Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that $701 million in emergency funding for the nation’s southern border passed the House late Thursday as part of a larger emergency spending measure to support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The funding will allow for the deployment of 1,200 new Border Patrol agents between the ports of entry along the U.S. Mexico border and also includes $201 million for Justice Department programs that support local law enforcement. Read more »

Today, the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation issued the following statement regarding a provision contained in the House-passed 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act to prevent the state of Texas from diverting $820 million in emergency education jobs funding for non-educational use. Last year, Texas state leaders diverted to its rainy day fund $3.25 billion in federal Recovery Act funds that were intended to support Texas public schools. Read more »

Beginning today, uninsured Texans with pre-existing conditions can apply for a new health insurance program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) will cover a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, for uninsured Texans who currently don’t have health insurance due to pre-existing conditions. Read more »

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) helped pass the Homebuyers Assistance and Improvement Act to extend an important deadline to help eligible first-time homebuyers benefit from tax credits. The bill passed the House overwhelmingly Tuesday and would give homebuyers an extra three months to complete their home purchases to benefit from tax credits worth up to $8,000. Read more »

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement in response to the United States Supreme Court decision affirming state and local rights for individuals to keep and bear arms. On Monday, the high court ruled to uphold nationwide the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, concluding that the constitutional right of an individual to keep and bear arms is protected from state and local laws restricting gun ownership. Read more »

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that a new health care website will go live on July 1 to provide Americans a place to compare and research health insurance plans online. The Department of Health and Human Services is scheduled to launch the website next week: www.healthcare.gov. Read more »

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle over 1,200 miles of the Texas-Mexico border, in addition to the Texas Gulf Coast. As a result of the decision, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can now move forward in permanently stationing a remotely-piloted aircraft in Texas. This will be the first UAV based and operated in Texas to help combat illegal activity along the Texas-Mexico border. Read more »

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, released the following statement in response to a letter released by the White House Tuesday in which President Obama respectfully requests Congress to approve $600 million worth of specific emergency funding requests for the nation’s southern border, including $297 million to hire 1,000 new border patrol agents, $52.5 million to hire an additional 160 new ICE agents, $37 million for two new unmanned aircraft systems and $201 million for the Department of Justice to help provide critical support along the border: Read more »

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) supported the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act to establish a new community bank fund worth $30 billion to increase lending to small businesses looking to hire and expand their operations. Read more »

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed Wednesday an unprecedented government accountability bill authored by Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), who championed similar legislation in Texas. The landmark legislation requires unparalleled public reporting from federal agencies four times a year and would make these performance reports available to the public and to Congress. The bipartisan legislation aims to reduce government waste by shining light on how government agencies perform. Read more »