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Hi John,
This edition of the Bucy Bulletin begins with an important update around COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus, in Williamson County and Texas. In addition to the information provided, there are links to learn more from state and local authorities as well as resources about preventing the spread of the disease.
This edition of our monthly newsletter will also cover community events, discuss legislative activity over the Interim, and highlight our Artist of the Month.
I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve you, House District 136, and the people of Texas. Please do not ever hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or comments or if there is anything my office can do for you.
All the best,
John Bucy III
State Representative
Texas House District 136
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
Texas is undertaking phased re-openings for non-essential businesses, with Phase III now underway. This means businesses may now operate at 50 percent capacity, including bars, amusement parks, and carnivals, while restaurants may expand their capacity to 75 percent. All businesses and services are subject to the recommended minimum standard health protocols outlined by DSHS.
As Texas begins to re-open we are seeing a spike of positive cases and hospitalizations in Central Texas and in Williamson County. It is imperative to take caution and make informed decisions around what is best for your health and the safety of your family. If you have to leave your home, you should wear a mask in addition to practicing good hygiene and social distancing such as washing your hands, not touching your face, and maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others before, during, and after any trip.
The Williamson County and Cities Health District is continuing to open more testing sites. These testing locations are free and open to the public, but an online screening is required to set an appointment so that residents in the most need can be prioritized. Private testing sites also continue to become available. You can find a list of nearby locations here as well as contact information in order to find out availability and protocols.
For a full list of state, county, and local resources or to view the latest updates and pertinent information, please reference our HD 136 Coronavirus Resources & Updates Guide.
MOBILE BLOOD DRIVE - JUNE 19
Join us for a Mobile Blood Drive benefitting We Are Blood on Friday, June 19th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Bloodmobile will be in the parking lot at our District Office, located at 3016 Polar Ln, Cedar Park, TX 78613.
In order to ensure the safety of donors and staff, appointments will be spaced 15 minutes apart, with only one appointment per time slot. All donors are required to wear a mask. Donation slots are filled first come, first serve. Sign up today to give blood and save a life.
WILCO FORWARD GRANT PROGRAM
Williamson County recently approved an additional $10 Million in funding for WilCo Forward. For-profit and non-profit businesses headquartered and located in Williamson County with less than 100 employees may be eligible to received up to $30,000 in grant funds to mitigate impacts from COVID-19.
Applications will be considered and funded in the order of receipt, until funds are exhausted. Don't delay! Learn more and apply today: https://www.wilco.org/forward.
The amount a business can receive will be based on the percentage of closure the business experienced during the COVID-19 Stay Home Stay Safe order:
Business operations completely closed can get 100% of eligible grant
Business operations partially closed can get 75% of eligible grant
Business operations that stayed open can get 50% of eligible grant
WORKFORCE COMMISSION
If your employment has been affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), you can apply for benefits either online at any time using Unemployment Benefits Services or by calling the Texas Workforce Commission’s Tele-Center at 800-939-6631 from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Central Time, seven days a week, Sunday through Saturday. Due to high call volume, Texans are encouraged to use the TWC online claim portal to file or check on their claim.
If you need help navigating the TWC or unemployment process or if you are having problems with your claim, please reach out to our office at 512-463-0696 or [email protected]. We may be able to provide additional assistance.
The TWC recently advised unemployment insurance claimants with concerns about returning to work work due to COVID-19 that reasons such as being high risk, having a family member who is high risk, or lack of child care would be accepted for continuing to receive benefits without returning to work. You can learn more here. All other situations will be subject to a case by case view based on individual circumstances.
FOOD & WELLNESS PROGRAM
Our Food & Wellness Program continues, with over 25,000 meals served. Working with Hill Country Community Ministries (HCCM), we are making weekly deliveries of food to seniors and people with disabilities in House District 136.
We do anticipate some changes to the program moving forward in conjunction with the advice and requirements from HCCM. All program participants will be notified and updated as that happens.
COMMUNITY EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
Teacher Appreciation Day: I'm so grateful to the teachers of Leander ISD and Round Rock ISD for everything they do for our children. Education is the foundation of our society and Texas' teachers are the cornerstone.
