Texas Border Business
House and Senate members from around Texas will descend on RGV
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – Dozens of state lawmakers will descend on region in January for the 21st Legislative Tour of the Rio Grande Valley to learn more about the area, study issues impacting the Valley and hear from area leaders.
The landmark event, which take place on January 22-25, is put on by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership in conjunction with the state legislative session. In 2015, Representatives and Senators from around Texas will gather in Austin for the 84th State Legislature – the session runs from January through May.
The Legislative Tour of the Valley started in 1975 as a way to get legislators from other parts of Texas to get to know deep South Texas. Back then, it was rare for politicians in Austin to pay attention to this region so the tour was developed as way to bring them down to Texas.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that it is very impactful to have legislators from East Texas and North Texas and the Panhandle come here to see the Valley’s issues with their own eyes,” said Julian Alvarez, RGV Partnership President and CEO. “I give full credit to the Partnership’s boards and Bill Summers for developing this great idea and making it relevant. The tour goes a long way in building good will and education of our issues in Austin.”
The tour alternates locations between Cameron and Hidalgo Counties. In 2015, it will make most of its stops in Hidalgo County. One of its primary stops will be at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, the tour’s title sponsor. Lawmakers will also be taken to manufacturing and education locales throughout where they will meet with leading elected, business and community leaders from the Rio Grande Valley.
RGV Partnership staff have visited dozens offices at the state capitol to hand deliver invitations and talk to legislative staffers about the tour. Typically a few dozen legislators along with the local delegation take part in the tour and its activities.
For more information or to learn how you can participate or become a sponsor, contact the RGV Partnership at 956.968.3141 or go to the website at www.valleychamber.com. More tour information will be released closer to the tour dates.
