Congressman Gonzalez Statement on President Trump’s Address to Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) released a statement following President Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress since being re-elected and sworn in.  

“On Tuesday night, I sat in the House Chamber and listened to President Trump address our nation. Let me be clear – I do not want President Trump to fail. If he fails, South Texans and the American people fail.”  

“But I remain concerned by what the President did not mention in his address. It has been 43 days since he took the oath of office, and we have only seen the price of everyday items continue to rise and the threat of cuts to vital programs like Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, Head Start, and SNAP linger. These are not simply line items on a budget – people’s health and wellbeing are at stake.” 

“South Texans are counting on President Trump and Congressional Republicans to protect these programs and honor the President’s promise to lower costs – a focal point of his campaign. I remain concerned that his 25 percent tariffs will not make us stronger, as he boasts, but rather will only make it that much harder for South Texans to get by. Due to these disastrous tariffs, Americans will pay more for food, fuel, and home goods.”  

“If the President and his allies in Congress demonstrate a willingness to protect the programs our community holds dear, we have an opportunity to work together to stop Mexican cartels from extorting American businesses involved in legitimate trade, lower costs for South Texans, ensure our region remains an energy hub, and bring order to our immigration system.”

“President Trump also touted the Laken Riley Act, the first piece of legislation passed during his second term in office. I was proud to support this legislation and uphold the standard in South Texas. Let me make this clear, if you commit a crime, you will be deported. Congress and the President must couple legislation like this with legal pathways to citizenship, especially for our Dreamers and DACA recipients.” 

“We must also ensure that immigration laws are enforced equally. I am horrified by the reports that Hispanics and Latinos are overwhelmingly targeted simply due to the color of their skin, or the language that they speak. The only way we will move the needle on immigration reform, strengthen our border security, fund our overworked U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agents, reduce the case backlog, and fix our broken system is through bipartisan cooperation. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue, it’s an American issue. I stand ready to work in a bipartisan manner to find a solution.” 

“President Trump spoke at length about government efficiency initiatives enacted by DOGE. I am supportive of efforts that promote smarter, more effective operations in our government while also ensuring we are good stewards of taxpayer money. However, the past 43 days have shown that vital programs like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, SNAP benefits, the National Student Lunch Program, and Title I funding for our schools are at risk. These programs are an economic lifeline for South Texans. They feed children, make healthcare more accessible for low-income families, and ensure seniors can afford to make ends meet with dignity and respect. The President’s victory lap on government efficiency only endangers the lives of thousands of South Texans. We must be smart about our approach to this.” 

“Although we have our disagreements, I remain committed to working with President Trump and my congressional colleagues to deliver results and better the lives of South Texans.”  

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