2025: A Year in Review

2025 was a year of many wins for Team Gonzales. This congressional session, my team PASSED multiple pieces of legislation and helped SECURE federal funding for many of our communities across Texas.

Through casework services, we also helped over 690 Texans navigate various federal agencies and obtain the benefits they have rightfully earned, including over $1.5 million in taxpayer dollars that we returned from the federal government.

Day in and day out, my commitment is to my constituents, and I look forward to continuing to DELIVER for TX-23 in 2026.

Make sure to keep up with my work for you in Washington in the New Year by signing up for my weekly newsletter!

Securing our Southern Border

 Before President Trump came into office, our border was in chaos. Communities across South and West Texas were completely overwhelmed with high-speed chases and illegal border crossings. Under President Biden's policies, our borders were left wide open, and our CBP personnel had their hands completely tied. 

Within hours of taking office, President Trump and his administration went to WORK to secure our borders. Illegal border crossings plummeted, our Border Patrol Agents were back in action, and law and order was restored at our borders. 

In March, I joined Vice President Vance, Secretary of War Hegseth, and Director of National Intelligence Gabbard in Eagle Pass and Del Rio to share with the American people the results of this administration’s border security agenda. 

PICTURED: Congressman Gonzales, Vice President Vance, Secretary Hegseth, and Director Gabbard visiting the border.

I also worked closely with the Trump administration to craft the border provisions in the Working Families Tax Cut Act. As a result, over $170 billion in funding for immigration enforcement and border security priorities was signed into law—including funding to reimburse Texas for costs associated with the border crisis. 

I appreciate President Trump and his administration's hard work this year to ensure our border is secure, and I will continue to do the same.

In November, my PEARL Act PASSED in the U.S. House, which authorizes a pilot program to adopt dogs from local shelters and train them up to be support canines for CBP personnel.

Along with passing the PEARL Act, I introduced four more bills in the U.S. House focused on securing our border:

• Security First Act
• Checkpoint Modernization Act
• Border Patrol Supervisors Retention Act
• Strong Borders, Strong Communities Act

PICTURED: Pearl, the support canine who inspired the PEARL Act.

Fighting for our Troops and Veterans

As a 20-year U.S. Navy veteran, supporting the men and women who answered the call of duty is always top of mind.

Veterans should ALWAYS have access to the benefits they've EARNED. This year, I ensured the VA was fully funded and optimized to deliver more efficient services.

I also helped enact a cost-of-living increase for veterans with disabilities and introduced the Rural Veterans Dental Care Act to ensure ALL veterans have access to dental care.

In addition, I introduced the VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act to improve the VA's suicide prevention efforts and make mental health resources more accessible.

PICTURED: Congressman Gonzales at the National Veterans Outreach Program’s 27th Annual Veterans Stand Down in San Antonio.

This year, I also helped secure a 3.8% increase in basic pay for all military personnel effective January 1, 2026, as well as a mandatory increase in the Family Separation Allowance. This gives our troops who have been separated from their families due to their duty station extra money to help out while they are on orders. 

President Trump also announced that ALL servicemembers will receive a $1,776 bonus ahead of Christmas. 

I am incredibly grateful for all that we’ve accomplished this year for our troops and veterans. Next year, we’re going to continue to work even harder to deliver more wins for the men and women who served, and are currently serving, in our nation’s military. 

PICTURED: Congressman Gonzales visiting Wilford Hall at Lackland Air Force Base.

Improving School Security

As a father, I understand parents' fears when it comes to school safety.

Last month, my National Strategy for School Security Act PASSED in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This year, alongside Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), we relaunched the Congressional Bipartisan School Safety and Security Caucus (BSSSC) to ensure educators, law enforcement, school safety experts, and parents are all a part of the school safety discussion on Capitol Hill.

Ensuring voices are HEARD when discussing school security is of the utmost importance. That's why I hosted various roundtables with school superintendents and security personnel to find the best solutions possible to keep our children safe.

This year, I also introduced the Funding Officers and Resources to Increase Facility Youth Protection (FORTIFY) Act to authorize funding for school resource officers, protective equipment, and transportation support.

I look forward to continuing this work well into the New Year.

PICTURED: Congressman Gonzales meeting a Marfa School Resource Officer.

Backing the Blue

Our law enforcement officers work day and night to ensure Texans are always safe. That's why I make it a priority to back the blue in my service to Texas' 23^rd Congressional District.

Over the past year, I've helped SECURE over $3.3 million in FY25 COPS Hiring Grants to hire more police officers across TX-23. These federal dollars are a direct infusion into the communities I represent and go a long way in boosting public safety across Texas.

Through the Working Families Tax Cut Act, I helped secure funding for law enforcement to invest in training centers, criminal drone detection capabilities, drug trafficking and gang prevention efforts, immigration enforcement, and various equipment upgrades.

I also introduced the Curbing Offenses on Policing Services (COPS) Act to increase federal penalties on individuals who target or assault our law enforcement community.

I'm grateful to all the men and women behind the badge in our communities. I will always have your back.

PICTURED: Congressman Gonzales meeting with Fair Oaks Ranch Chief of Police, Todd Smith.

Protecting Texas Agriculture

We also had BIG WINS in 2025 for Texas farmers and ranchers.

As the New World screwworm continues to pose a threat to our livestock and agricultural industry, I've made it a point to tackle this biological parasite head-on.

In May, I authored the STOP Screwworms Act to authorize the construction of a permanent sterile fly facility, and by August, alongside the USDA, it was announced that a state-of-the-art facility would be constructed in Texas. This was a major triumph in keeping the screwworm from reaching the United States.

This year, I also founded the New World Screwworm Working Group and organized various meetings, consisting of nearly 40 members from various livestock and wildlife associations, to collaborate on responses to this deadly parasite.

Finally, I helped enact significant tax cuts for rural landowners and agricultural producers, including relief from the inheritance, or "Death Tax", on family farms.

Our Texas farmers and ranchers feed this nation, and are PIVOTAL to Texas' economy.

PICTURED: Congressman Gonzales visiting Grassfield Farm in Hondo.

My team and I are always available to assist you. Please feel free to contact my office at any time.