– Senator Judith Zaffirini Convenes on Jan
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2010-2011 • Austin, Texas Dear Friends: Count on me to continue to Spend yourself on the work prioritize early and higher educa- before you, well assured that the tion; health and human services, right performance of this hour’s including for persons with disabil- duties will be the best prepara- ities; job creation; and public safe- tion for the hours and ages that ty. As the second-highest ranking will follow it. These beautiful state senator, Chair of the Senate and inspiring words by Ralph Higher Education Committee, Waldo Emerson personify my and a member of the Legislative motivation for focusing on the Budget Board and of the Senate task at hand in representing the Finance, Health and Human Ser- families of Senate District (SD) vices, Economic Development 21 and of our great state. and Administration Committees, Consistent with our prac- I am uniquely positioned to have tice of not simply preparing, a positive impact on these issues. but, rather, over-preparing, my We believe in improving educational oppor- What’s more, as the rank- staff and I already are collabo- ing member of the Redistrict- tunities for all and share a strong commit- ing Committee, I will work to rating with colleagues and con- ment to our very young and very old. stituents to craft legislation for ensure that our South Texas nd communities stay together and the 82 Legislative Session that – Senator Judith Zaffirini convenes on Jan. 11. that every person has an effec- Often the lives and live- tive voice in government. lihoods of Texans depend on our success. Literally. When As always, I thank Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for these we secure funding or pass legislation for medical education, important appointments. Equally important, I thank you for immunization, AIDS medication, clean and plentiful wa- your interest and invite you to join our collaboration. ter, capital punishment and other critical issues, we literally You can subscribe to my e-newsletter via my website make life or death decisions. and can “friend” me via www.facebook.com/judith.zaffirini. Senator Judith Zaffirini Reports to the Families of For those who prefer other communication channels, we will District 21 reaches out to our 17 counties, namely, Atas- continue to respond to every letter, email and telephone call. cosa, Bee, northeast Bexar, Dimmit, Duval, Frio, Jim Your feedback is essential to my meeting my top prior- Hogg, Karnes, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, San Patri- ity in the Texas Senate: improving the lives of the families of cio, Starr, Webb, Wilson, Zapata and Zavala. It is as much our district and of our great state. My prayer is that the Lord a progress report as it is an invitation to participate in the will continue to bless us with peace and harmony and health legislative process. and happiness—and inspire us to excel and to succeed. Our district is larger than nine states and more populated than four. From our fast-growing cities to our vast ranchlands, our needs may differ, but our values are the same: faith, fam- ily, hard work and treating others with respect. We believe in Judith Zaffirini improving educational opportunities for all and share a strong State Senator, District 21 commitment to our very young and very old. www.zaffirini.senate.state.tx.us Innovative Job Creation Program Shows Positive Results By Lieutenant Governor additional $24.3 million in David Dewhurst federal grant money to ex- tend the program. As Texas enters the sec- Employers interested in st ond decade of the 21 Cen- participating in the program tury, I’m optimistic about the should contact their local future of our great state and workforce development board our nearly 25 million citizens. for information regarding the We begin this decade with options available to them. A an economy that remains the list of local workforce centers 1 2 envy of virtually every other can be found via http://www. state in America, ready to twc.state.tx.us/news/txback- PROTECTING TEXAS CHILDREN is among Senator Judith Zaffirini’s top priorities in the Texas Senate. She is shown in photograph 1. with Terry meet the challenges we face Pichardo and her daughter, Esperanza, of Frio County and in 2. with Lauren Perez of Dimmit County. 