Cuellar Stumps in Hidalgo County

The Monitor: Cuellar Stumps in Hidalgo County

For Immediate Release :: [ 2006-08-12 ]

McALLEN — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, the Laredo Democrat who could become a Rio Grande Valley Democrat come January, made several stops in western Hidalgo County Thursday to garner support for the November special election.

Cuellar, who represents the 28th Congressional District that western Hidalgo and Starr counties were included in last week after a Supreme Court ruling led to its cut from U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett's Austin-based district, currently faces no challenger.

"Set a high standard for me," he told members of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce who gathered at the country club after work to hear his pitch.

McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez introduced the congressman cordially, but with some reservations.

"There are concerns in the community having a representative from Laredo," Cortez said.

But he also added: "It pleased me to know that we are dealing with a businessman — one that knows the border economy."

Economic development is one of Cuellar's top priorities, alongside access to affordable healthcare and education.

Cuellar authored an amendment to the Safe Port Act, which the U.S. House passed in May, to require the Department of Homeland Security ensure new border security programs do not negatively impact trade at land ports of entry.

He also boasted of securing 150 U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents for the Laredo area he's been representing, as well as influencing funding for a multi-million bus inspection facility in that border city.

And he was the first Democrat to jump on board with the Central American Free Trade Agreement, he said.

"Certainly, being from the border, I'm familiar with the challenges we have, especially in dealing with health care and education — and, of course, the job creation that we need," he said in an interview beforehand.

"And I certainly know that when we talk about jobs on the border, trade and tourism are extremely important."

Border security is important, he told the suited bunch at the country club. But it should not interfere with business development, he said.

The congressman said he would fully support the Anzalduas Bridge project and work with the community to bring down federal dollars to the Valley for the infrastructure and port personnel it needs to support it.

"We want to see short lines, and trade and tourism. We'd rather see them spending time in stores here, rather than at the bridge," Cuellar said, causing a roar of applause.

On other issues, Cuellar came across as refreshingly frank.

"We don't need a wall," he said regarding building a barrier between the United States and Mexico. "You build a 10-foot wall or fence and someone will come up with an 11-foot ladder."

He voted against House Bill 4437, or the Sensenbrenner bill, that, in addition to erecting a wall, wants to turn the approximately 12 million illegal immigrants residing in the United States and anyone who aids them into felons.

He said he was pro-law enforcement, too, and believes local law enforcement should not act as border patrol agents. They should focus on combating drugs and violence, he said. Several of his authored amendments deal with gang intelligence gathering and reducing border crime.

As for the ongoing war on terrorism, he does not believe in immediately withdrawing American soldiers from Iraq.

"I think we need to bring them back as soon as possible, but if you do an immediate withdrawal, all you do is create a vacuum, and the chaos that going to happen will be worse than it is right now," he said before the meeting.

Cuellar told the chamber members that before western Hidalgo and Starr counties were thrown into the 28th Congressional District, he already had his footprint in the Valley.

As a former state legislator, he authored Texas House bill 1001 in 1995 that gives counties enforcement authority to regulate illegal subdivisions, known commonly as "colonias."

"The 1995 legislation not only prevents new colonia development, but it also applies to unsold lots in existing colonias," wrote Peter M. Ward — who holds a joint professorship at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the Department of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin — in UT Discovery Magazine.

Also, while serving in Austin, Cuellar authored the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); sponsored the bill for the $341 million TEXAS Grant Program that strives to make it easier to obtain a college education; and co-sponsored what he calls "the largest tax cut in Texas history"— the back to school tax-free weekend.

Cuellar also served as Secretary of State.

The so-called "aggressive" congressman says he gets so much done because he is non-partisan.

In fact, Cuellar endorsed George W. Bush in 2000, and after that, Gov. Rick Perry against fellow Laredo leader Tony Sanchez.

Seventy percent of the time, he said, he votes Democrat.

"I'm Democratic but my loyalty is to my district, not to my party," he said.

And he says his loyalties will be with the Valley if those in western Hidalgo and Starr counties choose to elect him.

"You are going to see a lot of me here," he said. "I'm accessible and I produce."

http://www.henrycuellar2006.com/public/press/story.php?storyid=20