MCALLEN, Texas - U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez says Medicaid, Pell Grants, Head Start, and SNAP provide a lifeline for many Americans and that, therefore, federal funding should not be cut.
Gonzalez, a Democrat from McAllen, made clear his support for the program after voting against a U.S. House Republican budget resolution that would make cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, Head Start, Pell Grants, the National School Lunch program, and SNAP benefits for low-income families.
He said the cuts would also impact vital infrastructure projects.
“Medicaid, Pell Grants, Head Start, and SNAP provide a lifeline and open doors for Americans in every single corner of this country,” Gonzalez said. “I voted against House Republicans’ budget resolution because I cannot in good faith support any legislation that would leave our seniors, our children, and our hardworking families in South Texas behind. We must come together to be responsible stewards of taxpayer money without making life harder for South Texans – that's what our constituents sent us here to do.”
Gonzalez listed the impact the budget would have on Congressional District 34:
· Raise health insurance premiums for 129,000 South Texans receiving coverage through the Affordable Care Act – by an average of $420 per year
· Put 206,885 South Texans at risk of losing Medicaid health care coverage – including 144,466 children under the age of 19 and 24,841 seniors over the age of 65
· Risk cutting benefits to 65,313 South Texans who count on SNAP to put food on the table
· Just last year, over $36 million in Federal Pell grants was awarded to residents in Texas-34. This plan would risk vital financial aid to families that need it most
· In the State of Texas, 974,497 students would be at risk of losing access to free and reduced-priced school meals
The National Republican Congressional Committee saw things differently. The group said because Gonzalez voted against the budget it meant he voted for a raise in taxes. A press release stated: “Hello, Vicente Gonzalez just voted to raise taxes on millions of American families and small businesses and to spend more taxpayer dollars on radical government boondoggles.”
"Vicente Gonzalez had the chance to empower Texans and make life more affordable. Instead, he caved to the radical left and voted to crush Americans with higher taxes and more wasteful government spending. Texas voters won’t soon forget it,” said NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella.
The NRCC said the same thing about Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, who also voted against the House Republican budget.
“Hello, Henry Cuellar just voted to raise taxes on millions of American families and small businesses and to spend more taxpayer dollars on radical government boondoggles,” a NRCC press release stated.
"Henry Cuellar had the chance to empower Texans and make life more affordable. Instead, he caved to the radical left and voted to crush Americans with higher taxes and more wasteful government spending. Texas voters won’t soon forget it,” said NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also issued a press release about the House Republican budget vote. The group pointed out that Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz voted for the budget.
“Monica De La Cruz and House Republicans just passed a far-right budget resolution that will rip away health care coverage and affordable food for millions of American families, all so they can fund massive tax breaks for their billionaire backers and wealthy corporations,” the press release stated.
“In TX-15 alone, this dangerous vote risks health care coverage for 27,000 people and food assistance for more than 57,000 households.”
De La Cruz, R-McAllen, represents Congressional District 15.
“Monica De La Cruz just sealed her political fate by inflicting this massive pain on Texas families, and no amount of her desperate lies or meaningless letters will save her from the political fallout of this vote,” DCCC Spokesperson Nebeyatt Betre said.
Editor’s Note: The DCCC issued a “fact sheet” on what the budget means for Congressional District 15. Click here to read it.
