FISCAL YEAR 2026 APPROPRIATIONS AND LEGISLATIVE DISCLOSURES
In accordance with House Rules, and to promote oversight, transparency and accountability, this web page contains the disclosure materials relating to projects that Congressman Gonzalez has submitted on behalf of a local sponsor to either the House Committee on Appropriations or any other House Committees requiring disclosures.
Community Project Funding Requests
Congressman Vicente Gonzalez has submitted funding requests for important community projects in the 34th District of Texas to the House Appropriations Committee.
Under guidelines issued by the Appropriations Committee, each Representative may request funding for up to 15 projects in their community for fiscal year 2026 – although only a handful may actually be funded. Projects are restricted to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments are permitted to receive funding.
In compliance with House Rules and Committee requirements, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez has certified that he, his spouse, and his immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects he has requested.
Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding
[Agriculture, Rural Development ]
Project Name: La Villa Acquisition of Fire Truck and Fire Fighting Equipment
Amount Requested: $1,225,000
Recipient: City of La Villa, 916 S. Mike Chapa Drive, La Villa, Texas 78562
Explanation: The funding would be used to purchase a new fire pumper truck and auxiliary firefighting equipment as recommended and required by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the new truck and equipment will enable the city’s fire department to meet the fire protection needs of the service area.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: Laguna Madre Nature Center Phase 1
Amount Requested: $1,600,000
Recipient: Cameron County, 1100 E. Monroe Street, Brownsville, Texas 78520
Explanation: The funding would be used to construct Phase 1 of the Laguna Madre Nature Center. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will provide a diverse array of both educational and recreational opportunities for the community and visitors alike. Indoor facilities will include a nature center, classrooms, exhibit spaces, and meeting areas. Outdoor facilities will feature nature trails, access to natural coastal areas, open spaces for educational programs. This center will promote healthier lifestyles through the expanded trails and recreational opportunities and drive economic development by supporting ecotourism in the region.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
[Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Science, and Related Agencies]
Project Name: Cameron County Sheriff’s Bulletproof Windshields for Police Units
Amount Requested: $375,000
Recipient: Cameron County Sheriff’s Office, 7300 Old Alice Road, Olmito, Texas 78575
Explanation: The funding would be used to purchase bulletproof windshields for all the police units within the Cameron County Sheriff’s division. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will enable officers to respond more effectively and confidently to threats to meet the safety needs of the county.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
[Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies]
Project Name: North Alamo Water Supply Corporation Delta Regional Water Distribution Improvements Project
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Recipient: North Alamo Water Supply Corporation, 420 South Doolittle Road, Edinburg, Texas 78542
Explanation: This funding would be used to install approximately 18,500 linear feet of 12-inch PVC waterline to enhance service reliability and improve water pressure throughout the Delta Region of Hidalgo County, Texas. This area is currently experiencing rapid population growth and increasing water demand, which has placed added strain on the existing water distribution network. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will optimize system pressures, reduce service interruption, and ensure more reliable service delivery to residential, commercial, and agricultural users throughout the region.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: San Benito Storage Tank at San Benito Water Treatment Plant No. 2 Phase 2
Amount Requested: $1,709,765
Recipient: City of San Benito, 401 N. Sam Houston Boulevard, San Benito, TX 78586
Explanation: The funding would be used to replace an existing elevated storage tank, which is a critical element of San Benito’s potable water utility system. The current elevated storage tank is structurally unsafe, presents a public health hazard, and is economically unfeasible to repair because it has exceeded its expected service life. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will help the city comply with the Texas Council on Environmental Quality’s minimum potable water storage capacity requirements.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
[Transportation, Housing, Urban Development]
Project Name: Donna Multipurpose Sports Complex
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Recipient: City of Donna, 307 South 12th Street, Donna, Texas 78537
Explanation: The funding would be used to support the infrastructure needed for a multi-purpose sports complex for the City of Donna and residents of nearby communities. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because there are no multi-field parks or walking trails in the city or surrounding communities where diabetes, hypertension, and obesity are prevalent.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: City of Harlingen New Animal Shelter
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Recipient: City of Harlingen, 118 E Tyler Avenue, Harlingen, Texas 78550