Voting Letter: Every Texas voter must be able to vote safely and securely without jeopardizing their health! That’s why I joined my colleagues in calling on Gov. Abbott to expand Vote By Mail and ensure in person voting can be conducted as safely as possible for both poll workers and voters.
#IRunWithMaud: Our team walked and ran 2.23 miles in honor of Ahmaud Arbery’s 26th birthday. I encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect and to honor the life of Ahmaud Arbery by working to ensure that, truly, we provide liberty and justice to all.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: I spoke with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at a virtual Ramadan dinner. Earlier this year they celebrated their centennial with acts of service all across our country, from feeding the homeless, and planting trees, to coat drives, and volunteering at local farms.
Austin Citywide Iftar: I joined the Austin Citywide Iftar virtually to celebrate Ramadan alongside Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Mayor Sadaf Jaffer of Montgomery Township, NJ. As part of my remarks I discussed reopening Texas and civic engagement. Thanks to Emgage Action for the invitation.
Happy Mother's Day: This year Molly, Bradley, and I celebrated our first Mother's Day as a family. I also want to say happy Mother’s Day to my Mom, my sister Virginia, and all the mothers in our community! I hope everyone have a wonderful day.
Bradley's Bookshelf Continues: We continued our weekly readings from Bradley’s Bookshelf. On May 17th we read The Monster at the End of this Book, written by Jon Stone and illustrated by Michael Smollin. This was a gift from my friend Rep. James Talarico that we selected in honor of his birthday.
Virtual Town Hall: We hosted a virtual town hall with Congressman Joaquin Castro about the state and federal response to COVID-19, reopening Texas, and what constituents need to know. We also answered questions from the audience about everything from special education to the state budget and the Rainy Day Fund.
Memorial Day: This Memorial Day we commemorate those who gave their lives in service to our nation. Their names are written into the bedrock of our country and our freedom predicated on the sacrifices they made. We give our highest and eternal gratitude to those who have upheld our highest ideals, and to their families, for a debt we can never repay.
HD 136 ARTIST OF THE MONTH
Each month at our Capitol and District Offices we are so proud to display and feature work from local artists, however, due to the Coronavirus, we will be celebrating our artists virtually this month. Our May Artist of the Month was Qurrat Thakur, whose award-winning quilts of dyed mandala are titled Zaina's Starburst and Bird of Paradise.
Looking Ahead to 2021 As we prepare for the next session, we know the biggest items will be passing the biennial state budget, made a more monumental task given the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the redistricting process, which takes place every 10 years after the completion of the Census.
In addition, we must address COVID-19 relief to continue to help our families and small businesses while ensuring the supports and services that Texans are relying on now more than ever do not bear the brunt of any budget shortfalls. The pandemic further exposed and exacerbated many issues in Texas from healthcare access to voting safely and securely, to access to broadband and the ability to telecommute. We must focus on recovery as well as preventing and mitigating the impacts of a future crisis.
With the recent killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd being the latest in a long line of killings of unarmed black people by law enforcement, and locally with the killing of Javier Ambler, criminal justice reform and policing must be top priorities next session. We are working with our colleagues on listening sessions, virtual town halls, and preparing legislation to address these urgent matters. It's not enough just to say Black Lives Matter, we need to act to confront systemic racism within our society, from overt acts to covert behaviors, to the lingering oppression in our government and foundational institutions. We must eliminate discrimination caused by unjust systems and effect real changes in culture and policy outcomes.
Legislative Agenda For Local Bills Being Developed
As the Interim continues we are still working on developing our Legislative Agenda for the next session especially as it relates to local bills and ideas proposed by constituents. If you have an idea or concern, we want to hear from you! You can email Allison Heinrich, Legislative Director, at [email protected] or reach out to our office at 512-463-0696. We value your input and participation in the legislative process.
Create your TLO account An excellent way for you to keep track of what's going on is by creating a free TLO account at https://capitol.texas.gov/. On this site you can learn more about legislation and set up alerts on the bills, committees, topics, and more that interest you. TLO is a great tool to use to stay involved with the legislative process.
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