THE LATEST: MONEY TO BURN — With the Senate Obamacare repeal effort on the brink of defeat, dealmakers at the White House and on Capitol Hill are looking at ways to sweeten the pot for enough holdout senators to get the bill back on track. Following Monday’s CBO score, leaders have about $188 billion in savings they can divvy up toward individual senator’s priorities. Possible changes include “more spending for health savings accounts to appease conservatives such as Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Mike ... Read more

Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) recently announced new measures for the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to more efficiently fight disease and food-borne illnesses, including some border-specific efforts that could save businesses money and avoid wasted food. When a truck carrying produce crosses the border, U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors or certified Customs & Border Protection (CBP) agriculture inspectors inspect the contents. If they fin... Read more

“Today the independent Congressional Budget Office calculated that the Senate health care legislation will leave 22 million more Americans uninsured. My most vulnerable constituents - people with disabilities, older Americans, children, working families - would be hit the hardest. This is unacceptable. The Affordable Care Act is not perfect, but it has made life better in real ways for so many members of my community in Texas. We need to keep what works and fix what doesn't in a bipartisan way."... Read more

A bizarre budget that deserves to be DOA By Bruce Davidson Published 12:00 am, Saturday, June 3, 2017 Photo: Andrew Harnik /Associated Press Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway listens as Budget Director Mick Mulvaney speak to the media about President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal 2018 federal budget. It is not a “taxpayers first” budget. It is a target-on-poor-Americans budget. Laredo’s Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar is the among the least partisan members of Congress. In an age marke... Read more

Today, Congressman Cuellar (TX-28) responded to the independent Congressional Budget Office’s assessment that the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which was passed by the House of Representatives and has been sent to the Senate for consideration, will leave 23 million Americans uninsured. (Assessment can be viewed here: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/52752) He said: “I voted against the AHCA because it was clear it would hurt the people of my district. I represent one of the highest uninsured p... Read more

In response to the news that the House of Representatives will vote on TrumpCare today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) said: “TrumpCare would be a disaster for the people of Texas. It will strip health care from 24 million Americans. Many of the rest will get less coverage at a higher cost, especially people over 50, who will face a crushing age tax even if they are healthy. That’s more than 185,000 people just in my district. And anyone with a pre-existing condition will be put at extreme ris... Read more

Following the House vote today to repeal the Affordable Care Act and pass a weak Republican substitute, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who voted against the bill, said: “I am saddened that my colleagues voted to strip health care from 24 million Americans, make it harder for 7 million veterans to get care, and to put everyone with pre-existing conditions at grave risk. The people of my district will suffer if the Senate does not stop this legislation. I represent communities with some of the ... Read more

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) welcomed the news that the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives chose to withdraw the proposed health care plan known as the American Health Care Act (AHCA). “I opposed the Republican health care plan from the beginning, because it is financially irresponsible and morally unacceptable. Then, in late-night sessions and back room deals, some House Republicans snuck in changes to make a bad plan even worse. The Republican plan would have: · S... Read more

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) expressed his concern about President Trump’s budget cuts to Texas infrastructure, education, agriculture, business, and other vital programs: “The people of Texas’ 28th district will suffer if President Trump’s budget cuts are forced through Congress,” said Congressman Cuellar. For example, in Webb County alone, students at Texas A&M International, Laredo Community College, and Laredo Beauty College will lose nearly a million dollars in grants that hel... Read more

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) reacted to the Congressional Budget Office report that showed the negative impacts of the health care plan proposed by Congressional Republicans. The analysis indicates 14 million people could lose their health insurance coverage under the Republican plan, and Medicaid would be cut $880 billion, by 2018. "Despite the President saying nobody would lose access to health care on his watch, the CBO report shows that the Republican health care plan will make Am... Read more