2work.pdf. and unlimited opportunity for Certainly there are chal- our future. lenges ahead, but I believe Senator Zaffirini Champions Children’s Issues Today more Texans are an excellent workforce, a Protecting children is among Senator with disabilities can access a wide array of Understanding that quality early edu- employed than ever before. predictable pro-growth busi- Judith Zaffirini’s lifelong commitments. necessary services. cation leads to excellence in higher edu- We have a Rainy Day Fund ness climate, and strong job In 2010 she accepted the Amerigroup Safeguarding Texas children on our cation, Senator Zaffirini passed legisla- that will total approximately creation helped make Texas Foundation’s Champion for Children roadways also is one of Senator Zaf- tion making pre-kindergarten accessible $10 billion. Our state’s popu- the last state to enter the Award because, as a mother and educa- firini’s priorities. In 2009 she passed leg- for many families and creating a pre-k lation is growing by an es- national recession and is tor, she understands that quality early ed- islation requiring that child passengers quality rating system. timated 1,100 to 1,300 new helping make us among the ucation, health care and safety are critical younger than eight and shorter than four Hoping to expand on that success, she persons per day. Additionally, first to come out. We also to ensuring a child’s success. feet, nine inches, be secured in safety is crafting legislation that will encourage many of the most respected must not lose focus on the Demonstrating her dedication to vul- seats. The new law allows fines of $25 to public-private partnerships to help make national business magazines other fundamentals that have nerable children, for example, in 2010 she $250 for violations. pre-kindergarten accessible statewide. rank Texas as the number helped largely insulate our urged a statewide review of the Texas Ear- “Drivers have additional responsi- “Count on me to promote quality one state in America to do state from the national eco- ly Childhood Intervention Program (ECI). bility when they carry precious cargo,” pre-kindergarten programs for all Texas business and find jobs. CNN nomic downturn: low taxes, The evaluation will help ensure children Senator Zaffirini said. children,” Senator Zaffirini said. reported recently that six of disciplined state spending, the 21 most “recession-proof and investing in our future Trade Flourishes, Border Safety A Priority cities” in America are right by preparing the Texas work- The first half of 2010 signaled a ban- Public safety always is a prior- about violence spilling into Texas here in Texas. All of this sig- Texans have been put back to force of tomorrow through ner year for trade in Senate District 21: ity, and law enforcement has honored were not realized. Senator Zaffirini nals a bright future for our work by nearly 1,200 companies all excellent systems of public More than $73 billion in trade passed Senator Zaffirini for her leadership. helped secure $274.4 million for bor- state, but only if we continue across the state. What’s more, those and higher education. through the Laredo customs district alone. While reports circulated of “pirates” der security in 2007 and $6.9 million working together to ensure I am already busy prepar- “Trade is flourishing, and South Tex- accosting fishermen on the Mexican for a Regional Emergency Operations our state remains attractive to numbers continue to increase. ing for the 82nd Legislative as is leading the way,” said Senator Judith side of Falcon Lake, related fears Center in 2009. businesses that want to create – Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst Session which begins in Zaffirini, a member of the Senate In 2010 communities along jobs and help Texans succeed. January, 2011. The first ses- Committee on Economic Devel- the Rio Grande suffered devas- That is why over the past several sion of the new decade will be critical opment. “Promoting trade in our tating flooding associated with months I’ve been traveling the state tive results; as of August more than to our state’s future, and I’m glad to region will continue to create Hurricane Alex. Ten SD 21 promoting a great new job creation 3,720 unemployed Texans have have my friend, Senator Judith Zaf- jobs and lift the burden created counties were designated disas- program I got the Legislature to fund in been put back to work by nearly firini, helping lead the Texas Senate by the recession.” ter areas, though Starr, Zapata 2009. It is called Texas Back to Work 1,200 companies all across the as we tackle the difficult issues be- An advocate for strengthen- and Webb were hit hardest. and it’s being administered through the state. What’s more, those numbers fore us. We have proven that work- ing international commerce, she “We must continue to help Texas Workforce Commission. continue to increase. ing together, we can and will turn has passed legislation encourag- communities rebuild and limit Here is how it works. An em- Initially the Legislature appro- our challenges into opportunities that ing trade compacts with Mexico, the effects of future flooding,” ployer considering hiring new priated $15 million dollars for Tex- will continue to make Texas the best creating a Laredo port authority Senator Zaffirini said. workers is eligible for incentives up as Back to Work in the 2010-2011 place in America to live, work and and establishing centers for enter- During the flooding and to $2,000 per person to help offset state budget, with the goal of help- raise a family.