Staff Reports
In a thrilling turn of events, the Texas legislature has finally come through for our valiant military members and national guardsmen, extending state death benefits to those protecting our border as part of Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star. It’s about time these unsung heroes got some recognition for their tireless efforts in safeguarding our great state.
Families of three service members awarded death benefits for border security efforts | Just The News https://t.co/jwaiatdyRv
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) December 29, 2023
Before this groundbreaking change, Texas Military Department service members and their families were getting the short end of the stick when on active state duty compared to their counterparts serving on federal deployments. But fear not, because House Speaker Dade Phelan made it his mission to fix this injustice, and boy did he deliver.
Representative Jared Patterson and a crew of co-sponsors filed HB 90 in the House, while over in the Senate, state Senator Joan Huffman championed the cause with a companion bill. The legislation, fittingly dubbed the Bishop Evans Act after a heroic National Guardsman who tragically lost his life in the line of duty, was unanimously passed by both chambers. Then, in a move that surprised absolutely no one, Governor Abbott put his John Hancock on it, along with several other crucial border bills. It was a slam dunk for our hardworking lawmakers, no doubt about it.
Now, thanks to the Bishop Evans Act, our fearless service members and their families can finally breathe a little easier. The new law not only provides death benefits, but also expands worker’s compensation coverage for those diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder while serving on state active duty. And that’s not all – it even streamlines the process for filing workplace injury claims.
Within a mere three months of the law taking effect, the Attorney General’s Office proudly announced that four lump-sum death benefits had already been awarded to the fallen soldiers of Operation Lone Star. These brave men gave their all in defense of our beloved state, and their families will now receive the honor and support they rightfully deserve.
Starting with Sgt. Bishop Elijah Evans, an unstoppable force who tragically lost his life while attempting to rescue drug smugglers crossing the Rio Grande River. Then there’s Spc. Dajuan Lester Townes, who met his untimely end in a non-mission related incident, and Sgt. Alex Juan Rios Rodriguez, who suffered a heart attack after returning from the field. These were not just soldiers; they were Texas heroes.
