De La Cruz, Monica RSS Articles

De La Cruz Hosts Farm Bill Panel in Beeville

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – This week, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz joined agricultural leaders from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Texas Farm Bureau, and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in Beeville for a panel discussion focused on the passage of the Farm Bill and priorities for Texas farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.

The discussion centered on the importance of passing a comprehensive Farm Bill that protects producers, safeguards crop and livestock production, and invests in rural Texas.

De La Cruz joined panelists Dan Hunter from USDA, James Redfield from USDA, Scott Frazier from Texas Farm Bureau, Stephen Diebel from Texas Southwestern & Cattle Raisers Association, and Jody Brown from Texas Farm Service Agency for a panel discussion on the importance of passing a strong Farm Bill.

Background:
In April, Congresswoman De La Cruz voted to advance the Farm Bill, which includes four of her legislative initiatives:

Texas Agricultural Producers Assistance Act: Addresses the significant economic losses suffered by Texas agricultural producers due to the Mexican government’s non-compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty.
Southern Border Farmers and Ranchers Protection Act: Authorizes payments under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist farmers and ranchers with repairing damages to farming infrastructure caused by illegal criminal activity along the Southern border.
Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act: Mandates the USDA to enter into a contract to evaluate the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program with a land-grant college or university or a non-land-grant college of agriculture.
Amendment to establish a permanent, interagency working group to protect South Texas farmers and producers from the impacts of the Mexican government's failure to comply with water deliveries under the 1944 Water Treaty.

De La Cruz, Correa Reauthorize National Diabetes Prevention Program

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) introduced the bipartisan Diabetes Prevention Program Reauthorization Act alongside Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46). The legislation reauthorizes and increases funding for the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a nationwide framework focused on preventing Type 2 diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 40 million Americans are living with diabetes, and up to 43% of adults in the Rio Grande Valley are estimated to have diabetes.

“Preventive care is essential to helping every Texan live a healthy life. While diabetes continues to impact our communities, my bipartisan Diabetes Prevention Program Reauthorization Act guarantees these lifesaving programs remain accessible to the families who need them." - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

“For many of our neighbors in Orange County and for millions of Americans across the country, the financial and health impacts of type 2 diabetes are very real, and incredibly devastating. To address this crisis head on, we must increase access to preventive care so that our brothers and sisters on Main Street have access to the support they need and deserve. This legislation is a necessary step in our fight against type 2 diabetes, and I’m honored to work alongside Rep. De La Cruz to keep our communities healthy.” - Congressman Lou Correa

The legislation is supported by YMCA of the USA.

“YMCA of the USA applauds Representatives De La Cruz and Correa for their leadership in reintroducing the Diabetes Prevention Program Reauthorization Act. As one of the first community-based providers of the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program, the Y has seen firsthand how it helps people make lasting lifestyle changes that reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. We urge Congress to support healthier communities nationwide by advancing this important legislation.” - YMCA CEO Suzanne McCormick

De La Cruz Holds Hidalgo County Congressional Record Ceremony

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) held her 3rd Annual Congressional Record Ceremony in Hidalgo County to present students, community members, and law enforcement officers with their official Congressional Record.

"It was an honor to present each of our Hidalgo County honorees with their official Congressional Record. As your Congresswoman, one of my greatest privileges is sharing our community's inspiring stories on the House floor and ensuring their achievements are forever preserved in our nation's history." - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

Background:
During the ceremony, De La Cruz presented the following honorees with their official Congressional Record:

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Football Team for their record-breaking inaugural season
Miss Aurora Guzman from McAllen Memorial High School on her selection as a Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star Player
Mr. Jonathan Rodriguez, U.S. history teacher at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Memorial Early College High School, who jumped into action to rescue one of his former students following a vehicle collision
McCreery Aviation for their 80 years of exceptional service to South Texas
Life and service of Mrs. Sabrina Walker-Hernandez
Life and service of Dr. Lawrence Gelman
Life and military service of Ret. Air Force Major and Former Commander Homer Z. Gallegos
Sergeant Estela Rodriguez of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office for her retirement after 32 years in law enforcement
Texas Department of Public Safety Officers, Trooper Juan Zuniga and Trooper Roman Gonzalez
Police Chief Jaime Ayala of the Edinburg Police Department, recipient of the Mike Gentry Executive Leadership Award by the Texas Police Chiefs Association

De La Cruz, Acting Labor Secretary Sonderling Visit Hidalgo County

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) brought Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to Hidalgo County to address critical workforce shortages with local manufacturing and agricultural leaders.

