FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (October 6, 2009)
Contact: Amy Sharp, Associate Director, 979-845-4612 or sharp@tamu.edu, or Kelsey Johnson, Communications Specialist, 979-862-4990 or kelsey_johnson@tamu.edu
Remarks and Photos from Appreciation Breakfast Held for Sen. Ogden on Sept. 30
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – Sen. Steve Ogden was the guest of honor on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at a breakfast hosted by the Center on Disability and Development. This event drew over 35 people from across the community as they expressed gratitude for and support of Sen. Ogden's legislative initiatives.
The following remarks were made by Center director Dr. Mike Benz:
"Welcome! We are pleased you are here this morning to acknowledge and thank Senator Steve Ogden for his leadership this past legislative session.
"The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University is pleased to express our sincere appreciation for Senator Ogden’s service to our local community and the state of Texas. Our Center’s mission focuses on community integration and Senator Ogden’s leadership in this area, this session, has been noteworthy.
"Senator Steve Ogden (R-Bryan), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has represented Senate District 5 since 1997; he also served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives (1990-1997).
"Senator Ogden is a leader on budget issues, school finance, higher education funding, child protection, transportation safety and criminal justice. He is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. In this most recent session, Senator Ogden gave much needed leadership to the issue of Texas state run institutions for people with intellectual disabilities.
"The Senator valued the input of professionals within the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), advocacy groups and families, the lieutenant governor, members of the Senate and their staffs, and the public through numerous hearings. When Senate Bill 1 was introduced, it included a special provision that Senator Ogden penned known as Rider 48 that related to reform of the state schools and expansion of other services for those with mental disabilities and related disabilities.
"Rider 48 has now become law. It makes a major investment in improving state school care while increasing the availability of home- and community-based services. Over the next biennium, state school funding will grow by 10 percent to $1.145 billion, and community-based services funding will grow by 50 percent to $1.538 billion reversing the trend of pro-institutional bias in Texas.
"What the 81st Legislature did to address the serious problems in our state schools and the shortage of community-based services will make an important, positive difference in the lives of thousands of Texans with developmental disabilities and their families. We are proud to honor Senator Ogden and to applaud his good work. We wish him well on his future endeavors."
See all photos from the event.
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