Monica De La Cruz
RSo far in 2026, my team has recovered over $3.5 MILLION for South Texans! Our team is always here to help! If you need assistance with a federal agency, please call us at (956) 800-6069 or visit https://t.co/ZISpFgsAI1 https://t.co/wwr6BghGYI
The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel. 🙏🏼 https://t.co/hBRAQc5MSm
ICYMI: I introduced the Combatting Pasture Mealybug Act to combat the new threat of the pasture mealybug and provide Congress with strategies to contain the invasive pest. Read more here! ⬇️ https://t.co/zvYEr5qmxO
Congratulations, Labor Secretary Sonderling! It was an honor to host @Sonderling47 this summer to hear directly from South Texans. I look forward to continuing our work to boost the Texas workforce and deliver wins for our communities! https://t.co/QmOztqzSa4
This week, I was proud to join my Texas colleagues in writing to the Space Academy Selection Commission to bring the U.S. Space Academy to our state. With our cutting edge technology, world-class research facilities, and skilled workforce, Texas is unmatched in its ability to train the next generation of American space leaders!🚀🪐
Please join Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz for the Brooks County Congressional Record Ceremony in honor of the Falfurrias Volunteer Fire Department's 100 years of heroic service to South Texas. 2026 Brooks County Congressional Record Ceremony Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 9:30am Location: Brooks County EDC –120 W. Rice St. Falfurrias, TX 78355 RSVP here! https://t.co/2ru2vanE4C
My office recently helped resolve critical H2A visa delays with federal officials for local agricultural business owners! Thanks to swift action by my constituent services team, their workers were promptly processed so our South Texas agricultural operations can continue moving forward! Read more here!⬇️ https://t.co/agoO4vWCK4
The pasture mealybug is a growing threat, impacting fields across Texas. I'm proud to lead the first piece of legislation dedicated to combatting this new pest and protecting Texas ag. Read more on my brand new legislation!⬇️ https://t.co/Rroz4VKIRm
TX-15 Casework Win: Securing H2A Visas! Juan De Dios Cantu and Rosa Guerra reached out to my team after running into issues regarding H2A visas for their agricultural workers. After reviewing their case, my team was able to help them get their team members released by the Consulate the very next day. Our team is always here to help. If you’re having trouble with a federal agency, please call us at (956) 800-6069 or visit https://t.co/KgWe1Om4m9
I am proud to lead bipartisan solutions that safeguard Texas families, strengthen our rural economy, and protect our hard working agricultural producers. By addressing unfair trade practices, standing up for independent pharmacies, and combatting agricultural threats, we are delivering meaningful results for Texans!
Today is a great day for Catholics in South Texas and across America. Please join me in celebrating the life of Blessed Fulton Sheen, who spent decades reminding our restless nation that life is worth living. May God bless our families and our great community. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 https://t.co/mrWRbFRLma
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) introduced the Combatting Pasture Mealybug Act. The bill directs the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to study the impact of the pasture mealybug and provide Congress with recommended strategies that the Federal Government can quickly deploy to contain the invasive pest. Original co-sponsors of the legislation include Representative Brian Babin (TX-36), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Brandon Gill (TX-26), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Randy Weber (TX-14), Roger Williams (TX-25), Kat Cammack (FL-03) and David Valadao (CA-22). "The pasture mealybug poses a major threat to Texas agriculture. After hearing from Texas farmers, it's clear we must act now. That's why I am proud to lead the fight in stopping this new pest and working alongside Secretary Rollins to deploy effective solutions. Protecting Texas agriculture is my top priority, and I will fight to secure a strong future for Texas." - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz The legislation is supported by the following organizations: Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Citrus Mutual, Texas Vegetable Association, Texas International Produce Association, Mississippi Cattlemen's Association, and Florida Farm Bureau. “Pasture mealybug poses a serious threat to our grazing land resources and the future of cattle operations in Texas and the Southwest. With no viable eradication option for pasture mealybug, it is crucial that we ramp up our response efforts now. By directing USDA to study and report on strategies, the Combating Pasture Mealybug Act is imperative to ensuring long-term viability of our grasslands and forages." - Stephen Diebel, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President "The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) supports Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz’s Combating Pasture Mealybug Act. While our members primarily represent the fresh fruit and vegetable industry, the strength of every agricultural sector—including livestock, forage, sod, and other crop production—contributes to the health of our overall agricultural economy. Emerging pests that threaten our farmers, ranchers, sod producers, and agricultural lands can have consequences extending well beyond a single commodity. We appreciate Congresswoman De La Cruz’s leadership in bringing attention to this threat and working to protect the long-term strength and resilience of American agriculture." - Texas International Produce Association “Texas Farm Bureau supports the Mealybug Eradication Act. Pasture mealybug poses a serious threat to productive grazing lands and the livestock industry, and we must be prepared to respond. This bill will help strengthen our understanding of the pest, improve preparedness and response capabilities, and identify strategies to contain and eradicate it. We thank Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz for her leadership and support of Texas agriculture.” - Russell Boening, President, Texas Farm Bureau Background: First spotted in the United States in 2025, the pasture mealybug is an invasive pest that feeds on plant sap in forage grasses, attacking both above- and below-ground parts of key forage, row, and turf crops. As of September 2026, the bug has been identified in counties across Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia. Pasture mealybug infestation causes pasture dieback and major economic losses in livestock, sugarcane, turfgrass, and row-crop sectors. Damages caused by the pasture mealybug are estimated to cost billions of dollars in the long term.
