Rep. Cuellar Sworn Into 114th Congress
Congressman Pledges to be Texas’ 28th District’s Voice in Washington

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) was sworn into his sixth term in the United States House of Representatives.

"As this new Congress begins, Texas is ready for us to continue the progress we’ve made in recent years," Congressman Cuellar said. "Texans know how to work hard and work together to get things done, and it’s my hope that my colleagues in Washington are as ready as I am to adopt that philosophy this Congress.”

Congressman Cuellar was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004 and is currently a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Senior Whip and a member of the Blue Dog Coalition.

He previously served as Texas Secretary of State and for 14 years representing Laredo in the Texas House of Representatives.

Congressman Cuellar has a well-deserved reputation for being a strong and independent voice for Texans. Often reaching across party lines to come up with bipartisan solutions for pressing issues facing both Texas and the country, in the 113th Congress, Congressman Cuellar:


· Introduced and passed the Government Customer Service Improvement Act of 2013 through the House. This legislation seeks to serve the taxpayers by improving customer service across federal agencies. Congressman Cuellar plans to re-introduce this legislation because he has a strong belief that we owe our taxpayers more than delays and service breakdowns – we owe them an effective, efficient, and responsible government because, ultimately, government is in the business of customer service.

· Worked through his role on the Appropriations Committee to require the Veterans Administration take stronger steps to address the Veterans Affairs claims backlog by providing additional funds to update the Veterans Benefit Management System

· In 2014, Congressman Cuellar and Chairman John Carter announced that the FY14 budget included legislation that they authored that authorizes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to initiate public-private partnership pilots for infrastructure improvements at ports of entry along the Texas-Mexico border. This provision permitting CBP to enter into agreements with private industries will further grow travel and trade at our U.S. ports-of-entry.


The Speaker of the House led today's traditional swearing-in ceremony on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Cuellar recited the oath that every Member of Congress has sworn since 1884: "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

After his swearing-in, Congressman Cuellar noted, "My constituents in the 28th District need a strong voice in Washington. Texas families deserve good jobs, affordable education and quality healthcare and I stand ready to get to work right away.”

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Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Previously, he served as a Texas State Representative and Texas Secretary of State.