Henry Cuellar was sworn in as United States Congressman for the 28th District in Texas in January 2005, previously serving as the Texas Secretary of State and a fourteen year member of the Texas Legislature. Congressman Cuellar is a current member of both the House Budget Committee and the House Agriculture Committee.

As Texas Secretary of State and State Representative, Henry Cuellar made his mark as a champion of education, healthcare, and in creating a strong, diversified Texas economy.

Congressman Cuellar led efforts to increase funding and accountability for public education, and authored the TEXAS Grant, which provides over $300 million to college-bound students.  Congressman Cuellar also secured funding to establish the first state-funded youth adolescent detoxification center in Texas.  It was named in his honor, the Dr. Henry Cuellar Youth Center. 

While serving in the Texas House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Cuellar helped secure millions of dollars for primary health care and allied health and nursing; created the first pilot program to provide health insurance for children; and co-sponsored the statewide Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  Under his direction, health care funding increased from $77 million in 1991 to $1.5 billion in 2000.  Congressman Cuellar also championed health and nutrition programs for mothers and children.

Throughout his career, Congressman Cuellar has worked to make government more efficient, effective and accountable to taxpayers.   To protect local school, county, and city budgets, Congressman Cuellar passed the first Texas law to stop unfunded state mandates which merited him the “Champion of the Limited Government Award” by the Texas Public Policy Foundation.  In 1999, Congressman Cuellar co-sponsored the largest tax cut in Texas history—close to $2 billion in property, sales, and franchise tax cuts.  The National Conference of State Legislatures has called the Texas budget system the most advanced in the whole country. 

Congressman Cuellar received his Associate degree in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, from Laredo Community College.  He then attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. for his bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service, graduating Cum Laude.  He later earned a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.  Congressman Cuellar studied at the Universidad Pan Americana in Mexico City and then earned a Masters in International Trade at Texas A&M International University.  He also holds a Ph.D. in Government from UT Austin.

Congressman Cuellar has received numerous awards and honors for his legislative accomplishments and public service.  He has been honored by the Texas Chamber of Commerce by receiving its “Legislative Leadership Award.”  In 1999, the Laredo Morning Times named him “Laredoan of the Year.”

Congressman Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, have two daughters, Christina Alexandra and Catherine Ann.

Rep. Henry Cuellar's Official Website

Do you have a story to share?

Is government making a difference in your everyday life? Do you or your community have a problem that government needs to solve?

We'd like to hear from you.

250 million children between the ages of five and fourteen work in developing countries – at least 120 million on a full time basis. (Human Rights Watch)