A Program of The Association of Former Students

Howdy, Advocates!

November brings a number of events that play a key role in the future success of Texas A&M and The Association of Former Students.

First — it is probably not news to you, as an Aggie interested in policy, that Tuesday is Election Day! If you did not already cast your ballot during Early Vote, please make sure to leave time on Tuesday to go vote.

To be an effective Advocate — whether that is for Texas A&M or any other issue — your elected officials must know that you are an active participant in the electoral process. Voting is the most important way you can impact the policy decisions made next year and beyond.

For Texas residents, visit http://VoteTexas.gov to find information on where, when and how to vote in your county.

After taking care of your vote, we hope you will join The Association of Former Students for Pass It Back Day on Nov. 8! Pass It Back Day is The Association's annual day of giving that shows the amazing power of the Aggie Network. It's also a day for us to remember that our own experiences, as students, were made possible by the former students who went before us. Now, we can "pass it back" by providing leadership and financial support to help present and future students experience Aggieland to its fullest.

The Association of Former Students has set an ambitious goal of engaging 5,000 donors on this day. Any gift, of any size, helps us reach this goal. Click here to help us on this!

Are you missing any year bars on your Century Club Plaque? On Pass It Back Day, you can also buy back a missing year bar at a 50% discount!

Generous donors have agreed to provide matching funds for various challenges that will be held on Pass It Back Day. We hope you will consider joining! Learn more about this day and check out the various challenges at tx.ag/PassItBackDay.

Over the next few months, in the lead-up to the start of the 88th Legislative Session, we will bring you frequent updates to help you become informed on the issues impacting Texas A&M. Our next Advocacy update will provide election results and information on the makeup of the Texas and U.S. legislatures for 2023.

As always, we thank you for your willingness to be an advocate for Texas A&M!

In the Aggie Spirit,

Miranda Henderson ’09
Director of Advocacy and Legislative Affairs

Save the Date for OMLD '23!

You should have received an email recently from the Texas A&M Advocacy Network about Orange and Maroon Legislative Day 2023. We hope you will make plans to join us in Austin on Wednesday, Feb. 15, for this event!

Orange and Maroon Legislative Day is a biennial event that utilizes teams of former and current students of Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin to advocate for the shared priorities of the state's two Tier 1 research universities before the Texas Legislature.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and visitor restrictions at the Texas Capitol in 2021, our last OMLD was fully virtual. We are thrilled to be back in person for 2023 and plan to make our biggest impact yet!

This event cannot happen without our dedicated Advocates and volunteers. More details will be sent soon on the exact schedule of the day and how to register. Until then, mark your calendar to join us on Feb. 15!

President Banks delivers 2022 State of the University

Earlier this fall, Texas A&M President M. Katherine Banks spoke on the State of the University. In this, she provided an update on the implementation of the university's administrative reorganization plan, The Path Forward. She also spoke on the current and planned initiatives for the university, including the plan to hire over 500 faculty members over the next four years and increase investments into building and facility improvements on campus.

President Banks also touched on a major challenge facing higher education:

"Nationally, there is an undercurrent of dissatisfaction — even suspicion — among the public about universities. Surveys have shown that only half of American adults believe universities have a positive effect on the nation. This is worrisome."

On this subject, advocacy is key in dispelling this notion. No one can better demonstrate the importance of higher education, and especially the positive impact that Texas A&M has on our nation, state, communities and families, than an Aggie Advocate.

President Banks spoke to this as well:

"We must demonstrate to the country what a great American university can do to improve the lives of every American. We cannot afford to be casual about how the public sees us. No university can."

Watch the 2022 State of the University and find the full transcript of President Banks' remarks here.

Rep. Greg Bonnen ’88 and Rep. Brian Harrison ’04 attend Distinguished Alumni Gala

The 2022 Distinguished Alumni Gala was held on Friday, Sept. 16. This event honors the Aggies who have achieved the highest award bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University — the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

We were excited to be joined at this event by two members of the Aggie Legislative Caucus. Representative Greg Bonnen ’88 and his wife Mrs. Kim Bonnen, and Representative Brian Harrison ’06 and his wife Mrs. Tara Harrison, spent the evening with us and enjoyed a chance to catch up on the latest happenings in Aggieland.

A seasoned veteran of the Texas Legislature, Representative Bonnen is rounding out his 5th term serving in the Texas House. He is a key partner to Texas A&M as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Representative Harrison, elected to the Texas House in a special election in late 2021, is currently the newest member of the Aggie Caucus and was appointed to the House Energy Resources and Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committees for the 87th Legislature.

Representative and Mrs. Bonnen spent the weekend in Aggieland, attending the Texas A&M vs. Miami football game and the Distinguished Alumni Tribute dedication ceremony in the beautiful new Aggie Park.

Federal Update

The Lame-Duck Edition

In September, Congress passed an extension of government funding to avert a federal government shutdown. At the end of the month, both chambers were released to recess to their states and districts as the midterm elections approached.

These campaigns have dominated most of the headlines out of the legislative branch since then. Congress will reconvene after the election and spend the last two months of the year in a lame-duck session.

In recent years, however, this period of the congressional calendar has been far from slow or uneventful, and this one will be no different. Both chambers have major priorities left on their agendas, and it is expected to be an extremely busy time on Capitol Hill through Christmas or beyond:

"Thanks to hurricane relief, government spending and more, this year's lame duck is shaping us as Congress' busiest and most intense since the bipartisan 'fiscal cliff' deal inked 10 years ago after a session that stretched through the caroling season. Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) drolly predicted days filled with 'what everyone wanted to do during the Christmas holidays: watch C-SPAN." — Politico

Among the most important issues to address is funding the government beyond the current Dec. 16 stop-date. Fiscal Year 2023 funding levels still need to be determined by both House and Senate appropriations committees before the spending package can get across the finish line.

The Senate began debate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in October, after it passed the House in July. This is an annual must-pass piece of legislation that sets the annual budget and expenditures for the Department of Defense for the next year. The NDAA legislation is known to attract unrelated, end of year amendments that lawmakers hope to attach the final package.

As with any lame-duck session, there will be calls from all ends of the political spectrum to pass high-profile legislation. Some of the bills most likely to enter the debate include the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, a Big Tech antitrust bill and more.

The Texas A&M Advocacy Network is one of the many programs supported by donors to The Association of Former Students.
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The Association of Former Students
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840 United States

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