For the past fourteen years, the month of May has served as National Stroke Awareness Month.  On May 11, 1989 then President George Bush signed Presidential Proclamation 5975 designating the month of May as National Stroke Awareness Month.  By designating May as National Stroke Awareness Month, groups such as the National Stroke Association have been able to increase public awareness and in doing so continue to move one step closer to preventing strokes.

Bringing awareness to this issue is extremely important, because without awareness and knowledge the risks often become greater.  One of the important things to know is just what a stroke is. According to the National Stroke Association, a stroke or “brain attack” is the result of a blood clot blocking an artery  in the brain (this is known as a Ishemic stroke) or when a blood vessel breaks, thereby blocking the blood flow to that area of the brain (this is known as a Hemorrhagic). If either of these types of strokes occur, brain cells begin to die and in so doing causes brain damage.  If brain damage occurs, and depending on which section of the brain it occurs, abilities such as speech, movement and memory can be affected.

Today, in the United States, strokes represent the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of serious long term adult disabilities.  Each year approximately 133,000 people are lost due to strokes. In fact this year alone there will be roughly 795,000 incidents of individuals suffering from a stroke, that is nearly one stroke every forty seconds and the taking of a life every four minutes.  Below are some interesting and surprising statistics about strokes:

• Each year approximately 55,000 more women than men have a stroke.
• Ishemic strokes account for about eighty-seven percent of all strokes, while Hemorrhagic strokes account for approximately thirteen percent of strokes, but are responsible for over thirty percent of all stroke related deaths.
• In 2010, the direct and indirect cost associated with individuals having a stroke was roughly $73.7 billion dollars in the United States.

It is critical to know, however, that while some groups may have a higher risk of strokes, strokes can still happen to anyone at any time, regardless of age, race or gender.

One of the most important things you can do if you think  you or someone else is having a stroke is to remember FAST and  if needed call 9-1-1. The National Stroke Association recommends an invaluable test called the FAST test.  Fast stands for:

F = Face        Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A = Arms      Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = Speech    Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.  Does their speech sound slurred or strange?

T = Time        If you observe any of these signs(independently or together) call 9-1-1 immediately!

While there are some risk factors associated with strokes that you can’t control, like age, gender, race, or family history, there are some risks factors you can control.  Some of the risk factors you can control are:

• High Blood Pressure – It’s critical to know and control your blood pressure not just for strokes.
• High Cholesterol -  Like blood pressure it is important to know what your cholesterol is too.
• Physical Inactivity -  Include exercise in your daily routine.

These are just a few of the risk factors you can control.  For more information on risks factors and strokes in general, go to www.stroke.org . Remember the more you know about the causes and signs of a stroke, the more likely you could save your life or someone else’s.

In 1971 the Governor Preston Smith created the Texas Film Commission.  Governor Smith believed that it was  ” in the social, economic and educational interest of Texas to encourage the development of the film-communication industry,” and that “Texas has a uniquely vast array of resources, natural, human and economic, which lend themselves to the firm and orderly development of a healthy film production industry.”  Since that time Texas has continued to grow and expand the film industry in the state to include films, commercials, video games and even animations.

Today the Texas Film Commission is under the administration of the Governor’s office and is currently headed up by Evan Fitzmaurice who serves as the Director of the Film Commission. The Commission outlines that “whether you are an industry professional or new to the business, we are here to help with your film, television, commercial, animation, and video game projects.” In fact you can go to the Film Commission’s website at www.governor.state.tx.us/film and search through their “Job Hotline” which offers information on film, television or commercial projects that need both cast and crew.

Texas offers numerous unique and extraordinary opportunities that make the State of Texas ideal for the film industry.  With over 268,000 square miles, Texas is the ideal shooting location.  The terrain in Texas is more diverse than anywhere else in the country.  Along the Texas coast, you have amazing beach sceneries to take advantage of and in northwest Texas you have the southern tip of the Rocky Mountains.  In addition to the incredible scenery that Texas offers, mild winters and warm summers add to the advantages of making films in Texas.

It is because of all the unique features that Texas has to offer that today Texas is home to approximately 130 local production companies. These companies have strived to develop a creative and vibrant film industry and in doing so have managed to attract filmmakers from all over the world.  In fact, in 2007, Director Paul Thomas Anderson chose Texas as the primary filming location for the Academy Award winning film “There Will Be Blood”.  The film received an Academy Award for Best Cinematography.  Over the years, Texas has established an impressive list of critically acclaimed films and television series.

