Services

Congressman Cuellar Secures Increased Funding to Combat Drug Trafficking

Earlier this week, I announced a key step in the fight against drug trafficking by successfully including an additional $135 million in federal funding increases for the Department of Defense’s counter-drug programs in the recently enacted government funding bill. The money will be used by the National Guard Counter-Drug Program, the U.S. Southern Command and the Texas National Guard to keep our communities safe.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee I am committed to advocating for smart spending, including efforts to stem the flow of illegal drugs and keep our communities in South Texas and the border area safe.

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Congressman Cuellar directs CDC, FDA to increase monitoring of public health issues at high-volume ports of entry

This week, I also announced that I successfully included language in the Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus appropriations bill to improve public health at high-volume ports of entry. The language directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to work with local governments at these ports of entry, such as those in my district, to reduce the risk of food-borne illness and better equip local officials to deal with food-borne threats.

In addition, I requested that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide a report in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget request on how CDC coordinates its various programs with state and local public health departments to measure, track, control, and manage cross-border infectious disease in high-volume port cities.

The Port of Laredo in my district is the largest inland port of entry for trade into the United States and the third largest for all trade. There is an opportunity for an enormous amount of food entry inspection by the FDA and this collaboration could greatly reduce the potential of harmful food-borne illnesses to spread into the United States.

This language also assists local health department staff in addressing both highly infectious diseases that already occur along the U.S.-Mexico border as well as the threat of other new and emerging highly infectious diseases.




Meeting with the Children's Rehabilitation Institute of Teleton USA in San Antonio

On February 2, my outreach coordinator for Bexar County, Pete Arguello, met with the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute of Teleton USA (CRIT) in San Antonio to discuss how our office can help with CRIT USA's mission to serve children in the United States with neuromusculoskeletal disorders through comprehensive treatment and therapy.


Meeting with Wilson County Judge at Newly Remodeled Courthouse
On February 9, my outreach coordinator for Wilson County, Gilbert Lafuente, presented a framed flag flown over the capitol to Wilson County Judge Richard Jackson to display at their newly-remolded courthouse, which was built in 1869.


Coordinating with Non-Profit and Veteran Alliance Groups to Better Serve Our Veterans