| March 31, 2012 |
Dear El Pasoans,
This past week, I was pleased to join Mayor Cook, Maj. Gen. Pittard, Dr. Roberts, and other community leaders announcing plans for the establishment of the El Paso Community College (EPCC) Ft. Bliss Campus. For several years I along with Fort Bliss officials and EPCC officials have been working to establish a campus at the post.
As a graduate of EPCC, I am very proud to have been a part of this process to help create additional learning opportunities for more El Pasoans. El Paso Community College worked with Fort Bliss and the Army Corps of Engineers to plan the new campus adjacent to the new $1 billion William Beaumont Army Medical Center. With an increase in soldiers and family member population, EPCC recognized the need for another campus.
Since it was established, EPCC has added facilities to meet the growing needs of their student population. This campus will be EPCC’s 7th location in the El Paso-area. This new facility will provide soldiers and their families an opportunity to attend college close to where they live and work.
Over the course of my career, I have voted to increase the maximum Pell Grant award, expand the federal work-study program, and decrease the interest rates on student loans. I have also worked to create more opportunities for students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields as co-founder of the Diversity and Innovation Caucus.
Things have certainly changed since I served in Vietnam – I left the Army with a lot of experience but no additional formal education. Now, military members continue their college education while they serve – even while they are deployed – making them better soldiers and improving their job prospects when they leave the military. This announcement is an affirmation of our community’s support for the Army’s mission at Fort Bliss, and it is also a pledge to our children and grandchildren that we will continue to make their education our top priority.
Click here to see more of my work supporting education.
Reyes opposes budget cuts to programs serving seniors, veterans, and children
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Republican budget this week spearheaded by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin). This legislation makes significant cuts to social programs and investments in education, destroys jobs, and represents the latest in a series of Republican attacks on Medicare. I voted against this budget because it does not serve the purposes of Texas and the El Paso-area.
Although our economy is recovering from years of misguided policies, many Americans are still struggling to make ends meet. Gas prices have skyrocketed in recent months. Quality health care and education are becoming more expensive for the average person. Families are fighting to save their homes from foreclosure and are seeking relief on their mounting debt. Instead of focusing on these important issues, House Republicans passed a budget that dramatically undermines the social safety net that so many Americans depend on.
This budget yet again shows how out of touch the Republican Party is with the lives of ordinary Americans and El Pasoans. Instead of focusing on creating jobs and putting people back to work, it extends the Bush tax cuts—which I voted against and will continue to oppose—for the wealthiest Americans, and provides millionaires and billionaires with an average tax cut of $150,000. To put this amount into perspective, $150,000 pays for: one years’ worth of savings for a senior in the Medicare prescription drug “donut hole” ($600); one school computer lab ($40,000); one year of medical care for a veteran returning home ($8,945); one grant for medical research on chronic diseases ($50,000); one tax credit to make a year of college more affordable ($2,500); one firefighter, police officer, or first responder kept on the job ($42,000); and one college student receiving the maximum Pell Grant ($5,550).
During my time representing El Paso, this is by far the worst piece of legislation that I have seen. House Republicans passed a budget to benefit the wealthy and special interest groups at the expense of middle-class Americans, seniors, veterans, and children. While this budget provides huge tax cuts for the richest one percent of Americans, it does nothing to neither stimulate the economy nor create jobs, and would adversely impact the El Paso community.
For these reasons I voted NO on this budget. I oppose this ideological, radical budget, and stand firm in support of job creation, health care, and education for all. It is wrong for America and wrong for El Paso.
Reyes-authored bill to preserve Ysleta del Pueblo moves in Senate
On Thursday, March 22, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Lieutenant Governor Carlo Hisa accompanied by tribal member Janette Hernandez testified before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in support of my bill, H.R. 1560, that seeks to eliminate the one-eighth blood quantum requirement on the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo unfairly imposed by Congress in 1987. Of the 565 federally-recognized Native American tribes, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo is one of the only known tribes whose membership is dictated by the federal government, not members of the tribe. If the current federal law is not changed, Tigua tribal membership will decline significantly within three generations.
The Tiguas have been an important part of the Paso del Norte region for centuries, and my legislation ensures they will continue to have a vibrant presence in community. The Tiguas should have the same rights as all other sovereign tribes in the nation that have the freedom to determine their own membership. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to move this bill through the legislative process and ensure its passage.
H.R. 1560 passed the House of Representatives by voice vote on December 7, 2011.
To read Lt. Gov. Carlos Hisa and Janette Hernandez’s testimony before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, please click here.
Please visit my website at www.Reyes.House.gov to get the latest news about my activities in Congress and be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr for updates.
Saludos,
Silvestre Reyes
Proudly representing the
16th District of Texas
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Congressman Silvestre Reyes recognizes Women's History Month and honors women leaders for their many contributions to the El Paso community (March 2012).
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Mayor John Cook, Rep. Silvestre Reyes discuss monorail to ease border freight traffic
Reyes announces homeless assistance and stop-loss payment deadline extension for veterans
Reyes invites El Paso Community to join White Ribbon Day Campaign Wednesday
Drawing by Hanks High School student wins Congressional Art Contest
Reyes statement on the two year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
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Congressman Silvestre Reyes and El Paso Mayor John Cook meet with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in Washington, D.C. to discuss the importance of investing in ports of entry in the El Paso-area. This past week Congressman Reyes and Mayor Cook held a press conference to discuss El Paso’s Efforts to Reduce Border Wait Times (March 2012).
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Robert Jacquemotte, representative from Southwest Airlines, 12 year-old sister, Kiana Espino, 2012 Congressional Art Winner, Francisco Espino, and their mother Ms. Espino are photographed by community members after Francisco, a junior at Hanks High School, was named the 2012 Congressional Art Winner by Congressman Silvestre Reyes. Francisco's art will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year along with hundreds of other art pieces. (March 2012).
Congressman Silvestre Reyes meets with United Service Organization (USO) President Sloan Gibson and is honored for his strong support over the years (March 2012).
Congressman Silvestre Reyes attends Southwest Career College Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to open its 85,000 square foot automotive facility (March 2012).
Congressman Silvestre Reyes attends the Center for Employment Training open house to meet with students, staff and community members. The center helps provide underserved citizens with marketable skills training and supportive services to obtain employment (March 2012).
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