Here is a brief list of those films and television series which have been filmed or animated in Texas:

• True Grit
• No Country for Old Men
• Seven Days in Utopia
• Friday Night Lights (Movie)
• Friday Night Lights (TV Series)
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon
• TLC’s The Little Couple series
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
• The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius Seasons 1-3
• Pearl Harbor

With so many films being shot in Texas, thirteen permanent film sites have been set up throughout the state.  The list of permanent sites includes the Coastal Bend’s very own USS Lexington.  The USS Lexington was used in the Oscar award winning movie “Pearl Harbor” and used in an episode of the popular SyFy series “Ghost Hunters”.  Other permanent sites include Indian Cliffs Ranch near El Paso and the Texas Battleship near Houston which is the last remaining U.S. Navy ship to have served in both World Wars and the world’s only remaining battleship modeled after the HMS Dreadnought.

According to the Motion Picture Association of America, the motion picture and television industry in Texas is responsible for 41,269 direct jobs and approximately $1.5 billion in wages.  These jobs are including both production and distribution related type jobs.  In addition, Texas has averaged over 100 film and television productions each year over the past several years. Between 2009 and 2010, 103 film and 45 TV projects where shot in the Great State of Texas.

2011 marked one of the worst droughts in Texas’ recorded history.  Over the past three months the State of Texas has been fortunate to receive significant amounts of rainfall throughout much of the state; however a large percentage of the state is still between dry and exceptional drought conditions including the coastal bend which ranges from severe to exceptional. Since the start of the 2011 drought, the coastal bend has only received 25-50% of the normal rainfall totals.

As a result of the drought conditions still being faced by the State of Texas, Agricultural Commissioner Todd Staples along with state and local leaders have joined with private business to launch the Texas Water Smart conservation campaign.  In a recent press release, Commissioner Staples said “We have a choice to make: conserve water now or risk more job losses in the future, … Our recent historical drought and booming population point to an unavoidable conclusion; it’s time all Texans take a serious look at individual water-use habits and find common-sense ways to conserve. The recent realities are both alarming and painful as drinking water was jeopardized and businesses and households were faced with scarce water resources. With the launch of Texas Water Smart, I’m reminding all Texans that a few drops saved, when multiplied by 25 million citizens, will go a long way.”

The Texas Water Smart campaign encourages all Texans on their website  www.texaswatersmart.com to Get Water Smart by adopting more frugal water-use habits such as:

• Watering only when plants look like they need it, keeping in mind most plants die from over-watering, not under-watering;
• Water in the morning or evening when the temperatures outside are cooler and evaporation loss is less;
• Adjust your lawn mower up at least one notch. A taller loan holds moisture better;
• Keep weeds out of your green spaces. Weeds are notorious for stealing water from other plants, so if you’ll keep their population in check, you won’t have to water as often;
• Use a layer of mulch on the surface of your planting beds to minimize evaporation of moisture and suppress weed growth that competes with water;
• Checking outdoor faucets, hoses and sprinklers for water-wasting leaks, and making sure to repair them quickly;
• Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose water conscious plants adapted to your area;
• Recognize signs of dry grass. Avoid watering until you can see footprints left in the lawn as you walk across it;
• Adjusting sprinklers so only lawns and gardens are watered – not houses, sidewalks or streets;
• Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to water plants;
• Cleaning driveways, patios and sidewalks with a broom or leaf blower instead of a hose.

Inside the home, Texas Water Smart suggests shorter bath times, washing only full loads of dishes and clothes, and fixing leaky faucets and toilets.

By implementing some of these and other water saving ideas, you can not only help save water, but you can also save money.  If you have questions regarding any of these water saving techniques or any other information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office.

Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 5, known as the cruise industry bill, was filed as the Senate companion to House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 29 which I was proud to have the opportunity to file during the 82^nd Regular Legislative Session.  These resolutions were filed as a result of numerous town hall meetings which I hosted throughout District 32.  At the town hall meetings I was asked why has the cruise industry not been expanded to the South Texas coastline.  For these reasons, I was very pleased when Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus named me as the Co-Chair of this interim committee.

The discussion about bringing the cruise industry to the South Texas coast has been on the minds of numerous people in our area for years.  The Cruise Industry Committee will give us the opportunity to work with the travel industry in order to study the possibility of bringing cruise ships to the South Texas coast and the economic impact it can have on our region and the State of Texas as a whole.  In short, this committee will hopefully help bring cruise ship business a step closer in recognizing that the South Texas coastline is a great location for the travel and tourism industry.

According to a cruise industry overview performed by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, a record number of an estimated fifteen million passengers took cruises in 2010.  Of that fifteen million, approximately eleven million were out ofNorth America.  This increase in passengers has resulted in a large impact on the annual occupancy of the cruise ships.  The cruise industry has also added twelve new ships to their lines.  Following historical data since 1980, it is estimated that the annual increase of passengers is around 7.4%.  The recent large annual increase shows a clear desire of people to take advantage of sea travel.

Utilizing a 2009 economic report compiled by the Cruise Line International Association, North American cruise lines, their employees and passengers produced approximately $35 billion in gross economic output in the United States.  The cruise industry also generated 313,998 jobs paying out $14.23 billion in wages and salaries.  During this same period, cruise industry direct spending was estimated at $17.5 billion dollars.  Additionally, it is projected that a cruise ship requires 950 crew members and that those crew members spend over $300,000 in on shore spending in the ship’s U.S. homeport.  It is clear that the cruise industry represents a possibly significant economic boost to South Texas if the cruise industry would choose to locate a departure port out of one of the ports located south of Calhoun County and north of Cameron County.

Using 2010 census data, South Texas is home to over two million people, as well as having a close proximity to over two million people in the San Antonioarea and a strong North Mexico market.  At the end of the day, South Texas represents one of the fastest growing regions in the state.  Along with the population in South Texas and its surrounding areas, the region offers a robust tourism industry, a wealth of natural resources and deep water ports which could be used to host a cruise line.

Speaker of the House Joe Straus on March 1st announced seven new interim charges to be studied by the Texas House of Representatives during the 2012 legislative interim.  These new charges  along with the previously released charges will result in recommendations that could form the basis for legislation to be considered during the next legislative session.  House committees are each given several issues to study.  These charges result in committee hearings being held over the course of the interim period (2012), these hearings give the public an opportunity to testify before the committees, thereby assisting in formulating possible legislation in the future.  At the end of the interim, each committee will submit a formal report to the Speaker of the Texas House with recommendations on possible legislation.

The following are the seven new charges given to the House Committees.  If you would like a complete list of the study charges or if you would like more information about issues being studied by any particular committee, please don’t hesitate to call my Capitol office at 512-463-0672 or visit the Texas House of Representatives at www.house.state.tx.us.

Here are the latest charges given to the standing House committees:

House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence

• Study current driving while intoxicated laws, examine enforcement options used nationwide, including requiring interlock devices after a first offense as well as current fees or fines, and make legislative recommendations.

House Committee on Energy Resources

• In addition to monitoring the implementation of HB 3328 (82R), continue to study the implications of hydraulic fracturing for the state’s energy needs, environmental policy, economic development, and other related priorities.  Examine ways to ensure appropriate state and local regulation of hydraulic fracturing that matches the needs and conditions of Texas.  Coordinate with the House Committee on Natural Resources’ charge regarding water quantity and quality issues in oil and gas production, and with other committees, as necessary.

House Committee on Insurance

• Study the costs and benefits of mandates of coverage for health plans.  Assess the impact to the state of current and future mandates in light of the provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requiring states to assume the cost of certain mandates.

House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures

• Study all existing occupational licensing programs and determine their impact on consumers, competition, and the cost of services.  Explore the extent to which new licensing programs are necessary.

House Committee on State Affairs

• Study how businesses seeking to provide goods or services to the state interact with state agencies.  Consider whether additional procedures are needed to ensure that goods and services obtained by the state are the best value.  Determine whether additional disclosure and reporting requirements are necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and to promote ethical business practices.

House Select Committee on State Sovereignty

• Monitor developments regarding the Interstate Health Care Compact in other states and at the federal level.  Offer appropriate recommendations to facilitate Texas’ participation in the compact if it is approved, including recommendations on the processes by which the state would consider its options under the compact and make related decisions.
  

