HOUSTON – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement today:

“My office received the most recent report on the Alamo renovation from the General Land Office (GLO) last night as meetings continue to move forward on the Alamo redesign in San Antonio. In 2018, GLO Commissioner George P. Bush signed an agreement with Mayor Ron Nirenberg of San Antonio to approve the Alamo redesign.

“The plan includes moving the Cenotaph, which may occur in the next few weeks. This past session, the Texas Senate proposed that this action only occur after it was approved by two out of three groups — the Texas Historical Commission, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas or the GLO. Senate Bill 1400, which included this provision, passed the Texas Senate in a bipartisan, 31 to zero vote.

“Recently, the GLO Commissioner and a member of his staff have derided anyone who disagrees with the Alamo redesign as a small vocal minority who are liars and racists. This is offensive and inaccurate. The 31 members of the Texas Senate represent over 28 million Texans. They are not a vocal minority — nor are they liars or racists.

“I appreciate the commitment and volunteer work of the citizens who make up the Alamo Trust and I don’t want their work to be stifled by name-calling or other interference from the GLO Commissioner or his office. I look forward to meeting with the Alamo Trust early in the new year. The legislature has invested over $100 million dollars in this project on behalf of the people of Texas and I want to be sure that every step is well thought out and worthy of the sacrifice of the men who died at the Alamo.”