WASHINGTON D.C. – In the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill, U.S. Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) secured more than $62 million for critical priorities that directly benefit the 23^rd Congressional District of Texas. Through his work on the House Appropriations Committee, he also helped secure critical funding for border security, military construction, veterans, law enforcement, healthcare, mental health, education, agriculture, transportation, and infrastructure priorities in Texas. 

“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I worked hard to ensure my district’s priorities were taken into account in this year’s funding package. Although I was unable to support the final passage of this outsized, $1.7 trillion, 4,000-page spending bill, I am proud that many of my proposals were included”, said Congressman Gonzales. “I look forward to seeing these funds applied across the district in the near future.”

The package included the following provisions:

Community Project Funding

• $62 million to support local infrastructure projects in TX-23 communities. Click here for a full list.

Border Security

• $150 million for border security technology
• $65 million to support the hiring of 300 additional Border Patrol agents 
• $60 million to support the hiring of 125 additional CBP officers 
• $8 million for increased intelligence capabilities at CBP
• $90 million for Operation Stonegarden to support border security partnerships between local law enforcement and Border Patrol
• $70 million for non-intrusive inspection (NII) technology to detect illicit drugs at Ports of Entry.
• $24.6 million for suicide prevention and workforce wellness efforts at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• $302 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program
• $190 million for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) to curb money laundering by drug cartels and combat terrorist financing

Military Construction/Veterans Affairs

• $29 million for Department of the Air Force Child Development Center, Randolph Air Force Base
• $5.4 million for Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training Recruit Dormitory 8, Lackland Air Force Base
• $15 million for Department of the Army Fire Station, Fort Bliss
• $550 million for Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Center, El Paso
• $90 million for Department of the Air Force Basic Military Training Recruit Dormitory 7, Increment 3, Lackland Air Force Base
• $58.6 million for Department of the Air Force Ambulatory Dental Care Center Replacement, Lackland Air Force Base
• $499 million for Department of Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention and Outreach Program
• $1.76 billion for Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record Modernization
• $150 million for Department of Veterans Affairs Grants for Construction of State Extended Care Facilities

Law Enforcement Support

• $663 million for Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs, including $324 million for COPS Hiring grants
• $770.8 million for the DOJ Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program to help law enforcement secure critical equipment and training initiatives

Healthcare and Mental Health 

• $1.85 billion for Community Health Centers in the Department of Health and Human Services
• $12.5 million for the State Offices of Rural Health 
• $93 million for the Rural Outreach Healthcare Grants 
• $24 million for Emergency Medical Services for Children 
• $502 million for Suicide Lifeline (988 program) in the Department of Health and Human Services
• $30 million for suicide prevention in the Department of Health and Human Services
• $13 million for Pediatric Mental Health Care Access
• Report language related to data sharing between CDC and the states under domestic violence 
• Report language for the Child Abuse Hotline

Education

• $12 billion for Head Start in the Department of Health and Human Services
• $1.47 billion for Impact Aid/basic support payments in the Department of Education
• $16 million for the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement program
• $7,395 for the maximum Pell Grant
• $1.2 billion for Federal TRIO Programs
• $228 million for Hispanic Serving Institutions 

Agriculture Needs

• Report language is included for the Agricultural Research Service cattle fever ticks research
• $34 million for the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program
• $21.18 million for the Circuit Rider Program
• $7.5 million for the Farm Service Agency Grassroots Source Water Protection Program
• $15.45 million for the joint Cotton Pests Program, with report language regarding boll weevil
• Report language is included for Agricultural Research Service Food Safety and Food Defense Research
• $596.4 million for the Rural Utilities Service, Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program 
• $2.5 million increase for cervid health for a total of $16.7 million
• Funding included for sediment reduction in the Rio Grande

Transportation and Infrastructure Needs

• $800 million for Department of Transportation National Infrastructure Investments, such as RAISE grants
• $5 million for the Department of Housing and Urban Development supportive housing for people with mental illness pilot
• $1.5 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Investment Partnership program

Congressman Gonzales is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. He sits on the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, and the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.