballot from this website. There will be several Harris County locations available in and around House District 127:

  • Humble: Octavia Fields Branch Library: 1503 S. Houston Avenue, Humble, TX 77338
  • Kingwood: Kingwood Community Center - 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood, TX 77345
  • Atascocita: Atascocita Branch Library - 19520 Pinehurst Trail, Humble, TX 77346
  • Crosby: Crosby Branch Library - 135 Hare Road, Crosby, TX 77352

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, 
October 2018 Calendar


Download my October 2018 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.
Hurricane Harvey Updates
FEMA Website Consolidates Resources for Governments, Nonprofits, Survivors 
Texas communities will find a wide range of support at FEMA’s centralized online resource for governments, nonprofits and Hurricane Harvey Survivors working on their long-term recovery. With a new look, expanded resources and greater accessibility, the Hurricane Harvey Recovery Portal provides round-the-clock access to valuable materials for nonprofits and local, state, federal and tribal governments.
 
“We want to make it easy for recovery organizations to find out about funding opportunities and philanthropic resources,” said Mark Emmert, FEMA federal disaster recovery officer. “By spreading awareness of available programs, we can help maximize their effectiveness and bring the greatest benefit to recovering Texans.”
 
The portal is updated regularly with information on available grants and funding opportunities, community housing initiatives, sustainability and environmental measures, training modules and community planning and capacity building programs. It also includes resources for faith-based, historical and cultural organizations.
 
For Texas residents, the portal provides long-term recovery information, links to federal programs, Harvey news and resources such as 2-1-1 Texas. To access the portal, visit http://fema.connectsolutions.com/philanthropy4332  and log in as a guest. After signing in, look for tips on using the portal in the “Portal Instructions” file at the top left of the screen. The site is best viewed on a desktop or laptop computer. The Hurricane Harvey Recovery Portal is hosted by FEMA’s Integrated Recovery Coordination group, which facilitates long-term recovery activities in collaboration with local, state, federal and philanthropic partners.
 
For additional information on Hurricane Harvey and Texas recovery, visit the Hurricane Harvey disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4332 , Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMAharvey , the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at www.twitter.com/FEMARegion6 or the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at https://www.dps.texas.gov/dem/ .
Lake Conroe Exceeds Full Level;
SJRA Begins Controlled Releases
As of 10/17/18 at 11:45 AM - With an average of 3.96 inches of rainfall across the watershed for the current event, the Lake Conroe water level has risen over 1.26 feet and exceeded normal pool elevation of 201’ above mean sea level (msl). At a little after 2:00am, SJRA operations personnel at the Lake Conroe dam began controlled releases to slowly pass a portion of the inflows coming into the lake.
 
Throughout this entire storm event, information regarding lake level and releases has been sent, in real-time, to SJRA’s core partners, including Montgomery County, Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, City of Houston, Harris County, Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Harris County Flood Control District, National Weather Service, Coastal Water Authority, etc.
 
Depending on the rate and amount of additional rainfall, the lake will continue to slowly rise, and releases will be adjusted in order to buffer the amount of flow leaving the reservoir. The operational guidelines for Lake Conroe are designed to ensure that the peak rate of flow released from the dam is LOWER than the peak flow coming into the lake. Since it is difficult to accurately predict how far the lake will ultimately rise, Lake Conroe personnel will continue actively monitoring the storm and communicating with local officials. Anyone interested in monitoring Lake Conroe levels, releases, rainfall totals, or stream flows can visit SJRA’s Contrail System at: https://sanjacinto.onerain.com/home.php.
Updates from Austin
Governor Greg Abbott issued a State Disaster Declaration for eighteen Texas counties impacted by recent severe weather and flooding that has caused widespread property damage, and threatened loss of life.

