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House Redistricting met on October 13 to discuss SB 6 (Huffman), the congressional district plan. It was voted out of committee without amendments. Part one of the hearing can be found here and part two can be found here. SB 6 was voted out of committee with no amendments (8-6).

 

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Opening Comments

  • Hunter – Intent to vote out the bill at the end of the hearing; will consider amendments after public testimony

 

SB 6 (Huffman) (PLANC2135) Relating to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Texas

  • Hunter – Overviews the map; 2 new congressional seats added in Travis and Harris Counties

 

Spotlight on Public Testimony

Cyrus Reed, Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club – Against

  • Sierra club members focus on climate change plans, flood districts, etc.
  • The bill does not protect these communities of interest
  • CD13; what does the Panhandle have to do with Wise and Denton Counties
    • Those in the Panhandle should be with each other
  • Suggest re-drowning in the DFW area 4, 5, 6 and re-think districts 7, 8, and 9
  • Travis County has been split up; should throw out this map
  • S Thompson – Do you deal with air quality, deal with communities with concrete batch plants?
    • Yes
    • S Thompson – Will contact you offline
  • Anchia and Reed discuss air quality policy representation

 

Bill King, Self – Against

  • There are 4 million new Texans of color who are young and in urban areas
  • This map does not reflect that change; increases power of those who are older and Anglo in rural areas
  • Feel confident that public testimony will not change your vote; should be ashamed of yourself

 

Jessica Weldon, Battleground Texas and Self – Against

  • This has been an unnecessary rushed hearing and opaque process
  • Will further political gains at the expense of Texans
  • S Thompson – Opportunity to testify in the Senate?
    • No, did not
  • S Thompson – What do you think inhibits public testimony?
    • Was in the gallery yesterday when I heard about the hearing; notes not enough time to register
  • Anchia – Share your frustration

Ashley Chang, Texas AAPI Redistricting Coalition and Self – Against

  • Would have appreciated more notice for this hearing
  • Asian American hate crimes have increased over the past year and a half
    • Provides an anecdote of hate crimes in Texas and other parts of the U.S.
  • Avery Ranch has a sizable Asian American community; has been cut in half between CD37 and CD10, is voter dilution
  • An anti-Asian American hate resolution in congress was voted against 20 White representatives from Texas; why representation is important
  • Is not possible to draw these maps race blind
  • S Thompson – Speak more on the alleged voter dilution
    • Is important for us to have an impact study on minority communities
    • Fort Bend, Travis County, Williamson County; asks those Asian American communities are represented fairly
  • S Thompson – Are even currently unable to get your community’s issues addressed? Plan will not make representation better?
    • Correct; language access is difficult, are life and death consequences
    • Map makes representation worse
  • S Thompson – How does this effect Harris County?
    • Sugarland alone is split between CDs 7, 9, and 22
  • S Thompson and Chang discuss the disadvantages for the AAPI community to testify
  • C Turner – Fair to say that many did not find out about this hearing on time?
    • Correct; notes issues with getting a translator for certain participants
  • Jetton – Represent Sugarland, would like you to have feedback to my office
  • Ramos – What are thoughts in relation to those in the San Antonio area?
    • Will have to get back to you on that

 

Ruei Tuo, Self – Against

  • Resident of Fort Bend County; overviews the difficulties in testifying virtually
  • Fort Bend County is being split into three different congressional districts
  • Asian Americans in this area want their voices heard
  • Are lumped together with Matagorda County, there is no similarities with that community
  • These maps are a power grab; this map is a disgrace
  • S Thompson – How is this map a mistake?
    • Asian American communities have been packed into CDs 7, 8 and another
    • Should stay in one district so our voices can have the proper weight
  • C Turner and Tuo discuss the difficulties for those to testify

 

Stephanie Swanson, League of Women Voters of Texas and Self – Against

  • Reiterates the lack of notice for this hearing
  • Disappointed with Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green being pitted together
  • S Thompson – Aware of the lead poisoning in that area of Harris? Is a problem along with the concreate batch plants among other things
    • Huffman noted that she would draw Lee back into her district, but the district has been dismantled
  • S Thompson – Underpopulation in CD18?
    • Could have been; cannot speak on specifics
    • S Thompson – CD18 did not lose population neither did CD9, both had sufficient population to stand on their own; do not know why this many have been done other to reduce the number of Democrats going to Washington

