(Austin)– State Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) today announced his support for a fully-funded healthcare program for retired teachers. Rep. Ashby, who is Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee dealing with education funding and related agencies, said he is ready to back legislation that funds the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) healthcare program known as TRS-Care.
Over the past two weeks, Chairman Ashby’s subcommittee has heard testimony from groups and individuals regarding the impending crisis with TRS-Care. The consensus of that testimony is that without this additional funding the program will become insolvent, and the funding for healthcare for our retired teachers would be exhausted. Earlier today, Rep. Ashby joined Appropriations Chairman John Otto (R-Dayton) to announce their intention to propose a budget that fully-funds TRS-Care.
“I am extremely supportive of the announcement this morning and I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Texas House to secure the funding necessary for our retired teachers’ healthcare costs,” Rep. Ashby said. “There are thousands of former educators in our district, and even more across Texas– all who have dedicated their careers to teaching young people, improving our communities and serving our great state. As a member of the Legislature, it is my duty to ensure that we keep our commitment to these public servants, especially in providing affordable and accessible health services through TRS-Care.”
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas is the largest public retirement system in Texas with TRS-Care providing healthcare to more than 240,000 retired teachers and their dependents.
