#3 - Rep. Claudia Ordaz: Advancing Texas Infrastructure & Community Empowerment

Welcome back to Bills and Business, Texas Legislative News. I'm your host, Laura Carr, and extremely excited to have our guest today, Representative Claudia Ordaz. Welcome. Rep.Ordaz, Rep. Ordaz has been a key player in the Texas House since 2020? So Rep. Ordaz a Texas Democrat known for her bipartisan work and her dedication to the Texas Economic Development and health care.

He recently returned from Mexico City, where she witnessed the inauguration of Mexico's first female president. And today we'll be discussing the unique opportunities between Texas and a border state. Her vision for economic development and her ability to work across party lines in the legislature. So welcome. Thank you for having me. I'm so excited. Very so happy you're doing this.

Thank you. We need we need more of these fun conversations. I mean, it could just, you know, you know, how the world is. And so we need more of this. So I'm really happy you're doing. Thank you so much. Well, I'm so happy you're here. And you made it back from all of your travels and Florida just now. So are you okay if you make it back off?

It's like surviving, not thriving. No. I'm just, you know, I'm I'm. I'm blessed. To be back in Texas. It was a it was a whirlwind. No pun intended. I just came back from Florida. My mother, is is living there part time, and, you know, they just they just, suffered through a tremendous storm, another hurricane, just back to back.

But everybody's safe and sound. Everybody's good. Thankfully. But it was, it was quite scary to to kind of see it all and then for sure. But right before that, it was an incredible trip. Yes. I'm in Mexico City, so we're still all just reeling through it. It was an exhausting trip, but it was a very productive one, so I'm so hopeful and excited about the future with Mexico and Texas and lots of good things.

Excited to chat more about it today with you, and I'm glad your family is is okay in Florida. I know. Yeah, our thoughts and prayers are with everybody there right now. So really, really do appreciate that. But yeah, let's start with your trip to Mexico in general. Like how was that seeing the First Female get inaugurated? It's amazing.

You know, it was the energy. It was incredible. Just so many people there to witness such a historic event. And it's just hopefully we'll see some of that here. The United States where, you know, seeing this trend, the the fear schemes, at the table. No, but, Claudia, Shubham and her team are just phenomenal. I mean, she, she understands Mexico, of course, but she also understands the relationship with Texas and the United States.

And her team is just impeccable and phenomenal. And so I've heard her speak several times, about just that partnership with Texas. She understands that she gets it. And so this is just a prime opportunity for Texas. It really is for us to kind of do that reset, that we need, when it comes to Mexico and our relationships with with them, I mean, we we would not be the economic powerhouse today if it were not for Mexico.

But Tab, I mean, they just they just ran us to the ground. I mean, I, we, I think back to back to back meetings, but great meetings with key stakeholders, all across energy, you name it, at the industry with government leaders, to really just get a good understanding and a forecast of what it's going to look like in the future.

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So it was great to have the best delegation there. It was close to like 50 of us that went, and so I'm so glad people got to see Mexico in a different light other than just a border wall, if that makes sense. So it was just it was just, so productive. So I'm so thankful to the Texas Association of Business and all the work that they did to bring that delegation there.

We had by far the best delegation because we're Texas, of course. Of course. Exactly. So speaking of the border, you represent El Paso. Yeah. Which is, a very large and expansive, we call it God's country. Nice. I need to come down and visit. I really want to come to. I have to take you to Lucas's outlet. Yes.

They are in my district. Yeah. So I will take you there. They, We have the outlet there. So you can get boots at a really good, really good deal. It's so dangerous for me. That is dangerous. But I love that. So, Yeah. Tell me a little bit more. You have, you know, your home district to Fort Bliss, which is the second largest military base to, New Mexico in the US.

And so it sits right on the border there. So El Paso is kind of that unique position as well, being a hub as well. So as far as kind of the key opportunities you see for growth and things for El Paso in the economy over the next years. What do you see now changing with Texas-Mexico border trade and being sitting in that position right on the border?

I think I'll Paso is just uniquely positioned. I know we're we joke because, I mean, it's just it feels like we're in another state sometimes because of how far we are. It's like a nine hour drive. And I've made that drive way too many times, with my pups and all. And it's just it's how you really shows you how vast the state of Texas is.

But. Yeah. But, you know, El Paso is really uniquely positioned. I mean, we're right next to New Mexico, throws away from Mexico. And so we call ourselves, a border plex region. We're the sixth largest city in the state of Texas, the 19th in the country. So there's a lot happening in El Paso.

