Biography of Congressman Rubén Hinojosa
Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) was elected to Congress in 1996 and is currently serving his sixth term as the representative of the 15th District of Texas. The 15th Congressional District stretches from the Rio Grande Valley to historic Goliad County and the Coastal Bend region. Much of the region is rural, however Hidalgo and Cameron Counties are part of the third fastest growing metropolitan statistical area in the country.
In Congress, Rubén Hinojosa is regarded as a champion for the disadvantaged and has distinguished himself as a strong advocate for education, housing and economic development. His primary goal in Congress has been to reduce the chronic unemployment rate in regions of the district. By focusing on developing a highly educated, well-trained workforce, modernizing the local infrastructure including roads and highways, and creating new job opportunities, Congressman Hinojosa has been instrumental in bringing unemployment rates from 22% in 1997 to record lows of 6% in 2008.
Congressman Hinojosa serves on three House committees: 1) Committee on Education and Labor, 2) Committee on Financial Services and 3) Committee on Foreign Affairs.
As a senior member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Congressman Hinojosa is widely recognized as a champion for investing in human capital through education. He is a powerful voice for the aspirations of communities traditionally left behind in America's education system: low-income families, minorities, students with disabilities, English language learners, and the children of migrant and seasonal farm workers. He is also committed to making sure that every child graduates prepared and able to afford a college education.
In January 2007, Congressman Hinojosa was appointed Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education., Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. As incoming chair, Congressman Hinojosa helped guide into law the historic College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which represents the single largest increase in student financial aid since the GI Bill. Congressman Hinojosa’s leadership has also enabled the passage of an unprecedented number of measures in the 110th Congress that boost the achievement of Hispanics and African Americans in higher education. His successful initiatives include a landmark $510 million investment in minority institutions and a program to support graduate degree attainment at Hispanic- Serving Institutions (HSIs). In 2007, Hinojosa was presented with the American Society for Public Service award honoring his legislative efforts to help students pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
As Chairman of the Higher Education Subcommittee, Chairman Hinojosa helped guide the first reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in 10 years. The Higher Education Opportunity Act will provide greater access to higher education for every student. Specifically it will help our veterans and active duty military have full access to the education benefits that are due to them. Hinojosa added a provision to establish veterans’ centers and veteran student support teams on college campuses will help our veterans get the full benefits of the GI bill expansion that we just enacted.
After 10 years of waiting, Hispanic-Serving Institutions will have support for graduate programs addressing the urgent need for teachers and college faculty with an emphasis on building the capacity of minority-serving institutions to meet this need. The bill will leverage minority-serving institutions to engage more youth in the science and technology. The Higher Education Opportunity Act represents real progress for every student.
As chairman of the Education Task Force for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressman Hinojosa ensures that federal education policy never loses sight of the youngest and fastest growing population in the country - Hispanic Americans. By focusing on a group of proven federal education programs that are critical to the Hispanic community, often referred to as the Hispanic Education Action Plan (HEAP), Hinojosa has helped to secure dramatic increases in resources that target Hispanic communities.
During his 12 years in Congress, Congressman Hinojosa has also succeeded in vaulting Hispanic-Serving Institutions to a position of prominence in higher education. In the 1998 amendments to the Higher Education Act, he succeeded in establishing a separate title of the Act dedicated to the development of HSIs. Since that time, funding for HSIs has grown from $12 million to nearly $95 million.
On the House Financial Services Committee, Congressman Hinojosa is widely recognized as a leader on issues affecting the underserved, from banking to housing. He and Congresswoman Judy Biggert co-founded the House Financial Literacy and Economic Education Caucus in 2004, which currently numbers 87 members from both sides of the aisle.
To address the plight of families in his district and across rural America, Congressman Hinojosa formed the Rural Housing Caucus to bring national attention to the scarcity of housing in rural areas. He introduced legislation to improve the situation and is working with his colleagues and advocates towards the Caucus's goal.
In the 110th Congress, Congressman Hinojosa was appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee where he has been appointed to the Subcommittee on Europe and the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment.
In recognition of Congressman Hinojosa's achievements in Congress and service to his community, he has received numerous awards and recognitions including the naming of two new elementary schools and the Rubén Hinojosa Highway and the Industrial Park in the Delta Region.
Prior to his election, Congressman Hinojosa served twenty years as President and Chief Financial Officer of a family-owned food processing company, H&H; Foods. He earned a Bachelor in Business Administration and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Texas in Austin and in Edinburg, respectively. He is married to Martha Lopez Hinojosa and has one son, Ruben Jr., and four daughters Laura, Iliana, Kaitlin and Karén.
Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) was elected to Congress in 1996 and is currently serving his sixth term as the representative of the 15th District of Texas. The 15th Congressional District stretches from the Rio Grande Valley to historic Goliad County and the Coastal Bend region. Much of the region is rural, however Hidalgo and Cameron Counties are part of the third fastest growing metropolitan statistical area in the country.
In Congress, Rubén Hinojosa is regarded as a champion for the disadvantaged and has distinguished himself as a strong advocate for education, housing and economic development. His primary goal in Congress has been to reduce the chronic unemployment rate in regions of the district. By focusing on developing a highly educated, well-trained workforce, modernizing the local infrastructure including roads and highways, and creating new job opportunities, Congressman Hinojosa has been instrumental in bringing unemployment rates from 22% in 1997 to record lows of 6% in 2008.
Congressman Hinojosa serves on three House committees: 1) Committee on Education and Labor, 2) Committee on Financial Services and 3) Committee on Foreign Affairs.
As a senior member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Congressman Hinojosa is widely recognized as a champion for investing in human capital through education. He is a powerful voice for the aspirations of communities traditionally left behind in America's education system: low-income families, minorities, students with disabilities, English language learners, and the children of migrant and seasonal farm workers. He is also committed to making sure that every child graduates prepared and able to afford a college education.
In January 2007, Congressman Hinojosa was appointed Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education., Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. As incoming chair, Congressman Hinojosa helped guide into law the historic College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, which represents the single largest increase in student financial aid since the GI Bill. Congressman Hinojosa’s leadership has also enabled the passage of an unprecedented number of measures in the 110th Congress that boost the achievement of Hispanics and African Americans in higher education. His successful initiatives include a landmark $510 million investment in minority institutions and a program to support graduate degree attainment at Hispanic- Serving Institutions (HSIs). In 2007, Hinojosa was presented with the American Society for Public Service award honoring his legislative efforts to help students pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
As Chairman of the Higher Education Subcommittee, Chairman Hinojosa helped guide the first reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in 10 years. The Higher Education Opportunity Act will provide greater access to higher education for every student. Specifically it will help our veterans and active duty military have full access to the education benefits that are due to them. Hinojosa added a provision to establish veterans’ centers and veteran student support teams on college campuses will help our veterans get the full benefits of the GI bill expansion that we just enacted.
After 10 years of waiting, Hispanic-Serving Institutions will have support for graduate programs addressing the urgent need for teachers and college faculty with an emphasis on building the capacity of minority-serving institutions to meet this need. The bill will leverage minority-serving institutions to engage more youth in the science and technology. The Higher Education Opportunity Act represents real progress for every student.
As chairman of the Education Task Force for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressman Hinojosa ensures that federal education policy never loses sight of the youngest and fastest growing population in the country - Hispanic Americans. By focusing on a group of proven federal education programs that are critical to the Hispanic community, often referred to as the Hispanic Education Action Plan (HEAP), Hinojosa has helped to secure dramatic increases in resources that target Hispanic communities.
During his 12 years in Congress, Congressman Hinojosa has also succeeded in vaulting Hispanic-Serving Institutions to a position of prominence in higher education. In the 1998 amendments to the Higher Education Act, he succeeded in establishing a separate title of the Act dedicated to the development of HSIs. Since that time, funding for HSIs has grown from $12 million to nearly $95 million.
On the House Financial Services Committee, Congressman Hinojosa is widely recognized as a leader on issues affecting the underserved, from banking to housing. He and Congresswoman Judy Biggert co-founded the House Financial Literacy and Economic Education Caucus in 2004, which currently numbers 87 members from both sides of the aisle.
To address the plight of families in his district and across rural America, Congressman Hinojosa formed the Rural Housing Caucus to bring national attention to the scarcity of housing in rural areas. He introduced legislation to improve the situation and is working with his colleagues and advocates towards the Caucus's goal.
In the 110th Congress, Congressman Hinojosa was appointed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee where he has been appointed to the Subcommittee on Europe and the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment.
In recognition of Congressman Hinojosa's achievements in Congress and service to his community, he has received numerous awards and recognitions including the naming of two new elementary schools and the Rubén Hinojosa Highway and the Industrial Park in the Delta Region.
Prior to his election, Congressman Hinojosa served twenty years as President and Chief Financial Officer of a family-owned food processing company, H&H; Foods. He earned a Bachelor in Business Administration and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Texas in Austin and in Edinburg, respectively. He is married to Martha Lopez Hinojosa and has one son, Ruben Jr., and four daughters Laura, Iliana, Kaitlin and Karén.