Dear john,

As someone who lives and raised his family on the border, I have found the rhetoric about our southern border offers little resemblance to what is on the ground.

Year after year, FBI statistics show that crime rates are lower on the border than non-border major cities.

The reality of our border communities is simple: our crime rates are low, and our residents feel safe because of the efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fund programs that support our law enforcement and protect our communities. I would like to thank the dedicated law enforcement officers and local leaders at our southern border who keep our communities safe.

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 

On Sunday, we celebrated my wife, Imelda's, birthday. Thank you for all the years together. Happy birthday Imelda!

I announced a $165 million expansion project for the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) C29 Checkpoint on I-35. I also announced $200 million from TxDoT for the widening of I-35 from 1.2 north of the 83 interchange, to 1 mile north of the C29 Checkpoint. The highway will be widened from 4 to 6 lanes to accommodate the new checkpoint. In total, this is an approximately $365 million project. The project includes a short-term solution with improvements to Texas State Highway I-35 Frontage Road including road widening, lighting, and safety barriers. The checkpoint will then be expanded from 6 inspection lanes to 16. It will also include: 5 secondary bus lanes, 4 cargo dock areas, a secondary HAZMAT containment area, innovative NII systems, a substation, training office, seizure lot, canine facility, fleet office, and an Aerobic Septic System. This expansion will improve international commerce, enhance public safety, and reduce drug and human trafficking.

I announced that I secured a $3,000,000 federal earmark to build 2.75 miles of highway to connect FM-1472 and IH-35. The Vallecillo Road will move goods more efficiently, lower congestion, improve safety and spur economic development. With about half of all Laredo trade, 2.3 million trucks carrying around $200 billion per year, traveling through the World Trade Bridge into Mines Road, this creates safety and congestion issues. This project will create a second major roadway to reduce traffic, sidewalks, and a 10-foot shared path on one side, bettering quality of life for families in Webb County.

I announced that I helped secure over $2.5 billion for transportation projects in Bexar County from TXDoT’s 2023 Unified Transportation Program. This ten-year plan to improve Bexar County’s transportation system is helped by my vote for the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the San Antonio Transportation District receiving $445 million more than in the last fiscal year. This funding will invest in improvements to IH-35, 410, 1516 and more. Bexar County will see better, safer roads to increase public safety, efficiency, and economic growth.

I announced that I helped secure over $9.2 million for transportation projects in McMullen County from TXDoT’s 2023 Unified Transportation Program. This ten-year plan to improve McMullen County’s roadway system is helped by my vote for the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will create safer and more efficient roads for McMullen County law enforcement, businesses, and local families.

My wife, Imelda, my daughters, Christina and Catherine, and I attended the UTSA vs North Texas football game. Happy to support our Roadrunners with my friends, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, former State Senator John Montford, and Paige Webster. Thank you, UTSA President, Taylor Eighmy, for the invitation and the South Texas hospitality.

My wife and I attended the Mission Open Air Market in San Antonio. We got the opportunity to visit with local vendors and constituents and listen to their needs. It is important that we continue to support our local economies by shopping at our community markets.

I saw my friend, Mayor of Converse Al Saurez. Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to continue working with you for the residents of Converse. 

I hosted a webinar on federal funding for local law enforcement with the Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Local law enforcement is always on the front line to keep South Texas communities safe, and I’m committed to getting them the resources they need. Thank you to Sheryl Thomas of the DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Vince Davenport of the DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance, and Roel Gomez of USDA for helping me inform South Texas law enforcement of available federal funding. We must continue our work together to support local law enforcement to keep our communities and families safe.

My Rio Grande City Outreach Coordinator, Roberto Bazan, attended the Starr County Domestic Violence Coalition Rally sponsored by the RGV District Attorneys coalition. We must come together to fight crime and reduce domestic violence in our communities.

My Laredo Outreach Coordinator, Melissa Peña, joined Webb County Commissioner Jesse Gonzalez to recognize some of Laredo’s finest high school senior athletes, during La Estrella Del Deporte Program. La Estrella Del Deporte’s program recognizes high school senior athletes for their athletic abilities and focuses on their academic achievements.

My office attended the Texas HHS Childcare Provider Information Session at South Texas College’s Workforce Center in Rio Grande City. Childcare providers are an essential part of the South Texas economy, and they help working families put food on the table.

My Rio Grande City Outreach Coordinator attended the 1st Annual General Ricardo Sanchez Elementary PTO Pumpkin Patch event. This event brought the Rio Grande City community together for fall activities with snacks, drinks, pumpkin decorating, a hayride and more.