Orange and Maroon Will Cover Texas Capitol Feb. 5

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Texas A&M’s legislative priorities

List of Aggie legislators

Many issues are competing for the attention of Texas lawmakers.

But on Feb. 5, Aggie and Longhorn volunteers will visit the offices of all 181 Texas legislators to make the case that investing in higher education helps all Texans.

Around 95 Texas A&M former students will be part of the delegation – and a few of those slots are still open. You can visit tx.ag/OMLD to apply.

These teams of Orange and Maroon Legislative Day volunteers, including approximately 30 current A&M students, will spend 15 to 20 minutes at each office.

Their job is not just to show that Longhorns and Aggies know the issues facing their universities, but also to learn what the lawmakers’ responses and priorities are – “to find out what’s important to that legislator,” said David Fujimoto ’17, director of strategic engagement for Texas A&M’s Association of Former Students.

“You’re listening hopefully as much as you’re talking.”

Fujimoto is grateful for the volunteers’ time. “They’re taking a day off work to do this, and it’s great to see the passion they have for their universities,” he said.

The information they gather helps the two universities shape their advocacy efforts for the next two years.

Of Texas’ 181 senators and representatives, 25 are Aggies and 35 are Longhorns.

Gov. Greg Abbott, a Longhorn, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will also visit with OMLD staff and volunteers.

For decades, the state paid the majority of the cost of education at Texas’ public universities. That changed in 2003.

Since then, state funding per student has dropped amid unwillingness to raise taxes, while enrollment in Texas universities has rocketed as the state grows.

The Texas legislature’s 2019 regular session began Jan. 8 and ends May 27.

Translating into Texas jobs

Texas A&M’s 2017 research spending generated $941.6 million for Texas’ economy, equivalent to supporting 10,281 jobs.

Recent Aggie research and innovations

• Improved brain cancer treatments
• Increased literacy and testing scores among Texas elementary students
• Potential solution to deadly hospital-acquired infection

Former students have been powerful advocates for Texas A&M for more than a century. Association donors help support advocacy, news and awareness efforts. You can lend financial support here at tx.ag/give.