To start the day, De La Cruz and Acting Secretary Sonderling toured Stanley Black & Decker’s Mission facility with CEO Chris Nelson and celebrated their new $1 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing. Stanley Black & Decker is a vital part of our South Texas community, supporting over 300 local jobs, with further growth ahead.

Following the tour, De La Cruz and Acting Secretary Sonderling hosted a roundtable with Rio Farms, Inc. on Texas agricultural labor challenges and highlighted De La Cruz’s Fair Wages for Farm Workers Act. The legislation codifies Department of Labor rulings to streamline H-2A visas and provide certainty for Texas farmers.

Watch the Congresswoman's full video recap here.

De La Cruz Urges DHS Secretary Mullin to Prioritize Religious Worker Visa Applications

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) wrote Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, urging the agency to prioritize processing religious worker visa applications.

Processing delays have impacted religious leaders in Texas and those who rely on these individuals for religious and community services. In the letter, De La Cruz urges DHS to use all available resources to minimize delays and ensure religious leaders are able to support their congregations.

In addition to the letter, De La Cruz co-sponsored the bipartisan Religious Worker Protection Act. The legislation would give DHS the authority to extend nonimmigrant religious worker (R-1) status until an individual’s application for permanent residence is finalized.

Read the full letter here or below.

Dear Secretary Mullin,

I write to urge the prioritization of religious worker visa applications. Churches and faith-based institutions serve as the foundation for our communities, and our religious leaders as an extension of our families. Our immigration system recognizes this by allowing for those in religious vocations to serve in the United States, including through the R-1 religious worker visas.

In January 2026, the Trump Administration acted to reduce wait times for religious workers wanting to continue serving our faith-based communities in the United States. Specifically, your department removed the previous one year foreign residency requirement, allowing R-1 workers who have reached the five year maximum to seek readmission without a mandatory one year period abroad.

While we commend the actions taken to speed up the immigration process for our religious workers, I urge you to prioritize reducing the processing times for religious worker visa applications, which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data states have processing times of 8.5 and 11.5 months, respectively, depending on the applicant type.

These processing delays are felt throughout our communities, who rely on our religious leaders for vital religious and community services. I urge you to use your available resources to reduce the processing timelines and stand ready to assist you in any way necessary.

Thank you for your continued efforts to safeguard our country and support the diverse faith communities that enrich our society. I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that our immigration system functions in a way that strengthens religious freedom, supports the rule of law, and provides certainty for the communities we serve.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

De La Cruz, Commerce Secretary Lutnick Announce $6M for City of McAllen

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced the $6,000,000 grant for the City of McAllen Industrial Park Project from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The funding will establish new public infrastructure to support existing businesses, bring in new private investments, and create nearly 500 new jobs in the Rio Grande Valley.

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz joined Secretary Howard Lutnick, City of McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos and City Manager Isaac J. Tawil to announce $6,000,000 in funding for the City of McAllen.

"Today, I joined Secretary Lutnick to announce $6 million in funding for the City of McAllen as we mark this exciting new chapter for our community. What begins here today has the potential to create hundreds of new jobs and give South Texas families the foundation to thrive. This is what effective leadership looks like, and I will continue working to bring federal dollars home to South Texas." - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

De La Cruz Pushes to Expand Housing in Texas Communities

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) introduced the Freedom to Build Act to lower housing costs and eliminate the "bureaucrat tax", the hidden cost per new build caused by regulatory delays and red tape.

