Dear Friends, 
I hope everyone is staying cool in this record-breaking heat! I am excited to share with you the latest news and updates from Congress and the work I am doing in Washington, D.C. on behalf of the 34th Congressional District of Texas. 

Sincerely,

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez

President Biden’s Executive Action to Bring Order to the Border

Last week I joined President Joseph R. Biden Jr., along with the Mayors of Brownsville, Edinburg, and Harlingen, for the announcement of an executive order to curtail the flow of migrants at the U.S. - Mexico border.  While this is a move in the right direction, the President's executive action alone cannot be a substitute for changing our immigration laws or addressing current funding or staffing shortages. I urge my House Republican colleagues to bring the Bipartisan Senate Border package to the floor for a vote so that we can properly fund our border authorities and bring order, efficiency, and humanity to our border. 

You can read my full statement here. 

Secured Amendments in House Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Funding Bill

Two of my amendments were included in the House Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill–one of twelve appropriations bills needed to fund the federal government.

One of the amendments would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to identify areas that would benefit from veteran cemeteries, furthering my work to bring additional veteran resources to South Texas. The other emphasizes the need for the Secretary to allow the internment of Military Working Dogs in veteran cemeteries. This was inspired by the story of Sgt. Fieldy, a brave military working dog, who lived after service with his handler in South Texas, and who saved countless lives by detecting hidden IEDs during multiple tours in Afghanistan.

You can read my full statement here. 

Weslaco Lady Panthers Softball Team Wins 6A

State Championship Title

Congratulations to the Weslaco Lady Panthers Softball Team on their 6A State Championship Title! Sophomore, Andrea Ortiz, hit a Grand Slam to defeat Waco-Midway 11-9 in a stellar comeback.  

I am proud to also recognize June 1st as Lady Panther Softball Day in Weslaco! In recognition of their amazing accomplishment this season, my office was thrilled to present a flag and letter to the team on my behalf last week at Weslaco City Hall during a regular meeting of the city commission. 

Harlingen Airport Runway to Open Soon

Valley International Airport is set to open the longest runway south of Austin! I am proud to have supported this $32 million project. Combined with the new Air Traffic Control tower, funded by a $4.5 million grant from the #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw, which I helped secure, this announcement underscores my commitment to improving District 34.  

(Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) 

You can read my statement on the tower project here. 

$9.5 Million Grant for Santa Rosa’s Drought Resiliency Project

In my continuing efforts to help mitigate the ongoing water crisis, I announced $9,553,500 in federal funding for the City of Santa Rosa through the Bureau of Reclamations’ WaterSMART Drought Resiliency Project grants. This substantial investment will fortify the community’s water infrastructure and overall resiliency to drought conditions. The funding for this project comes after I called on U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, to support South Texas through multiple funding programs back in November 2023. 

This investment from the federal government will go a long way in addressing the current water supply challenges in Santa Rosa. 

 Read my full statement here. 

Announcing a Presidential Permit for the Flor de Mayo International Bridge in Cameron County, Texas 

I announced that the Biden Administration has authorized Cameron County to proceed with the construction, maintenance, and operation of Flor de Mayo International Bridge in Brownsville, Texas, an international boundary between the United States and Mexico. This authorization marks a significant milestone for Cameron County and the entire Rio Grande Valley. Our bridges serve as vital conduits for international trade, commerce, and tourism. 

The approval of this project comes after a productive conversation I had with President Biden on Air Force One during his historic visit to Brownsville, Texas, in late February and language that I helped secure in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. The Flor de Mayo International Bridge is a testament to years of hard work and collaboration between the federal and local governments in the Rio Grande Valley.

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, we are here to assist you.
 Please call (956) 682-5545 or submit a request online here to speak with someone on my team.

Team Gonzalez Helps South Texan Cut Through Red Tape at USCIS