State Representative Abel Herrero

Fish Fry Thank You

Thank you to all who made it to today’s Get Out the Vote Fish Fry at Nueces County Park in Robstown.  Your continued support is greatly appreciated.  Special thanks to gubernatorial candidate Bill White for stopping by to visit. 

Please remember you can vote early until February 26th. Primary Election Day is March 2nd. To find out when and where you can vote early, click here for the Early Voting Calender. 

Get Healthy Advice by Text Message

Healthy Families of South Texas is a program developed by Driscoll Children’s Health Plan. The program’s goal is to improve self-care for families by increasing their knowledge of better lifestyle choices with personalized educational advice through the use of text messaging.

You can register free by texting the word HEALTHY to 25827 and every now and then you will get a text message asking you a brief question about your health information needs. Over time, this system gets to know your unique health preferences and will begin to share with you on the latest health information available to help you reach whatever goals you have set for yourself or your family.

Once again the service is free, to register or learn more about the program text HEALTHY to 25827 or go to Healthy Families at www.hfstx.org.

New Allegations Reported at the Corpus Christi State School

Austin, Texas – Late this afternoon, Representative Abel Herrero (D-Robstown) was notified of new allegations of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation at the Corpus Christi State School.  In response, Rep. Herrero released the following statement:

“Based on initial information, it is confirmed that there have been new allegations of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation incidents involving incitement to fight between residents.  If these allegations are proven true, I’m gravely disappointed that agency officials have been ineffective in properly addressing these dire circumstances.  The general public, especially state school residents, are demanding agency officials to be more diligent, proactive and effective in ridding our state schools, once and for all, of these atrocities.  By only acting when new allegations arise or solely relying on others to report abuse, the state fails to effectively deal with the root of the problem and uphold its responsibility to prevent further abuse.  The state must exhaust every available resource and infinite amount of energy to ensure the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable population.” – Abel Herrero

Rep. Abel Herrero Files Legislation To Protect Domestic Violence Victims

Mary’s Law legislation brings the safety of domestic violence victims to forefront of session activity.

Austin, Texas – Rep. Abel Herrero (D-Robstown) filed HB 1506, Texas’ version of Mary’s Law, a bill that allows GPS monitoring of persons charged with domestic violence offenses.  If enacted, Texas will be the 12th state to allow courts to order a domestic violence offender to be fitted with a GPS tracking device as a condition of bond or a upon the issuing of a protective order.  The receiver may be given to the victim or a law enforcement agency. The victim is alerted when the offender is within a court-specified radius.

“The State of Texas has the utmost obligation to its citizens to ensure their safety and well-being.  By implementing HB 1506, Texas can further protect those that have fallen victim to domestic violence,” said Rep. Herrero.  “Unfortunately, time and time again, we have seen those who have had the strength and courage to ask for protection still harmed due to the lack of monitoring.  So, the state must be clear that it does not tolerate attempts to intimidate a victim and will monitor an offender’s action if necessary. “

Mary’s Law is named for Michigan resident Mary Babb, who was murdered outside her place of employment, by her estranged husband after filing a restraining order against him.  Research indicates that 69% of females and 81% of males are attacked after filing a protective order.

Rep. Herrero Appointed Vice Chair of Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government

General Government Subcommittee oversees crucial budgets affecting the Office of the Governor state agencies including the Water Development Board, Commission on Environmental Quality and Agriculture

Austin, TX – Representative Abel Herrero (D-Robstown) was appointed as Appropriations Subcommittee Vice Chair of General Government.  In response, Rep. Herrero released the following statement:

“I thank Chairman Pitts for his vote of confidence in appointing me as Vice Chair of the General Government subcommittee.  This appointment further allows me to address crucial issues in the district and across the state.  As subcommittee vice chair, we will direct appropriation recommendations to the full committee for services provided by the Office of the Governor and such agencies as the Water Development Board, Commission on Environmental Quality and the Veteran’s Commission.  The opportunities awarded me in this appointment allow me the ability to voice the priorities of my constituents that I hear and see everyday from providing basic water needs and improving our air quality to increasing Veteran’s benefits and progressing our efforts on cancer research.”

