Last week, I was honored to welcome President of the United States Joseph R. Biden, Jr., to Brownsville.

During his visit, President Biden and I met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel and local leaders who bear the brunt of the immigration crisis and discussed real solutions to secure our border. I also spoke about my bill, the Safe Zones Act, which would reduce the burden on our border and remove cartels from the equation. 

I thank President Biden for heeding my calls and efforts to make this visit happen. I look forward to working with the President and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find a bipartisan solution to this crisis. 

Watch our remarks here. 

I am glad House and Senate leadership worked together to avoid a partial government shutdown by passing a stopgap measure that would extend funding through March 8, 2024, and March 22, 2024, until a final fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill is enacted. Likewise, Congress passed a short-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization that would extend FAA funding through May 10, 2024. 

While it is essential that we kept the federal government open, it is past time we pass a Fiscal Year 2024 government funding legislation and begin our work for Fiscal Year 2025. We cannot continue to hold the American people hostage for the sake of a political agenda. 

This month, as part of my duties on the Task Force to Combat Mexican Drug Cartels, I traveled to Mexico on a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to discuss a multitude of issues with Mexican officials, including robust action to combat cartels, strategies to curb illegal migration and secure our border, ensure Mexico’s timely release of water per the 1944 Water Treaty, and methods to halt the spread of fentanyl across the border. I look forward to continuing these discussions and bilateral cooperation. 

I was proud to speak with Univision’s Jorge Ramos about the surge of migration at the border and what actions Congress can take to support border authorities and process migrants in a timely and humane manner.  
  
Watch my full interview here. 

Recently, the Board of Directors of Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, Inc., announced their decision to shut down after over 50 years in operation, closing the last sugar mill in Texas. While I understand this decision was not made lightly, federal agencies could have prevented this closure. That is why I will continue to urge the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Agriculture to hold Mexico accountable for failure to deliver their fair share of water and provide relief to farmers and residents across South Texas.  
  
Read my full statement here.  

Every day, my office and I ensure federal agencies are working with you and for you. Whether you are having issues with passports, USCIS, OPM, the VA, or the IRS, my staff is here to assist you.     
  
Please call (956) 682-5545 or submit a request online here to speak with someone on my team.   
  
Thank you so much to all those who came out to our Kingsville Neighborhood Hours! Stay tuned for updates and let us know if you would like us to visit a neighborhood near you!   

Take a look at this testimony from Marcelo, who was experiencing issues with the Social Security Administration. 

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