Week of April 19th - April 25th, 2021 |
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State Representative Jarvis Johnson's Weekly Newsletter |
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Friends,
As always, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to check in with you all and say hi! I hope you all had an amazing week! This week was an important week here in Austin as the State passed the budget for this session! This is an enormous responsibility and I am honored to be a part of it! With the session coming to an end next month, I am continuing to fight on behalf of my constituents and all Texans.
Please continue to reach out to my office if you are looking for assistance, if we are unable to assist you, we will make sure to put you in touch with someone who can. Below you will find information on what went on this week, as well as resources that may be beneficial for you! I hope you all enjoy your weekend, stay safe!
In service,
Jarvis Johnson State Representative, District 139 |
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Updates from the Legislative Session |
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Today the House passed my bill HB 1315, it's now heading over to the Senate. I've worked on this legislation since first elected to office, and this is the first time we've ever gotten it to the house floor for a vote, which is not a reflection of my passion for this issue, or the passion and help of advocates like Texas CASA, Inc., whom I have worked closely with on this bill!
HB 1315 would be transformative to kids in long-term foster care, it will require that they have either an Attorney Ad Litem or Guardian Ad Litem for the entire time they stay in the state's care. One key strategy to reduce the length of stay in foster care for youth includes youth participation in court hearings, and my bill would ensure that happens.
I look forward to getting this bill to the Governor's Desk to sign into law! |
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This week the House Environmental Regulation Committee heard my bill HB 65, which will require proposed Concrete Batch Plants in Houston to mail a notice to every single household within 440 yards of the proposed location.
Right now, concrete batch plants must publish a notice in a newspaper, this is an outdated way of notifying the public of a business looking to operate in their community. My bill ensures the community is notified in ample time so they can engage in the public comment process with TCEQ. Far too often, community members find out too late that a harmful Concrete Batch plant wants to open up shop in their neighborhood. HB 65 was revised slightly in an attempt to get the bill signed into law. The original filed bill was a statewide bill, but I revised it to just take effect in the city of Houston. While this is common-sense policy, concrete batch plants operating in residential neighborhoods are especially prevalent in Houston because we have no zoning laws. If we get this bill to the governor's next year, I will come back next session and will file a bill to get this policy enacted for the entire state. |
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This week I laid out HB 3673 in the Public Health Committee. This bill would establish a #SickleCell registry. We don't have a complete picture of Sickle Cell in Texas; however, a registry would seek to fix this and other problems concerning this lifelong disease. #TXLege. My office extends gratitude to Titilope Fasipe, MD, Ph.D., Tonya Prince, Heather Avant, and my intern, André Marcel Harris, who testified on this bill and have or parent a child with sickle cell disease. |
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This week the House passed HB 1788, which will give public schools and their school security personnel (like a Marshal, Peach officer, Resources Officer) immunity from any liability from damages caused by the actions of a school security personnel. In short, this bill is the opposite of progress. We should be passing bills that provide more accountability for police officers, not shielding them from consequences as a result of their bad actions. Police officers need more accountability, and for that reason, I voted NO on this bill. |
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This week in Urban Affairs, we focused on bills related to municipal management districts (MMDs), which are a tool cities use to improve sewer, drainage, and roads within certain parts of cities, among other things. Several members filed bills creating MMDs within their district, others changed the powers given to previously created MMDs. I took particular concern with those that affected Houston and in particular my district, but let other representatives advocate for their district's concerns. We also voted out my land bank bill, HB 4065. |
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Confederate Monuments Press Conference |
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I was proud to stand with Chairman Rafael Anchia, Senator Royce West, and other colleagues in the Texas House to support bills to remove Confederate Monuments, change the names of buildings named after Confederate Soldiers, and to abolish Confederate Heroes Day. It's passed time we rid our public places of White Supremacy. |
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Voter Suppression Press Conference |
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The 2020 election was safe, with no evidence of widespread voter fraud problems. Simply put, these bills are an attack of our democratic process, and any attempt to suppress voters from the ballot box. I will not stand for such a blatant attack on our community and will fight alongside all allies to stop these bills. |
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Statement on the George Floyd Trial |
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The jury's verdict in today's trial is unprecedented; Derek Chauvin will be held accountable for the murder of George Floyd. As we wait for the sentence to be handed down, I cannot help but feel relieved that an American court system decided to hold a police officer accountable. I am also afraid, however: this verdict alone will not change the culture of police violence or racial injustice. I pray for everyone tonight to stay safe; I pray police will not brutalize the people publicly crying in relief the same way they brutalized those crying in sorrow last summer.