The Freedom to Build Act directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a voluntary "Freedom to Build" designation for localities nationwide. This initiative recognizes and rewards communities that make regulatory reforms. Certified localities will receive priority consideration for existing HUD housing grants.

"Government overregulation has created a hidden tax on new home builds, putting the American dream of homeownership out of reach for too many Texas families. My Freedom to Build Act changes that. By rewarding communities that make key reforms, we can lower costs for Texas families and ensure they can afford a place to call home." - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

The Freedom to Build Act is supported by the National Association of Home Builders, Mortgage Bankers Association, and National Association of Realtors.

"Housing affordability begins with housing supply, and communities need the tools and incentives to build more homes. Congresswoman De La Cruz's Freedom to Build Act recognizes that outdated regulations, lengthy approval processes, and unnecessary barriers can make it harder to deliver the housing Americans need. By encouraging local governments to modernize permitting and reduce obstacles to responsible development, this legislation helps create an environment where more homes can be built, costs can come down, and more families have the opportunity to achieve homeownership. The National Association of REALTORS® commends Congresswoman De La Cruz for her leadership on policies that address our nation's housing shortage and expand access to affordable housing." - Shannon McGahn, Chief Advocacy Officer and Executive Vice President of the National Association of REALTORS

Background:

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the "bureaucrat tax" accounts for 24% of the cost of a new single-family home and 41% of the cost for multifamily housing.

To address this extra cost, the Freedom to Build Act establishes a voluntary Freedom to Build designation, which is obtained by adopting key reform requirements, including removing regulations on construction materials, speeding up the approval process, and rolling back government mandates on what can be built, who can build it, and how it is built. Additionally, communities may receive the Freedom to Build designation by demonstrating strong results in housing supply growth and access to affordable housing.

De La Cruz Urges President Trump to Launch Whole-of-Government Fight Against Screwworm

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) and members of the Texas Congressional Delegation urged President Trump to implement a whole-of-government strategy to fight outbreaks of the New World Screwworm. Following confirmed cases of the flesh-eating parasite across Texas, lawmakers warn that failure to contain the pest could cause catastrophic losses of up to $1.3 billion for the U.S. livestock industry.

The letter is co-signed by Representatives Randy Weber (TX-14), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Brian Babin (TX-36), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Lance Gooden (TX-05), John Carter (TX-31), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Roger Williams (TX-25), August Pfluger (TX-11), Keith Self (TX-03), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Chip Roy (TX-21), and Brandon Gill (TX-26).

Read the full letter here or below.

Dear President Trump,

We want to thank you for your commitment to America's agricultural industry. We remain committed to work alongside you and your administration to address the issues facing rural America and our agricultural producers.

On June 3, 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the first domestic cases of Cochliomyia hominivorax, commonly known as the New World Screwworm (NWS). The flesh-eating parasite poses a serious threat to livestock producers. This was proven in the 1950's and 1960's when NWS cost livestock producers historical losses of roughly $20 million and $100 million in southeastern and southwestern states, respectively. This equates to roughly $1.3 billion annually in modern cost estimates.

In the first 100 days of your second term in office, you and your cabinet members recognized the harmful impact NWS posed to U.S. livestock producers, and began working with Mexican counterparts to mitigate the threat. This led to the historic investment of $750 million to construct a fly sterilization facility at USDA's Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. Though the facility has immense promise to combat the growing presence and threat of NWS, there are some immediate actions that departments and agencies can be making to bolster the federal government's response. Therefore, we are asking you and your cabinet to prioritize an expedited and enhanced coordinated, whole-of-government strategy to combat NWS.