Explanation: The funding would be used to construct a new 15,000-square-foot animal shelter facility in Harlingen, Texas. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the city is experiencing severe stray animal overpopulation, which is a nuisance and a vector for diseases. The new shelter will be better equipped to serve the city's current and future needs.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: Baffin Bay Education, Safety and Ecotourism Boat Ramp and Fishing Pier
Amount Requested: $850,000
Recipient: Kleberg County, 700 E. Kleberg Avenue, Kingsville, Texas 78363
Explanation: The funding would be used to construct a single lane boat ramp with breakwater improvements, upgrade existing fishing piers, improve the jetty, and repair and stabilize the parking lot at Baffin Bay. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will mitigate shoreline erosion and stabilize the pier, jetty, and parking lot to ensure ease of access for local law enforcement, academic and research institutions, and recreation and ecotourism in Kleberg County and the Coastal Bend Region of Texas.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: Raymondville City Wide Park Improvement Plan
Amount Requested: $965,467
Recipient: City of Raymondville, 142 S. 7th Street, Raymondville, Texas 78580
Explanation: The funding would be used to renovate and enhance the safety of multiple parks as part of the City of Raymondville’s city-wide park improvement plan. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it is intended for economic and community development activities.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: La Bonita Pump Station & Drainage Improvements
Amount Requested: $2,186,448
Recipient: City of La Feria, 115 E. Commercial Drive, La Feria, Texas 78579
Explanation: The funding would be used to install a new storm sewer pump station in La Feria’s La Bonita neighborhood. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the proposed project will reduce the frequency and magnitude of flooding events and the resulting property damage and community disruption in the neighborhood.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: City of Mercedes Expansion of Storm Sewer System
Amount Requested: $1,739,221
Recipient: City of La Mercedes, 400 South Ohio Avenue, Mercedes, Texas 78570
Explanation: The funding would be used for the installation of inlets, RCP storm sewer pipes, and roadway repairs to increase the capacity and reliability of Mercedes’ stormwater system. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the project will enhance the existing stormwater system’s capacity to detain and drain stormwater and reduce expected future economic damages and disruptions in the disadvantaged community of Mercedes.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: City of Combes – Lift Station
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Recipient: City of Combes, 21626 Hand Road, Combes, Texas 78552
Explanation: The funding would be used to reconstruct, upgrade, and rehabilitate, eight sewer lift stations that were damaged during the March 2025 storm. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the project will address the critical situation in the lift stations, which affects the health and safety of the community.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: Project Phoenix
Amount Requested: $976,040
Recipient: City of Brownsville, Texas, 1001 E. Elizabeth St,# 234, Brownsville, Texas, 78520
Explanation: The funding would be used to renovate the city's Downtown Recreation Center. Rain events cause leaks that damage building equipment and its structural integrity. The prolonged exposure of this water damage has also created a health hazard of mold to the community and staff. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the center will provide critical social services to residents of all ages in an economically disadvantaged area.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: City of Brownsville Fire Department’s Training Field Upgrade
Amount Requested: $1,500,000
Recipient: City of Brownsville Fire Department 1000 E. Adams, Brownsville, Texas 78520
Explanation: This funding will be used to upgrade the Fire Department’s current training field through the construction of a 100-foot by 60-foot warehouse with integrated office spaces, a two-story NFPA 1402-compliant burn building, and the installation of an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF). This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the facility will provide firefighters with critical, hands-on training to enhance their skills in structural firefighting, hazardous materials response, and aircraft emergency operations which are critical emergency services.
Member's Signed Certification Letter
Project Name: Cold Storage Facility at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)
Amount Requested: $1,400,000
Recipient: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1 W. University Boulevard, Brownsville, Texas 78500
Explanation: This funding will be used to retrofit a building to a cold storage facility that will be used to support the development of a seafood workforce training and logistics hub at the new UTRGV Port Isabel Marine Ecosystems Research Facility. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because the facility because it directly addresses the challenges Texas Gulf Shrimpers are facing through workforce training. Specifically, the facility will be used for instructional and demonstration purposes, as a training site for UTRGV students and shrimpers to gain experience with smart temperature monitoring systems and FDA-compliant seafood handling procedures. These skills will strengthen workforce readiness and food safety practices across the industry.