SPEAKER CRADDICK APPOINTS REP. BRANCH TO LBB

Will fill vacancy left by Rep. Fred Hill

AUSTIN, Texas—Speaker Tom Craddick (Midland) appointed Rep. Dan Branch (Dallas) to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB). Rep. Branch will replace Rep. Fred Hill (Richardson) who tendered his resignation from the Board earlier this week.

"Representative Branch is a distinguished legislator with a long history of service to his community," Speaker Craddick said. "I am honored that he's decided to accept this new role, and I look forward to our continued work together to secure the financial future of the state of Texas."

Rep. and Mrs. Branch visited one of Old East Dallas' favorite restaurants, the Garden Café.  After a hearty breakfast, the Branches toured the garden area with owner Dale Wootton.

Representative Branch was joined by Senator Royce West (D-Dallas), and Representatives Tan Parker (R-Denton) and Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth) at the July Legislative Luncheon for the Dallas Regional Chamber, hosted by Eddie Deen's Ranch in Downtown Dallas.  Each legislator on the panel gave brief remarks about his work during the interim, and a forecast on issues that may arise during the next legislative session.   Afterwards, Rep. Branch visited with Chamber members and other leaders of the Dallas community.

Representative Dan Branch joined Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken and El Centro College President Dr. Paul McCarthy at the Bill J. Priest Institute for Economic Development in South Dallas for a check presentation benefitting El Centro's Skills Development Fund. The grant, totaling near $800,000, will go towards the creation of over 150 jobs, and the upgrading of nearly 450 more jobs through the Aligned Models for Talent Expansion Consortium (AMTEC) a group that consists of seven Dallas-area businesses.

Representative Dan Branch joined members of the Greenway Parks Neighborhood Association at the flagpole at Stemmons Park to celebrate Independence Day.  Branch visited with neighbors and presented them with a flag flown over the Texas Capitol in honor of their recent listing on the Naitonal Register of Historic Places.

Representative Dan Branch celebrated Independence Day with family and friends in and around Dallas.  Branch rode in the Park Cities July 4th Parade with daughter Sarah, and later, Dan and wife, Stacey, hosted friends at a cookout.

Rep. Branch delivers the keynote speech at the Texas Library Association's Annual Meeting in Austin. Branch has made supporting libraries a key legislative priority, securing funding for libraries and passing a bill to allow public school districts to participate in TexShare–an organization of 700 public and private colleges and universities, public libraries and clinical medicine libraries that share resources and materials.