Muñoz highlighted legislative accomplishments and his vision for a third term
Texas Border Business
(MISSION, TEXAS) – Four-year incumbent State Representative Sergio Muñoz, Jr., a democrat from Mission and a member of the House Appropriations Committee, is seeking a third two-year term as the state leader of District 36 in the Texas House of Representatives.
District 36 features all or parts of the communities of Hidalgo, Granjeno, McAllen, Mission, Palmview and Pharr. Muñoz hosted his re-election campaign at the Corinthian Special Event, Mission, Texas.
Muñoz outlined his proven record of accomplishment and his vision for the 2015 Texas legislative session at the kickoff event. Commenting on his re-election campaign and kickoff, Muñoz said, “I am thankful to many individuals and institutions for the opportunity to serve District 36 in the Texas Legislature over the last two terms. It has indeed been a privilege and an honor. I promised four years ago when I first ran for this Texas house seat that I would work hard to secure funding, resources and programs for our schools, our health care system, our border security and a better way of life for our veterans, families and young Texans.”
“There is no substitute for experience in the Texas Legislature, which affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, from the quality of our schools to the availability of clean water for economic growth and life itself,” added Muñoz. “On those and every other legislative measure that benefits House District 36 and the Valley, I believe that I have delivered for my constituents.”
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, of which only two South Texans are members, Muñoz helped shape the state budget and provided billions of dollars in new funding for public education, water conservation projects, women’s health care, a University of Texas medical school, an improved transportation system, and much more. “As a result of the national economic recession, public education, health and human services, and other important state programs and services suffered significant budget cuts, which I opposed when the Legislature met in 2011,” Muñoz said. “But as a member of the House Appropriations Committee earlier this spring, I worked very hard to begin restoring those budget cuts and do so without increasing taxes. The results speak for themselves.”
During the 83rd Legislature, Muñoz served on the Select Committee on Transportation Funding as well as on the House Insurance Committee and the House Committee on Local and Consent Calendars. He also holds memberships on the House Veteran’s Caucus, Mexican-American Legislative Caucus, House Democratic Caucus, Farm-to-Table Caucus, and Young Texas Legislative Caucus. Muñoz key measures approved during his legislative career that bear his name include:
- Increased women’s health and family planning programs by $203 million
- Restored $4 billion to Texas public schools; reduced the number of standardized tests from 15 to 5
- Enabled the Dropout Recovery Programs between community colleges and high schools, creating a pathway to college
- Restored the budget for STC’s Bachelor of Applied Technology program
- Won approval of the $30 million waste water infrastructure projects for local communities
- Worked with Valley delegation to create the new University and Medical School for the Valley
- Improved the local highway system, creating economic development opportunities for area businesses and individuals
- Provided $1.7 billion for anticipated cost growth in the Medicaid program
- Passed legislation to address the state’s critical water needs, creating water infrastructure programs and planning
Looking forward to the 2015 legislative session, Rep. Muñoz plans to continue his agenda to improve public education and to provide for a health care system that works for everybody, including veterans. His plans also include creating economic development opportunities through sound public policy, and continuing his track record of working with border security and international trade issues, complemented by improving transportation infrastructure to bolster business and the economy.
Re-elected by the voters of House District 36 in 2012, Muñoz is serving his second term in the Texas House of Representatives. Muñoz completed his first legislative session in 2011, winning accolades from his colleagues by earning the inaugural House Democratic Leader’s Award from the House Democratic Caucus. Muñoz was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. He is married to
Maria Elena and they are the parents of Gael Sebastian.
Muñoz is the son of Sergio Muñoz, Sr., a local businessman and former State Representative of District 36. His mother is Connie Muñoz, a long-time educator from the Mission area, and his sister, Marla Muñoz-Lopez, is a healthcare professional. Muñoz attended Mission High School and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Business Administration. He then earned his law degree with honors at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University, graduating magna cum laude.
Muñoz is a civil and criminal law attorney and has served as a Municipal Judge in Palmview, Texas. He is a member of the Hidalgo County Bar Association. Beyond his professional service, Muñoz is a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Knights of Columbus. He attends both Our Lady of the Guadalupe Catholic Church and St. John of the Field’s Catholic Church.
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