 

Robert Appel, Self – Against

  • Resident of CD32; proposed map would be in CD24 in Tarrant County
  • Plan has thrown out communities of interest and compactness
  • Maps will cost millions in litigation and will create further distrust in the election process

 

Devan Allen, Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 2

  • Did not testify

 

Pam Durham, Self – Against

  • A precinct chair, have been a poll worker and elections official
  • Worked with the Census as well in Tarrant and Dallas County
  • Did not have time to prepare for this hearing; virtual sign-up is convoluted
  • Had issues with submitting testimony in the portal
  • Districts are not compact and do not keep communities of interest together
  • Overviews maps they have drawn for the areas of Denton, Tarrant and Dallas Counties
  • C Turner – Tarrant County would ideally have how many districts?
    • Would be about 2.25 districts; are currently 7
  • C Turner – SE Tarrant County, Arlington, Grand Prairie, and Mansfield are in 3 districts based in other parts of the state?
    • Correct; CD25 includes Arlington and many other counties that stretches out 160 miles
  • C Turner – Arlington, Collins, Arkansas are geographically compact, but has 4 congressional districts?
    • Do not know why other than to ensure minority communities are split up

 

Gina Castañeda, Republican National Hispanic Assembly and Self – Against

  • Resident of Bexar County and San Antonio
  • Is no community of interest drawn in San Antonio; split across CDs 20, 35 and 23
  • RGV is split across several congressional districts; area is turning red, and conservatives in this area need to be represented
    • The same with El Paso
  • Minjarez – What time did you hear about this hearing?
    • About 8 p.m. last night
  • Minjarez – Have proposed maps? What have you proposed for San Antonio?
    • San Antonio and the RGV need at least one whole district each
  • Minjarez – Congressional maps split up the south side of San Antonio?
    • Yes; is difficult to know who the representative is
    • What does downtown San Antonio have in common with Austin
    • Southside SA needs educational funding; especially from the federal level

Congressman Al Green, U.S. House District 6 – Against

  • Favorable of a map that will be presented by S Thompson; believes it is PLANC2131
  • CD9 and CD18 did not need “major surgery” they were already close to optimum population
  • Puts two members of color of the same political party in the same congressional district
  • “International District” in CD9 has been split between CD18
  • S Thompson – You have a surplus of persons in your district of 4,000?
    • Correct
  • S Thompson – SD18 as it currently exists has a surplus of 30,000?
    • Correct
  • S Thompson – Was no reason to add people to your district?
    • 200,000 moved into and out of CD9
  • S Thompson – Large Asian American population in your district?
    • Large amount of population in the “International District” as well as Africans and Latinos
    • Communities of interest are being negatively impacted
  • S Thompson – Pearland residents being drawn into CD9 because they believe it is a lack of community of interest?
    • CD9 is now going into Brazoria County, has heard concern from that community
  • S Thompson – Plan adds Matagorda County to your district?
    • No
  • C Turner – Were involved in drawing the map?
    • Did discuss after the plan was drafted and they enacted a rule where all congresspersons have to agree with changes
  • C Turner – Who was involved in drawing this map? Was Lee?
    • Do not know; other members had opportunities
    • No, she has not
  • C Turner – PLANC2131 was originally Miles’ proposal, where was it offered?
    • Correct, was offered as an amendment, but was denied
    • Huffman offered an amendment that would draw Lee back into her district, but was withdrawn
  • Anchia – Is no mystery where you and Sheila Jackson Lee live?
    • Correct; is on the record
    • Evidence could conclude that it is onerous to Section 2 of the VRA
  • S Thompson – Lose any economic engines in this plan?
    • International District is an economic engine
    • Medical Center was not severed
    • Unsure UT McGovern Medical School
    • TSU was removed from CD18 and placed into CD9

 

