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“After decades of dedication and leadership from Commissioner Wood, his work has left an indelible mark on Cameron County. From strengthening operations and trade at the Port of Brownsville to improving our local infrastructure and creating economic opportunities for South Texas families and businesses, he is a major reason as to why our region continues to rapidly transform. As a token of my gratitude for his lifelong service to others, this Congressional Record inscribes Commissioner Wood’s lasting legacy into the official records of the United States Congress,” said Congressman Gonzalez.

“Over the past decade, Corpus Christi Army Depot’s highly-trained civilian workforce has dropped by thousands due to the Army’s increasing reliance on private companies for helicopter repair work. This is a federal issue hurting depots across the country and requires a federal solution; it starts with bringing greater transparency to the Army’s maintenance and overhaul schedule. Our bill builds on bipartisan language we secured in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act, and would ensure we protect South Texas’s military competitiveness and the thousands of workers it employs,” said Congressman Gonzalez.

“Every nation has a right to enforce its immigration laws, but there is a clear line between enforcing the law and the inhumane tactics being used across South Texas and the country. I am for strong border security, obeying our immigration laws, and deporting criminals, but I do not agree with the hyperaggressive ICE raids that have left innocent people dead on our streets, including American citizens. Instead of focusing on the deportation of violent criminals - something we can all agree on - this Administration has chosen to detain and deport hardworking medical professionals, nuns, construction and hospitality workers, DACA recipients, and more who are simply pursuing a better future for themselves and their families."

“Every year, Congress is responsible for funding our nation’s defense priorities to keep Americans safe and our military strong. I worked in a bipartisan manner to raise military pay and expand access to housing, childcare, and healthcare for our service members and their families in South Texas and around the world, including at the Naval Air Stations in Kingsville and Corpus Christi. Also included in this bill is language and amendments I authored to protect Corpus Christi Army Depot’s military competitiveness and the thousands of hardworking South Texans it employs. Together, we will ensure that the economy continues to thrive and our region remains a critical part of our national security.”

“It is absurd that a name proposal from outside our state was able to threaten the very essence of a cultural and historic landmark in South Texas,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “The severe lack of transparency from the Domestic Names Committee almost shut out the people of Cameron County from a decision that directly impacted our daily lives—and would have created a financial burden for local municipalities responsible for replacing signage and other publicly used identifiers. While our community was able to quickly band together to stop this initial proposal from being adopted, my bill would ensure that Boca Chica Beach always remains the People’s Beach.”

“When a veteran returns from service, our government has a responsibility to provide them with the resources and support they’ve rightfully earned,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Today, extreme Republicans in Washington tried advancing a radical bill that weaponized meaningful legislation, like the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act, to provide themselves political cover as they attempted to implement the largest cut to veterans benefits in a generation. I fought back, and the bill got pulled from the floor. South Texas is home to more than 50,000 veterans, and nearly half live with service-connected disabilities. We cannot turn our backs on those who proudly served.”

“Brownsville’s airport is a vital gateway that fuels economic growth and connects families to communities across the border and throughout our nation,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Upgrading airfield signage is an investment in the airport’s long-term future and ensures that pilots and passengers alike can travel safely through our airport. I’m proud to deliver this funding and will continue working with our local leadership to build a world-class airport that meets the needs of our region.”

Brownsville, Texas – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) urged the U.S. Board on Geographic Names’ Domestic Names Committee to oppose a proposal to rename Boca Chica Beach to “Cyber Beach.” The federal naming committee provided less than a 24-hours-notice of a vote that would take place today, July 9, at 2 p.m. The lack of transparency is nothing more than an attempt to silence the people of Cameron County and erase our region’s history.