A Month in Review: October Congressional Update

Dear john,

It was important to me during this month's visit from United States Department of Agriculture officials that we toured colonias. We stopped by to speak with AYUDA to learn more about the challenges and opportunities and explore how the USDA may support for infrastructure and economic development.

Improving quality of life at colonias has been one of my priorities in Congress. In May 2021, I introduced the Colonia Infrastructure Improvement Act that invests $1.5 billion in drinking water, wastewater, and surface infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs.

This is also in addition to the financial support for colonias I included in the House FY23 NDAA that reauthorized the dormant EPA wastewater grant program at $100 million a year over a 5-year period and reduced the local cost share to 20 percent.

I also secured $70 million for drinking and wastewater USDA loans/grants for colonias and Native American communities in the FY22 appropriations omnibus bill, which was $2 million more the previous year.

As long as I’m in Congress, communities like the colonias can count on me.

As always, please remember to subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to ensure you never miss any of my updates and stay in the loop on what I’ve been doing for El Paso.

I recently had the privilege of administering Ray Provencio his reaffirmation of oath and speaking during his change of command ceremony.

As the first El Pasoan to hold this position, I look forward to the important work he'll accomplish leading the El Paso Port.

The climate crisis is transforming our planet, requiring us to address its impacts on our critical water and farming infrastructure.

I was proud to host the USDA's Gloria Montaño Greene & Director Lilliana Salerno, and US International Boundary and Water Commission Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner.

Job Corps provides young people with a pathway to the middle class and creates a pipeline of talented workers in our communities.

I was honored to receive the National Job Corps Association’s 2022 Congressional Leadership Award this month for my work to bolster Job Corps’ mission in Congress!

I had the opportunity to tour the County of El Paso’s migrant processing facility, which will help migrants who need support as they connect with sponsors throughout the country.

While Congressional Republicans continue to visit our border community for their photo-ops, I’m concerned their unwillingness to open legal pathways will prevent us from finding dignified solutions that help border communities, the agents at the border, and vulnerable migrants.

We don't have to surrender our values or our humanity in order to have a more manageable border. It’s on those of us in Congress to act, to legislate, and to stop depending on the same failed immigration policies of the past.

It was great to chat with veterans at the Veterans at Breakfast event this month and share updates on the work we’ve accomplished on their behalf.

This Congress, I’m proud to have passed the PACT Act and secured funding for the new El Paso VA Health Center.

1 in 4 veterans face mental health challenges.

I recently joined Endeavors to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Veteran Wellness Center. This resource honors our obligation to provide the best healthcare for our veterans, who selflessly served, and their families.

There are more than 400k people living with Alzheimer’s and over 1.5 million caregivers in Texas.

This month, I attended the Alzheimer's Association West Texas Chapter's Town Hall to discuss my work in Congress to address Alzheimer’s in El Paso and the importance of equity in Alzheimer’s research!

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