Toureilles’s House District includes Bee County.
Rep. Toureilles is the first woman to preside over the agriculture committee. The committee has played a historic and vital role in the economic development of the state, according to a statement e-mailed to the media.
The committee oversees the following state agencies: Texas Department of Agriculture, the Animal Health Commission, the Office of Rural Community Affairs, the State Soil and Water Conservation Board, the Texas Agrilife Research, Texas Agrilife Extension Service, the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and the Board of Directors of the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation. These agencies provide millions of dollars to rural areas for farming and ranching projects along with millions of dollars for infrastructure to rural communities.
Toureilles said, “I want to thank Speaker Straus for his confidence in me to lead such an important committee. With over $90 billion generated from the food and fiber system, the agriculture industry plays a vital role in the state’s economy and leads the nation in the production of many agricultural products.”
The representative also was appointed to her third term on the powerful Energy Resources Committee. The committee has jurisdiction over the Railroad Commission, which overseas the state’s oil and gas industry, pipeline safety, gas utilities, and surface coal and uranium mining.
Toureilles said, “I am looking forward to continuing my work on the Energy Resources Committee. As the nation looks toward becoming an energy independent nation, Texas will play a more significant role in the energy policies for the nation. The constituents of District 35 now have a stronger voice in the state’s two largest industries, agriculture and energy, because of the state representative’s service on both influential committees.”
Toureilles encourages her constituents to contact her and her staff by calling toll-free at 1-800-240-2294.