AUSTIN, TX -- Today, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick appointed Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa as a member of the Senate Select Committee on Texas Ports. The committee will study the economic benefit of the Panama Canal expansion to Texas ports and will focus on what our ports must do to remain competitive in this new era.

Senator Hinojosa offered the following statement regarding his appointment:

"I thank Lt. Governor Patrick for creating and appointing me to this committee. It is critical that we focus on the importance and contributions of our Texas ports that generate $270 billion a year in economic development and $6 billion in state and local taxes per year. Our ports also create 1.4 million jobs generating $82.8 billion in personal income.

Commerce and trade are vital to the development and prosperity of our modern economies. Here in Texas we are blessed with a beautiful stretch of coastline offering our economy and businesses greater access to trade and commerce through our seaports. With the expansion of the Panama Canal, more and larger ships will be in transit to and from our Texas ports.

We must also study the economic benefits of our border ports of entry as they are critical in facilitating trade with Mexico -- Texas' largest trading partner at $200 billion a year. It is essential that all our ports are primed and ready to receive increases in commerce efficiently."

Other members of the Committee include Chairman Brandon Creighton, Senators Jose Menendez, Lois Kolkhorst, Eddie Lucio, Jr., Jane Nelson, and Larry Taylor.

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