WESLACO, RGV - UT-Rio Grande Valley President Guy Bailey says if it were not for the hard work of the region’s legislative delegation there would be no UTRGV or UTRGV School of Medicine.
Bailey was one of a number of Valley leaders who paid tribute to local state lawmakers at a reception held in their honor on Tuesday. The event, hosted jointly by UTRGV and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, was held at the university’s Center for Innovation & Commercialization.
Praising the work ethic of Valley lawmakers and noting the long hours they put in during the five-month long legislative session, Bailey said: “We have what we have because of them. There would be no UTRGV without them. There would be no school of medicine without them. This facility, nothing we we have would exist without them.”
Turning to the legislators, Bailey added: “We owe everything to you, we deeply appreciate you. We think about you every day. We appreciate your hard work. You make this a great place to live. Thank you so much.”
Every member bar one of the Valley’s legislative delegation was at the reception. The exception was state Rep. Bobby Guerra of McAllen, who was unable to make it. Appearing were state Sens. Eddie Lucio, Jr., of Brownsville and Juan Hinojosa of McAllen, and state Reps. Ryan Guillen of Rio Grande City, Armando Martinez of Weslaco, Eddie Lucio, III, of San Benito, Sergio Muñoz of Mission, Oscar Longoria of La Joya, Terry Canales of Edinburg, and Alex Dominguez of Brownsville.
Sergio Contreras, president of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, thanked the legislators for their “service and sacrifice.” Lee Reed, a vice president of IBC Bank in McAllen and chairman of RGVP, gave similar remarks.
Ron Garza, executive director of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, thanked RGVP, UTRGV, LRGVDC and other stakeholders for their work during the legislative session.
“This year’s advocacy in Austin and D.C., particularly Austin, was the most professional and unified,” Garza said. “We are getting more professional and unified every step of the way.”
Valley lawmakers also spoke briefly at the reception.
“We had a great session. One of the best sessions ever in terms of funding for education, public and higher education, infrastructure, healthcare,” said Sen. Hinojosa.
“We really worked together as a team. We have the best delegation in the state of Texas, all these young guns. Everything we do, we do together, we communicate, we cooperate, to make sure we are all on the same page to do what is best for the Rio Grande Valley and the State of Texas.”
Sen. Lucio also noted the unity in the Valley’s legislative delegation. “We work together, we work in a bipartisan way to achieve our goals,” he said.
Lucio said Valley lawmakers had received good committee assignments. He cited the fact that he and Hinojosa had been named to the Senate Committee on Redistricting. Following next year’s census, state lawmakers will, during the next legislative session, draw new congressional and Texas House districts.
“This is paramount to the future of the Valley in terms of representation. Let’s make sure everyone is counted so we can receive millions of dollars in federal money,” Lucio said.
Rep. Longoria said the Valley’s legislative delegation works for the entire region. “We are up there fighting for you guys. We have good times, we have bad times, but, at the end of the day, we have each other’s back,” he said.
Rep. Dominguez was a freshman during the 86th Legislature. He said one of the things he missed about being in Austin for five months straight was his two dogs. Now the session is over he can devote more time to them.
Dominguez said his Valley colleagues were never shy about giving advice. He noted he had passed four pieces of legislation and joked about how, in the future, he hopes to pass hundreds of bills each session, just like Rep. Guillen. “We do this because the Valley matters to us,” Dominguez said.
Rep. Canales said the challenges and the needs the Valley faces are great. But so is the region’s legislative delegation, he said.
“We represent one of the most glorious beautiful, culturally diverse areas in the nation that neighbors one of the most beautiful countries in the world,” Canales said. “We are one of the most important regions in the United States."
Rep. Lucio gave a shoutout to one of his former colleagues in the Texas House, Veronica Gonzales. She is now a vice president at UTRGV and was in the audience. Lucio called Gonzales a “legendary lawmaker.”
Rep. Lucio said Speaker Dennis Bonnen was “very good” to the Valley delegation. In turn, Valley lawmakers took their responsibilities seriously, he said.
“This is a great time to be representing South Texas. When you travel outside of the Valley and meet with business leaders and community leaders in other parts of the state they are very interested in what is happening in South Texas,” Lucio said.
Like other lawmakers, Lucio praised RGVP and UTRGV.
At the end of the speeches, UTRGV Vice President Gonzales gave gifts to the state lawmakers. Noting they always seem to be given plaques, she said she had gift cards for a meal at some of the top local restaurants.
Editor's Note: The photos in the slideshow were taken by Steve Taylor of the Rio Grande Guardian and Ron Whitlock of Ron Whitlock Reports. The photo in the main image accompanying the above news story was taken by Ron Whitlock.
