AUSTIN — Yesterday, Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, a member of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, spoke at the 3rd Annual Eagle Ford Shale Conference titled "Driving the 21st Century Texas Economy: Sustainable Oil & Gas Communities." The Eagle Ford Shale Legislators Panel discussed the impacts, opportunities, and challenges facing South Texas communities and the state from the booming Eagle Ford Shale. Senator Hinojosa talked at length about improving and investing in infrastructure, creating and sustaining jobs, the uptick in local and state economies, providing an educating a skilled workforce, the growing Rainy Day Fund, and how the shale play is improving our quality of life in South Texas.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement to recap the panel discussion:

"The Eagle Ford Shale is a game changer for South Texas. It is transforming our communities. We see unemployment going down with the creation of good paying jobs. Communities are being transformed by the billions of dollars in investment coming to the region. Families and parents are finding good jobs and have more money at the end of the month to be able to provide for their children. It is quite visible that the quality of life in Eagle Ford Shale communities are improving.

"The Rainy Day Fund is growing thanks to the strength of the oil and gas industry. It has relieved pressure to increase taxes or cut programs during economic hard times. A healthy balance in the Rainy Day Fund has allowed the Texas Legislature to invest in needed infrastructure, water, roads, and education where all Texans benefit.

"To build sustainable oil and gas communities we must also address the challenges before us to continue to reap the benefits and opportunities the Eagle Ford Shale has afforded us.

"The Eagle Ford Shale play has brought thousands of jobs to the region. It is important that the state and local communities are doing their part investing in and providing a skilled and educated workforce.

"The Texas Legislature must also continue to invest in infrastructure such as transportation and water to help local communities sustain this rapid growth they are experiencing.

"The Eagle Ford Shale boom has created numerous opportunities for the region and the state. Sustaining oil and gas communities must be a shared responsibility between the state, businesses and industry, and local communities. This is not going to stop, this is not going away, so it's up to us to cooperate and work together so that there is no bust to our communities."

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