Short Biography

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) represents the 15th Congressional District of Texas.  Elected in 1996, Congressman Hinojosa is serving his 8th term as a U.S. Representative for the 15th Congressional District. 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 County are one of the fastest growing metropolitan statistical areas 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 two House committees: the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Financial Services. He was elected by acclamation in November of 2012 as the incoming Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

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. On March 30, 2010, Congressman Hinojosa joined President Barack Obama for the signing of H.R.4872: Reconciliation Act of 2010. Better known as the Health Care and Education Reform Act, this legislation represents the single largest increase in student financial aid since the GI Bill was signed in 1945. This bill invests $2.55 billion in historically Black Colleges and Universities and in Hispanic-Serving Institutions and other Minority Serving Institutions.

Congressman Hinojosa was appointed Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education., Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness in 2007. Since that time Congressman Hinojosa has championed many bills which have become law, that invest in minority students and Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Congressman Hinojosa helped guide into law the historic College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. In 2008, Congressman Hinojosa played an instrumental role in successfully ushering through Congress the first reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in 10 years, which was signed into law as, The Higher Education Opportunity Act.

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.

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.

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 in his honor, 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.