House Committee on Technology

• Examine human resource policies of state agencies that would integrate the implementation of social media to strengthen the state’s workforce.

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office.  As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

Speaker of the House Joe Straus has released a list of interim study charges for the standing committees of the Texas House of Representatives. These study charges and the resulting recommendations that will be developed during the interim could form the basis for legislation to be considered during the next legislative session. House committees were each given several issues to study. Committee hearings will be held over the course of the interim period (2012) giving the public an opportunity to testify on a variety of issues. At the end of the interim, each committee will submit a formal report to the Speaker of the Texas House with recommendations on possible legislation.

The following is a sampling of charges given to different House committees. If you would like a complete list of the study charges or if you would like more information about issues being studied by any particular committee, please don’t hesitate to call my Capitol office at 512-463-0672 or visit the Texas House of Representatives at www.house.state.tx.us.

Here are some examples of charges given to the standing House committees:

House Committee on Government Efficiency & Reform – Examine and make recommendations on purchasing cooperatives created under Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code, including the bid process and the role of inter-local contracts. Clarify for consistency the following terms: purchasing cooperatives, inter-local contracts, and inter-local agreements.

Examine areas of potential privatization of state services in an effort to achieve a higher level of service and greater efficiency for Texas taxpayers. (Joint with the House Committee on State Affairs)
Examine state agency rulemaking and consider ways to improve procedural efficiencies and public transparency, and to better inform policymakers as to their use, purpose, and cost-effectiveness, including an examination of the financial and other impacts such regulations have on both the license holder and the public. (Joint with the House Committee on State Affairs)

House Committee on Higher Education – Review the various research funding programs available to institutions of higher education. Analyze the effectiveness of each program and recommend whether state funding should be continued. Consider whether the investments made in these programs are attracting research projects to Texas and whether more emphasis should be placed on policies that attract outside research funding to Texas. Consider whether maintaining multiple programs dilutes the state’s efforts to attract groundbreaking research to Texas.

Evaluate proposals for the state’s next master plan for higher education beyond 2015, including a review of various metrics to measure successful outcomes in higher education.

Examine the impact of research at state universities on the state economy. Identify ways to increase the partnership opportunities between private business and research institutions to enhance the commercialization of newly discovered technology. (Joint with the House Committee on Economic & Small Business Development)

House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety – Examine the extent of interstate coordination concerning border security and intelligence sharing and determine whether any changes to state law are needed to enhance that coordination and cooperation. (Joint with the House Committee on Border & Intergovernmental Affairs)
Monitor the Texas Department of Public Safety’s implementation of the driver’s license improvement plan and the use of the funds appropriated to the department for such purposes by the 82nd Legislature. Evaluate the feasibility of privatization with the intent to minimize wait times for Texans. (Joint with the House Committee on Appropriations.)

Examine state and federal law to determine whether existing provisions adequately address security and efficiency concerns for steamship agencies and land ports of entry along the Texas-Mexico border. Evaluate whether the state and the federal government have provided sufficient manpower, infrastructure, and technology to personnel in the border region. (Joint with the House Committee on Border & Intergovernmental Affairs)

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

Speaker of the House Joe Straus has released a list of interim study charges for the standing committees of the Texas House of Representatives. These study charges and the resulting recommendations that will be developed during the interim could form the basis for legislation to be considered during the next legislative session. House committees were each given several issues to study. Committee hearings will be held over the course of the interim period (2012) giving the public an opportunity to testify on a variety of issues. At the end of the interim, each committee will submit a formal report to the Speaker of the Texas House with recommendations on possible legislation.

The following is a sampling of charges given to different House committees. If you would like a complete list of the study charges or if you would like more information about issues being studied by any particular committee, please don’t hesitate to call my Capitol office at 512-463-0672 or visit the Texas House of Representatives at www.house.state.tx.us.

