Federal sequestration eliminates funding of municipal airport air traffic controllers

AUSTIN

In an effort to ensure safety at 13 municipal airports in Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation today said it intends to fund continued service of air traffic controllers when federal funding goes away as a result of sequestration, or budget cuts. This action is pending Texas Transportation Commission approval and will be acted upon in an emergency session next week. The action would enable continued service for 13 airports. “Safety is the primary reason we felt a need to take immediate action for the air travelers and business aircraft that use these airports,” said Commissioner Fred Underwood, Texas Transportation Commission. “I am proud of our leaders for taking this extraordinary measure to ensure that those relying on these municipal airports will be able to depart and arrive safely and efficiently.” “Flying is an integral part of commerce in Texas,” said Phil Wilson, TxDOT executive director. “Local communities are counting on these airports to remain open for continued economic success.” When automatic budget cuts from the federal government went into effect last month, Texas regional airports were caught in the cross hairs and were scheduled to lose funding for air traffic control service positions beginning April 7. Had this funding not been considered, a degradation of safety in those flight operations could have occurred. Airports that could receive state funding to continue safe operations include: New Braunfels (BAZ); Brownsville (BRO); Easterwood Field College Station (CLL); TSTC Waco (CNW); Lone Star Executive Houston (CXO); Georgetown Muni (GTU); San Marcos Muni (HYI); Dallas Executive (RBD); Sugarland Regional (SGR); Stinson Muni San Antonio (SSF); Collin County Regional (TKI); Tyler Pounds Regional (TYR); and Victoria Regional (VCT). Grand Prairie Municipal and Fort Worth Spinks airports remain funded under a federal agreement until September 30, 2013.

By: Bishop James A. Tamayo

Let there be Light (Gen 1:1)! And once again there is Light.

Let us rejoice as we celebrate on Easter Sunday the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! The season of Lent has concluded and with it comes the beginning of the glorious season of Easter. As we celebrate Easter, we are witnesses to the Resurrection of Christ. With the dawn of Easter Sunday, Jesus passes over from death to life to give us the sure hope that one day we can share in His triumph over mortality and sin. And how do we achieve this eternal reward? We follow Jesus by listening to His word, by celebrating His mysteries and by loving our neighbor as He loves us. And whenever you begin to think that life is too difficult to follow in His steps or to obey the 10 Commandments or succumbing to temptation remember this. Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name, which is above every name (Phil 2:8-9). Meditate on how God in times past saved His people and how He has sent His Son as our Redeemer for our salvation. Throughout the Lenten season we have heard about reconciliation and conversion. In my previous column from two weeks ago, I spoke of the Light Is On for You campaign, which encouraged all Catholics—those close to the Church but especially those who have been away—to seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation as the first step to conversion and reconciliation with God. The first step out of darkness and onto the path following the Light of the World. And the journey we call conversion does not conclude with the end of the Lenten season. Instead it has only begun. Conversion is a life-long journey in seeking that eternal reward we call Heaven. Our faith formation and our love for God should never cease growing. We continue on this road by attending Mass, at the very least, every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation. The conversion continues by making time for daily prayer and for reading the Bible and other Catholic literature. Living a Catholic retreat is a great way to detach from all the distractions of the modern world. The serenity provided by a retreat allows us to listen clearly to God’s will for us. These are just a few examples of how to follow Jesus. As we gather on Easter Sunday to break bread at tables throughout the Diocese of Laredo to celebrate this festive occasion, I ask that you take time to remember and reflect that Christ is our paschal lamb that was sacrificed. And on Easter Sunday we feast in joy with the Resurrected Lord. We commemorate this holiest of days by understanding and embracing that the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone of our universal Church and our salvation. Go forth and declare the saving works of the Lord! Shout to the world that His mercy endures forever! And above all, give thanks to God that the light of Christ’s resurrection shines bright in our life impelling us to live— Todo Con Amor.

TEMPLE, TEXAS

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will launch its “StrikeForce” initiative in Texas and nine additional states. The StrikeForce Initiative is designed to provide relief to persistent high-poverty counties - 90 percent of which are in rural areas - by accelerating technical and financial assistance delivered through USDA agencies, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), and Rural Development (RD), and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).  “To implement the StrikeForce Initiative, our agencies work in partnership with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to improve outreach and provide assistance to communities and farmers in Texas,” says NRCS State Conservationist Salvador Salinas. “Ultimately we want to increase awareness of and participation in USDA's programs, as well as provide additional economic benefits to these areas.”   The “StrikeForce” initiative started as a pilot project in 2010 in selected regions in three states: Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi.  In 2011 it was expanded to include Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada.  Today, Secretary Vilsack announced new efforts to bring the StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity to Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Virginia.   To identify persistent poverty counties, USDA identifies census tracts with over 20 percent poverty (according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey data) to identify sub-county pockets of poverty.  As areas of persistent poverty are identified, USDA staff work with state, local and community officials to increase awareness of USDA programs, and help build program participation.    StrikeForce is helping direct needed USDA resources to individuals and communities in nine Texas counties : Duval, El Paso, Hidalgo, Jeff Davis, Jim Wells, Maverick, Presidio, Starr and Webb.   “The StrikeForce Initiative is helping us direct additional resources to better serve producers in persistent poverty rural communities,” said Vilsack.  “We are focusing on these identified high poverty counties to help improve the quality of life of producers and to accelerate implementation of conservation practices on their land.”   You can learn more about the USDA StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity at www.usda.gov/strikeforce. You can also contact the Texas StrikeForce coordinator Bertha Venegas, email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone: 830-249-2821.