But, yeah, we're in a different time zone. We have mountains, so. Yeah, but but other than that, though, we have the second largest port of entry, and in El Paso, next to Laredo. And so the trade, the relationship with Mexico is vital. And it key, and we just left the transportation hearing right now, what we're talking about, how vital it is to invest in our infrastructure to ensure that all of these goods are crossing, that we're all getting our avocados, we're all getting a no, no, no, no.

But in reality, there's so many goods. Mexico is our number one trade partner. And as I mentioned earlier, we would not be the powerhouse we are today if it were not for Mexico. So. And El Paso is at the center of it. I mean, we're growing, at a at a large pace, like the, like the whole state of Texas.

And so we really need to talk about real policy solutions on how we're going to help keep that trade alive. And what we're going to be doing to ensure that we're going to make both of our countries prosperous for for the future. Right. And Texas, Mexico have such deep roots tied together culturally, economically. What kind of role do you see as, you know, strengthening that Texas Mexico relationship?

Yeah. So we just coming from this Mexico City, right? There's a lot of opportunity that we can be doing together. And it really starts with just changing the narrative as well. I mean, in my honest opinion, I think it's really shortsighted that we're just so focused on a wall when there's so much more that we can be doing when it comes to our our sister in Mexico and what we're going to be doing to ensure that we're thinking about the future of both Texas and Mexico and our kids and so on and so forth.

But it really starts with good policy, ensuring that we're providing the right resources in the right place to ensure that goods are crossing faster, people are crossing faster. I mean, it's it's to me, it's a common sense policy, solution on what we can, what we can be doing, when it comes to energy infrastructure, water infrastructure together, and especially after Covid, I mean, we had, so many businesses are still suffering and hurt.

And now you're seeing a lot of these companies trying to, we call it nurturing French hiring, trying to bring their companies closer to home. And when you look at the border, it's just it's a prime place for that. Texas is a business friendly state. We welcome people with open arms, and especially along the border community, when you have these major ports of entry six just in El Paso alone.

Like I said, the second largest next to Laredo. And so down south. And so there's a lot of opportunity here and there's a lot of momentum, when it comes to this. So I'm hopeful that we're going to continue this conversation in the coming session. I feel very good about it. And to be being, really at the center of it and really helping drive those discussions and the narrative.

And I love that. And you mentioned, you know, good policy. So one of those, pieces was a bill that you passed last session was made in Texas. Bill. So one fun thing we do is we want to show some clips here of last session. And so your bill, HB 2194, I'm going to play here. When it did pass on the floor.

Let's take a look. The chair recognizes Miss Ordaz to explain the bill.

Mr. speaker, members, we're going to try to liven up the mood in this chamber. Ladies, what do we say? How much is that it? That's it. I think you're supposed to pass. Okay. Thank you, thank you. All products that are made in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Ohio and Virginia all have labeling standards as citizens. No, they are buying items that are genuinely made in those states.

It's time that we do the same in Texas. This legislation will create a made in Texas labeling standard when the maturity of a product is made in Texas, this bill will allow Texans to easily recognize and support products like our sentence, our Stetson hats here, and our Lou Casey boots. And this will bring enthusiasm and excitement for our state products, for our small and large businesses.

It will not cost any state funds and will bring even more Texas pride to our products. Member. As I move passage, the question occurs on pass immigration is B21 on four. All in favor say aye. Opposed? Nay. The ayes have it HB two one non force passing harassment I love this clip I love us spiced up. Was this in April.

That's when things were a little tense. Yeah. So I was we go out there and our hats and that was Doc Anderson's hat and and Cecil Bell's and so no, you cannot wear hats on the House floor. It is it is forbidden and is not a thing. And so you just see here just going around like, what is going on, take those hats off.

And we just blamed it on on Metcalf. We're like the chairman said we could do it. And there is like in getting scolding. But it's those moments that are just so special. But that's the majority of the work that we do in Texas is this bipartisan fashion, this this is what the Texas House of Representatives is. And so for the for the most part, right.

And so, it's hard when you see things get kind of bogged down and polarized. You know, topics that that can divide us as a, as members. So those are the good times. I that that's a lot more than you think. Tell us a little bit more about the bill. How does it help Texas businesses?