Today, I introduced the Combatting Pasture Mealybug Act! This critical legislation prompts the USDA to study the impact of the pasture mealybug and provide Congress with recommended strategies to contain the invasive pest. I am proud to lead the fight in combatting this pest and protecting Texas agriculture!
Yesterday during @HUDgov 's Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall, my team was pleased to join for the presentation of our new law - the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act - to Purple Heart Homes! Thank you to @RepPatHarrigan for being present and to Purple Heart Homes for sharing about the impact this new law will have on our Veteran community seeking housing.
Food security is national security, and passing the Farm Bill into law is crucial for the future of South Texas agriculture. I fought to include critical provisions that hold Mexico accountable for water deliveries, support producers facing economic losses, repair border damage on private farmland, and protect our cattle industry from pests! Read more here: https://t.co/4e4aRDjtPp
Today @HUD kicks-off the 2026 Innovative Housing Showcase (IHS) on the National Mall! Throwback to last year’s IHS where I had the opportunity to see firsthand how manufactured housing is evolving and share more on my work to expand housing options for Texas. In the last year, I have delivered major wins to expand housing options, including successfully passing 5 of my bills in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act into law! 🏠 🇺🇸
This Congress, I made it my priority to unleash American energy. I am thrilled to share I was selected as an @AEA Energy Champion for the 119th Congress! I will continue to work to ensure Texans always have access to an abundance of affordable and reliable energy!
The Working Families Tax Cuts puts Texas families first by expanding educational opportunities across our communities. By creating federal scholarship tax credits, expanding 529 savings plans for K-12 expenses, and establishing Workforce Pell grants for trade programs, we are investing directly in our students and the future of our workforce. I will continue fighting to deliver WINS for Texans!
Thank you Majority Leader @SteveScalise for the delicious cookie cake! Thrilled to have my 4th bill this Congress - 9th bill overall - pass the house, the Whistleblower Protection Act! I will continue to fight for accountability and to expose waste, fraud, and abuse. Now onto the Senate!
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! This month, I am proud to recognize our South Texas Hispanic community whose rich culture that shapes our nation's future! Dios los bendiga! https://t.co/EeAKcqPLLK
I am proud to introduce legislation to build a full-service VA hospital in South Texas! Our veterans shouldn't have to travel hundreds of miles just to get the comprehensive medical care they need. Named in honor of Edinburg native and Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez, this new facility will ensure our heroes receive high-quality care close to home. https://t.co/yejV2RoFvD
Passed the House! ✅ Yesterday, my bipartisan Whistleblower Protections Act passed the House! Marking a major step in the right direction for transparency and accountability. This legislation ensures those who expose government waste, fraud, and abuse can stand up without fear of retaliation. Next stop: the Senate!
Last week, I was proud to support common-sense legislation that expands rural healthcare and delivers real results for our communities. Through the EASE Act and the Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act, I am working to expand telehealth and surgical services for Texans! https://t.co/nSpZ8mS7d4
WASHINGTON – Today, Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Vice Chair Monica De La Cruz's bipartisan Whistleblower Protection Act passed the House. The legislation ensures that all Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contracts, particularly those pre-dating 2013, include whistleblower protections. Read the full remarks below or watch here. "Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 4646, the Whistleblower Protection Act, which passed with bipartisan support out of the Financial Services Committee. Texas families are stretching every dollar right now, while scammers are cashing in on taxpayer-funded programs. And while Texas families play by the rules, scammers and corrupt leaders shouldn’t get rewarded. That is why I am working to stop the abuse and bring accountability back to Washington, and this bill brings us closer to that goal by strengthening whistleblower protections for those wanting to rightfully “blow the whistle” on waste, fraud, and abuse in our government. Whistleblower protections are one of the most effective tools we have to combat waste, fraud, and abuse throughout our government. This bipartisan legislation is simple: it clarifies that whistleblower protections apply to every HUD contractor, a vital step that is necessary due to the bureaucratic implementation of congressionally enacted, enhanced whistleblower protections originally passed in 2013. When Congress initially passed these enhanced whistleblower protections in 2013, known as Section 4712, it intended for them to apply to both contracts awarded before these became law, and to contracts that predated Section 4712 becoming law but have since been modified. Unfortunately, many HUD programs have contracts that are often decades long, meaning that there are still active HUD contracts that pre-date 2013 and do not include key protections from Section 4712, leaving thousands of HUD contractors with uncertainty. This legislation fixes that by providing much-needed clarity to HUD and ensuring whistleblower protections apply to every HUD contractor, regardless of when a contract was signed. This is something HUD has even asked for, most recently in their FY2027 budget request to Congress. We must never allow retaliation against people who are simply trying to act in the taxpayers’ best interest.
Great to have community leaders join us for Secretary Kennedy’s visit! We had a productive discussion on our work to strengthen early childhood education and supporting our Texas families in Jim Wells County! Together, we delivered a major victory for early childhood education by securing $225 million for Head Start, including $348,110 dedicated to local learning centers throughout South Texas.