On Monday, I brought together South Texas hospital administrators, local, county, and state officials and Samaritan's Purse to discuss the possibility of deploying a field hospital in the Rio Grande Valley to combat COVID-19. I'm going to pursue every possible lead to bring help to our region and defeat this deadly virus.
COVID PSA
Now is not the time to let our guard down. We must stay vigilant and practice the guidelines as recommended by our health care experts. Wear your mask in public and stay home.
CNN: Texas & COVID-19 6/26/2020
ICYMI: I was on CNN today with Jim Sciutto to discuss how Governor Greg Abbott opened Texas too fast, too soon and his poor response to COVID-19. The Governor needs to stop listening to political consultants and serving Trump's agenda and do what's necessary to help our health care workers and save lives.
On June 19, 1865 Union Army General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas to proclaim that all slaves in Texas were now free. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed them almost two and a half years earlier, Texas was one of the more remote states and word of their freedom had not made it to them.
Today, we celebrate Juneteenth to commemorate this occasion. However, 155 years later, Black Americans still face systemic racism and oppression. We cannot stop until EVERY American has equal opportunities to succeed.
I teamed up with Congressman Filemon Vela to get the word out about the 2020 Census. Completing the Census is more than filling out a piece of paper. It means billions of dollars for things in our community like schools, libraries and hospitals. Fill out your 2020 Census today at: https://2020census.gov/
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2020! You should be proud of your amazing experiences and accomplishments. Despite these hard times, things will get better and we'll be able to celebrate the right way. Again, congrats and stay safe!
Rainy day in our nation’s Capitol, but I’m here to vote on legislation to benefit the 15th District of Texas and American people. This is our first vote of a two vote series today. We will be voting on aid to replenish the PPP, get much needed aid to our small businesses, help for our hospital workers and additional testing later this evening. Blessed to serve the 15th District of Texas and stay safe!
CARES Act Press Conference on 4/16
PLEASE SHARE: On Thursday, I hosted a press conference to discuss the CARES Act. While the Small Business Administration funds may have been temporarily exhausted, I am working to re-fund them as soon as possible. I am urging my colleagues to put aside the partisan blinders and pass a bipartisan solution for the American people. I will keep fighting for small businesses and people in South Texas while this pandemic continues.
Today, I demanded answers from Wells Fargo former board members, Betsy Duke & James Quigley who clearly fell asleep at the wheel. Resigning from your job doesn't absolve you from past misconduct that harmed thousands of consumers. Wells Fargo has time and time again put profits over consumers.
ICYMI: Congress passed and the president signed an $8.3 billion emergency response package designed to deliver the resources needed to address the coronavirus. This legislation is critical to save lives and combat the virus.
For up-to-date information, please visit the CDC website here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Recently, Albert Martinez, our Northern District Director, had the opportunity to tour the new addition to Parr Elementary School in San Diego ISD. Built thanks to a federal grant, the special sensory room helps autistic children and targets their specific sensory needs. I will always support efforts to help our children and ways to make society more inclusive.
The 2020 Census is fast approaching and will determine how more than $675 billion in federal funds are distributed back to states and local communities for services like infrastructure, health care and schools. And we need your help to get this count right. Let’s make Texas count!
ICYMI: we need your help with our Valentine's for Vets Program!
Please write a letter or note for a veteran this Valentine’s Day and drop them off at one of our district offices.
Deadline to drop letters is Friday, February 7!
Office locations:
McAllen Office
1305 W. Hackberry Ave.
McAllen, TX 78501
Office Hours: Monday – Friday
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT
Seguin Office
1243 Cardinal Ln.
Seguin, TX 78155
Office Hours: Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT
San Diego Office
404 S. Mier St.
San Diego, TX 78384
Office Hours: Monday
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. CT
Falfurrias Office
217 E. Miller St., Suite 200
Falfurrias, TX 78355
Office Hours: Tuesday
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. CT
Benavides Office
131 W. Main St.
Benavides, TX 78341
Office Hours: Wednesday
9 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. CT
Congressman Gonzalez House Foreign Affairs Hearing on Security and Rule of Law and Violence in Mexico
On Wednesday, at the House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on security and rule of law in Mexico, I asked the witnesses how we are measuring success in the Merida Initiative, ensuring accountability in criminal justice institutions, and how we can prevent further corruption in the police force.
Congressman Gonzalez on CECL Standards
At today's House Committee on Financial Services hearing, I spoke with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Chair Russell Golden about the impact the Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) standard will have on community banks and small businesses. It's clear CECL is too much, too late and we need to stop and study this accounting model further.
We need a clear strategy from the Administration to de-escalate the situation with Iran and prevent us from entering another endless war.
ICYMI: On Sunday, I was on Fox News to discuss the tensions in the Middle East and killing of Soleimani.
ICYMI: On Saturday, I spoke on CNN with Fredricka Whitfield CNN on the situation in Iran, impeachment, and the root causes of migration from Central America.
The Senate has blocked security for our elections three times so far. As a cosponsor of the SHIELD Act that was passed earlier this year, I will not stand idly by as foreign adversaries engage in a cyber-attacks on our democracy again in 2020. As your Congressman, I will always defend our democracy.
Wishing the 15th District of Texas warmth and togetherness this Kwanzaa!
To all of those in the 15th District of Texas, the greatest present is serving you. Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
To everyone in the 15th District of Texas and our brave service members, Happy Holidays from my family to yours!
ICYMI: Today, I gave a speech on the House floor urging my colleagues to recognize the single greatest threat to the USMCA and North American trade and prosperity - violence in Mexico.
If we continue to accept the status quo, we risk standing in the way of our own economic success.
ICYMI: I took to the floor of the House of the Representatives to urge my colleagues to support the impeachment of the president. We've been given no choice as President Trump has eroded the foundations of our democracy and used the office of the presidency for political and personal gain. I will vote 'Yes' on impeachment to fulfill my oath to the Constitution.
While the USMCA raises the bar for enforcement and provides certainty for our farmers, ranchers, and businesses, it still falls short. This agreement fails to address the single greatest threat to cross-border commerce and tourism: chronic violence and insecurity.
TUNE IN: I will be joining my colleagues Rep. Vela, Rep. Espaillat & Rep. Escobar for a joint press conference this morning at 10 a.m. ET to call on Congress to protect historic cemeteries & sacred cultural sites from Trump's border wall.
On Wednesday, I pressed Facebook CEO @Mark Zuckerberg on an issue that will impact everyone in Texas - the #2020Census - and made him explain what Facebook is doing to prevent false information from being disseminated to the American people.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Gonzalez and a bipartisan Congressional delegation give a press conference in McAllen, Texas following a three-day fact finding mission on the origins and causes of northern migration and the humanitarian crisis.
54 years ago today, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965, establishing Medicare and Medicaid. These programs emerged as part of LBJ’s War on Poverty and helped make healthcare more accessible for American seniors and families.
Access to quality, affordable healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. We must continue fighting until every American has dependable, comprehensive coverage. As your Congressman, I promise to continue working to ensure that no one is denied access to healthcare because it is too expensive.
Vicente Gonzalez serves as the U.S. Congressman for the 15th District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. This is his official page.
