It's been another busy week in TX-23 and D.C. I am proud to serve our district in Congress. Each day, I work to address your concerns and protect our liberties. From helping you navigate federal casework to addressing your concerns, my team and I are always here to help. Please read below for some updates on my recent work representing you in Washington, D.C. and back home in TX-23. Working for You in Washington Keeping Kids Safe at School Last week, I joined my fellow Bipartisan School Safety and Security Caucus Co-Chair Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) alongside Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) to unveil two new measures that will enhance school safety initiatives. One of the bills (Alyssa’s Legacy Youth in School Safety Alert Act) would require silent panic alarms in every school to immediately alert law enforcement of an active shooter situation. A similar law has already been passed in Texas, but only 40% of schools across the U.S. use silent alarms that directly connect to local law enforcement. School Resource Officers prevent and respond to situations of violence in schools, but many campuses lack resources to fill these positions with qualified candidates. The Strengthening Our Schools Act makes needed investments to ensure every school has a first responder already on school grounds in the event of a critical incident. 14-year-olds Alyssa Alhadeff, Alex Schachter, and Gina Montalto were tragically killed in Parkland, Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. As a father of six, I know firsthand the love we parents have for our kids. Our children deserve to learn in an environment that is safe and free from harm. Implementing common-sense school safety and security measures will move us closer to accomplishing our shared goal. Helping American Employers If every eligible unemployed American filled one of the nearly 10 million open jobs throughout our country, there would still be 4 million jobs available. The HIRE Act aims to fill workforce gaps by expediting the process employers use across multiple industries to legally hire migrant workers through work visas. Staffing shortages weaken our economy and cause headaches for business owners – my legislation lifts this burden off of our employers. Solving the Border Crisis - Congress & the Biden Administration Last week, I took part in the House Homeland Security Committee's hearing on the crisis at our southern border. During the hearing, I spoke about the need for Congress and the Biden Administration to focus on solutions, rather than talking points. As our communities face the consequences of failed border policies, lawmakers need to come together and find fast-acting and tangible solutions to provide them with relief. To watch my remarks, click here or the video above. Examining the Afghanistan Withdrawal The warriors who bravely defend our nation deserve every protection when leaving a warzone. I spoke during the House Foreign Affairs Committee's hearing to honor the 13 servicemembers who lost their lives nearly two years ago as part of President Biden's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. I spent five years in Iraq and Afghanistan during my 20-year career in the U.S. Navy. The tragedy of the Afghanistan withdrawal is personal to me. We have to learn from these kinds of mistakes to avoid further unnecessary bloodshed like this in the future. To watch my remarks, click here or the video above. Working to Strengthen International Trade On Thursday, I met with members of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce to discuss the importance that international trade with Mexico has in many TX-23 economies. Ensuring our local businesses and economies are supported requires coordination between all levels of government. In Congress, I will continue to work with stakeholders at every level to strengthen our international trade relationships, build up our local businesses, and spur economic opportunities. Focusing on Education Last week, I met with Dr. Antonio Flores, President of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), to discuss the contributions and importance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in Texas and across the country. TX-23 alone is home to four HSIs, and I have worked hard in Congress to ensure that these institutions receive the funding necessary to provide higher education opportunities for Hispanic Americans. This includes $3 million that I helped secure for Texas A&M University-San Antonio to promote post-baccalaureate programs. Survey: Make Your Voice Heard Did you join me on July 25th for my telephone townhall? Yes No On Tuesday, I hosted a telephone townhall to take questions from South and West Texans and provide an update on how I’m working for you in Congress. If you couldn’t join us for this month’s telephone townhall, sign up for my next one by clicking here. Battling the Border Crisis Recently, I spoke with Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax about the chaos at our southern border. For over two years, I’ve called on Congress to designate drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. By doing so, Border Patrol Agents and local law enforcement agencies will have extra resources available to them to combat the chaos cartels are causing within our communities. To watch my full interview, click here or the video above. Hosting Texans in D.C. Welcoming constituents to the nation's capital is always an honor. On Thursday, I hosted Mike Wilson and his grandson in my D.C. office. As your Representative, my office doors are always open. If you are traveling to D.C. and would like to stop by my office, please contact us at 202-225-4511. My team and I are always available to assist you. Please feel free to contact my office at any time. Washington, D.C. 2244 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-4511 Del Rio 712 East Gibbs Street, Suite 101 Del Rio, TX 78840 830-308-6200 Fort Stockton 103 West Callaghan Street Fort Stockton, TX 79735 432-299-6200 San Antonio 4372 N. Loop 1604 W, Suite 205 San Antonio, TX 78249 210-806-9920 Socorro 10167 Socorro Road Socorro, TX 79927 915-990-1500 Uvalde 2401 Garner Field Road, Building Q Uvalde, TX 78801 830-333-7410 Visit our Website Rep. Gonzales | 2244 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington , DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]