Protests against injustice are not only legal, they are necessary. When police, courts, prison, and even state and city governments across the country systemically oppress Black people, silence Black opinions, and murder Black people, we must raise our voices in response to remind those same people who repress us that our pain is real, our pain matters, our lives matter. Since consequences are rarely brought down on those who hurt and kill Black people in America, we must voice our pain to remind those unaffected by systemic racism and police brutality that it has real and chilling consequences. There have only been three days this year where no one was killed by police in the United States. That number is more than embarrassing, it is deeply tragic.
As we protest, however, people who wish to devalue Black lives will point and claim that these protests are violent and destructive, regardless of what actual protestors are doing. Some far-right extremists have even traveled to protests and wreaked havoc, blaming their violence and hatred on us. We cannot allow these people to point to protests and claim that we are violent, that we are destructive. When you use your voice in protest, remember that some are looking to use your voice against you. I pray for George Floyd and his surviving family; may those surviving him find peace.
Rest in Power George Floyd. |
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Statement on the George Floyd Trial |
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On this Earth Day, I want to highlight the work I am doing for my constituents to fight back against Environmental Racism. I have proudly authored many bills that address concrete batch plants, and have joined in support of many of my colleagues from Houston on their legislation as well. Conversations about Climate Change and our Environment MUST include how these policies and industries are impacting Black and Brown communities differently.
Harris County has seen a dramatic increase in the numbers of concrete batch plants operating in residential neighborhoods. These plants emit one of the deadliest forms of air pollution, causing individuals living near these facilities to have life expectancies almost a decade lower than the rest of the population. Additionally, these plants are prevalent in Black and Brown communities, often near homes, churches, playgrounds, schools, and other social gathering places. Acres Homes, a community in my district, has one of the highest concentrations of concrete batch plants in Harris County.
Passing bills that reform this industry is important to me because it ensures that Texans have the right to live safely in their homes and communities without their health being put at risk. I will continue to fight for the best interests of all Texans today and every day to ensure our beautiful planet can remain suitable for all. |
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Vaccine Eligibility Information & Resources |
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All adults are eligible to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine now. Please sign up for the waitlists for Harris County and the City of Houston. Additionally, the State Department of Health Services has launched a COVID Vaccine appointment finder.
Harris County Sign Up HERE
Statewide Appointment Locator HERE
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This weekend there are two FREE vaccination clinics on Sat, April 24, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
1. Community Family Center Sports & Rec. Building. 2. Greater St Matthew Baptist Church.
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New On Demand Vaccine Opportunities |
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Today, April 16, 2021, Judge Hidalgo announced a new, on-demand system for vaccine registration.
It's as simple as 1.2.3.
Pick a time/date slot GET VACCINATED!
People can either drive or walk up to Gate 16A off Main Street, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday and between noon and 9 p.m. starting Wednesday |
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CDC Recommendations for People Fully Vaccinated |
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People who are fully vaccinated against #COVID19 can start gathering indoors with other fully vaccinated friends & family without masks. Visit http://HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 or call 832-393-4220 or 832-393-4301 for your FREE vaccine. |
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Houston Job and Readiness Fair |
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Have you signed up for Turnaround Houston Job and Readiness fair yet? With over 2,500 jobs counted so far, a number of job training programs, and other valuable resource organizations, you don’t want to miss it! Visit https://wrksolutions2.easyvirtualfair.com/prefair to register for this virtual event. |
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Open Enrollment for Obamacare |
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| As of Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021, the special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act would be extended from May 15th to August 15.
That means that anyone who either doesn't have health insurance or wants to change their plan has additional time to sign up
You can learn more about coverage and how to find a plan HERE |
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The City of Houston and Harris County are offering emergency #rentalassistance to those renters who have been impacted by COVID19 and are facing housing insecurity.
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| Haven't received your stimulus yet? Looking to see if you qualify? For answers to these questions and more click the link below to use the IRS Get My Payment Tool!
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My staff and I are always here to serve you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with questions, comments, concerns, or to say hi! Have a great weekend! We can be reached by phone at (512) 463-0554 or (713) 699-3043 |
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