AUSTIN – With the Texas Legislature’s 89th regular session underway, state Sen. César Blanco, D-El Paso, said he intends to use a quartet of new committee assignments to tackle key issues for El Paso and West Texas, including expanding child care access, easing restrictions on nurses to improve health care availability and boosting economic growth.
Blanco, who has served as a state senator since 2021, said his four new committee assignments include Business and Commerce; Health and Human Services; Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs; and Natural Resources and Economic Development.
The Texas House announced appointments Thursday for the El Paso delegation – state Reps. Eddie Morales, Joe Moody, Mary González, Vincent Perez and Claudia Ordaz. Moody was named speaker pro tempore. González was appointed as vice chair of Appropriations, Ordaz was appointed as vice chair of Environmental Regulation and Morales was appointed vice chair of Energy and Resources.
Business and Commerce
This Business and Commerce Committee has 11 members — seven Republicans and four Democrats. This session, the body is focusing on electric grid reliability, rising insurance costs and the economic impact of artificial intelligence. Lawmakers are also reviewing cryptocurrency mining’s impact on the power grid and the need for expanded energy infrastructure.
Blanco said he intends to support small businesses, expand job opportunities and strengthen cross-border trade. He said one of his priorities is addressing the lack of affordable child care, which he sees as a major barrier preventing parents from entering the workforce.
“I’ll work to expand child care options so businesses and families can thrive,” Blanco said in a statement.
El Paso business leaders expressed support for Blanco’s appointment, saying it is important to have a local voice in economic policy discussions.
Manuel Rodriguez, government affairs manager for the El Paso Chamber, said Blanco’s role on the committee will be instrumental in advocating for economic growth and job creation.
“His leadership on this influential committee will provide a strong voice for El Paso’s business community, ensuring that our region’s unique economic needs and opportunities are represented in statewide policy discussions,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
The chamber also emphasized the significance of Blanco’s role in trade and infrastructure development, particularly given El Paso’s position as a key economic hub along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Blanco said he remains focused on ensuring that El Paso and West Texas receive the resources needed to remain competitive in the state’s economy.
Health and Human Services
The nine-member Health and Human Services Committee is comprised of five Republicans and four Democrats. It is prioritizing health care access, Medicaid fraud prevention and improving health insurance accessibility.
Blanco said he is committed to addressing workforce shortages and improving mental and maternal health care access across West Texas.
One of his main legislative efforts is SB 911, a bill he co-sponsors with four Republican senators, which aims to remove restrictions on advanced practice registered nurses, allowing them to provide care with fewer barriers.
“West Texas families deserve quality care close to home,” Blanco said in a statement.
Blanco said that too many El Paso-trained nurses leave Texas for New Mexico, where fewer restrictions allow them to practice more freely. He said SB 911, which would authorize such nurses with proper training to prescribe drugs among other duties, would help retain health care providers in Texas and improve access to care for rural communities.
Blanco is also working to streamline access to food assistance programs, saying that delays in processing SNAP benefits have left some families struggling to meet basic needs.
“No family should struggle to put food on the table,” Blanco said.
Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Blanco said he will work on legislation to secure water resources and modernize infrastructure across West Texas as part of his work with the eight other members of the Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. Six Republicans and three Democrats sit on the committee, which is focusing on monitoring key legislation, including bills on water system reliability, veterinary regulations and conservation efforts.
He cited aging water systems as a major challenge for both El Paso and rural communities, saying that investment in repairs and conservation efforts is needed to ensure long-term sustainability.
“One of West Texas’ biggest challenges is water — both supply and infrastructure,” Blanco said in a statement, adding that he looks forward to working with the Republican leadership to develop sustainable water supplies and repair aging infrastructure in El Paso and rural areas.
“Fixing leaks and modernizing systems will strengthen water security and support economic growth,” Blanco said.
Natural Resources
This Natural Resources Committee has nine members, with five Republicans and four Democrats. This session, it is prioritizing workforce productivity, federal regulations’ impact on Texas industries, environmental oversight, and tax transparency, while also reviewing historical site preservation and industrial development.
On the Natural Resources Committee, Blanco said he will support an “all of the above and all of the below” approach to energy production that balances renewable and traditional energy sources.
The senator said Texas’ energy future depends on balancing growth with environmental responsibility, and that investments in clean energy and infrastructure will help lower utility costs while creating new jobs.
The post El Paso Sen. César Blanco prioritizes health care, economic growth, water security in new committee roles appeared first on El Paso Matters.
Read: Read More