Here are some examples of charges given to the standing House committees:

House Committee on Economic & Small Business Development – Examine previous Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) grants awarded for cancer-related research. Determine whether future awards for similar projects are appropriate for the ETF program or whether they should be considered by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
Examine the impact of research at state universities on the state economy. Identify ways to increase the partnership opportunities between private business and research institutions to enhance the commercialization of newly discovered technology. (Joint with the House Committee on Higher Education)
Examine the economic impact of the automobile industry in Texas and the state’s ability to compete with other states for future automotive manufacturing facilities. Identify policies, regulations, and current statutes that either hinder or facilitate job growth and investment by the automotive industry. Review opportunities available to partner manufacturers’ research and development with Texas colleges and universities, including technology enhancements in safety or alternative fuel systems.

House Committee on Elections – Examine the benefits and risks of using mobile voting stations in Texas.
Examine ways to more clearly define a residence address for voter registration purposes, giving special consideration to college-age students.

House Committee on Energy Resources – Review current state and federal laws and regulations and make recommendations to encourage additional energy production in Texas. Focus on the impact energy production has on our state’s economy.

House Committee on Environmental Regulation – Examine the federal eight-hour ozone standard under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards program and its impact on the State Implementation Plan. Identify counties expected to be in nonattainment, the state’s proposed designations of those counties, the timelines for meeting the applicable standard, and the status of the state’s ability to attain the standard.
Examine new and proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules that may impact permits for Texas facilities. Make recommendations, if needed, for changes in state regulatory programs or potential incentives to comply with federal mandates.

House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics –
Review the Texas Ethics Commission’s sworn complaint process and civil and criminal penalty provisions. Determine whether changes should be made aligned with the mission and purpose of the commission.

Study and determine whether all appointees to state entities should be required to sign additional governance documents prior to serving in an official state capacity.

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).

- State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32

Speaker of the House Joe Straus has released a list of interim study charges for the standing committees of the Texas House of Representatives. These study charges and the resulting recommendations that will be developed during the interim could form the basis for legislation to be considered during the next legislative session. House committees were each given several issues to study. Committee hearings will be held over the course of the interim period (2012) giving the public an opportunity to testify on a variety of issues. At the end of the interim, each committee will submit a formal report to the Speaker of the Texas House with recommendations on possible legislation.

The following is a sampling of charges given to different House committees. If you would like a complete list of the study charges or if you would like more information about issues being studied by any particular committee, please don’t hesitate to call my Capitol office at 512-463-0672 or visit the Texas House of Representatives at www.house.state.tx.us.

Here are some examples of charges given to the standing House committees:

House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock – Evaluate the role of community gardens and urban farming efforts that increase access to healthy foods and examine the possible impact that state and local policies have on the success of programs of this type. Determine the feasibility of policies to support these efforts, especially in high-population areas.

House Committee on Corrections – Study ways to reduce the number of youth referred to the juvenile justice system. Consider the availability of mental health services, diversion and early intervention programs, and other prevention methods.

House Committee on County Affairs – Study county-related issues arising from population growth in unincorporated areas with regard to existing and new developments and the provision of services, including garbage disposal, fire protection, road maintenance, electricity, and water and wastewater service. Make necessary legislative recommendations for improving problems in these areas of the state.

House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence – Study and make recommendations for criminal penalties for the failure of a parent or guardian to report a missing child or the death of a child.
Review the current sentencing practices for defendants with mental illnesses and make recommendations. Study practices in other states. Compare recent incarceration trends between those who have mental illnesses and those who do not.

House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism – Evaluate strategies to control known existing invasive aquatic species, including species commonly referred to as giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta), water hyacinths (family Pontederiaceae), and zebra mussels (family Dreissenidae).
Recommend approaches to improve long-term funding for state park acquisition, development, and maintenance.
Study the effects the drought and wildfires have had on tourism and recreation in Texas. Make recommendations for ways to prevent future losses.

House Committee on Defense & Veterans’ Affairs – Study the current role of all Texas state military forces. Identify changes that would enhance the accountability and effectiveness of the state guard, air guard, and national guard and all other components of our state military forces.
Determine any challenges to the training and operations of Texas’ 15 military installations in light of recent reductions in federal defense spending. Additionally, review the current structure and mission of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission as a result of HB 2546 (81R). Recommend any legislative actions needed to sustain and improve the state’s military preparedness.
Study and make recommendations on how the state and local governments can work together to protect our federal military installations from unnecessary encroachment while still allowing appropriate use of land near bases to be used for nonmilitary purposes.

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).