AUSTIN, Texas--Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) on Monday (Feb. 9) attended her first Legislative Budget Board (LBB) meeting as a voting member. During agenda items dealing with budget execution, Zaffirini was quick to point out the intent of the legislature to fund an additional $1 million for the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio's Laredo Campus Extension.

"Higher education is one of my top priorities. The legislature adopted an appropriations rider that prioritized an additional $1 million for programs at the Laredo Campus Extension. I will continue to work hard to ensure that UTHSCSA gets this important funding for the advancement of Laredo Campus Extension programs and operations," Senator Zaffirini said.

Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst voiced his support for the additional funding and pledged to address this issue at a future LBB meeting.

The Laredo Campus Extension currently supports several medical, dental, allied health, and public health remote educational and clinical training programs of the UTHSCSA. Programs include medical student clerkships and electives, dental student education, dental prosthodontics residency training and allied health degree programs in occupational therapy, clinical laboratory sciences, respiratory care and emergency medical technology.

For more information contact the Senator's Capitol office staff via 512/463-0121, or visit her website at http://www.zaffirini.senate.state.tx.us.

###