The General Government Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations has jurisdiction over Article I, General Government, and Article VI, Natural Resources, of the State of Texas Appropriations Act for the 2010-2011 biennium.

Representative Abel Herrero to Serve on Influential Committees

Rep. Herrero to Serve on Appropriations, Redistricting and Human Services Committees

AUSTIN, TX– Rep. Abel Herrero (D-Robstown) was appointed to serve on the following committees for the 81st Legislative Session:  House Committee on Appropriations, House Committee on Redistricting and  as Vice Chair of House Committee on Human Services.  The long-awaited committee assignments allow for the legislation process to fully begin.

“I am thankful to Speaker Straus for his support and confidence in choosing me to serve on these influential committees because it furthers my ability to work on key issues affecting our communities and our state,” said Rep. Herrero.  “I am eager to assume these responsibilities and opportunities to once again work on the state budget, health issues and funding for needed services throughout the state.  Serving on the Redistricting Committee will prove to be critical in ensuring that our region continues to be well represented.”

The House Committee on Appropriations is responsible for legislation dealing with the official budget for the State of Texas for the 2010-2011 biennium. The Human Services Committee’s jurisdiction covers an array of services including oversight and development of welfare and rehabilitation programs and supervision of many state agencies, which provide health services, including state schools.  In addition to these committees, Rep. Herrero will serve on the House Committee on Redistricting, which is charged with amending and creating judicial, state and congressional legislative districts.

“As Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Human Services, I will continue to promote expanding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and ensuring affordable, accessible and comprehensive health coverage for all hard-working families.”

The Speaker of the House appoints members to each House committee based on seniority and/or speaker preference.

Rep. Herrero encourages constituents to contact his office on the committee assignment process or any other issue of interest at (512) 463-0462 or via email at District34.Herrero@house.state.tx.us. Interested individuals can also view the Texas House of Representatives website at www.house.state.tx.us.

Fighting for Hard-Working Teachers and Our Public Schools

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX— State Representative Abel Herrero(D-Robstown) urged state officials to address the spiraling costs facing school districts across the state and encouraged Robstown School Board members to take emergency action to resolve the possibility of delayed paychecks for teachers and all school district personnel.

In several letters to state and local officials, Herrero urged action on behalf of teachers, school district personnel and Texas students.

“Our school district employees including teachers, librarians, and all support staff make a significant contribution to our communities and the education of our children. Because of their importance and because their well-being is and should remain a priority, I encourage to take immediate steps to help resolve the current financial hardships many of our school districts are experiencing due to spiraling costs.

“With rising transportation costs, utility bills and food expenses, school districts are facing a hard choice to tighten their budgets by either laying off teachers, support staff or cutting back on crucial educational services. I realize that under difficult economic times, it is expected that school districts will need to review and evaluate their budget, but Robstown Independent School is currently at a crossroads on these financial limitations possibly leading to delays in paychecks for hundreds of school employees. However, Robstown Independent School District is not alone in their current budget crisis in that many school districts across the state are also in financial distress. We, as state leaders, must join in our efforts to provide any relief within our means that will ensure, not only that our teachers and school employees receive a reliable paycheck, but also that the doors remain open to our students.

“I am confident that you, as I do, grasp the urgency of these economic barriers facing our public education system and will strongly consider meeting to discuss a budget execution of funds to the Texas Education Agency for our public schools. As state representative, I support an emergency declaration in the 81st session in order to resolve this issue and take a stand for our children.”

Rep. Herrero Urges Emergency Preparedness for Hurricane Season

Hours after Tropical Storm Edouard hit east of Galveston on Tuesday, Nueces County officials held a meeting of their own to discuss hurricane preparations.

Nearly 50 people attended the meeting at the Nueces County Courthouse on Tuesday night to talk with state and county officials about hurricanes. Their questions ranged from how long it would take to open the additional evacuation lane on Interstate 37, to whether Corpus Christi could evacuate via railways the way Rio Grande Valley residents did when Hurricane Dolly struck last month.

From the Corpus Christi Caller-Times:

“It’s important for members of the community to know how every level of government works to ensure the health and the well being of residents,” Herrero said.

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