Anniversary On July 1, 1966, the Medicare program was officially launched. The successful enactment was a landmark achievement for the Democratic Party and the nation. Medicare transformed what it meant to be a senior or a physically disabled person in this country by providing health coverage. In 1964, only 51 percent of Americans over 65 had health coverage. Today, coverage is virtually universa... Read more »

Legislation co-sponsored by Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) that helps hospitals in South Texas attract nurses and reauthorizes the H-1C temporary visa program for foreign nurses to come to the United States was voted out of the House Judiciary Committee today and now heads for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. Read more »

Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement today after the Obama Administration announced that the U.S. and its partners in the International Energy Agency would release a total of 60 million barrels of oil onto the world market to offset the demand of oil. In contributing to the effort, the U.S. will release 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Read more »

Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced today that the South Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (STCADA) received federal funding from a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant in the amount of $893,614. In addition to the HUD grant, Webb County District Attorney Chilo Alaniz and Sheriff Martin Cuellar both contributed $48,667 each and Mr. Javier Santos, on behalf of the Fernando A. Sal... Read more »

“This morning, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates signed an order extending the temporary deployment of National Guard personnel along the Southwest border through September 30, 2011. Since their arrival at the end of last summer, thousands of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have served alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agents to thwart violence associated with Mexi... Read more »

Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) included legislation in the fiscal year 2012 Military Construction and Veterans funding bill that would bring south Texas one step closer to having a full-service VA hospital. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon by a vote of 411 to 5. “Our veterans have served our country with great distinction and honor and we owe it to them to hav... Read more »

Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) included legislation in the fiscal year 2012 Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations Act that would bolster security on the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill directs the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard to position a hangar on the border that would provide for stationing of additional UAVs (unmanned aerial systems.) The bill passed the U.S. Hous... Read more »

Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced and congratulated La Vernia High School senior Curtis Lackey on his acceptance into The United States Air Force Academy for the 2011-2012 academic school year. Read more »

Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) successfully advocated for legislation in the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Act that would restore eligibility for the city of San Antonio for the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), which aids cities in planning for and responding to acts of terrorism. Without the amendment, the legislation would have limited the eligibility to only 10 cit... Read more »

Today, the office of Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) along with Laredo Community College held a workshop for fire and EMS departments and cities wishing to establish or grow fire departments through federal funds. “Workshops that aid organizations in the process of applying for a grant and writing an application prove helpful,” Congressman Cuellar said. “Often, organizations stay away from apply... Read more »