AUSTIN, TX — Today, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick appointed Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa as a member of the Senate Select Committee on Texas Ports. Lt. Governor Patrick originally created the Select Committee during the 84th Legislature and has reactivated it for the 86th Legislature. Senator Hinojosa was previously appointed to the Select Committee on Texas Ports during the 84th Legislature.

Other members of the Committee include Chairman Brandon Creighton, Vice Chair Carol Alvarado, and Senators Lois Kolkhorst, Eddie Lucio, Jr., Jane Nelson, and Larry Taylor.

Senator Hinojosa offered the following statement regarding his appointment:

"I thank Lt. Governor Patrick for reappointing me to the Select Committee on Texas Ports. I look forward to resuming the work we started under Chairman Creighton's leadership two sessions ago.

Clearly, our sea and inland ports are vital to the success of Texas' economy. We are blessed with a beautiful stretch of coastline offering our economy and businesses greater access to trade and commerce through our seaports. We also benefit enormously from the trade along our border with Mexico -- Texas' largest trading partner at nearly $200 billion a year.

It is critical that we focus on maintaining the success of our Texas ports, as they generate over $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 and more than $80 billion in personal income."

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