Filemon Vela

I was present and voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 449, final passage of S.J. Res. 33. However, it has come to my attention that my vote was not recorded, and I would like the record to show how my vote would have been counted on S.J. Res…

Second, I believe we must take bold action to supercharge the adoption and production of electric vehicles (EVs) in America.

I would urge the Committee to once again include the San Francisco Bay Restoration Act in the upcoming infrastructure package with the same authorization level included in HR 2--$50 million annually over 5 years.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise in support of S. 2107, the Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act of 2019. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this crucial bill. I introduced this important legislation in the U.S…

The U.S. agriculture sector is crucial to our economy and generates more than $1 trillion in annual economic activity. In 2017, Texas farms sold $24.9 billion in agricultural products, a significant contribution to the State's economy…

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to protect our domestic agricultural economy from the entrance of illegal agricultural products.

During a long vote series today, I unintentionally voted aye on the Flores Amendment to H.R. 4863 United States Export Finance Agency Act, on rollcall number 618. Had I been able to correct my vote at that time, I would have voted ``nay.''…

I and the produce industry strongly support the Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act of 2019.

Last Friday, many of us attended the funeral for our colleague, Elijah Cummings. His story and the service were inspirational. On that same day, this article concerning the deteriorating conditions of the Mexican border appeared in The…

It is clear that USDA wants to find efficiencies, but is USDA prepared to make the changes needed to successfully deliver these important services, even if that means increasing, not decreasing, staff and resources?

It is our job on this Committee to ensure that these programs are structured and implemented in a way that can quickly, efficiently, and most directly serve the farmers, ranchers and small towns who need them right now.

At the end of a long vote series today, I unintentionally voted nay for H.R. 1146, the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plan Protection Act, on rollcall number 530. Had I been able to correct my vote at that time, I would have voted ``aye.''…

I want to be clear that I think additional action will be required from this Committee, from this Congress, and from this Administration.

The stakes have never been higher than they are right now.

Most of us on this Subcommittee represent pretty large swaths of land, and I can't go to any farmer in the 270 mile stretch of south Texas that I represent without hearing about how difficult it is for farmers to get loans and financing…

You cannot have a successful national economy when such a vital component hurts the way our farmers are currently.

It is an honor to recognize Frederick William Rusteberg of Brownsville, Texas. Mr. Rusteberg served the majority of his professional career as the original founding CEO and president of International Bank of Commerce in Brownsville until…

It is an honor to recognize Geraldine Pena of La Feria, Texas, as she celebrates her centennial birthday today. She was born on April 1, 1919, in Tucson, Arizona. Geraldine, affectionately called Gerry, dropped out of high school to…

the idea that we're at a place in this country where there are people that think we should make it more difficult to vote when we should be doing the exact opposite is just striking, and it's unfortunate.

I must say now I get it. Your--your testimony has been so compelling and shed so much light on the battle that you consistently wage to protect the very people for which the Voting Rights Act was passed.

I am hoping that we can move forward and do the right thing for the citizens of this country who face obstacles in exercising the right to vote.

States are willing to sacrifice their own political power to do harm to minority voting rights.

The Federal Government has a significant role to play in building capacity, resources, and synchronization among communities.

Human trafficking is one of the most profitable forms of transnational crime.