Sen. Hinojosa receives Extension in the City Award at Advancing Texas event
McALLEN — Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa has received the Extension in the City Award from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
The award was presented to Hinojosa by Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp at the Advancing Texas event held recently at the Texas A&M Higher Education Center in McAllen.
Advancing Texas is a statewide initiative led by Partick Stover, Ph.D, vice-chancellor, dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The Advancing Texas initiative provides information on the intersections of agriculture, health best practices and research.
The Extension in the City Award was given in recognition of Hinojosa’s leadership in and support of Texas A&M’s Urban Programs, particularly the Healthy South Texas program.
“I have known Sen. Hinojosa for a long time, and his dedication to his district and to Texas is legendary,” Sharp said. “His leadership and support have been vital to the success of Texas A&M AgriLife programs and other efforts of The Texas A&M University System.”
According to a news release from the senator’s office, as vice-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Hinojosa was instrumental in securing funding for Texas A&M AgriLife, including nearly $30 million for the Healthy South Texas program.
Healthy South Texas is the pilot program of Healthy Texas, a statewide effort by Texas A&M AgriLife to reduce the highest impact diseases such as diabetes, infectious diseases and asthma – as well as their associated health and financial consequences throughout a 27-county area of South Texas.
The program was launched in 2015 after Hinojosa secured $10 million in funding during the 84th Texas Legislature.
To date, Healthy South Texas has benefited thousands of Texans and saved millions of dollars in direct and long-term medical costs.
“Under the leadership of Chancellor Sharp and Dr. Stover, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has made significant investments in improving Texans’ lives,” Hinojosa said. “I am honored to be recognized for my support of their vision. Together, we are creating solutions that improve the health and well-being of our families.”
Hinojosa said establishing and expanding the Healthy South Texas program has been a priority of his over the last three legislative sessions.
“The pilot program has shown tremendous results in terms of improving health outcomes and reducing medical costs in South Texas,” he said.
