In the News
WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) issued an update regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Federal Major Disaster Declaration for Karnes County. On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested that 30 counties be added to that list, including Karnes County.
"We must act swiftly to ensure that those areas affected by Harvey have the resources necessary for relief and recovery," Congressman Gonzalez said. "I thank FEMA for their continued dedication to helping South Texas residents on the road to recovery."
U.S. Reps. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) and Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) released statements earlier today in response to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Session's announcement that the Trump administration will move to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
GONZALEZ
During a more than 75-minute speech in Phoenix Tuesday night, President Donald J. Trump said those who opposed a southern border wall were responsible for putting American lives at risk.
He spoke on topics related to immigration, specifically so-called sanctuary cities, and took issue with politicians opposed to the border wall.
He called out Democratic congressmen who opposed the wall, as obstructionists, and said they were putting people's lives at risk by doing so.
The threat of heavy rains potentially caused by Tropical Depression Harvey this weekend has prompted several cities and Hidalgo County precincts to begin sandbag distributions.
In Alamo, sandbags are available throughout the week at three locations, from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Alamo residents will have to fill their own bags at two sites: the Alamo Sports Complex, located in the vicinity of 7th Street and Ridge Road, as well as on the corner of 6th Street and Citrus Road.
WASHINGTON — Deported veterans would be able to return home and their citizenship application process would be expedited under legislation introduced in the U.S. House on Wednesday by Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, and two other congressmen.
Gonzalez was joined by Reps. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, and Don Young, R-Alaska, in introducing the Repatriate Our Patriots Act, according to a news release.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning announced in a series of tweets that the U.S government will no longer accept or allow transgender individuals to serve "in any capacity in the US military."
His tweets spurred reaction from several individuals, one of which was U.S Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen.
"These are American human beings who have been fighting for our freedom," Gonzalez said. "Historically, they have been doing it and up to this day they still serve proudly in our armed forces, and I think today was a step back in history."
The public outrage following President Donald Trump's flippant and amateurishly dictatorial tweet attempting to ban trans persons from the military is a reminder of how fragile the rights of minorities can be. Politico reports that a "...behind-the-scenes GOP brawl threatening to tank a Pentagon funding increase and (border) wall construction hastened Trump's decision" and his tweet announcing it.
U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, has joined his Border Caucus Co-Chair Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, in penning a letter in opposition of the 2018 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
The letter is addressed to Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen of the Committee on Appropriations, Chairman John Carter of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations Nita Lowey, and Lucille Roybal-Allard, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
LIVE OAK COUNTY – Local producers who are on the front lines of the ongoing cattle fever tick eradication program here now have an ally in Washington.
U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-15), who was elected in November to succeed former Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, was the guest speaker at Thursday's lunch meeting of the Live Oak County chapter of the Texas Farm Bureau. Gonzalez said that while the federal budget for fever-tick eradication efforts has been increased from $9 million to $12 million, more is needed.
MCALLEN, RGV – Two of the three congressmen that represent the Rio Grande Valley have spoken out against rhetoric that harms cross-border commerce.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen recorded video messages for a "legislative report card luncheon" hosted by the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and held at the Double Tree Suites in McAllen.
While the two lawmakers covered a range of issues, much of their focus was on U.S. trade with Mexico.