| Vela, City of Brownsville and VA Open Veterans Resource Center |
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Vela, Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez joined by Veterans and other guests
cut the ribbon to the Brownsville Veterans Resource Center.
Click here for more photos |
A day before Veterans Day, the City of Brownsville, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and my office, opened the Brownsville Veterans Resource Center.
The center will provide services to South Texas Veterans, and more importantly, is an example that in the Rio Grande Valley, we support our Veterans with real actions — not just words.
The following services will be provided on an appointment basis at the Veterans Resource Center by VA Counselor and Brownsville native, Pedro Villarreal:
• Individual Readjustment Counseling
• Group Meeting and Counseling
• Military Sexual Trauma Counseling
• Employment Counseling and Guidance
• Community Education
• Bereavement Counseling
• Marital and Family Counseling
• Benefits Assistance and Referral
• Substance Abuse Information and Referral
• Liaison with Community Agencies
There is still much to be accomplished, but we are working to close the service gaps Rio Grande Valley Veterans face, and we will continue to work together to bring more resources to our region.
I thank the City of Brownsville and the VA for their willingness to work together to make this happen, and I thank each Veteran for all they have done to keep us safe.
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| Vela Speaks at Quarterly South Texas Cotton & Grain Meeting |
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Vela speaks at the quarterly South Texas Cotton & Grain meeting.
Click here for more photos. |
Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at the South Texas Cotton & Grain Quarterly meeting in Beeville, Texas.
I provided a positive update on crop insurance, which was set to be negatively affected by proposed legislation that would cause serious hardship to South Texas farmers and ranchers.
Thankfully, through bipartisan effort, America’s promise to our farmers and ranchers made through the 2014 Farm Bill will be kept.
We also discussed the Boll Weevil Eradication Program, USDA Rural Development, and other issues affecting our South Texas farmers.
As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, I understand the importance of supporting our agriculture industry. They not only contribute to our economy, but grow the food we bring home to our families.
I thank the agriculture community in the 34th District of Texas for allowing me to speak with them and for sharing their concerns with me. |
Vela Participates in
Brownsville Alzheimer's Walk |
On November 7, I had the privilege of participating in the Brownsville Alzheimer's Walk 2015.
I thank Edward Camarillo for organizing the walk, which brought together community partners, healthcare providers, and families from across the Rio Grande Valley.
Alzheimer’s disease affects one in three seniors. It is estimated in 2015 alone, about 700,000 Americans 65 and older will suffer from Alzheimer’s. By 2020, Texas will have 21 percent more seniors living with Alzheimer’s.
It’s essential that we allocate the proper resources to finding a cure. Alzheimer’s is one of the top ten causes of death for Americans that cannot be prevented, slowed, or cured, and this is unacceptable.
I am working with other Members of Congress to pass bipartisan legislation, such as the HOPE Act, which would expand screenings, education and long-term planning for Alzheimer’s patients.
Again, thank you Edward Camarillo for organizing this event and for all the work you do with the Alzheimer’s Association.
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Improving Healthcare Access
for Veterans |
Since VA Secretary Robert McDonald’s visit to South Texas – through the combined efforts of VA staff, local officials, and my office – services in the Rio Grande Valley have been expanded through the establishment of the Brownsville Veterans Resource Center and eliminating the need for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Student-Veterans to travel hours for benefit eligibility certification. Now, we are working on filling another service gap Veterans face in South Texas - healthcare access.
Data collected recently shows that over 400 Veterans from the Rio Grande Valley travel to San Antonio - five hours each way - seeking medical treatment and care, which includes general internal medicine and primary care.
Many of these Veterans could be treated closer to home by private physicians through Veterans Choice or other community care programs.
In South Texas, we have healthcare providers and a newly accredited medical school at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ready to partner with the VA to ease access to healthcare for Veterans.
My office has started the process of pairing the VA with local healthcare resources to treat our Veterans locally. This is not an overnight process, but we will get our Veterans the care they deserve.
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| TOP NEWS |
| Vela speaks at the San Benito Veterans Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony in honor of Veterans Day. |
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Congratulations to IDEA Brownsville Public School for having 100 percent of the Class of 2015 enrolled in college.
This is a tremendous accomplishment, and I am excited to see the great things your students will accomplish.
Education is key to success, and I will continue to support programs like IDEA Brownsville.
Keep up the great work moving TX-34 forward. |
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| SPOTLIGHT |
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| David Garcia Speaks at Congressional Hearing |
Thanks to David Garcia, County Administrator for Cameron County, accepting my invitation to testify before the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
His insight on our border region and new approaches to increasing trade and security through public-private partnerships proved helpful to all members of the subcommittee.
David's guidance and knowledge will help the subcommittee craft the policies that will move our South Texas economy forward and keep the nation’s borders safe.
Watch Garcia’s full remarks to the subcommittee here. |
| Vela Hosts Congressional Financial Education Summit |
Thanks to our community partners, including International Bank of Commerce, Frost Bank, Texas Southmost College, Brownsville Independent School District, Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District, San Benito Consolidated Independent School District, Point Isabel Independent School District, IDEA Public Schools, Communities In Schools and many others, who helped make the Congressional Financial Education Summit a tremendous success.
The summit provided South Texas high school students and their parents with the knowledge to avoid common financial mistakes.
Classes were custom-tailored to the youth of the Rio Grande Valley, including modules such as financial soccer, FDIC Money Smart and budgeting.
Events like this will give our young people the advantage they need to succeed in life, and I’m grateful to each community partner who helped make this event possible. |
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