STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

February 4, 2005

(This legislative update has been assembled by the UH System Office of Governmental Relations and edited by the UH Division of University Advancement as a service to the UH System community.)


BUSY WEEK IN AUSTIN
FOR THE UH SYSTEM

Next week will be very, very busy for the University of Houston System in Austin…

--Monday, Feb. 7 – UH System Chancellor Jay Gogue, along with chancellors from other state university systems, will testify before the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education on issues facing the 79th Legislature. The committee is chaired by Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas and a UH alumnus). Watch his testimony live

--Tuesday, Feb. 8 - A large delegation of students, faculty, staff, along with members of the UH System Board of Regents is expected to meet with legislators and staff in support of our four universities during UH System Day in Austin.

--Wednesday, Feb. 9 – UH System Board of Regents Chairman Morgan Dunn O’Connor, Chancellor Gogue, UH-Clear Lake President Williams Staples, UH-Downtown President Max Castillo and UH-Victoria President Tim Hudson are scheduled to testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education at 7 a.m. Watch their testimony live

--Thursday, Feb. 10 – Chancellor Gogue and Presidents Staples, Castillo and Hudson are scheduled to appear before the Senate Finance Committee at 8 a.m. Watch their testimony live

SUBCOMMITTEES APPOINTED

Chairman Jim Pitts announced the membership of six standing House Appropriations Subcommittees. The Education Subcommittee is comprised of Reps. Lois Kolkhorst (chair, R-Brenham), Dan Branch (R-Dallas), Myra Crownover (R-Denton), Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City), Ruth Jones McClendon (D-San Antonio) and Todd Smith (R-Euless).

Rep. John Davis serves as chair of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee and Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) chairs the Criminal Justice Subcommittee. Rep. Peggy Hamric (R-Houston) serves on the General Government Subcommittee and Rep. Glenn Hegar (R-Katy) sits on both the Regulatory Subcommittee and the Government Efficiency and Operations Committee.

OTHER COMMITTEE ACTIVITY

While both the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee held substantive hearings all week, other committees are just beginning to organize. Deliberations on other legislation will begin in earnest in two weeks.

SELECTED NEWS ARTICLES
ON HIGHER EDUCATION POSTED DAILY

Selected news articles from local, state, and national publications are being posted on the UH System Governmental Relations web page.

view the articles.

GUIDELINES FOR CONTACTING LEGISLATORS

It’s important that legislators hear from faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the UH System. But if you are a member of the faculty or staff (a state employee) wishing to contact your legislator, it’s equally important to follow certain guidelines when you write or fax letters.

Information on governmental relations policies

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