Agriculture
Congressman Gonzalez is proud to represent a thriving agricultural community. The 34th District of Texas is home to the King Ranch and a diverse array of produce, specialty crops, and livestock operations. The district is known for its citrus, cotton, sugarcane, sorghum, and cattle ranching operations.
Congressman Gonzalez has a proven record of supporting agricultural research, trade assistance, and robust crop insurance and disaster assistance programs that offer farmers and ranchers the resources to succeed.
He understands the importance of protecting and improving farmers and ranchers' safety net systems and is dedicated to elevating the concerns and priorities of South Texas agriculture producers in Washington, D.C. Congressman Gonzalez supports increasing market access for all American agricultural products and efforts to strengthen our food supply chain and economy while providing regulatory certainty to agriculture producers.
Since being elected to Congress in 2016, Congressman Gonzalez has shepherded over $156 million in funding for our South Texas agricultural industry.
More on Agriculture
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that Hidalgo and Brooks Counties were designated as primary disaster counties and Duval, Jim Hogg, Live Oak were designated as contiguous disaster counties by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue qualifying them for federal assistance.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pushed back its deadline for the ReConnect Pilot Program to March 31. The ReConnect Pilot Program seeks to give grants and loans to provide funds for the cost of infrastructure associated with rural broadband.
"With the extension from the USDA for the ReConnect Pilot Program, I encourage those in the 15th District of Texas to continue to apply," said Congressman Gonzalez. "My office is here to assist any who may need assistance with this application."
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) and Filemon Vela (TX-34) introduced H.R. 5898, the Promoting Agricultural Commerce Act, legislation to more efficiently transport high volumes of South Texas agricultural products across the Rio Grande Valley.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, and Brooks Counties were designated as contiguous disaster counties by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue qualifying them for federal assistance.
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) voted in favor of H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019. This bipartisan bill provides reforms that will overhaul the farmworker visa program, improve agricultural labor standards, and help American farmers compete in global markets.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue approved a Secretarial disaster area designation on November 6, 2019 for the following counties in the 15th District of Texas: Karnes, primary; and contiguous, Live Oak, Wilson, Duval. With this designation, those affected by recent drought are qualified to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) assistance, including loans.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced the opening of applications for the 2020 Environmental Education (EE) Grants Program sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has $3 million in funding available for locally-focused environmental education projects under the program.
In addition to other environmental topics, the 2020 EE Grants Program will fund education-based projects pertaining to marine debris mitigation, food waste and loss reduction, and recycling.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that Duval and Jim Hogg Counties were designated as natural disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties suffered consecutive weeks of intense drought qualifying them for disaster assistance.
In addition, the Secretary of Agriculture named Brooks, Live Oak, Jim Wells, La Salle, McMullen, Maverick and Starr Counties in Texas as contiguous disaster areas.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) issued a statement following Texas Governor Greg Abbott's issuance of a disaster declaration in response to drought conditions in South Texas:
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) expressed relief that the U.S. Department of Commerce and Mexican Tomato Growers reached a deal to lift tariffs on imported tomatoes from Mexico:
"For months now, I have urged Secretary Ross to reconsider exiting the Tomato Suspension Agreement. The last thing we need is a tariff that will affect Americans' pocketbooks and interrupt business supply chains. Citizens of both countries use fresh tomatoes for a plethora of things from pizza sauce to salsa and ketchup and everything in between," said Congressman Gonzalez.