“Yesterday, my office was informed that Texas Coastal Materials has been given a permit to build a concrete crusher right next to LBJ Hospital. This battle is not over and I will continue to fight the construction and operation of this polluting facility.

“Last month, I joined hundreds of community members, medical professionals from LBJ Hospital and environmental advocates to voice our strong opposition to Texas Coastal Material's air permit application. This plant will threaten the health of patients and staff at LBJ, many of whom are already suffering from serious health issues. Senate District 13 is plagued by the legacy of environmental racism with polluters in their midst that have poisoned the air and water and created a cancer cluster just a few miles from here. TCEQ and its leadership must stop rubber-stamping these facilities and end its cozy relationship with the industries that allow these facilities to grow unchecked in minority communities.

“Harris County voters just approved a $2.5 billion bond to fund a new Level 1 trauma center at LBJ, as well as updating and expanding the hospital. The voters have shown their strong commitment to LBJ, we can't let polluters threaten that community investment.

“I plan on filing a Motion to Overturn TCEQ's decision. This rock crushing facility will be located within 440 yards of LBJ Hospital, which is home to a chapel that hosts services and is a major teaching hospital. State law does not allow crushers to be built that close to a place of worship or a school.

“I will never stop fighting against facilities like these and will continue to file legislation to address concrete batch plants and the cumulative effects of pollution so that we can end the locating of these facilities in our neighborhoods. This community should no longer have to suffer from the environmental racism that has been a scourge of our neighborhoods for decades.”