Amatullah Contactor, Emgage Action and Self – Against

  • Redistricting process has not been transparent
  • Maps intentionally discriminates against communities of color
  • Are zero competitive districts with these proposed maps
  • Huffman said she did not see any legal basis for drawing new minority opportunity districts
    • Census data says otherwise with majority population growth in minority communities
  • The AAPI and minority communities have been cracked in Fort Bend
  • S Thompson and Contractor discuss how maps are discriminatory
  • Jetton – Have heard concerns, will address those if necessary
    • Would appreciate if amendments were offered to remedy the concerns you hear

 

Elica Gonzalez, Self – Against

  • Resident of Nueces County
  • Reiterates previous testimony on the rushed hearing
  • Speaks against the proposed congressional map
  • Nueces County has been tacked onto Anglo rural counties

 

Niliphar Haphisi, Emgage Action and Self – Against

  • Newly drawn CD22 includes rural and White Matagorda and Warton Counties
  • Maps were drawn to dilute the voices of communities of color; particularly the AAPI community

 

Judy Akerman, Self – Against

  • Did not testify

 

Tim Dowling, Self – Against

  • Maps were drawn based on a drawing given to Sen Huffman by the Republican Congressional Delegation’s lawyer
  • Maps were drawn to intentionally grab more power for the Republican party
  • Audio was unclear in this section
  • S Thompson – Are voting this out today? Was not allowed enough time to prepare amendments
    • Intention to vote this out today
  • S Thompson – Will have enough time to draft amendments with legislative council?
    • Special session ends October 19
  • S Thompson – When will we address the bill on the floor?
    • Do not know, is up to the next Calendar committee meeting
  • S Thompson – Anticipate this to be voted out by the House this week?
    • Cannot say for sure

 

Wei Jos interpreting for Ellu Zhao, Self – Against

  • Resident of Austin
  • Redistricting should take communities of interest into account
  • Minority ethnic groups live together to express special interests
  • Maps have been drawn to exclude people with different opinions
  • Have been drawn on the basis of racial discrimination
  • Should take measures to make it more convenient for people to come out to vote

 

Johanna McCreary, Self – Against

  • Redistricting in Montgomery County in unfair, whole map shows injustice
  • Thompson – Did you get a chance to see the maps?
    • I’ve seen it
  • Thompson – Did you get a chance to suggest changes?
    • Feel like it will create more havoc and not much fairness
  • Thompson – How?
    • Feel like the bigger cities are getting more of the people, will have more representation
  • Thompson – In other words, everyone needs representation, important things in the rural areas that need to be addressed just like the urban areas?
    • Correct
  • Thompson – What do you think needs to be addressed in rural areas? You think you need your own congressman?
    • Makes common sense; if you’re going this direction, you’re going to suppress the voice and opportunities of rural residents

 

Erica Carter, Self – Against

  • Cannot understand how the Senate developed a map that completely disintegrates and disrupts communities of interest that have been together for 50 years
  • Don’t understand why creating something called CD18 was needed, but it’s not CD18
  • Heard at hearings that communities of interest wanted to stay together
  • Asks you adopt the amendment PLANC2131
  • S Thompson – Apart of CD18, have issues with cancer rates due to concrete batch plants, and lead that has leached into our water table; map allows these issues to be addressed?
    • No

 

Karen Bryant, Self – Against

  • Resident of Nueces County in Corpus Christi
  • Speaks against the proposed map; draws more Anglo districts despite overwhelming minority growth
  • Have brought on a Republican operative from outside the state to work on these maps and paid him $120,000 in taxpayer funds
  • Public and committee members do not have enough time to present amendments to this map
  • Hunter, Goldman, Jetton, Landgraf, Morrison, Murr, Schofield and White are responsible for moving these gerrymandered maps along
  • S Thompson – What changes would you make to this map?
    • Maps do not honor communities of interest and communities of color
    • Committee would need to work together on the map; members have noted they have had no input at all

 

Don Vednars, Self – Against

  • Resident of Montgomery County, are drawn into a district with Harris County
    • Neither community benefits from this map
  • Heard recently that the congressional delegation drew these maps; they do not understand Texas
  • S Thompson – You want someone to represent Montgomery County?
    • Correct; notes the Senate map splits Montgomery County as well
  • Schofield – You want a congressional district based in Montgomery
    • Correct
  • C Turner – Notes the Republican delegation from congress drew this map

 