Several Secretaries within your Cabinet have taken action to mitigate the threat caused by NWS. Efforts include the establishment of the New World Screwworm Directorate by Secretary Rollins, the Food and Drug Administration's approval of emergency authorized usage for veterinary treatment and prevention under Secretary Kennedy, and, under the leadership of Secretary Hegseth, the Army Corps of Engineers' oversight on Moore Air Base's construction. We appreciate the historic strides your Administration has made and ask that as more cases of NWS begin to be reported within the United States, your administration prioritizes a whole-of-government approach to finding additional, creative solutions to combat NWS. This comes at a time when states are stepping up to address the issue, such as the Governor of Texas' recent state-wide disaster declaration.

As your partners in Congress, we stand ready to provide any resources necessary to support U.S. livestock producers and eradicate NWS. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to addressing this issue, together.

De La Cruz Restores the Dream of Homeownership Through Passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) voted in support of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. After bicameral collaboration, the legislation will codify President Trump's commitment to ensuring the American dream of homeownership is within reach for all Americans.

De La Cruz spoke on the House floor in support of the bill. Watch the full clip here.

"For many Texas families, the dream of owning a home has slipped out of reach. By expanding housing supply, lowering costs, and protecting neighborhoods from institutional investors, we are passing bipartisan, common-sense legislation to restore the American dream. After diligent work across both chambers, I am thrilled to send this critical bill to the President's desk to become law." - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

Background:
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act has five provisions led and co-led by De La Cruz, including:

The Housing Affordability Act: Updates existing multifamily loan limits to accurately adjust for modern expenses.
The VA Home Loan Awareness Act: Ensures Veterans and their families are aware of their VA benefit eligibility when applying for a home loan.
HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination Act: Requires the Secretaries of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to collaborate across agencies to maximize housing programs.
The Housing Supply Expansion Act: Removes the federal chassis requirement for manufactured housing.
Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act: Excludes disability benefits from a Veteran’s income for housing eligibility purposes in the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.

De La Cruz Hosts Roundtable on 1944 Water Treaty and USMCA

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) hosted a roundtable highlighting the critical need to include the 1944 Water Treaty in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The roundtable convened government officials alongside South Texas farmers, who shared firsthand accounts of how the Mexican government's failure to meet its water delivery obligations has devastated local agriculture.

"The Mexican government's refusal to fulfill its obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty has devastated Texas agriculture. While there are currently no consequences for this non-compliance, we are working to change that by integrating the treaty into the USMCA. Our roundtable is a crucial step toward demanding accountability, enforcing consequences, and ensuring South Texans always receive the water they are owed." - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

Background:

The roundtable served as a final advocacy push in Congresswoman De La Cruz's efforts to include the 1944 Water Treaty in ongoing USMCA negotiations. Over the last year, Congresswoman De La Cruz has consistently urged U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to integrate the 1944 Water Treaty into the trade agreement. Additionally, she led the Texas Congressional Delegation in a letter urging that the upcoming joint review be used to enforce the Mexican government's compliance with water deliveries.

Roundtable attendees included:
Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)
Julie Callahan, Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Riley Pagett, Chief of Staff for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (USDA)
Tony Frye, Deputy Commissioner for Public and Congressional Affairs (IBWC)
Max Hamilton, Director of the Office of Mexican Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Jeff Freeland, Deputy Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, The White House
Jennifer Cervantes, Representative for Rio Grande Valley Sugarcane Growers
Dante L. Galeazzi, President and CEO of Texas International Produce Association

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Staff Mobile Office Hours

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:00:00 GMT

District staff will visit Live Oak County this month, ready to help you! If you need assistance with any federal agency -- the VA, Social Security, passport services, or anything else -- please plan a visit with a caseworker who can open an inquiry on your behalf.

July 18th, 2024
2 - 3p.m.
George West Library
402 Houston St
George West, TX 78022

Staff Mobile Office Hours

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 16:30:00 GMT

District staff will visit Live Oak County this month, ready to help you! If you need assistance with any federal agency -- the VA, Social Security, passport services, or anything else -- please plan a visit with a caseworker who can open an inquiry on your behalf.

July 18th, 2024
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Three Rivers Library
102 Leroy St
Three Rivers, TX 78071