This past Monday and Tuesday, we had a significant number of LeadingAge Texas members, nursing students, and business members who came to the Texas State Capitol and advocated for issues affecting you & your organizations: medicaid reimbursement, regulatory changes, housing with services, and tort reform, just to name a few.

LeadingAge Texas' Director of Public Policy, Alyse Meyer, and our lobbyist David Thomason are regularly at the Capitol meeting with staff and legislators informing and educating them about the importance of our issues. But nothing compares to the impact of legislators and staff meeting constituents and other Texans - those who can share genuine stories about how governmental funding and policies affect the way they can house and care for the seniors in their communities. I noted that several members who were at the Capitol were able to schedule with legislators and/or staff to come and see their communities. Legislators may forget a meeting at the Capital, but the memory of seeing your community will stick with them.

It was a crazy day at the Capital with many groups there, hearings going on and the governor giving an address to the state. Some LeadingAge Texas members were even able to sit in the gallery and see the “State of the State” address by Governor Abbott.
 
I want to thank all those who were able to make the trip and dedicate their time to Austin this week. While we had a very successful Capitol Day, I must remind you that advocacy is not a one time shot. We will be calling on many of you to help us contact legislative offices over the next few months. Stay alert and engaged – you make a big difference!

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In addition, I provided testimony on behalf of the membership to the Texas Senate Committee on Finance Article II - Health & Human Services - click here to read.