With the holidays officially behind us, I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year! As we turn the page on one year and begin another, we’re afforded a unique opportunity for new beginnings. Whether you commit to a New Year’s resolution or not, it’s my hope that we all take some time to consider ways to improve. In looking ahead to 2026, let’s make a renewed effort to enrich our own lives and the lives of others by lifting each other up and supporting one another in fulfilling our goals for the coming year.
With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…
Capitol Update
This past week, Governor Abbott announced a historic $1.4 billion in federal funds headed to Texas to improve rural health care across our state. This massive investment was enabled by HR 1, also known as the Big Beautiful Bill, which passed in Congress last year.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission will disperse the federal funds to support initiatives that recruit and retain rural health care workers through scholarships, relocation payments, and training programs; invest in improvements for telemedicine services; upgrade infrastructure in rural medical centers; and improve technological capacity and cybersecurity in rural hospitals and clinics.
This investment comes at a critical time for health care in Deep East Texas. As we all know, rural health care providers in our region struggle daily to keep their doors open. Since the end of the regular session, I have been constantly engaged with the Health and Human Services Commission, encouraging them to fund critical health care programs throughout our region. I will continue to tirelessly advocate for those funds, especially now that we have received this federal assistance.
In addition to the historic accomplishments the Legislature achieved this past session in bolstering rural health care through House Bills 18 and 3000, both of which I was proud to coauthor, this federal investment shows the continued dedication of our state and national leaders to ensuring that rural Texas can succeed and thrive. I want to thank President Trump, Senators Cornyn and Cruz, and Congressmen Babin, Luttrell, Moran, and Sessions for their work in ensuring this funding is directed to where it is needed most, for the benefit of rural Texans.
The mobile office is on the road again in January and our District Director will look forward to seeing you on the following dates in the following locations: January 7 at the San Augustine County Courthouse in San Augustine from 9:30-11:30 am; January 14 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 am and the Tyler County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 pm; January 21 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30 -11:30 am and the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 pm.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762, and our Capitol office at (512) 463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
