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
PHARR, Texas - The Pharr International Bridge is the largest full-service crossing bridge in the Rio Grande Valley.
Billions of dollars in trade flow across the bridge annually and officials say there is room for growth.
City leaders along with officials from across the Valley implemented a new toll system they say will improve trade and security. More than 2,500 trucks full of goods and trade products cross over bridge daily creating billions of dollars of trade with Mexico annually and that number is expected to grow.
WASHINGTON –Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue's is included Duval and Jim Hogg Counties in a Secretarial Disaster Designation to provide farm operators eligibility and access to recovery assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Texas counties affected by recent severe drought and included in this designation are: Atascosa, Duval, Frio, Jim Hogg, Maverick, McMullen, Zapata, and Zavala Counties.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) issued the following statement in response to President Donald J. Trump's notification to Congress of the administration's intentions to enter a revised trade agreement with Mexico and potentially Canada.
MCALLEN, RGV – President Trump on Monday announced a preliminary deal between the United States and Mexico to modernize trade between the two countries.
In front of reporters assembled in the Oval House, Trump called Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to congratulate him on the potential accord. Trump said the deal could replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Under the deal, at least 75 percent of the content of autos sold in the trade block must be made in North America. While 40 percent must be made by workers earning at least $16 an hour.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) issued the following statement in response to the administration's announcement concerning the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
"I look forward to reviewing the details of this preliminary agreement and to working with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, incoming Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reach a final agreement with our partners in Canada.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) recently participated in a congressional delegation to Guatemala and Mexico with Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Congressman Ruben Kihuen (NV-04). This was a bipartisan effort to strengthen counter narcotic efforts, modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and start a dialogue about how to move the region forward.
WASHINGTON - Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) is encouraging eligible applicants to apply for the Housing Preservation Grant program, also known as Program 101, and Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants for Fiscal Year 2018, under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
These funding streams provide sponsoring organizations with the resources necessary to repair or rehabilitate housing occupied by low and very low-income people. Funding can also be used to construct, improve, repair and purchase housing for domestic farm laborers.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service partnership intended to engage more military veterans in farming and ranching. This program will assist veterans applying for FSA direct farm ownership loans, ultimately leading to advancements of land and capital.
Given that the U.S. Department of Labor reports that 45 percent of armed service members reside in rural America, the program will be highly beneficial for veterans in South Texas looking to start a new chapter.
Pictured above: Community leaders and stakeholders from the Rio Grande Valley gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 2nd Annual RGV2DC fly-in.
WASHINGTON - Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for projects under its Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) program. This initiative supports investments in connectivity, training, business development, and infrastructure.