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Dear Friends,
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This past week has been one for the history books. SCOTUS reaffirmed two major decision. For the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers in the US, home is here; also that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ+ employees from discrimination based on sex. As our judicial system continues to make strides in protecting our most vulnerable communities, I am committed to furthering that fight in Congress.
In the district, I held various press conferences, including a virtual conversation with two DACA recipients that my office has previously helped. I also traveled throughout the district to attend graduation ceremonies and grand openings.
My offices in the district also participated in some events, including volunteering at a San Antonio Food Bank distribution site.
As a reminder, our communities are continuing to move forward with a phased reopening. Please protect yourself and those around you by wearing face coverings, continuing to practice social distancing, and implementing clean hygiene in your daily routines.
I want to keep you up-to-date and informed throughout this pandemic and will continue working to ensure our district receives the necessary federal resources to combat this virus. 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 Attends Grand Opening of 550 Pizzeria |
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On Saturday, June 20, I helped celebrate the grand opening of Laredo's newest pizza shop, 550 Pizzeria. While there, I presented management and staff with a Congressional Certificate of Recognition. They are going to be a great addition to Laredo's community and I wish them prosperity and success in this endeavor. In case you were wondering, I highly recommended trying out the Ghost Pizza! Pictured is Rep. Cuellar seated with a family of pizza goers.
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Rep. Cuellar Delivers Commencement Speeches at La Vernia High School
On Friday, June 19, I delivered a commencement speech to the graduating senior class at La Vernia High School. These students worked extremely hard to get to this point and now, the possibilities are endless for each of them. Thank you Superintendent Dr. Hensley Cone, Principal Anthony Kosub, and the rest of La Vernia HS’s administration and staff for showing me such wonderful hospitality. Lastly, I want to give a special recognition to my Air Force Academy nominee, Nicole Utt. It’s a competitive process to receive my nomination, but Nicole showed that she has what it takes to achieve great success at the Academy and in all her future endeavors. Congratulations to Nicole and to the rest of last night’s graduates! Pictures is Rep. Cuellar and Nicole Utt.
Rep. Cuellar Hosts a Conversation with DACA Recipients
Earlier that same day, I held a virtual conversation with two DACA recipients that my office has helped, Aldo Collazo and Seven Flores. We discussed how SCOTUS's historic decision reaffirmed what we already knew: Dreamers are here to stay. We also spoke about Mr. Collazo's and Mr. Flores' personal experiences, and our continued fight to protect Dreamers and their families. Pictured is Rep. Cuellar speaking with guests on the WebEx call. To watch the conversation in its entirety, click here.
San Antonio Food Bank Mega Distribution in Poteet, TX
On Monday, June 22, my Outreach Coordinator for Atascosa, Bexar, McMullen and Wilson Counties, Gilbert Lafuente, attended the San Antonio Food Bank Mega Distribution at the Poteet Strawberry Grounds. This was the food bank's first time distributing in Poteet and the event proved to be extremely successful, with more than 200 families being served. Pictured is Gilbert Lafuente filling up a family's car with food and other goods. For more information on the San Antonio Food Bank and future distribution sites, click here.
| Summer of Safety |
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As summer begins, many of us will take part in more outdoor activities. While we should still practice social distancing, wear face coverings or masks and continuously wash our hands, I wanted to also remind you of a few other safety tips.
Texas heat is no joke and nothing is more refreshing than jumping in a pool. However, drowning is still the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 5-14. You can prevent this from happening by making sure your child learns how to swim, review water safety with your child before they enter a pool, and always have an adult present who can watch to ensure safety precautions are being met. For a complete list of pool safety, click here.
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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 June 23rd, our district has a response rate of 47.4%. This isn't that much of an improvement from last week and we're still trailing behind the state's average rate of 56.3%. That gap 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): Shopping for Food and Other Household Essentials
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Cities and small towns across Texas are seeing spikes in COVID-19 cases. To better protect yourself and those around you, continue taking the proper precautions when out in public.
In this week's video, the CDC gives advice on what you should do when you need groceries or other essential household items.
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| LATEST NEWS |
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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
6/17, Texas Border Business: Cuellar's Statement on the Extension of Non-Essential Travel Restrictions Across the US-Mexico Border
6/17, The Monitor: Mission to use more than $1M in federal funds for 10 officers
6/15, KGNS: Local officials speak on police defunding
6/15, Laredo Morning Times: LC awarded $200k grant for COVID-19 research
6/12, Border Report: South Texas Ranchers get another year to graze cattle along Rio Grande
6/11, Laredo Morning Times: Cuellar awarded for leadership and bipartisanship
6/9, Rio Grande Guardian: TBC, Cuellar, differ on whether to reopen the US-Mexico border
6/4, Texas Border Business: Rep. Cuellar Applauds Senate Passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act
6/4, Progress Times: Hidalgo County awarded $4.2M for homeless residents
6/2, KRGV: Valley representatives support local protests calling for positive change, share ideas to address issues
6/1, Laredo Morning Times: Laredo orphanage allows government to survey land for future border wall
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