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“South Texas is rapidly transforming, and we must meet the housing needs of our population,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “However, our region is facing an alarming labor shortage due to rising costs and a reckless ICE agency indiscriminately targeting construction sites and delaying the ability to build enough housing for families. There is still much work to be done to ensure that the workers who build our communities are protected at job sites and that every South Texan gets a fair shot at homeownership. We are making progress and I’m proud to have voted for this comprehensive housing affordability package, which includes a bipartisan bill I co-led to remove bureaucratic roadblocks and streamline the development of affordable housing in rural areas. I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

Washington, D.C.—After sounding the alarm for nearly two years, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) took additional steps last week alongside Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and the Texas Democratic Delegation in demanding answers from United States Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) Brooke Rollins and requesting a briefing on how the USDA plans to address the resurgence of New World Screwworm in Texas and across the United States.

“The resurgence of this invasive pest, which the U.S. successfully eradicated in the 1960s, could devastate South Texas ranchers, wildlife, and our communities as a whole,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “With inflation already on the rise from the Administration’s policies and war in Iran, the last thing Texans need is a potential $1.8 billion hit to our cattle industry and statewide economy. Just as I warned, the arrival of the New World Screwworm has crossed the border. The Administration didn’t act fast enough. Instead, they cut funding for early detection and prevention and prioritized billions in taxpayer money to support lowering the cost of beef from Argentina—not America. While the recent opening of a new sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas is welcomed, it will not be operational until next fall. Now, USDA is playing catch-up to protect the livelihoods of our ranchers and prevent harmful effects to our food supply.”

“From South Texas to the halls of Congress, I will never stop fighting on behalf of our veterans, active-duty service members, and their families,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “That’s why I continue working to pass legislation to expand access to veteran health care and benefits, conduct Congressional oversight to increase transparency around missing servicemembers, and bring millions in federal funding to our region for community services. We must uphold our promise to support the brave men and women who serve our nation and when they return home.”

The Administration’s unauthorized war in Iran has cost American taxpayers nearly $29 billion, resulting in South Texans paying on average more than $4 per gallon to fill up their gas tanks. Without a clear or strategic end in sight to the ongoing conflict, out-of-touch Republicans in Washington, D.C., will continue to shift money away from other critical readiness and operational initiatives while dismissing the burden placed on families already struggling to make ends meet. For instance, on May 12, President Trump stated he doesn’t “think about Americans’ financial situation.”

In the letter, Congressman Gonzalez writes, “…to express concern as the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to significantly increase wait times for cargo and pedestrian crossing between the United States and Mexico border. While I am excited that the United States is a host country and the tournament is projected to generate over $17 billion in gross domestic product, significant passenger traffic surges, heightened security measures, and increased inspection protocols will cause disruptions to border lives and supply chains if proper measures are not put in place.”

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, sent a letter demanding that the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Expedia Group, Booking.com, Airbnb, Priceline and Tripadvisor Group address an alarming pattern of failures, deceptions, and consumer abuse practices from Online Travel Agents (OTAs), which serve as intermediaries between consumers and suppliers.