CONGRESSMEN VICENTE GONZALEZ, TONY GONZALES, AND OTHER TEXAS BORDER LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE BILL TO ENSURE COLONIAS’ CONTINUED ACCESS TO FEDERAL FUNDING

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS - Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced the introduction of H.R. 4498, the Ensuring Continued Access to Funding for Colonias Act, alongside Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23), and other Texas Border Members of Congress. This legislation seeks to protect federal funding sources for colonias along the U.S.-Mexico border. 

Colonias, often unincorporated and outside city limits, are characterized by high poverty rates and a lack of adequate water, sewer, and decent housing infrastructure. Since 1991, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has set aside a dedicated percentage of grant funding for colonias along the border under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to improve access to these basic needs.

However, due to an outdated population standard—last revised in 1990—many colonias are at risk of losing this specific set-aside in the near future. This bipartisan bill corrects this issue by raising the population eligibility for the Community Development Block Grant Colonia Set-Aside Program from 1 million to 2 million residents — ensuring that colonia communities located in larger metropolitan statistical areas, such as El Paso and McAllen, remain eligible for targeted CDBG federal funding. Texas has the most colonias of the four southern border states. 

“This is about doing what’s right for our communities that are in need of clean water, safe housing, and modern infrastructure,” said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez. “South Texans should not be punished simply because their surrounding areas have seen population growth. This bipartisan bill will ensure colonia communities remain eligible for vital federal resources.” 

“Colonias along the border have historically lacked the most basic necessities, like water and sewage. Though federal grant funding exists to address those needs, an outdated provision in the law may soon disqualify these communities from being eligible for it. My legislation, the Ensuring Continued Access to Funding for Colonias Act, corrects this problem so that colonias continue to have a fighting chance for self-sufficiency and economic development. Preventing colonia grant funds from lapsing is not only the right thing to do—it is essential to promoting public health, safety, and security along the border,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. 

Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) have co-sponsored the legislation. 

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