In the Valley and across South Texas, the economy we care about is not a bunch of numbers and letters flashing on a board on Wall Street. It’s in our pockets, at the pump, in the grocery store when we buy fajitas, milk and eggs – and for some it’s when they have to choose between paying the rent or for their health insurance.
People down here don’t expect handouts, but they do expect and deserve a fair shot. I will stand up to the big greedy corporations that have been raising prices on Americans who are already struggling to pay for basic necessities.
I will also focus on cutting the red tape that strangles small businesses because down here the heart of our economy is driven by small local businesses, working families and entrepreneurs.
I think it’s about time we reward their hard work, invest in skills and apprenticeships, and support the creation of higher-wage jobs that keep our talent right here at home building the South Texas economy.
America’s strength starts with the land and the people who work it. Our farmers and ranchers don’t want handouts, but they do need fair markets, fair and open trade, and the freedom to do what they do best.
Tariffs and trade wars are driving up costs and closing off opportunities, leaving too many of our families struggling to keep up.
I believe in strong, commonsense agricultural policy that protects our natural resources, supports rural families, and keeps safe, affordable, American-grown food on every table. Protecting farmers and ranchers is good economics, but it’s also a matter of national security.
Our goal as a country should be to have a secure border – a policy that should not change based on what president or party is in charge – and we have to go after the violent criminals that are here illegally and get them out of our country.
The problem is that when it comes to the immigration debate, for a long time now, it’s been happening among a bunch of politicians in Washington who don’t want to solve the problem and don’t care about what people like us down here in South Texas think.
I believe we can secure the border without destroying families and our local economy in the process. We can more effectively attack the flow of fentanyl and other cartel driven drug supply lines into our country.
We can and should have more vetting hubs in Central America to help bring order to migration as we create a more fair and reasonable path to legalization for those who want to come here to contribute – because American businesses need a reliable workforce.
The bottom line is, we need an immigration system that’s tough but fair, and works for the Valley and South Texas as much as it works for the rest of America.
The truth is that today, healthcare costs are crushing families and in rural areas all across the country hospitals are in danger of having to close their doors. We have to rethink how we provide actually affordable healthcare to more people.
For starters, I believe that, like Social Security, Medicare is a promise and a critical safety net that we have to keep and make stronger. We also need real leadership not more political rhetoric if we are ever going to succeed in bringing down costs by negotiating better returns for what we spend on healthcare and prescription drugs.
Here’s another truth – our current representative took orders from her party leaders and voted for a so-called “big beautiful bill” that put Medicaid and South Texas seniors at risk.
I will never vote against South Texas families just because my party or anyone else tells me to. I know that I will not always have all the right answers, but I’ll always have your back.
I believe strong public schools are critical to the success of South Texas. That’s why I oppose voucher schemes that drain money from our classrooms and send it to private schools.
Parents should know their kids are getting a fair shot at success no matter their zip code and that starts with doing right by our teachers and the school system that supports them.
That’s why I will focus on making sure teachers get paid better for educating our sons and daughters, on reducing classroom overcrowding, and investing in skills training so every student is prepared to do the jobs of tomorrow or to create the businesses that will take our South Texas economy into the future.
The Valley has been dealing with a growing water crisis. Without action, there’s no farming, no jobs, no future. We need to fight for bold investments in desalination, modern irrigation and infrastructure to secure the water we need for decades to come.
I’ll fight to hold Mexico accountable for water treaty obligations and build a regional strategy that prioritizes South Texas families and farmers. If we can’t secure our water, we can’t secure the Valley’s future.
