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Border & Homeland Security

Cuellar's Statement on Customs and Border Protection plan to avoid sequester furloughs and AUO cuts

| Posted in Press Release

“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am encouraged to see that both chambers in Congress have approved a plan to transfer $11.3 million toward Customs and Border Protection salaries and expenses, in order to avoid furloughs and continue to pay for administratively uncontrollable overtime (AUO) for FY 2013.  As lawmakers, it is our fundamental duty to ensure that…

Congressman Henry Cuellar releases statement on passage of FY 2014 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

| Posted in Press Release

Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, released the following statement on the passage of the H.R. 2217, the FY 2014 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: “This bill includes the hiring of 1,600 new CBP officers. Those are the men and women in blue that man our ports of entry. The addition of these 1,600 CBP officers will be a historic step in addressing the congested ports…

U.S. should recognize Mexico's economic value

| Posted in Op-Eds

I met Enrique Peña Nieto in May 2011, during his introduction visit to Washington, D.C. Then governor of the state of Mexico, Peña Nieto was a rising star in Mexican politics and clearly had a bright future ahead of him. The following two years, after multiple trips between Mexico and Washington, including stops to places such as Azteca…

Congressmen Cuellar, McCaul, Vela, O’Rourke, Gallego, and Farenthold Introduce the bipartisan “Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act of 2013"

| Posted in Press Release

Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Filemon Vela (TX-34), Beto O’Rourke (TX-16), Pete Gallego (TX-23), and Blake Farenthold (TX-27) introduced today H.R. 1108, the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act of 2013. This bipartisan bill gives U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the authority to enter into public-private partnerships with local governments and…

Texas Border Congressmen Cuellar, Hinojosa, Vela, Gallego, and O’Rourke address sequestration impact

| Posted in Press Release

Today, Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Filemon Vela (TX-34), Pete Gallego (TX-23), and Beto O’ Rourke (TX-16) unified efforts to address the impact these automatic and arbitrary spending cuts will have in their respective districts when sequestration goes into effect this Friday, March 1. Earlier this week, the White House released…

Cuellar Ranked One of the Most Centrists Members of Congress

| Posted in Press Release

 The National Journal’s 2012 congressional vote ratings place Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) one of the most centrist Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Among the returning members, Congressman Cuellar is the 5th most conservative Democrat in the 112th Congress and the 1st most conservative Texas Democrat.   "I support good policy and I support legislation…

Congressman Henry Cuellar issues Statement on President’s State of the Union Address

| Posted in Press Release

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar issued the statement below following President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address: “Tonight, President Obama addressed some of the biggest issues of concern for the American people. However, there is more work that needs to be done. First, we need to work with our friends across the aisle to find an effective way to reduce our nation’s deficit.…

Congressman Henry Cuellar visits with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto’s cabinet members

| Posted in Press Release

Upon his return from Mexico City late Wednesday, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) expressed satisfaction with the results of the meetings he had with members of President Enrique Peña Nieto’s cabinet. During the meetings, Cuellar and the officials discussed issues that directly impact both the United States and Mexico, including border security, immigration reform, and trade and…

Congressman Henry Cuellar’s H.R. 915 passes the House

| Posted in Press Release

Congressman Henry Cuellar’s legislation, H.R. 915, better known as the Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act, today passed the U.S. House of Representatives 397-4. This was the final consideration needed at the Legislative Branch before the legislation is sent to the President’s desk for signature. The bill is returning to the House for consideration after passing the…