Spring events, election updates, and more.
Spring events, election updates, and more.
Howdy, Advocates!
We hope your 2022 is off to a good start. We have a number of updates to provide you in this month's newsletter.
Spring is always a busy time of year for Texas A&M and The Association of Former Students. We are looking forward to taking part in some of our most treasured traditions in the coming weeks, including Aggie Ring Day (April 7 and 8) and Muster (April 21).
Aggies on the Hill was originally scheduled to take place today, March 9. Unfortunately, after a late change to the congressional calendar, this date was no longer a viable option for the Capitol office visits. We are working closely with Texas A&M University and the Texas A&M University System to try to identify a new date later in the year for this event.
Looking forward, we are also starting our preparations for Orange and Maroon Legislative Day (OMLD) 2023. The Aggie Legislative Caucus got its first set of members for the 88th Legislature following the Texas primary elections — read on for a list of those Aggie legislators!
I am closing out this letter on a somber note. You may have read, from The Association's social media or other updates, of the passing of Kathryn Greenwade ’88, Vice President for Communications and Human Resources at The Association of Former Students, on Feb. 10 after a lengthy illness. Among her many duties and roles here at The Association, Kathryn oversaw the advocacy and legislative affairs department. She was always a key component in the planning and execution of OMLD and Aggies on the Hill, as well as countless other programs and events.
If you ever took part in these or other Association events, you likely met Kathryn and can attest to her kindness, approachability, and integrity. In addition to her well-deserved reputation as a consummate professional and a compassionate friend, Kathryn was known for her deep love for Texas A&M and Texas Aggies. She embodied the core values of Texas A&M like no other.
Her passing is a deep loss for The Association and the Aggie Network. I am immensely grateful for her friendship and mentorship, and will join thousands of Aggies around the world to call "Here" for her at Muster on April 21.
If you have not already, I encourage you to read more about Kathryn and her impact at tx.ag/KathrynGreenwade88. 
As always, I thank you for your willingness to be an advocate for Texas A&M. Please reach out anytime if you have questions or if I can otherwise be of assistance to you!
In the Aggie Spirit,
Miranda Henderson ’09
Director of Advocacy and Legislative Affairs
Representatives from The Association of Former Students wrapping up a meeting in the U.S. Capitol during Aggies on the Hill 2020.
(L to R: Porter S. Garner III ’79, President and CEO of The Association of Former Students; Dara G. Hegar ’95, Chair of the Board of The Association of Former Students; former U.S. Representative Bill Flores ’76; Cathy G. Mann ’92, former Chair of the Board; and Kathryn Greenwade ’88.)

Aggie Caucus Taking Shape for the 88th Legislature


After the tallying of votes in the Texas primary elections, we are excited to congratulate a number of Aggies who secured their seats in the 88th Texas Legislature. The following former students were either unopposed in both their primary and general elections, or won a primary election outright and are unopposed in the general:
  • Ernest Bailes '04 (HD-18, Shepherd)
  • Paul Bettencourt '80 (SD-07, Houston)
  • Cody Harris '06 (HD-08, Palestine)
  • Brian Harrison '04 (HD-10, Midlothian)
  • Richard Hayes '76* (HD-57, Denton)
  • Tracy King '83 (HD-80, Batesville)
  • Brooks Landgraf '03 (HD-81, Odessa)
  • Jared Patterson '05 (HD-106, Frisco)
  • John Raney '69 (HD-14, Bryan)
  • Cody Vasut '09 (HD-25, Angleton)
  • Gene Wu '00 (HD-137, Houston)
* - 1st term will be in 88th Legislature
Several more Aggies are set to compete in the upcoming primary runoff elections, set for May 24, and/or the November general election, set for Nov. 8. 
We thank these former students for their commitment to public service, and look forward to working with them in the 88th Legislature!
For full election results for Texas, visit the Texas Secretary of State's website. (If you are not sure of your district number following redistricting, check out this Texas Tribune tool for finding your new districts.)
If your State Representative or Senator for 2023 has been determined following the primary elections, consider reaching out to him or her to introduce yourself and start forming a relationship! We have big plans on the horizon to advocate for Texas A&M in the 88th Legislature.
U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady at the Mosbacher Institute
U.S. Representative Kevin Brady and Bush School Assistant Professor Aileen Teague discuss USMCA. (Photo provided by the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy.)

U.S. Representative Kevin Brady Speaks at the Bush School's Mosbacher Institute


On Feb. 23, the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy, housed in the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, hosted U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (TX-08) as part of its speaker series The Other Side of the Border: Ties That Bind and Issues That Divide.
As the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means  — the oldest committee in Congress and responsible for issues relating to taxes, tariffs, and reciprocal trade agreements — Representative Brady provided an invaluable insight into the negotiations of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Read more about the event and find a link to Rep. Brady's full remarks here.

Texas A&M Law Professor on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's SCOTUS Nomination


On Feb. 25, President Joe Biden nominated Appellate Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. If confirmed, Judge Jackson will be the first black woman to sit on our nation's highest court.
Texas A&M University School of Law professor Meg Penrose recently spoke on the judicial appointment process and Judge Jackson's nomination. Read the full profile to learn more about Judge Jackson and this process here.

New Construction Approved Across Texas A&M University System


The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents recently approved a number of construction projects, including $7.7 million in infrastructure improvements for the expanding RELLIS Campus in Bryan.
"These projects are just two examples of how the proceeeds of the Permanent University Fund benefit communities all over the state," said Chancellor John Sharp. "Most people never realize how their communities are helped by the PUF."
Read more about these projects and other System news here.
The Permanent University Fund, or PUF, is an important funding source for the Texas A&M University System to fund construction projects and other large expenses. Learn more about it at tx.ag/PUFTX.

Federal Update


In February, Congress passed stopgap funding to fund the federal government through March 11. As of this writing, an omnibus spending package for the remainder of the fiscal year appears to be on track for passage in the House and the Senate. The 2022 fiscal year will end on Sept. 30.
While they only received a brief mention in the remarks, the background information provided by the White House prior to President Joe Biden's first State of the Union address signaled his intention to seek an increase in maximum Pell Grant awards and expand existing institutional aid grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions to increase capabilities in high-demand fields such as STEM, nursing, and computer science.

ICYMI @ TAMU


A roundup of the headlines from Aggieland this month:
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