Representative Peña Announces Re-Election Bid

This is a copy of a posting that appeared on A Capitol Blog. We are all very excited about the campaign.



Serving the Community I Love


The campaign season begins. In a democracy it is a necessary and good thing to have your work as an elected official reviewed by the people you serve. I have proudly served this community for the past six years. With the blessings of my neighbors, it is my intention to continue that service. I therefore place my name and legislative service before the community for consideration in the upcoming election.

By all accounts the previous legislative session, was for the Rio Grande Valley, by far one of the best in our history. Our community continues it's phenomenal growth and yet more is still to come. I am pleased we successfully accomplished the primary legislative directive given to me by city leaders, that being garnering the $5 Million dollars for the (RAHC) Regional Academic Health and Science Center. This center will certainly compliment our drive to bring a full fledged four year medical school to the Valley which in turn will compliment the VA Medical Hospital Center many of us have been fighting for. One related item that brings me great peace is to have obtained funding for a $3 million substance abuse treatment center in Hidalgo County that will fill an unmet need.

Next to the Regional Academic Health and Science Center is one of our office's early legislative achievements, the $26 Million Dollar UTPA Wellness Center. Along with a 13% increase in state spending for our local university and the $40 Million Dollar Fine Arts Center to be constructed I am more than satisfied with the success we have seen. Yet more is still to come.

Our Valley's Museum of South Texas History will see a $1.5 Million Dollar Will Looney Memorial Park that will compliment the growing museum which tells the rich history of our people. That success comes from the hard work our legislative office delivered in fighting for that funding through the tough appropriation process. That park will more than compliment the $156 Million Dollars delivered to our larger community to fund local and state parks for the enjoyment of our families and our children.

As for our children, one of the greatest successes of this legislative session was the $63 Million Dollar growth we brought to the (CHIP) Children's Health Insurance Program. I had the pleasure to be one of the key joint authors of House Bill 109 which is expected to add another 130,000 children to the program. Now our doctors and hospitals can deliver more health care to children in our community.

In our public schools we heard the concerns of parents and teachers; and, we passed legislation phasing out the TAKS test. We continue to make progress in raising the pay of our public school teachers by adding another increase to the $2000 pay raise we provided last session. Fulfilling a promise I made to local retired teachers, retirees can see a one-time supplemental "13th check". We additionally succeeded in eliminating shortfalls to the teachers' pension fund.

For our economic prosperity, the Rio Grande Valley Legislative Delegation delivered on numerous important local projects. The state budget includes $50 million for two regional DPS facilities, and a total of over $4.5 million for local parks and nature centers. We provided some property tax relief for the elderly and disabled, and we also set aside revenue for future tax cuts.

On a more personal note, the sacrifices of South Texas soldiers continue to inspire a nation. I had the honor of authoring and passing legislation awarding the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, the state's highest recognition, to one of our local heroes. Freddy Gonzalez becomes the first soldier from the Valley to receive this honor.

In the last few days I was pleased to assist Edinburg's Housing Authority in receiving a grant that will benefit the elderly in our community to have affordable housing. 168 affordable housing units will soon be available to them.

With each session the voice of this community grows and yet the best is yet to come. I committed myself years ago to the service of this community. And although others may seek to cloud my intentions, make no mistake I am seeking re-election to the Texas House of Representatives.

I hope this post makes matters clear. I welcome all challengers.