Washington, D.C. – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) was sworn in as Texas’ Twenty-Eighth District Congressman to the 117th Congress. The Congressman released the following statement:

“I am honored to continue to represent Texas’ 28^th in Washington for the next two years. A great deal of work lies ahead, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to working every day to advance the priorities of my constituents.

“I will fight for the support that our families require as we continue to battle the COVID-19 crisis, including additional federal funding to ensure vaccines are distributed to every American. I will protect and expand affordable health care, particularly for the thousands of South Texans with pre-existing conditions. I will make sure every child has the opportunity to fulfill their American Dream by expanding college financial aid and making federal programs more available for students. I will work to implement strong and smart border security, which does not include an ineffective and wasteful border wall.

“I am committed to working across the aisle to implement common-sense policies that make our families safer, our jobs more secure, and our nation more united. Now it's time for us to roll up our sleeves and get back to work on the issues that matter most to South Texas families. Let’s get to work.”

Congressman Cuellar is currently a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Chief Deputy Whip and a member of the Steering and Policy Committee. He previously served as Texas Secretary of State and represented Laredo in the Texas House of Representatives. Throughout his public service, Congressman Cuellar has secured a number of victories for the people of South Texas:

• Authored the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in Texas that has expanded coverage to hundreds of thousands of children
• Authored the TEXAS Grant Program– the largest in Texas history – that today gives thousands of students the opportunity to achieve a college education
• Delivered critical COVID-19 relief resources, including stimulus checks, vaccines, and PPP, to hard-working families
• Expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), boosting the economy and helping families meet basic needs
• Supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Obamacare), extending health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.
• Secured passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), expanding opportunities for American businesses, workers and farmers.

Congressman Cuellar works hard to be a strong and independent voice for Texans, often reaching across the aisle to create bipartisan solutions for the American people. In the 117^th Congress, Congressman Cuellar will work with the Biden administration and build upon his success to further serve his constituents, including:

• Defeat this virus and build back our economy
• Increase access to higher education for all Texans
• Improve our public schools
• Protect the Affordable Care Act and increase access to health insurance and medical care
• Expand broadband access, working to close the digital divide   
• Increase access to care and benefits for our troops and veterans
• Fund our law enforcement to keep our families safe from crime
• Provide a permanent solution for DREAMers