Austin, TX

This past week the Texas House of Representatives tackled critical House Bills, such as House Bill 5 regarding public education reform and House Bill 4 relating to plans for financing water management strategies. House Bill 5 addressed long time concerns of excessive high-stakes testing and focused on improving students curriculum to allow for more flexibility for students when choosing what classes they want to take in high school. House Bill 5 would eliminate the requirement that End of Course exams count as 15% of a student's grade and instead leave it to the discretion of that particular school district to decide how an End of Course exam should affect a student's final grade. The bill also revamped the Minimum, Recommended, and Advanced programs and replaced it with the Foundation Program and the Distinguished level of the Foundation program. Under the Foundation Program and Distinguished level, all students would be eligible to apply for a Texas public four-year university, as opposed to under the current law, where students under the Minimum program are not eligible to apply to a state public four-year university. "Public education is one of the most important issues facing this State," states Nevárez. "It is critical that we stop over-testing our children and allow our teachers the flexibility to spend more time teaching and less time testing." Representative Nevárez also helped pass a significant piece of legislation Wednesday that would use $2 billion to start funding water projects in the state. House Bill 4 would create a water bank that would offer loans for projects like new water reservoirs, pipelines and conservation projects contributing to an ongoing fight with the drought. The bill requires prioritization of the state projects where regionalization will be a key factor of the process bringing the West Texas region into high consideration. "Water conservation is a necessity in this State because of the cards Mother Nature has dealt us," Nevárez states. "I am happy that the West Texas region will be strongly considered during the prioritization process because that is a portion of the state that has been hit hard by the drought and I am honored I could contribute to pass this bill." Nevárez faces another important piece of legislation next week when the Texas House takes on Senate Bill 1, which includes the state's appropriations. This bill includes both Sul Ross State University at Alpine and Rio Grande campus' funding.

Representative Poncho Nevárez is currently serving his first term in the Texas House of Representatives. He represents District 74. He also serves on the House Culture Recreation and Tourism, International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs and Rules and Resolutions Committees.

TEMPLE, TX

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Salvador Salinas announced that $1.6 million in disaster assistance is available to help with recovery after the historic droughts and wildfires that plagued much of the state in recent years. Funds are being made available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provides both financial and technical assistance to install measures that reduce post-fire damage and aid in the rehabilitation process. “Many parts of Texas were affected by historic drought and wildfires over the last two years,” said Salinas. “Loss of vegetation not only affects production, livestock and wildlife; it also makes the land vulnerable to erosion by wind and water.” “Our assistance will enable landowners and livestock producers to accelerate the recovery of the health and vigor of the affected grazing and forest land," Salinas said. Although EQIP sign-up is continuous, applications for this first funding period will be accepted in the County NRCS offices through April 29. In order to apply, landowners must visit the local NRCS office to fill out an application. Applications will be ranked and those approved for funding will be offered an EQIP contract. Producers in 35 counties in Texas are eligible for the sign-up. Those counties are: Bailey, Baylor, Bee , Brooks, Dallam, Duval, Edwards, Fisher, Hartley, Haskell, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Jones, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleburg, Knox, Lamb, Maverick, Nueces, Parmer, San Patricio,Schleicher, Shackleford, Starr, Stone Wall, Sutton, Throckmorton, Val Verde, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Young, Zapata. A priority will be placed on land affected by wildfires with an emphasis on conservation practices that will help restore plant health and condition, prevent soil erosion, and address soil quality and water quality. On grazing land, practices such as grazing deferment, cross fencing, reseeding and water development are effective post-fire strategies to help reduce erosion and re-establish wildlife. Salinas suggests landowners consult with their local NRCS district conservationist to develop a conservation plan, which can be an effective strategy for rangeland recovery and mitigating the effects of the prolonged drought Texas is experiencing. NRCS services and programs are voluntary and offered without a fee to all agricultural producers. NRCS helps landowners and land managers protect and improve the natural resources on their property, including soil, water, air, plants, and animals. For further assistance in evaluating your land and planning practices, or to address concerns following a wildfire, contact your local NRCS or Soil and Water Conservation District. USDA Service Center offices are located in almost every county and are listed in phonebooks under federal and state government, or online at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov.

TEMPLE, TX

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Salvador Salinas announced that $1.6 million in disaster assistance is available to help with recovery after the historic droughts and wildfires that plagued much of the state in recent years. Funds are being made available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provides both financial and technical assistance to install measures that reduce post-fire damage and aid in the rehabilitation process. “Many parts of Texas were affected by historic drought and wildfires over the last two years,” said Salinas. “Loss of vegetation not only affects production, livestock and wildlife; it also makes the land vulnerable to erosion by wind and water.” “Our assistance will enable landowners and livestock producers to accelerate the recovery of the health and vigor of the affected grazing and forest land," Salinas said. Although EQIP sign-up is continuous, applications for this first funding period will be accepted in the County NRCS offices through April 29. In order to apply, landowners must visit the local NRCS office to fill out an application. Applications will be ranked and those approved for funding will be offered an EQIP contract. Producers in 35 counties in Texas are eligible for the sign-up. Those counties are: Bailey, Baylor, Bee , Brooks, Dallam, Duval, Edwards, Fisher, Hartley, Haskell, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Jones, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleburg, Knox, Lamb, Maverick, Nueces, Parmer, San Patricio,Schleicher, Shackleford, Starr, Stone Wall, Sutton, Throckmorton, Val Verde, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Young, Zapata. A priority will be placed on land affected by wildfires with an emphasis on conservation practices that will help restore plant health and condition, prevent soil erosion, and address soil quality and water quality. On grazing land, practices such as grazing deferment, cross fencing, reseeding and water development are effective post-fire strategies to help reduce erosion and re-establish wildlife. Salinas suggests landowners consult with their local NRCS district conservationist to develop a conservation plan, which can be an effective strategy for rangeland recovery and mitigating the effects of the prolonged drought Texas is experiencing. NRCS services and programs are voluntary and offered without a fee to all agricultural producers. NRCS helps landowners and land managers protect and improve the natural resources on their property, including soil, water, air, plants, and animals. For further assistance in evaluating your land and planning practices, or to address concerns following a wildfire, contact your local NRCS or Soil and Water Conservation District. USDA Service Center offices are located in almost every county and are listed in phonebooks under federal and state government, or online at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov.