Lina Ortega

02/21/2024

This investigation, and now lawsuit, by Ken Paxton’s Attorney General’s Office is yet another effort to politicize human beings seeking safety and a better life. Annunciation House has been a critical humanitarian non-profit and community partner that embodies the spirit of El Paso.

01/29/2024

I would like to recognize the tremendous work of Dr. Ahsan Choudhuri and his team at UTEP in advancing aerospace engineering in our region. This inaugural award by the National Science Foundation is well deserved and brings an initial investment of $15 million with potential for even greater public investment in the future. I look forward to continuing to support the exciting growth in aerospace investment in the Paso del Norte region. El Paso is well positioned to become a world leader in the defense and aerospace economy.

11/17/2023

Today, a bipartisan majority in the Texas House DEFEATED Greg Abbott’s voucher scam — once and for all.

Abbott and his billionaire mega-donors tried and failed to sell out our kids.

Now, it’s time to fully fund our public schools.

10/26/2023

"After several attempts to stop or limit this damaging piece of legislation, the House finally passed House Bill 4 today. This bill dehumanizes immigrants and promotes intimidation and fear throughout communities like mine. The Legislature has no role in enforcing immigration laws and it is shameful that the House repeatedly targets immigrant communities for political gain. Thank you to all of the tireless advocates who have traveled to Austin from El Paso to speak out against House Bill 4 and other similar bills over the past several months. I will continue to fight for immigrant rights and stand up for exceptional border communities like El Paso."

10/19/2023

I'm proud to co-author the Fully Fund Our Future Act.

Instead of spending our hard-earned tax-dollars on welfare for the wealthy through a private school voucher scam, we should invest in ALL students and FULLY FUND our local schools.

Our children deserve nothing less.

10/09/2023

Vouchers are a scam that threaten everything we love about our public schools.

We must all come together—Democrats and Republicans, parents and teachers, rural Texans and urban Texans—to protect our neighborhood schools.

07/27/2023

I have served as Texas State Representative for House District 77 since January 2017. It has been an honor to represent the district where I was born and have lived for many decades. El Paso is a friendly and giving community and I have been proud to represent it in the State Legislature.

I have decided not to seek a fifth term. I am proud of what I have accomplished during the past seven years. I have authored numerous laws including such things as, legislation to spur economic development, health care expansion to benefit families and children, and a homeowners consumer protection law to prevent fraudulent transactions. I have also secured significant funding for local projects. My efforts have paid off and hopefully they will continue to benefit my community for a long time. Yet much remains to be done, including to ensure that El Paso gets a law school in the near future. I will continue to work on this goal.

I am equally proud of my hard-working staff and interns. Brooke Bennett Galindo has served as my very competent Chief of Staff since 2017. I have had very resourceful staff and interns that have helped me take meaningful legislation across the finish line and for that I am very grateful to each of them. I also want to give special thanks to my husband Mark and to my family, who have supported me over the years in many ways.

Thank you, El Paso, for giving me the opportunity to serve a community that I will always cherish.

07/04/2023

Happy Independence Day!

05/29/2023

05/28/2023

I was proud to support our retired teachers today with a vote in favor of Senate Bill 10.

05/28/2023

I respect and appreciate the work of the House General Investigating Committee, who recommended articles of impeachment against Attorney General Paxton, which included twenty violations ranging from obstruction of justice to constitutional bribery.

Ultimately, I agreed with the committee’s recommendation that Attorney General Paxton’s criminal actions are incompatible with serving as the state’s chief legal officer and I made the serious decision to vote in favor of impeachment. Attorney General Paxton is unfit for public office and his continued service is damaging to the State of Texas.

The 121-23 vote included overwhelming Republican support.

04/18/2023

Rather than focusing on issues that affect Texans on their everyday lives, the Legislature is choosing to continue to attack the LGBTQ youth, immigrants, and our access to the ballot box. I invite you to rally against this legislation, and make your voices heard!