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Dear Friends,
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I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Fourth of July weekend. Due to COVID-19, our celebrations may have been a bit different this year, but I enjoyed spending time with family after a busy week in Washington, DC.
While in DC, I voted to pass a highway infrastructure bill that will bring better bridges, more transit, & safer roads. I also voted on a bill that will strengthen the Affordable Care Act and lower prescription drug costs.
In the district, I held a press conference with district media outlets, as well as attended meetings and virtual briefings. As always, my offices continue to help constituents with any federal issues they face.
Unfortunately, Texas has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Please protect yourself and those around you by wearing face coverings, continuing to practice social distancing, and implementing clean hygiene in your daily routines.
As your representative, I want to keep you up-to-date and informed throughout this pandemic. I urge you to visit my website and social media pages, @repcuellar, to stay informed with the latest news. |
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| Rep. Cuellar Holds Conference Calls on USMCA |
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On Wednesday, July 1st, I held two virtual conferences to discuss USMCA. This historic trade agreement entered force on the same day and will benefit diverse industries including manufacturers, farmers, and any business who sells or buys across Texas. USMCA will now allow Americans to trade more than $3.8 billion in goods and services with our North American neighbors every day, or roughly $1.4 trillion annually, supporting more than 12 million American jobs. Pictured is Rep. Cuellar.
Rep. Cuellar first spoke with both the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group, which included: House Members and Deputies from Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies to discuss bilateral relations.
Rep. Cuellar later 'virtually' met with the Laredo Economic Development Corporation to further explain how USMCA entering force will impact Laredo's local economy.
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Rep. Cuellar Discusses a Transformative Highway Infrastructure Bill
On Thursday, July 2nd, I held a telephone press conference in Laredo, TX, with media throughout the 28th district. The focus of this call was to explain transformative highway infrastructure legislation that I voted to pass. This bill will invest more than $1.5 trillion in modern infrastructure while creating millions of good-paying jobs.
This bill would designate the I-27 Ports-to-Plains Corridor as a Future Interstate; therefore, making Texas and New Mexico eligible for increased federal funding to complete the I-27 highway expansion project.
Federal Funds for TX-28: Operation Stonegarden & Urban Area Security Initiative
This past week I announced two federal grants that will greatly impact counties across our district: Operation Stonegarden and the Urban Area Security Initiative. The Stonegarden Program increases operational capabilities of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies - funding over-time pay, new equipment and supporting interagency operations. The Urban Area Security Initiative helps to expand and improve homeland security preparedness. These grants are critical in helping our local law enforcement and first responders effectively care for and protect our communities.
UPDATE: Paycheck Protection Program has Reopened
As of July 6, the Paycheck Protection Program has resumed accepting applications until August 8, 2020. This program is a way to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their employees on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses. For more information, click here.
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Intern Spotlight: Briana Ortiz
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In this week's "Intern Spotlight" meet Briana Ortiz. Briana is a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Biology. Briana's main focus is health care and that is precisely why she pursued this internship. She hopes to learn more about health care policy and the legislative process as a whole. Throughout her internship, Briana has been able to gain a better understanding of how policies impact constituents on the ground level and the types of issues faced on a day-to-day basis. This has furthered her desire to strengthen the relationship between government and medicine, as too many people live in underserved areas and do not always have direct access to quality health care. When she isn't interning, you can find Briana preparing for medical school in the fall, as well as taking care of her cats, drawing or traveling. Thanks Briana for being a part of the team and hook 'em!
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Coronavirus Resource Handbook
My office's COVID-19 Resource Handbook provides an extremely helpful list of tools and services for all those in the district. We are constantly updating the information in our handbook and you can regularly check my website for the newest edition. This wide-ranging economic rescue package provides rapid and meaningful assistance for individuals, businesses, and first responders.
Sections include: unemployment, direct payments, food assistance, homeowners and protection programs, and more. If you have any questions about the topics listed on the handbook, please contact my offices for assistance. To view the English handbook, click here. To view the Spanish handbook, click here.
We're Behind on Responding to the 2020 Census
As of July 6th, our district has a response rate of 47.8%. Unfortunately, this is only a .1% improvement from last week and we're still trailing behind the state's average rate of 56.6%. The gap in responses is continuing to widen; don't get left behind. Let's improve these numbers and make sure every, man, woman, and child living in TX-28 is properly accounted for. You can complete the census form online, by clicking here. If you want to complete it by phone, call: 1-844-330-2020. Or, you can respond through mail, once you receive the paper form.
| This Week's Grant Newsletter |
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Don't miss out on a grant opportunity! Attracting more federal funds to the district and region has been a top priority during my tenure in Congress. In an effort to better serve you, I want to provide you with information on a variety of open federal grant opportunities in each week's newsletter. To see this week's edition, click here. If you'd like to subscribe to the weekly grants newsletter, please fill out our google doc form.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Youth Sports Recommendations
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Some youth sports leagues are starting up again and although games and practices may look different then what we're used to, we still need to ensure that we properly protect our children by taking extra precautions.
In this week's video, the CDC outlines recommendations for kids, parents and coaches on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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| LATEST NEWS |
7/6, Laredo Morning Times: Cuellar discusses infrastructure bill for I-27
7/3, Rio Grande Guardian: Division among border leaders on ending US-Mexico travel ban
7/2, Laredo Morning Times: Cuellar discusses USMCA with Mexican counterparts on its first day
7/2, Texas Border Business:
'Conversation with Cuellar' to discuss new highway infrastructure bill
7/1, KVEO: Federal funding announced for border security
7/1, KRGV: Leaders and economists discuss USMCA trade agreement
6/28, Rio Grande Guardian: Pioneers revisit their efforts to create a Virtual College of Texas
6/26, Dallas Morning Times: Trump violated Constitution by diverting Pentagon funds to build border wall, federal appeals court rules
6/25, Nexstar: The window for U.S. Senate to pass police reform bill could be closing
6/25, Bush Center: Bush Institute Hosts
Conversation with Congressmen Will Hurd and Henry Cuellar on the Need for Continued U.S. Support in Central America
6/19, KRGV: Congressman Cuellar says Congress needs to act on DACA to possibly prevent Trump's next attempt to end policy
6/18, Border Report: Historic DACA ruling underscores urgent need for immigration reform, lawmakers say
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