FEATURED: Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, Chair, Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, is featured on the floor of the Texas Senate in 2023. Her committee has been assigned by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to study major topics relating to the following major health-related issues: Children’s Mental Health; Access to Health Care; Health Insurance; Cancer Prevention; COVID Vaccine Mandates; Five-Year Plan for Family Support Services; Nursing Education, Scholarships; Mental and Behavioral Health Programs; Background Checks on Certain State Employees; Medicaid Fraud; and Medicaid Managed Care. The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will submit a report with its specific findings and policy recommendations to Patrick before December 1, 2024, according toDHR Health.
Featured, from left: Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen during the Tuesday, December 4, 2018 public meeting of the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court was among federal, state, county and local leaders to pay homage to Hidalgo County Commissioner Precinct 4 Joseph Palacios for Palacios’ two four-year terms in that office. On January 1, 2019, Ellie Torres of Edinburg will succeed Palacios as the new county commissioner.
Featured, top row, from left: Former U.S. and Texas First Lady Laura Bush; Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo; philanthropist Susan Dell; former U.S. Navy jet fighter pilot Tammie Jo Shults; performer Vicki Carr; U.S. Olympian and world champion gymnast Simone Biles; and Sister Elizabeth Anne Sueltenfuss.
Featured, from left: Alfredo Álvarez, President, Texas State Teachers Association Region 6 and Donna TSTA Treasurer; René Zamora, President, Edinburg Texas State Teachers Association; Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg; and María “Maggie” Inglett, President, Harlingen Texas State Teachers Association, and Officer, TSTA Region 6. On Wednesday, April 28, 2018, in the First National Bank Ballroom in Mercedes, Canales, the House District 40 leader, was the only Rio Grande Valley member of the Texas Legislature who received the prestigious “Friend of Education” award by the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) – Region 6.
Featured: A recent U.S. Air Force poster, part of an ongoing campaign by the American military in support of Airmen and their families who have been a victim of sexual assault. In Texas, a statewide effort led by Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, is underway to develop strategies to reduce sexual assault by equipping the public with knowledge and awareness of this serious crime by designating April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Photograph Courtesy of U.S. AIR FORCE
Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, has proposed that April would be designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Texas in order to increase knowledge that leads to more prevention of sexual assault and punishment of criminals, and to authorize the regular observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month through appropriate activities in public schools and other places. Sexual assault, according to FindLaw.com, occurs when a defendant – intentionally and knowingly – commits any of a number of prohibited sexual activities listed under Texas’ sexual assault law without the victim’s consent. Canales’ proposal, as illustrated in House Bill 822, was overwhelmingly approved by the Texas House of Representatives on Thursday, April 2o, 2017. The bill will now go to the Texas Senate for their action. “Today, I passed legislation out of the House to officially designate the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in an effort to raise public awareness about sexual assault and educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual assault,” Canales said. “We need everyone’s help to reduce sexual assault, and I believe that officially designating this month is a step in the right direction towards proactively reducing sexual assault.” Sexual assault is a serious criminal violation. Canales’ measure stems from a study conducted by UT Austin’s Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, whose findings were released on Friday, March 24, 2017. The report titled Cultivating Learning and Safe Environments showed that sexual assault is an ongoing problem throughout society, including in the halls of higher education. According to the study, almost 200 out of the more than 3,800 students who participated in the anonymous online survey reported to have been sexually assaulted since they have been enrolled at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s campuses. Nine percent of those students who participated in the anonymous online survey – almost 350 individuals – said they had been victims of unwanted sexual touching since they have been enrolled at UTRGV’s campuses. “These figures are shocking, to say the least,” said Canales, an attorney who also serves on the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, which shapes state laws to protect Texans, especially from violent criminals. “But through this legislation, and another major bill I am working on, we are going to help remove the shroud of secrecy over sexual assault, family violence, and stalking policies at our public universities and colleges.” House Bill 1096, coauthored by Canales and Rep. J.M. Lozano, R-Kingsville, would require public universities and colleges in Texas to provide students and organizations with information about these crimes. “If HB 1096 becomes law, but a public university or college fails to provide that information, that university or college would not receive any state funding,” Canales said.
