In the News
Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), and Filemon Vela (TX-34) announced a $1.5 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley through their Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Grant program.
The university will receive a $374,836.00 yearly grant over the next four years, totaling $1,499,344.00 in federal funds. The grant was funded through the fiscal year 2018 omnibus appropriation bill, which funds the government for the remainder of the fiscal year.
One U.S. Marine Veteran has hope in the current administration as Congressman Vicente Gonzalez sent a letter to President Trump urging him to honor his promise of protecting deported veterans.
Jose Maria Martinez, who was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. legally, served in the Marine Corps for seven years. However, he committed a drug crime after being honorably discharged from the armed services.
"I was caught with marijuana at the checkpoint in Sarita and I was given five years," said Martinez.
More efforts are being made to ensure the longevity of citrus, not only in the Rio Grande Valley, but across the nation.
"The citrus industry is a very important part of our economy and provides a lot of jobs for South Texas," said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez.
On Wednesday, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez announced record-level funding to combat the citrus greening disease. In total, the funding would add up to more than $67 million.
The citrus greening disease has affected citrus farmers in the RGV, like Jimmy Pawlik.
The Port of Corpus Christi's Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP) received additional support from bipartisan Members of the Texas Congressional Delegation in a recent letter sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) urging that more funds be designated to it this year. U.S. Reps.
As the days go on, more troops are in Starr County securing the border.
The National Guard remains in the Valley in response to President Trump's border security mandate.
Roma residents say they have not seen troops in their city, but our cameras were rolling as troops monitored the Rio Grande, waiting for any illegal activity that may be lurking.
"I think it's a good idea, it will help the immigration problem along with Border Patrol," said Felicita Leal, who has lived in Roma for years.
Ever since the idea was floated out three months ago — to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census — it has provoked much opposition. Nevertheless, the Trump administration this week decided the question will be asked.
And that has us asking: Why?
WASHINGTON - Congressman Vicente Gonzalez sent a letter to every U.S. state governor calling on them to pardon veterans who are currently in deportation proceedings or have already been deported. The letter comes after the congressman hosted a roundtable with leaders from veteran service organizations, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41) to discuss the Repatriate Our Patriots Act, a piece of bipartisan legislation that would bring home deported veterans and expedite their citizenship process.
Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) joined the Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District (ISD) leadership to announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has approved a $8,540,000 loan for Edcouch-Elsa ISD to construct a new Career and Technology Program building and a maintenance facility building.
I come from a working-class family and I have always been with the people. When I was a young boy, my mother would take me to visit family in Monterrey, Mexico. As a young adult, I backpacked throughout Latin America in awe of the hospitality and generosity of people living there.
Despite a federal court ruling delaying the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, members of Congress continue bipartisan negotiations Wednesday to come up with a replacement for the program.
On Tuesday night, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco temporarily blocked the Trump administration's decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, which has protected from deportation some 700,000 people who came to the country illegally as children.