Walmart & H-E-B Turkey Recall

Local Valley media reports on a Recall of several turkey products at local grocery stores due to possible salmonella contamination. Local stores have reportedly already pulled most merchandise off their shelves and encourage customers to return recently purchased turkey products for a full refund (See full list of Recalled Products)

Study: Winter Texans have Huge Impact on Local Economy

Attracted by the Rio Grande Valley's warm climate, friendly people and low cost-of-living, retirees from the north —dubbed "Winter Texans"—have been travelling to the Rio Grande Valley to spend their winters for more than 40 years.

Since 1987, The Valley Markets and Tourism Research Center http://www.utpa.edu/coba/tourism/ in the College of Business Administration at The University of Texas-Pan American has been studying their activities, interests and impact on the region. The center's most recent biennial study published this fall —the Winter Texan 2009-2010 Study—indicates an estimated 144,000 Winter Texans or 75,000 households were in the Valley during the 2009-2010 season and their spending resulted in a $802.5 million direct impact on the Valley economy.

Dr. Penny Simpson, UTPA professor of marketing, associate dean of the College of Business Administration and the center's director, said this year's study included 1,138 Winter Texans and 84 RV and mobile home park respondents to a questionnaire distributed early this year in the Winter Texan Times, a local print publication targeted to the winter visitors.

Homegrown Rep. Has Big Plans for Texas

AUSTIN -- With the 82nd Legislature just around the corner, Monday (Nov.8) morning was the first opportunity for members of the legislature to file legislation for the upcoming session.  As one of the first in line, Texas State Representative Ryan Guillen D-Starr County filed the first eight bills of the many he plans to pursue this session in his ongoing efforts to make Texas even better.

Measures he filed early Monday morning will:

 *   Punish cyber-bullies,
 *   Allow boaters to protect themselves with handguns on watercrafts,
 *   Honor active duty national guard members with a homestead tax freeze,
 *   Provide payment plans for court fines,
 *   Provide Medicaid coverage for all after hours doctor visits,
 *   More fairly rate the performance of Texas public schools,
 *   Protect consumers from untimely electric disconnections,
 *   Keep reckless teen drivers off the streets.

Miguel-Aleman Incident, A Call for Action?

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Henry Cuellar, TX-28, released the following response to the death of Commandante Rolando Flores Villegas in Ciudad Miguel Aleman:  

"My deepest sympathies go out to the Flores family and the law enforcement community along the border. Commandante Flores had a reputation for cooperation and camaraderie with his American counterparts and he will sorely be missed. Commandante Flores and many of his peers had continued to search for David Hartley in the face of grave threats and imminent danger. This tragic incident demonstrates the continued efforts of the Mexican law enforcement community to help us in America solve the Hartley case. For reasons like this, I have been a vocal proponent of the Merida Initiative and making sure we provide ample support for our international partners in border security. With grief in our hearts, we in the South Texas community are hopeful that the investigation and search will continue until the Hartley case is resolved."

Congressman Urges FEMA to Get "Back on Track"

Congress passes Cuellar bill on FEMA spending efficiency
Focuses on reducing government waste, increasing transparency 
Washington- Congressman Henry Cuellar’s homeland security bill to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assess the efficiency of homeland security grants passed in the House yesterday, and will now go on to be signed by President Obama.

Once signed into law, the Redundancy Elimination and Enhanced Performance for Preparedness Grants Act would require FEMA to streamline its preparedness funding program, making it more transparent and accountable.

Unmanned Aircraft Now Patrolling Texas-Mexico Border

cbp.com

Washington, DC – On August 31, 2010, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that on Wednesday, (Sept. 1) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin operating an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) along the Texas-Mexico border in an effort to help deter illegal activity.

This UAS will be housed out of the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, TX, which Congressman Cuellar visited last week.

“Today marks a critical next step in securing the Texas-Mexico border. By positioning this aircraft in Texas, CBP can further combat illegal activity along our southern border,” said Congressman Cuellar, Chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism.

Congressman Visits Local FEMA Center

Congressman Henry Cuellar greets a FEMA worker during his recent stop at the Disaster and Recovery Center in Rio Grande City. The center, established to help victims of Hurricane Alex and other atmospheric conditions that hit the area last month, will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday until further notice. The center is located at the Starr County Courthouse Annex, 100 N. FM 3167, in Rio Grande City. Representatives of the state, federal and voluntary agencies, as well as customer service representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), will be available at the center to answer questions and provide disaster loan information to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. Written materials about various assistance programs are also available to individuals and business owners.

President, FEMA Declare Starr and Other Counties a Major Disaster Area

File Photo

Washington, DC – Congressman Henry Cuellar, TX-28,  lauded President Obama for declaring the State of Texas (which includes Bexar, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Starr, Webb, and Zapata counties) a major disaster area as a result of Hurricane Alex and a Tropical Depression, which severely impacted the state from June 30 - July 28. This declaration was made based on a recommendation from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under direction from the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

As part of the disaster declaration, the counties impacted by the severe weather will be able to apply for federal funds.

“I personally thank President Obama for declaring this area a major disaster and for taking into consideration the severe damages that the inclement weather brought upon counties in my district. I also thank FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and FEMA Regional Administrator Tony Russell for the collaboration in this disaster declaration process,” said Congressman Cuellar. “To the families affected by the rain and flood I say: Be patient. Help is on its way.”

House Passes $701 Million in Funding for Southern Border Security

(File Photo)

Washington, DC – On July 29, U.S. Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Solomon P. Ortiz (TX-27), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Ciro D. Rodriguez (TX-23), and Silvestre Reyes (TX-16) released the following statement after the House passed late Wednesday $701 million in emergency federal funding to further secure the nation’s southern border.

“At a time when our neighbor to the south, Mexico, is experiencing high incidents of border violence along the more than 1,200 miles of Texas-Mexico border, we approved a measure that would provide much-needed funding for border security and will augment our current security efforts by adding more Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, as well as deliver other support for local law enforcement. We will remain engaged in this debate with our colleagues in Congress and the White House to ensure we allocate the much-needed funding.”

Grants Available for Home-Delivered Meal Providers

AUSTIN — After a lifetime of hard work, no elderly Texan should have to look to nursing care as a means of getting meals. In an effort to help deliver nutritious meals to the home of these elderly Texans and our state's disabled citizens, the Texas Department of Agriculture today announced the availability of $10 million in grants available to non-profit groups, faith-based organizations and local governmental agencies through the Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program. 

"Texas senior citizens were raised during the Great Depression, they defended our freedoms in World War II and won the Cold War; now it is our turn to protect them," Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Drew DeBerry said. "In Texas today, we have an estimated 270,000 seniors who are food insecure, many of whom are homebound. Through the Texans Feeding Texans program, we are able to help provide nutritious meals on a daily basis to these elderly citizens and disabled residents who are confined to their homes."

Troops Headed to Texas Border Aug. 1

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) announced on July 19, 2010, that National Guard deployments to the Southwest border will begin on Aug. 1 as part of the Obama administration’s unprecedented efforts to combat the transnational criminal organizations that smuggle weapons, cash and people across our Southwest border.

“Over the past year and a half, this Administration has pursued a new border security strategy with an unprecedented sense of urgency, making historic investments in personnel, technology and infrastructure,” said Secretary Napolitano. “These troops will provide direct support to federal law enforcement officers and agents working in high-risk areas to disrupt criminal organizations seeking to move people and goods illegally across the Southwest border.”