Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, cast her 25,000th consecutive vote in the Texas Senate today (Thursday), maintaining her unique career-long 100 percent voting and 100 percent attendance records. In 1997, when she cast her 15,000th consecutive vote, State Legislatures published "15,000 and Still Counting: The Tireless Texan" and asked readers to submit information about records similar to Sen. Zaffirini's. No one responded. She has never missed a Senate roll call since her swearing in as the senator from District 21 in January, 1987.

Previous to the 77th Legislative Session, Sen. Zaffirini had cast a total of 22,302 votes and passed 356 bills. This session Sen. Zaffirini has passed 39 bills, and another 29 of her Senate bills await passage by the House of Representatives.

Sen. Zaffirini's recent legislative successes include passing bills to expand the availability of domestic violence services, promote dual language immersion programs for Texas students and establish a future goal that all Texas high school graduates will master "English Plus" a second language, simplify children's Medicaid and restructure Texas Medicaid, improve indigent health care programs, protect nursing home residents, increase child support, and strengthen anti-drunk driving statutes. Sen. Zaffirini is vice chair of the Senate Committee on Education and serves not only on the Administration, Finance and Redistricting committees, but also on the Appropriations Conference Committee that is drafting the $111 billion Texas budget and on the Teacher Health Insurance Conference Committee that is drafting a health insurance plan for school district employees and retirees.

"My priorities include working hard to champion the needs and interests of Senate District 21 residents, balancing them with those of our great state," Sen. Zaffirini said. "My consecutive voting and attendance records reflect my commitment to make a difference daily through public service."

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