Tagged: Carlos Uresti

April is Child Abuse Awareness month, and San Antonio Sen. Carlos Uresti is calling for more volunteers to help increase the local message of saving children's lives.

Uresti said Bexar County showed an increase in the number of cases of child abuse in 2012.

"Sadly, last year we had 6,205 confirmed cases of child abuse just in Bexar County," Uresti said, adding that 20 of those children died from their injuries.

State Senator Carlos Uresti’s proposed SB313 would change the legal smoking age in Texas from 18 to 21. Uresti said his bill is about saving lives and saving money.

"On average, over 24,500 Texas die every year from smoking related illnesses," the senator said, referring to a fact sheet provided by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.