After a few days of delay, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-District 34, was sworn in Saturday as a member of the 118th Congress.
Gonzalez returns to Congress for his fourth term after being elected, under new Congressional maps, the newest representative for the 34th Congressional District of Texas.
The swearing-in of Gonzalez and other members of the 118th Congress was delayed until the U.S. House of Representatives were able to vote in a new speaker of the House, which they did early Saturday morning electing Republican Kevin McCarthy. He was elected on the 15th ballot.
“I am honored and humbled to continue representing the people of South Texas in Washington, D.C.,” stated Gonzalez in a news release. “I look forward to serving the 34th Congressional District of Texas and continue our work to build a better community.”
The new 34th Congressional District of Texas includes part of McAllen and runs along Interstate-2 through San Juan, Donna, Weslaco, Mercedes into Cameron County, Harlingen, San Benito, Brownsville, and South Padre Island.
The district also runs north along U.S. Highway 77 encompassing Edcouch, Elsa, Raymondville, Kingsville.
“We have a lot of challenges ahead of us as we build upon our success to ensure everyone has equal access to high-quality education, jobs, and affordable healthcare. We must also continue to provide for our veterans and seniors and those looking to call America and South Texas home,” Gonzalez said in the news release.
“From immigration and infrastructure to making healthcare and education more accessible, rest assured that I will continue to bring vital funding to South Texas and introduce legislation that goes beyond the petty partisanship we as South Texans are tired of seeing in Washington,” Gonzalez said in the news release.
