Senator
Eliot Shapleigh was a guest speaker at the Pearson Forum on Feb. 3.
During the open forum the Senator put a great amount of emphasis on
the Texas Tech Medical School project expected to open fall of 2009.
In addition to the four-year institution, Shapleigh also highlighted
the importance of a Fort Bliss expansion. This expansion brings forth
the need for larger hospitals in the “Sun City” to service
the military families that are expected to arrive in the coming months.
According to The Five M’s, a booklet written by Shapleigh, doctors
are not evenly distributed throughout Texas, with the Hispanic-dominated
West Texas, including El Paso, facing the greatest shortage in health
professionals. “A four-year, fully funded medical school is
crucial to making the medical center of the Americas a reality,”
said Shapleigh.
State
Senator Eliot Shapleigh talks
about his Five M’s booklet.
Photo
by Nathan Coleman
As
of right now, the cost for the medical school stands at $43.8 million.
In addition to the importance of the school, Shapleigh focused on
the importance of The five M’s which are Medicine, Military,
Movement, Manufacturing and Mexico.
Shapleigh stated in his booklet that Medicine symbolizes a medical
center of the Americas opening its doors to 100 medical students who
will soon be known as the hemisphere’s best doctors in Hispanic
health.
Shapleigh referred to the armed forces as a, “crown jewel”
for the Department of Defense.
Movement is the Regional Mobility Authority (RMA), to study, evaluate,
design, finance, acquire, construct, maintain, repair and operate
public transportation projects. Manufacture the manufacturing of industry,
that creates jobs and Mexico is the trade of banks and international
finance.
“Something has to be done about the economy so it can help the
elderly keep their money in El Paso,” said Sandra Ayala, a student
at EPCC.
The medical school project went before the Senate six times. The term
“base budget” is determined when the proposed budget gets
both House and Senate approval.
The Fort Bliss expansion is expected to reach $250 million. The expected
expansion in El Paso brings the need for new schools. Nine new schools
will be constructed.
Another significant topic discussed at the forum was the importance
of the RMA since several important projects fall under this plan.
One of these projects is the Southern Relief Route, which will make
Loop 375 and the Anthony Gap into a tunnel that will cost the city
$8 million.
Shapleigh said in order for the voices of El Paso to be heard in Austin,
there has to be more community involvement.
