ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ON TEXAS LEGISLATURE’S AGENDA
By Ella Tyler
The agenda for the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature will be dense with bills that, directly or indirectly, affect the quality of the environment in Texas. More than 50 bills have already been filed that match the criteria “environment” on the legislature’s online bill search.
The Texas Department of Transportation was reviewed by the Sunset Commission which recommended major changes in the way the agency operates and in the way it is structured. For example, the Sunset Commission recommended that the five-member board be replaced by a single highway commissioner. To see the draft report, go online.
The legislative session begins January 13. Newly elected State Representative Armando Walle, who will represent the North side/Aldine area (District 140) is hosting three town hall meetings next week. It is a great opportunity for constituents and activists to visit with him about legislative issues. The meetings are:
Monday, January 5th – 6 pm
MacArthur High School Cafeteria
4400 Aldine Mail Route
Tuesday, January 6th – 6 pm
Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center Cafeteria
9400 Irvington Blvd.
Tuesday, January 6th – 7:30 pm
Aldine-Greenspoint YMCA
10960 North Freeway
Please RSVP for any of the meetings by sending an email to representativewalle@gmail.com.
This week is a good opportunity to visit your own legislators about issues that you care about. Call the local office and make an appointment to visit the legislator (or a staff member) or see if there will be any public events. If you don’t know who your legislator is, find out online.
The last legislative session resulted in the highest level of funding for state parks in more than a decade, a two-year moratorium on the Trans-Texas Corridor, and a successful challenge to the process of fast-tracking permits for coal-fired electric plants. All these accomplishments were the result of bi-partisan coalitions of business leaders, environmental activists, farmers and ranchers, and urban and rural elected officials. Those coalitions can make a positive contribution toward making Texas a greener state.