Dear john,

This year as a member of the Appropriations Committee, I secured $28.7 million for projects across Texas-28. This includes money for parks, emergency shelters, and law enforcement facilities. The funding will also support educational programs and medical centers.

 I am always working hard to help South Texas grow and prosper; to make life better for all of us and our families.

Thank you for your trust. 

As always, if you need help with a federal agency, please contact one of my offices:

• Washington D.C.:(202) 225 1640
• Laredo: (956) 725-0639
• Mission: (956) 424-3942
• San Antonio: (210) 271 2851
• Rio Grande City: (956) 424-3942 

I announced a $125,000 federal grant from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for the City of Laredo Health Department to develop a plan for the city to address social determinants of health. With this funding, the Laredo Health Department can improve physical and mental health for Webb County families. Over 15% of South Texans suffer from chronic diseases, like diabetes or lung diseases, and this funding can help determine what our community can improve on to reduce rates of these illnesses.

I announced that I secured a $1.5 million earmark for Webb County to improve streets in Rio Bravo. The repairs will include re-doing roadways and adding flood prevention measures that will improve safety for families in Rio Bravo. This is in addition to $5000,000 in federal funding the city had already received for road repairs. With these improvements, emergency vehicles, school buses, and residents will travel more efficiently during weather events.

I also announced $4.6 million for the Webb County Health Center to be be constructed. Families in Rio Bravo, El Cenizo, and La Presa will receive a variety of medical services, such as vaccinations, dental care, and checkups at this 9,600 square foot facility. Rio Bravo, El Cenizo, and La Presa will greatly benefit from these services, improving health and prosperity.

Additionally, I helped the city secure federal funding for a new trash truck and a new fire EMS vehicle. 

I announced that I have secured an almost $2 million federal earmark for the Gateway Mines Road Family Medicine Clinic to build a new family medicine clinic in this historically underserved area of our city. Transportation issues and lack of insurance often make residents of the Mines Road area hesitant to receive proper healthcare, but this new clinic will ensure that changes.

I attended Monica Garcia’s 2nd Annual Winter Toroland Bowl-A-Thon at Jett Bowl North in Laredo. Thank you, Monica, for putting this great charity event together once again for our community. Congratulations to all the teams that participated in the tournament!

I attended Laredo’s First Annual Conjunto Festival presented by the STCA Laredo Chapter at Uni-Trade Stadium. Conjunto music is Texas “roots” music that dates back to the end of the 19th century and tells the stories of the everyday lives of the working class. Thank you to all that came together to organize this culturally rich event for our community.

I hosted a Coffee with Cuellar at Cafe Radical in Laredo, where I presented Congressional Certificates of Recognition to veteran journalists from South Texas. Paco Díaz, Rogelio Guzmán, Miguel Timoshenkov, José Luis Vargas, and Juan Rodríguez have consistently served our community for years. They have a strong dedication to their profession and expert knowledge of our region.

My Laredo Outreach Coordinator, Melissa Peña, attended a proclamation by the City of Laredo proclaiming National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Laredo, Texas.

This year, an estimated 276,000 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than 42,000 will likely die from the disease. However, through early detection and improved treatments there is a 90% five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer. This month we celebrate all of our breast cancer survivors and also remember those who lost their battle.