AUSTIN, Texas – State senators from the border region say they are pleased with the committee assignments they have been given by Dan Patrick, the new lieutenant governor.
Sen. Eddie Lucio will chair an expanded Intergovernmental Relations Committee and remain as vice chair of the Education Committee. He will also serve on the Natural Resources Committee and on the Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee, and its Border Security Subcommittee.
Patrick has said border security will be a top priority this session but he has only named three members to the subcommittee. In addition to Lucio, the other senators on the panel are Brian Birdwell, a Republican from Waco who will be chairman, and Bob Hall, a Republican from Edgewood, who will be vice chairman.
Sen. Juan Hinojosa will remain as vice chair of the powerful Finance Committee. He will also serve on the committees for Criminal Justice, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs. He will also continue to serve on the Legislative Budget Board and Sunset Advisory Commission.
Sen. José Rodríguez, a Democrat from El Paso, said he, too, was pleased with the assignments he received from Patrick. He will serve on the Education; Health and Human Services; Nominations; Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs ; and Veteran Affairs and Military Installations committees.
This session there are only 14 committees, down from 18 two years ago, and Democrats chair only two, Lucio at Intergovernmental Relations and Dean of the Senate John Whitmire at Criminal Justice.
“This efficient structure of streamlined committees will allow for the passage of not only a variety of issues but of Texan’s top priorities, such as education reform, tax relief and border security. All members, including freshmen, have significant roles. These appointments also ensure that valuable institutional knowledge in the Senate has been carried over to each Senate committee,” Patrick said.
“I am also proud to appoint Jane Nelson as the first woman in history to serve as Chair of the Committee on Finance during a regular legislative session. I promised Texas voters that we would get the job done and now we have the team in place to get to work.”
Hinojosa, D-McAllen, issued this statement about his assignments: “I am honored to serve as vice chair of Senate Finance and that Lt. Governor Patrick has entrusted me with these important responsibilities. Through these appointments I am able to put South Texas at the forefront of the critical discussions that will be taking place during this session. There is no question that this session will be challenging as our communities face critical issues, our lawmakers face significant hurdles, and solutions are not always transparent,” Hinojosa said.
“Now more than ever we need to work together. We need to fund education and essential healthcare services, invest in our youth and workforce through education and skills training, create more jobs, and invest in the infrastructure we need for future success. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to bring forth viable solutions that will benefit our Texas families.”
Rodríguez issued this statement about his assignments: “I am very pleased with these committee assignments as they reflect the diversity of my district. Education and health care have been my top priorities since I was first elected. The appointments to the Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs, and Veteran Affairs and Military Installations committees will allow me to effectively represent industries unique to our region. I appreciate Governor Patrick giving my constituents an opportunity to have their voices heard.”
Lucio welcomed the expansion of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee from five to seven members.
“I am truly humbled and honored to serve as one of the handful of chairmen in Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s Administration. Lieutenant Governor Patrick has entrusted me with the responsibility of being one of two Senators to serve as both a chairman and vice-chairman of two major committees. In the newly expanded and revitalized IGR Committee, I plan to champion issues at the heart of local and county affairs. I know firsthand the importance of this committee, having served as a county treasurer and commissioner. I look forward to working with my members as we address the most difficult and pressing problems confronting our local and county units of government,” Lucio said.
Regarding his vice-chairmanship of the Education Committee, Lucio said he wants to ensure Texas schools become the model for the rest of the nation. He said the Natural Resources Committee will handle environmental, regulatory, electric and telecommunication issues.
Lucio said he is also pleased to serve on the panel that handles Veterans’ issues.
“As our Veteran population continues to increase in South Texas, the federal government continues to fail to provide the needed resources to address the health care services to this most valuable and deserving constituency. As son of a World War II veteran, I thank Lt. Governor Patrick for this key appointment. I plan to honor the memory of my five uncles and late father, Eduardo Lucio, Sr., who served our nation with diligent service and advocacy for our veterans,” Lucio said.
He added that his appointment to the Border Security Subcommittee “ensures that I will have the ability to work on strategic security measures that take into account the trade, business and commerce needs of the border region.”
Birdwell said he was “humbled” by his appointment to chair the Border Security Subcommittee. “The security and management of our massive southern border is perhaps the most important issue facing Texas today, and I am honored by the opportunity to play a leading role in this area,” Birdwell said.
Sen. Judith Zaffirini had not issued a statement about her committee assignments at press time. The Laredo Democrat has been taken off the Finance Committee, where she had served for many years. Zaffirini has been named vice chair of the Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs Committee. She will also serve on the Health and Human Services Committee, the Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee, and the State Affairs Committee.
Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, whose district covers more of the border than any other senator’s, has been named vice chair of the Administration Committee. He has only been named to the Health and Human Services Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee.
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, has been appointed to three committees but she is departing to run for mayor of San Antonio. Her replacement in the Senate, either state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer or state Rep. Jose Menendez, both Democrats, will served on the Criminal Justice, Higher Education and Intergovernmental Relations committees.
Senate committees are the first place legislation is debated and considered after filing. A bill must be voted out of committee before it can be brought to the Senate floor for further debate and voted on by the 31-member body.
Here are the Senate committee assignments in full:
Committee on Administration
Hancock, Kelly – Chair
Uresti, Carlos – Vice Chair
Campbell, Donna
Eltife, Kevin
Huffines, Don
Schwertner, Charles
West, Royce
Committee on Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs
Perry, Charles – Chair
Zaffirini, Judith – Vice Chair
Creighton, Brandon
Hall, Bob
Hinojosa, Juan “Chuy”
Kolkhorst, Lois
Rodriguez, José
Committee on Business and Commerce
Eltife, Kevin – Chair
Creighton, Brandon – Vice Chair
Ellis, Rodney
Huffines, Don
Schwertner, Charles
Seliger, Kel
Taylor, Larry
Watson, Kirk
Whitmire, John
Committee on Criminal Justice
Whitmire, John – Chair
Huffman, Joan – Vice Chair
Burton, Konni
Creighton, Brandon
Hinojosa, Juan “Chuy”
Perry, Charles
Van de Putte, Leticia
Committee on Education
Taylor, Larry – Chair
Lucio, Eddie, Jr. – Vice Chair
Bettencourt, Paul
Campbell, Donna
Garcia, Sylvia
Huffines, Don
Kolkhorst, Lois
Rodriguez, José
Seliger, Kel
Taylor, Van
West, Royce
Committee on Finance
Nelson, Jane – Chair
Hinojosa, Juan “Chuy” – Vice Chair
Bettencourt, Paul
Eltife, Kevin
Hancock, Kelly
Huffman, Joan
Kolkhorst, Lois
Nichols, Robert
Schwertner, Charles
Seliger, Kel
Taylor, Larry
Uresti, Carlos
Watson, Kirk
West, Royce
Whitmire, John
Committee on Health and Human Services
Schwertner, Charles – Chair
Kolkhorst, Lois – Vice Chair
Campbell, Donna
Estes, Craig
Perry, Charles
Rodriguez, José
Taylor, Van
Uresti, Carlos
Zaffirini, Judith
Committee on Higher Education
Seliger, Kel – Chair
West, Royce – Vice Chair
Bettencourt, Paul
Burton, Konni
Perry, Charles
Van de Putte, Leticia
Watson, Kirk
Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
Lucio, Eddie, Jr. – Chair
Bettencourt, Paul – Vice Chair
Campbell, Donna
Garcia, Sylvia
Nichols, Robert
Taylor, Larry
Van de Putte, Leticia
Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development
Fraser, Troy – Chair
Estes, Craig – Vice Chair
Birdwell, Brian
Hall, Bob
Hancock, Kelly
Hinojosa, Juan “Chuy”
Lucio, Eddie, Jr.
Nichols, Robert
Uresti, Carlos
Seliger, Kel
Zaffirini, Judith
Committee on Nominations
Birdwell, Brian – Chair
Taylor, Van – Vice Chair
Burton, Konni
Fraser, Troy
Estes, Craig
Rodriguez, José
Watson, Kirk
Committee on State Affairs
Huffman, Joan – Chair
Ellis, Rodney – Vice Chair
Birdwell, Brian
Creighton, Brandon
Estes, Craig
Fraser, Troy
Nelson, Jane
Schwertner, Charles
Zaffirini, Judith
Committee on Transportation
Nichols, Robert – Chair
Huffines, Don – Vice Chair
Ellis, Rodney
Fraser, Troy
Garcia, Sylvia
Hall, Bob
Hancock, Kelly
Kolkhorst, Lois
Taylor, Van
Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations
Campbell, Donna – Chair
Burton, Konni – Vice Chair
Birdwell, Brian
Garcia, Sylvia
Hall, Robert
Lucio, Eddie, Jr.
Rodriguez, José
Border Security Subcommittee
Birdwell, Brian – Chair
Hall, Bob – Vice Chair
Lucio, Eddie, Jr.
