The Wall Street Journal calls him, “A pro-growth Member in the John F. Kennedy mold,” One of the “Seven Best Legislators,” says the Dallas Morning News. A favorite son of Laredo, the city has honored him as “Laredoan of the Year,” “Distinguished Citizen of the Year,” and “Humanitarian of the Year.” The San Antonio Express-News says, “Cuellar has worked hard and demonstrated an independent nonpartisan mind-set…” and also notes that “Cuellar's willingness to place his district ahead of his political party is refreshing.” These are just a few of the many accolades attributed to Congressman Henry Cuellar.
Congressman Cuellar was first sworn into office in January 2005. He arrived in Washington with a plan to be accessible to his constituents from the smallest towns to the largest cities and to bring home more federal resources than ever before.
Congressman Cuellar has since become known for his accessibility, making over 250 visits to the district in the first year alone. He travels home to Texas every week from Washington to meet with constituents and work in the district, and regularly hosts an innovative system of “Neighborhood Office Hours” in every town to stay in touch with his constituents.
Congressman Cuellar’s top priorities continue to include improving education, increasing access to affordable healthcare and prescription drugs, national security, and bringing better jobs and wages to Texas.
Using a bipartisan approach, Congressman Cuellar works closely with his colleagues in Congress to address our nation's toughest issues. In his first term as U.S. Congressman for Texas District 28, he was one of the most successful Members in Congress, and by far the most effective Representative of his freshman class. He passed eleven out of eleven amendments he introduced on the House Floor- a rare accomplishment for a Member in his first term. Of first year legislators in the 109th Congress, Congressman Cuellar ranked 1st in passing amendments, and 3rd among all House Members.
His amendments include: measures to protect individual property rights from government encroachment, the establishment of a border security task force providing resources to ensure increased security, manpower, and technology along the Mexican border, designation of witness protection grants to encourage witness testimonies in border-related cases, rules to extend financial aid opportunities to certificate-seeking students, action to make the student financial aid application process fast and easy, initiatives to combat kidnappings along the border, and measures to increase security and maintain flow of trade and commerce at inland ports.
During the first months of his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Cuellar also successfully passed legislation to create a National Gang intelligence center at the FBI and worked to toughen penalties on sex offenders who break the terms of their release.
Congressman Cuellar was also the first Democrat to support the Central America Free Trade Agreement - the trade agreement that has created new jobs for Texas.
In Congressman Cuellar's first term, he worked hard to fulfill his promises of assisting constituents in receiving federal grant assistance. In his first year in Congress, he secured funding totaling more than $850 million for local projects including grants, transportation funding and appropriations earmarks to benefit the 28th District of Texas.
In the 110th Congress, he serves on the House Homeland Security, Small Business, and Agriculture Committees and serves as Senior Whip. Congressman Cuellar values agriculture as a vital economic component of the 28th District and continues to fight to ensure that the needs of ranchers and farmers are met. As Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness & Response, he is working with his committee colleagues to improve our nation’s ability to respond to emergency situations. He continues to improve critical federal programs and services including social security, veterans’ affairs, Medicare, first/emergency response, and transportation. He has worked hard to advance results-oriented policies in government and to create more efficient, effective and accountable government, including the reduction of the national debt.
Whether they’re teachers or nurses, ranchers or secretaries, Texans prove every day they’re willing to work hard, make sacrifices for their children, and reach for a better life. Congressman Cuellar continues to honor their hard work with some of his own — fighting to keep the doors of opportunity open for all our families.
Congressman Cuellar has dedicated his life to public service. Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Cuellar served as the Texas Secretary of State and as a fourteen year member of the Texas Legislature.
As Secretary of State, Congressman Cuellar “redefined” the office by implementing new voter initiatives to register, educate, and protect the rights of voters; expanding the Border/Mexico Affairs office to help the Colonias; improving relations with Mexico; and making the state agencies more customer-friendly and results-oriented through the implementation of new technology.
As Laredo’s former State Representative, Congressman Cuellar was a statewide influential legislator who served in leadership positions in the most powerful House committees – the House Appropriations, Higher Education and Calendar committees. At the same time, he was a national leader, serving on several national legislative committees dealing with state budgets, the U.S./Mexico border, and with international trade.
Along the way, Congressman Cuellar has never forgotten his responsibility to keep the doors of opportunity open for anyone willing to study hard and work hard. Across Texas, you can see the results of his hard work and bipartisan approach. They’re the children of working families who now can earn a college education with the help of the TEXAS Grant program, a $341 million financial aid program — the largest in Texas history — that Congressman Cuellar authored when he served in the House. His career legislative milestones also include authoring the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the state performance-based budgeting system to make government more efficient, effective, and accountable, and co-sponsoring the largest tax cut in Texas history that included a three-day tax holiday for consumers and small businesses.
Congressman Cuellar is the first Laredoan to serve the 28th District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives in over twenty years.
Born and raised in Texas, Congressman Cuellar is acutely aware of the issues facing his constituency which spans twelve counties from Bexar County to Hidalgo County.
Congressman Cuellar has always credited education as the single most important tool in building a productive and successful life. He began his higher education by earning an Associate’s Degree from Laredo Community College in his hometown. The skills and confidence he gained there enabled him to take the next step to Washington, DC. While there, he washed dishes and held down other jobs as he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University where he graduated Cum Laude. Soon after graduation, Congressman Cuellar returned to Texas to earn degrees in International Trade at Texas A&M International University, a law degree from the University of Texas-Austin and a Ph.D. in Government from UT-Austin. Today, he is the most degreed Congressman serving in the House with five advanced degrees. Congressman Cuellar also holds a third degree black belt in Karate.
Congressman Cuellar and his wife Imelda reside in Laredo with their two daughters, Christy and Catie.