Deborah Ferris, Self – Against

  • Resident of Montgomery County; speaks against the maps
  • Process needs to be postponed in order for better review of these maps
  • Moody – Which district do you currently reside in?
    • CD8; mainly concerned with being combined with Harris County
  • Moody – When did you hear about this meeting?
    • Last night

 

Cindy Phillips, Self – Against

  • Resident of Magnolia in Montgomery County
  • Speaks against the proposed maps; Washington should not draw maps for the state

 

Paul Gregory, Self – Against

  • Resident of Magnolia in Montgomery County
  • Speaks against the proposed maps; conservative voices will be silenced
  • Schofield – What would make you feel more represented?
    • Do not want to the county divided; keep current district

 

Lauren Morton, Deeds Not Words – Against

  • Resident of Harris County; proposed congressional maps eliminate competitive seats and dilute voices of people of color
  • Proposed districts decrease minority districts while increasing Anglo districts by one
  • Committee should be ashamed how they have conducted business by leaving out public input

 

Rebecca Segal Singer, Self – Against

  • Resident of North Dallas from HD102 and CD32; new maps take out of current districts
  • Shocked at the lack of due process of these issues; have not gotten information from the GOP lawyer hired by the chair to draw these maps
  • Proposals violate standards of compactness and dilutes voters of color; example is CD32
  • CD32 could have stayed mostly the same with a couple small changes

 

Jaqueline Mayhorn, Northeast Superneighborhoods United and Self – Against

  • NSU covers 12 neighborhoods in the city of Houston; over half a million residents
  • Merging CD18 and CD9 is not in the interest of our communities
  • Request map drawers waive their attorney client privilege if you believe the maps have been drawn legally
  • S Thompson and Mayhorn discuss the differences between communities of interest in CD9 and CD18; particularly the health concerns regarding concrete batch plants and lead in the water table

 

Hasani Burton, Hasani4Progress and Self – Against

  • Concerned about the future for his son
  • Maps do not match the minority population growth
  • This process has been not accessible to the public
  • Just because people are minorities, does not mean they should be packed into a Democratic district

 

Elvis Piggott, Self – Against

  • Resident of CD18; seat needs to be left at it is
  • Need to have representatives that stand for the issues important to minorities
  • Shelia Jackson Lee has fought on behalf of the needs of our communities
  • Removal of this seat would be going backwards, not forwards

 

Arnetta Murry, Self – Against

  • Lines have not been drawn fairly; one that hurts the most is CD9 and CD18

 

Judy Akerman, Self – Against

  • Resident of El Paso; previously stationed at Ft. Bliss
  • Map rips Ft. Bliss away from El Paso, the two are intertwined
  • Removing Ft. Bliss away from El Paso is a detriment to national security

 

Paul Albright, Self – Against

  • Chief Military Officer from El Paso
  • Against the map’s plan to remove Ft. Bliss and the International Airport from El Paso
  • C Turner – Would be unprecedented to take out Ft. Bliss from the El Paso based CD?
    • Correct
    • Would dilute the voices of Ft. Bliss especially if that representative had another base under their CD
  • Moody and Albright discuss the economic input between El Paso and Ft. Bliss and the preferable boundaries of a CD

 

Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee, U.S. CD 18 – Against

  • Surgical reordering of this district hurt me and its residents
  • Overviews the communities that have been moved out of CD18
  • 200,000 voters were taken out of the district, mostly the Third Ward and into downtown
  • S Thompson – Had any opportunity to change/have input on this map?
    • Did not, were in the middle of drawing up legislation; was a leak that there was Republican congressional input in September
  • S Thompson – Heard about allegations the Republican Congressional delegation drew this bill; had any hand in drawing this map
    • Heard about the GOP lawyer employed by the committee for $120,000; have had no engagement
  • S Thompson and Lee discuss the communities taken out of CD18
    • Lee discusses her work for CD18
  • S Thompson – In last redistricting cycle, you ended up in court that stated economic engines from districts cannot be removed as well as your house?
    • Court case is still standing, stated CDs 9, 18 and 30 should be protected
  • S Thompson and Lee discuss the differences between CD9 and CD18

 

Closing Remarks

  • Hunter – Will not be taking amendments in committee; will take them on the floor

 SB 6 voted out of committee (8-6)