Texas House candidates commit to supporting Valley Interfaith's agenda

MERCEDES, Texas - Valley Interfaith has been conducting neighborhood walks, house meetings, and civic academies to understand the pressures facing families across the Rio Grande Valley. 

These face-to-face conversations in congregations, schools, nonprofits, and neighborhoods have shaped the organization's Agenda of Issues. The group held its 2026 Accountability Session on October 11 at the Knights of Columbus Hall Events Center in Mercedes, Texas. At the accountability session leaders brought the pain and pressures facing Valley families to light. They shared stories and asked candidates to commit to working with Valley Interfaith to respond to issues such as food assistance, healthcare and mental health, workforce development, flood prevention and safe water, immigration, and data center transparency. 

Texas House District 41 candidate Julio Salinas speaks at Valley Interfaith's Candidate Accountability Session 2026.

Of the candidates running for the Texas House of Representatives, three attended the accountability session. They were: Oziel Ochoa Jr., the Democratic candidate for Texas House District 37, along with the two candidates running for Texas House District 41, Julio Salinas, Democrat, and Gary Groves, Republican. Because the Republican incumbent in Texas House District 37, state Rep. Janie Lopez, was a no-show, Valley Interfaith marked her down as opposing the group's Agenda of Issues. 

Texas House District 41 candidate Gary Groves, Republican, speaks at Valley Interfaith's Candidate Accountability Session 2026.

Here is a video recording of the Texas House candidates agreeing to support Valley Interfaith’s agenda:

Agenda of Issues

Here is Valley Interfaith’s Agenda of Issues:

Protest SNAP Food Assistance

A new federal law will require Texas to pay approximately $117 million more each year to administer SNAP. Texas could also face approximately $709 million in additional annual costs if the state does not reduce mistakes in calculating benefits. Payment errors include both overpayments and underpayments and do not necessarily mean fraud.  New work-reporting requirements may also cause eligible families to lose food assistance if they cannot document enough work, training, or volunteer hours. 

Valley Interfaith supports:

• Providing the state funding necessary to maintain SNAP.
• Improving the application system and reducing unnecessary delays.
• Protecting children, older adults, and working families from losing food assistance because of paperwork or state errors.

Keep Healthcare Affordable for Texans

The expanded federal tax credits that made Affordable Care Act plans more affordable expired at the end of 2025. Many families are now paying higher monthly premiums or selecting plans with higher deductibles and fewer benefits. 

Valley Interfaith supports:

• Restoring assistance that lowers monthly insurance premiums.
• Protecting families from unaffordable deductibles and medical bills.
• Expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare throughout Texas.
• Improve Drainage and Reduce Flooding in the Rio Grande Valley

Improve Drainage and Reduce Flooding in the Rio Grande Valley

Flooding repeatedly damages homes, streets, businesses, and public infrastructure across the Rio Grande Valley. The region's flat terrain, slow-draining soil, aging infrastructure, and continued development make many neighborhoods especially vulnerable.

Valley Interfaith supports:

• More state and federal funding for drainage and flood-control projects.
• Priority for neighborhoods and rural areas that flood repeatedly.
• Stronger drainage requirements for new development.
• Better coordination, maintenance, and public timelines for projects.
• Keeping roads accessible during major storms.
  
  

Stop the Attack on DREAMers

Court challenges continue to threaten DACA and the ability of Dreamers to work legally. For now, current DACA recipients - including those living in Texas - can continue requesting renewals of their DACA protections and work permits. However, the program's future remains uncertain, and new initial applications are still not being granted. 

Valley Interfaith supports:

• Permanent legal protections and a path to citizenship for Dreamers.
• Continued work authorization and access to driver's licenses.
• More trustworthy legal assistance for DACA recipients who may qualify for other immigration protections.

Stop Criminalizing Immigration & Improve Our Outdated System

Nearly 71% of people in ICE detention have no criminal conviction. Texas holds more ICE detainees than any other state, with nearly 19,000 people detained on an average day. Families are being separated, and people without attorneys can struggle to understand notices, attend court hearings, and present their cases. 

Valley Interfaith supports:

• Focusing enforcement resources on genuine public-safety threats - not hardworking families.
• Fair hearings and greater access to trustworthy legal assistance.
• Ending the unnecessary detention of children and families.
• Modernizing the immigration system so longtime community members can earn legal status

Regulate Data Centers to Protect Communities

Data centers increase noise pollution, risk power outages, and require millions of gallons of water daily, while creating very few permanent high-paying jobs for local residents. We cannot afford to prioritize the cooling demands of tech corporations over the basic needs of our residents, our agricultural neighbors, and our local ecosystem.

Valley Interfaith supports:

••Requiring full public transparency and community input before approval, including disclosure of ownership, tax breaks, electricity and water use, cooling operations, and plans to protect surrounding neighborhoods.