I'm a Texas business as well. Would love to get a made in Texas label. You would like to. Yeah. And that's the whole thing right? Is so we have so much pride. And just as I mentioned in there, I mean, there all these other states have this labeling standard. I'm like and when Christina and I, we're, we're going over this where like, how does Texas not have one.

That's insane. I mean, you, you know how excited exciting the made in the USA one is. But I still think Texas has even more pride than that. And so it's just it's just a it's a good it's just a good, incentive for small businesses for, you know, micro-businesses large businesses, to really take pride in, in what they're doing to be a Texan and having the majority of our products made in Texas.

So it's exciting. And you hear the governor saying it all the time, you know, it's just a thing it made in Texas. So we're very proud of it. So that's one of the that's one of the fun bills. That was that was a good one there. Yeah. What's been the response from, you know, small businesses and manufacturers. Oh yeah.

They're just like ready. They're like how do we get this? What are we going to do. So it's being deployed by the governor's office. And so under their economic development department. And so there's this is just excited. So I'm I'm really looking forward to how it's going to how it's all going to play out. So good Bill I'm very excited about it I love it.

Yeah. Made in Texas over here. So, you have a great reputation of being able to work across party lines. So, you know, as a Democrat in Texas, working with Republicans, having, you know, authors, joint authors, how, how do you think, you know, you've got to this point and do this so. Well? Yeah, I mean, it's we are the one piece of advice that I was given is like, don't get married to your bills because they'll they're going to die.

And the first thing I did was practically was I felt like I was married to these bills. So. And it's not just me, it's it's our entire team in our office. So we're very we try to be very strategic about a whole slew of things, try to think of things that you wouldn't think of because when we hear, oh, it's a common sense, Bill, that there's no such thing.

And it's it's just it is very difficult to pass a bill. And being a Democrat, too, it could be it can be difficult during these times. So we try our best and we really we're really thoughtful on who we ask to be part of it, understanding people's passions and backgrounds because that's, that's really what it is.

At the end of the day, it's just it's all about relationships. And I consider us a family. And the Texas house dysfunctional sometimes we all have our our our nuts. All of us. We're all we're all a little crazy, but it is like a big family. And so it's just important to see people beyond just, you know, if you're a Democrat or a Republican, we're all we're all, you know, we all have lives back home.

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I'll have stories to tell. And so it's just it's great to actually get to know my colleagues just aside from politics. Right. And so we all have more things in common than you would think. And so especially on bills like Made in Texas, I mean, you saw Chairwoman Button up there with me. I forgot who the the joint authors were on that bill with me, but I think the majority of them were Republican.

And the same thing on the, on the on the Senate side, it was, oh, yeah. Chairmen, chairmen, Hughes. And so it was just it was a good it was just a really good bill. And even when it comes to women's health care, you can find commonality is I mean, we passed the only contraception, bill last legislative session.

That was a very difficult bill to pass. But again, it's just those measures and those those policies, good policies that make sense. And so Senator Paxton was a big help for us on on the Senate side. And we're so grateful and thankful to that bill. Is now a lot of day and helping so many women, especially rural women, that just they just need their, their contraception.

It's just it's just it's it was one of those comments on schools. But we do that a lot and that's one of them. So I love that. So what advice would you give to, you know, new members coming in on the, on the Democrat side and this really polarized time, right. An election year, presidential election year. What advice would you give them?

So every, session we try to get, me and colleague, Republican Holly, we try to get, you know, freshmen together, in a bipartisan nature. So last session, it was, Shelby Slawson and I, and we just really kind of just sit down and have, you know, get to know people and really just try to talk them through the process because it's so different the moment you just walk into the building and you're not just on Twitter and, you know, behind a screen and you're able to see people face to face and it's like, okay, these people aren't evil.

Like, you know, they were just, you know, yeah. You see them on social media. Exactly. And so I think once you get into the building, just kind of a lot of that changes. And then you start just figuring out how important it is that we all need each other. I mean, we can't it can't just be one side or the other.

We have to come together. That's the only way we're going to get the business done of the state. And so, you people coming in, we'll will realize that at some point because you're not going to pass anything and then you can't deliver anything for your constituents. So it's just let's put the Partizan politics aside, you know, and let's just get to business.

And so I think that's that will be learned for for a lot of folks coming in. We all we all go through it. So that's a great way to look at it. Working working together. Yeah. We have to. What are you most excited about? For this coming session? I am very excited about people are like, are you like, they're like, you know, are we are we excited?

