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Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2015
Contact: Jennifer Saenz
(512) 463-0120 office
(512) 497-9411 cell
SENATOR HINOJOSA PASSES SB 318 OUT OF COMMITTEE TO INCREASE GRANTS FOR OUR MILITARY COMMUNITIES

AUSTIN, TX – Today, Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa's Senate Bill 318 passed unanimously out of the Senate Veteran's Affairs and Military Installations Committee. SB 318 raises the cap for grants that are awarded through the Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant Program (DEAAG) from $2 million to $5 million. The program is designed to aid communities negatively affected by federal Base Realignments and Closures (BRACs) as well as to assist defense communities to stay militarily valuable.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

"I am pleased that SB 18 passed unanimously out of committee today to benefit our military communities who play a major role in our Texas economy. SB 18 increases the cap on grants awarded to our communities with military bases. Many Texas military bases are in need of major renovations and repairs and these grants can help keep up their BRAC scores to help avoid a potential closure.

These grants will be available to communities with military bases statewide to allow them to build up their infrastructure to increase the military value of their base. Also, these grants can help communities transition certain military property to civilian use for business or educational purposes.

SB 318 is also critical to Senate District 20 because we are home to the Corpus Christi Army Depot, the world's largest military helicopter repair facility that accounts for about 6,000 jobs in the Coastal Bend. I was honored to see our Corpus Christi elected officials at the hearing today in support of this legislation. Thank you to Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal, Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez, Councilman Colleen McIntyre, and Councilman Mark Scott. As a Vietnam Veteran, I am proud to author this legislation that will benefit our military communities and families."

Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa serves as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development, Criminal Justice, Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs as well as the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), and the Sunset Advisory Commission.

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