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, do hereby certify that the severe weather and prolonged flooding event that began on October 7, 2018, has caused widespread and severe property damage, and threatens loss of life, Bastrop, Burnet, Colorado, Fayette, Hood, Jim Wells, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, Live Oak, Llano, Mason, McMullen, Nueces, Real, San Patricio, Travis, and Williamson Counties.
THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby declare a state of disaster in the previously listed counties.
Pursuant to Section 418.017 of the code, I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.
Pursuant to Section 418.016 of the code, any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended upon written approval of the Office of the Governor. However, to the extent that the enforcement of any state statute or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement would impede any state agency’s emergency response that is necessary to protect life or property threatened by this declared disaster, I hereby authorize the suspension of such statutes and rules for the duration of this declared disaster.
In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 16th day of October, 2018.
 
GREG ABBOTT
Governor

TEA Time Podcast available on iTunes,
other Subscription Services
Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced that  TEA Time , the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) official podcast, can now be downloaded on iTunes and other major podcast subscription services. The  TEA Time  podcast provides information on various TEA projects, initiatives, programs and specific public education issues. 
 
Launched in August, the inaugural  TEA Time  episodes have featured discussions with Commissioner Morath and other guests about the launch of the A-F State Accountability Rating System, financial accountability ratings for districts and charters, and the Grow Your Own: Teachers grant program to strengthen the pipeline of new teachers in Texas.
 
TEA Time  offers an easy way to hear about important efforts taking place in school districts across our state,” said Commissioner Morath. “With  TEA Time  now available on four major podcast platforms, parents and community members can listen at their convenience to learn how work in the classroom is leading to successful outcomes for all students.”
 
To listen and subscribe to all  TEA Time  episodes using iTunes, Google Play, TuneIn or Stitcher, visit:

All  TEA Time  podcasts are also available and can be heard on the TEA website ( https://tea.texas.gov/podcast ). The  TEA Time  podcast library continues to grow to encompass additional public education topics. Podcast episodes are added on a bi-weekly basis. To learn more about the TEA Time podcast or to catch up on previous episodes, visit the TEA website at  https://tea.texas.gov/podcast
Fiscal Notes : Long-Term Obligations and the
Texas Legacy Fund 
In the September/October special edition of Fiscal Notes , released this week, the Comptroller’s office continues its efforts to highlight the causes, costs and consequences of certain long-term financial obligations the state faces and offers a proposal to help meet these expenses by investing the state’s savings more strategically. 

This is the first in a series of special editions of Fiscal Notes prepared by the Comptroller’s office that examines issues state lawmakers are expected to face when they return for the 86th Texas Legislature in January. 

The costs associated with state employee pensions, health care benefits for retired teachers, the state’s prepaid tuition plan and deferred maintenance for state-owned buildings are sometimes overlooked in the grind of budget writing. Yet if these costs are not addressed, Texas is sure to face larger program expenses in the future — and may face a credit downgrade that would drive up the state’s borrowing costs. 

“These obligations must be met, sooner or later, and the longer we wait, the more money they’ll require,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. “My office is proposing a new way to begin addressing this situation through what I call the Texas Legacy Fund — a permanent endowment for the state, created from a portion of the state’s ‘rainy day fund,’ which would generate investment earnings specifically for addressing long-term obligations.”

Fiscal Notes is available online and can be received by subscribing via the Comptroller’s website. Fiscal Notes helps promote and further explain the Comptroller’s constitutional responsibility to monitor the state’s economy and estimate state government revenues. It has been published since 1975, featuring in-depth analysis concerning state finances and original research by subject-matter experts in the Comptroller’s office.
Updates from HD 127
Representative Huberty to Speak at Lake Houston Area Chamber "State of the State" Luncheon
Constituent Resources
Need Assistance?
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: 

Live Updates
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.
Contact Information
State Representative
Dan Huberty

Casey Christman
Chief of Staff

Amy Peterson
House Public Education Committee Director

Abby Caldwell
District Intern

Capitol Physical Address:
1100 Congress Avenue E2.408 Austin, TX 78701

Capitol Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2910 
Austin, TX 78768 

Capitol Phone:
(512) 463-0520

Capitol Fax:
(512) 463-1606
District Address: 
4501 Magnolia Cove
 Suite 201
Kingwood, TX 77345

District Phone:
(281) 360-9410
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