I'm like, I'm very excited about next session. We're we have just our office, has just a lot of momentum coming off from last session. And we're just excited about about our legislative agenda, the work that we're doing on, you know, economic development. Just when it comes to workforce development, early childhood education, women's health, there's a lot of momentum that we're still filling from last session.

And yes, there's a lot of politics at play, but I feel very good about it. I know we're going to be strong, in the house. And so, we'll come together once we get the speaker politics aside, and we just have to get to work. And I'm very I'm just I'm thrilled about it. So, we'll see how it goes.

People are like, really? Are we really? So it's been continuing. We've had a two year session. It feels actually so very cool. Long, long term. What are some of your constituents most excited for you to accomplish? Yeah. So back home it's jobs, jobs, jobs, workforce development jobs jobs. You know. So those are the sixth largest city in the state of Texas.

At one point, I mean, we were exporting more young talent than any other major city in the nation. Wow. Yeah it was it will pass El Paso Sterling. And so it's it's not it's not good for us. And so what I kept hearing was a common theme for at least El Paso. Of course, like, entertainment, you know, quality of life, you know, good schools, and of course, jobs.

And so I'm always thinking in that, in looking at the legislature through that lens is how we're going to provide more jobs, you know, for not only Texans, but, of course, El Pasoans to retain as much talent as we possibly can. And so we are a hub for manufacturing. I mean, we're the number five, in the nation.

And so we're providing a lot of those jobs. Like I was talking earlier about all the French rain. You're showing a lot of companies moving to Texas, but to El Paso. Right. And so that we have a lot of land, it's vast. And then we have an incredible workforce. And so I'm really just centered around that on how we can ensure that we're tying all of this when it comes to education, like I said, workforce development, and ensuring that we're doing all that we can to to create really a quality of life for our for our constituents in El Paso.

I love that so many people I know have to move to a larger city to get that opportunity, like myself. So I definitely think that's there's some beauty in having, you know, it's all here. You can stay here. You don't have to leave and leave your family. Right. And more people are moving here like, Austin was like 180 people.

A day. I mean, you can see it, I mean, I'm sure it's worse now, but it was it's it's like we're happy to take Californians. Everybody. Everybody just coming to Texas. Yeah. Everyone's coming. It's it's fine. It's good. So we were talking about kind of economic opportunity in El Paso. What are your, you know, top priorities in that realm this next year.

Yeah. So we're we're gosh, it's such an already I feel I'm just, I'm getting anxiety right now just having this conversation. It's right around the border. And so I know we've been working this entire year already developing our legislative agenda on what that's what that's going to look like for next session. I told you, we're very methodical and thoughtful about what we what we propose, because we like to work on legislation that we know has a standing chance in passing.

And so we, we focus on good policy. I think we have all the best bills. Of course. I'm just kidding. No, but we really do. So we are we are very excited about our legislative agenda. Of course, it's going to be focused around economic development. I'm so thankful that I'm a vice chair of I read it's international relations, economic development, and I serve with Chairwoman Button and so we've been having a lot of really great policy discussions during the interim on how we're tying, economic development to workforce development and also early early childhood education.

Easy. And it's all interconnected. And so it's is this is unprecedented because this is the first time a speaker has put early childhood education part of the interim charges. So we're thrilled. We're so excited that we're now having these discussions. And the advocates in this area are just thrilled. I mean, we had one of the best hearings just going over so many policy solutions on what we can, what we can do in this area because it's all connected.

If we don't have if we don't have success in SEC, we're not going to have success in the future. And we need to start thinking about that and start bridging that. And so when you think about early childhood education, you don't really think about, workforce development, but they go hand in hand. So I'm excited about this, this area.

We're going to do some work and in this, in this, field. So we're really excited about it. Because it's just something that is long overdue. Long overdue. So I'm thankful to the speaker and his leadership for doing that. And Chairwoman Button, she's a she's passionate about these issues. And we're of course, going to focus on, something in women's health.

It's just something that's so important. Yeah. There's so many women that, need the support, especially after the, you know, everything that happened in the law of the land in the state of Texas. So women and families need that support. So we're going to continue doing that. And of course, economic development. So we're all excited. Amazing I love it.

So as a female in the workforce, obviously kind of childcare, those types of issues are very important when it comes to economic opportunity. Is that unfortunately. And that's a that's a great question because when you're when you look at places like El Paso and this are happening all across the state of Texas, I mean, we have childcare deserts all all across the state of Texas, and especially in El Paso.

