(AUSTIN,TEXAS) House Appropriations Committee Chairman John Otto announced on the House floor that the House will fully fund TRS-Care, the health insurance program for retired public school employees of Texas.

“I want to reassure every member in the House and every retired teacher that the House will fully fund TRS-Care,” said Appropriations Chairman, Rep. John Otto. “This issue is too important to go unaddressed so I commit to you today that the House will fund our obligations to our retired teachers.”

The TRS-Care retiree health insurance program was created in 1986 and now has approximately 240,000 participants. The TRS-Care shortfall is expected to be approximately $768 million by the end of the 2016-2017 biennium. Chairman Otto is committed to providing TRS-Care with all necessary additional funding to ensure the future sustainability of this vital program. Considering 95 percent of our retired school employees do not receive Social Security benefits, securing this funding will prevent any drastic change in access to affordable health care to our retired teachers.

“I am pleased we are able to address the anticipated TRS-Care shortfall. It is vital we support our educators and I hope the Senate will join us in fulfilling our commitment,” Rep. Raney said.

Representative Raney is currently serving his second term in the Texas House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committees on Appropriations where he also serves on the Subcommittee on Education, Higher Education, and House Administration. He is acting Secretary of the House Republican Caucus and is a long-time community member of Bryan-College Station and small business owner for forty-six years.