Legislation to bring casino gambling back to Texas is expected to be heard at a committee hearing on Tuesday in Austin.

The owner of Gabriel's Cafe, a small restaurant across the street from Speaking Rock Casino, has been feeling the pinch for years now.

"We used to have four waiters attending, now I have two," said Hector Pinedo, the owner.

Pinedo used to have more waiters and operated 12 hours a day; but all that changed when Speaking Rock Casino closed in 2002. More than 800 people at the casino lost their jobs. At its peak, the casino was a $60 million-a-year business, not to mention the revenue it brought in for businesses in the area.

"You see there's no traffic outside. And when the casino was open, lots of cars, driving by and driving looking for a place to park," said Pinedo.

The Tigua Tribe has worked on several bills with state Rep. Norma Chavez, including a proposal to tie state proceeds to higher education funding. Tigua Lt. Gov. Carlos Hisa said this year they have a lot of support.

"We have managed to educate most of the leadership on the benefits of having the casino and how it impacted El Paso and the reservation as a whole when it shut down," said Hisa.

Many lawmakers, Gov. Rick Perry, and conservative groups have opposed past proposals to expand gambling. Today, there are several bills proposing different degrees of gambling.

"No matter what we get, it will be good for the area," said Hisa.