And we just got some really interesting data as far as what's what is it look like, a post-Covid world? I mean, we're still suffering through it. And when you look at the data, when it when you're looking at our workforce, I mean, we're struggling, we're seeing more women leaving the workforce. And, and you look at higher education, more women are now choosing not to continue their studies.

And the common theme is lack of childcare. You have a lot of folks, you know, that work odd hours in the healthcare industry. We have a we have a booming health care industry in El Paso, people who work, you know, difficult hours between six into the evening. And when they're looking for childcare options, there aren't any.

So it's just they're people are just desperate. Families are desperate to find just those, those, that support to ensure that their children are going to be taken care of. But but unfortunately lands a lot on a lot on women. And they end up having to stay home. And so it's hurting us. It's becoming just a vicious cycle.

One thing after the other. Compounding on each other. And we're looking at trends. They look very dangerous if we don't address this one issue. So we need to talk about after our care. We need to address these childcare deserts to ensure that we're going to give families the support that they need. And so, I just did a tour recently with one with one of our childcare centers and no joke, they're about to close their doors in about a month because they're just not getting the proper funding.

There's a waitlist thousands upon thousands of families that are on this waitlist to get their kids, their children into these facility. And these are great centers, amazing centers. They're not daycare centers. I mean, these are they're they're just they're we call, early childhood education. These are childcare education centers. And, and it's just it's so disheartening to see that, they just don't have the support that they need.

I mean, they want to, but it's just their salaries. We need to work on proper salaries. There's so many there's a slew of things that we can be doing in this area. And so I know this this conversation will continue this session. And I'm just so thankful and grateful that that will continue this session, grateful for working on those things, especially for a female in the workforce.

That's right, I love that. So you did mention your relationship with with speaker feeling and, would you want to elaborate on that, any predictions of what's going to happen this next session or want to talk more about this? I'm team did I am very confident data is going to be our next speaker. I mean, it's just, we we need stability and in the house, coming off some and talking to a lot of my colleagues, I mean, I have I have friends on both sides of the aisle on the left and the right, and everybody's coming off some difficult primaries.

I understand, I get it, it's difficult, but we're all here. We want our races, and now it's time to get to business. And so when you look at data and even just, as we were talking earlier about him, started off as a staffer and he understands the process, he's been through it. And we know what data leadership looks like.

If we were to think of what the alternative would be, what is that? It's just unknown. It's scary. We want to be able to ensure that we're all going to be delivering for our districts at the end of the day, and it's and that each member of the House has a place and a role, whereas the alternative is like there is there is only one party and that's it.

But that doesn't that's not the way the house works. We all need each other to, to get business done. And so it's we are we are bipartisan at heart. And data is all about that. And every member has has a key role and he respects it and understands it and he understands our districts. That's key. You know, when I when I talk to him about, you know, he can list the priorities that are important to El Paso just off the top of his head.

And he can do that for every member in the House. And so that says a lot about his leadership. So I'm I don't even think it's just, but I get it. I understand we're going to have to go through it, through all of this, through all the steps. But at the end of the day, I'm very confident it'll be, speaker feeling.

Well, it has been an absolute pleasure having you on the show, and we like to keep it fun here. So what is maybe just a fun thing that people don't really know about you that you'd like to share? Yeah. No. So as I was talking about earlier, I feel like, you know, I have a kind of, like, a different vibe, you know, in the legislature, because of the fact that I started off as a legislative staffer, and we just we're just we're just made different, I feel.

I mean, we just have a better understanding of the process, that it's not just me, me, me, me, it's us. It's a team. And so I value, my call. Christina. She's my chief. I call her my boss. More of my work life. We're we're a team, in this. And we're in this together. And I served in the Senate.

And did feel in it was a, staffer at the same time with Tommy Williams. So it was just how cool fun it is. It's crazy that we now come full circle. Now we're now we're here. And so now you're working to our. Now we're working together. That is going to give you a definite edge. And I know being a staffer totally different ballgame to you I'm sure now your position that you're in.

So absolutely I'm I'm excited and I'm it's it's a it's an honor to serve a great feeling. When we were staffers and now in the house. So thank you again for joining us. It's been a pleasure having you. Yeah. We like I mentioned, love to have you back. Shout shout yourself out. Yes. And everyone find you.

Well, I'm on social, so find me on Instagram. Claudia does for Texas. You can reach out to me, follow me. And when people reach out, I'm always on Instagram, so you can find me there in a Facebook. So please find me. That's. That's great.

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