LaredoBuzz.Com

 Courtesy Brenda Medina,

 Healthcare and Transportation highlighted as key issues on Day 1

Austin, Texas– Laredo Delegation kicked off the beginning of the 2013 Legislative trip with dinner alongside State Legislators, Senator Judith Zaffirini and Representative Richard Pena Raymond. Both hometown state-elected officials expressed interest in learning more about the highlights of Laredo and the issues impacting the City. Also present at the dinner was Representative Ryan Guillen, who vowed to continue supporting and opening his doors to Laredo city officials despite no longer representing Webb County due to redistricting changes.

As Laredo continues to emerge as one of the fastest growing Texas-Mexico borders, the need for adequate funding in homeland security, transportation and health care prevails. Early Monday morning, Mayor Raul G. Salinas, Assistant City Manager Horacio A. De Leon and Dr. Hector Gonzalez met with Texas Department of State Health Services, Commissioner David Lakey. Dr. Gonzalez pointed out the need for funding to keep up with the demand of increased responsibility and infrastructure needs. Throughout the past couple of years, the City of Laredo Health Department has seen an influx of patients looking for healthcare from surrounding counties which in turn is taking a toll on health services. “If we don’t invest in prevention, people can develop catastrophic and urgent care needs, increasing health care costs and complicating healthcare,” said Dr. Gonzalez. That’s why it’s crucial to invest in disease control and continue seeking new avenues to prevent an epidemic. City officials communicated the unique border position and importance to distribute funds in accordance to threat and need instead of as a population as a whole, which limits the amount of money appropriated for each city, something Commissioner Lakey acknowledged. Lakey, a long-time Laredo friend urged City officials to follow important healthcare items in the Legislative session, which would help secure funds in primary healthcare expansion for women, including hypertension and family planning, along with increasing behavioral health treatments. Dr. Gonzalez also expressed the critical need for the lab to receive Laboratory Response Network certification for local response in transborder crossings and disease control amongst other things. City officials thanked Lakey for his continued support and partnership with Laredo.

In an effort to keep the doors open for business while insuring public safety and addressing transportation issues, meetings with Railroad Commission Chairman, Barry Smith, and Transportation Committee Staff Member for Senator Robert Nichols, Paul Townsend, focused on the need for investing in million dollar projects on Mines Road and U.S. Highway 83. Jorge Vera, City Council Member for District VII, presented the El Indio Road project which would expand Mines Road (FM 1472) to connect Laredo to Eagle Pass (FM 1021) and reduce the heavy truck traffic on Mines Road. Not only would the new project ease traffic and help prevent accidents, but it would also help improve security, allowing the ability to install more cameras along the border and providing an accessible road for more Border Patrol agents. The Mayor, Council Members, and the City Manager also asked for support on this particular project from State Representative Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande), whom suggested the TRZ or Tax Reinvestment Zone to take the increased value over the coming years in order to pay off a large portion of the project. In the near future, Laredo also has the possibility to join the Shale Transportation district allowing the security for funds to keep up with the oil boom if a new bill is passed. City officials also asked for funding to improve the Mines Road area, specifically a connector between Mines Road to I-35.

Funding for Eagle Ford Shale infrastructure improvements, as well as, road safety concerns were also a topic of discussion with State Representative Tracy King. King mentioned that he was honored to represent the City of Laredo and will insure that all legislative concerns for the community will be addressed.

Members of the City delegation met with Senator Eddie Lucio, Sr. (D-Brownsville) to discuss Homeland Security issues affecting the border region. Lucio has always been a strong supporter for the City’s needs. The meetings with State legislators and agency officials yielded positive feedback for Laredo.