Vicente Gonzalez

The Empower Energy Exporting Communities Act would create a dedicated trust fund to provide federal money to communities near major oil and gas export ports. The fund would be financed by taking 3 percent of federal tax revenues collected from large oil and gas companies and redirecting that money to eligible communities. Eligible recipients include counties, municipalities, and tribal communities located within 50 miles of a major oil or gas export port, which could use the funds for infrastructure and public service projects. The amount each port region receives would be proportional to its share of total national oil and gas exports, as determined by the federal government. The trust fund would operate without annual spending limits, allowing money to accumulate and be distributed to communities on an ongoing basis.

This bill extends federal recognition to the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, a group whose ancestors maintained an independent tribal identity in Texas for centuries and had documented government-to-government relations with Spanish, Mexican, and United States authorities. Once enacted, the Tribe and its members would become eligible for all federal services and benefits available to other federally recognized Indian tribes, including healthcare, educational assistance, and other programs under the Indian Reorganization Act. The bill requires the Interior Department to verify the Tribe's membership roll within two years of submission and directs the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine service delivery needs and report those needs to Congress in the following fiscal year. The Tribe's governance structure and membership criteria would be based on documents it submits upon enactment, and a service area for federal benefit delivery would be established within 120 days. The legislation recognizes the Tribe's continuous existence as a distinct political and cultural community despite historical displacement and notes that lack of federal recognition has prevented members from accessing benefits available to other federally recognized tribes.

This bill extends and updates requirements for the federal government's strategy to combat terrorism financing and money laundering. It amends an existing 2017 law by pushing back key deadlines from 2024 and 2026 to 2028 and 2030, giving the President and relevant agencies more time to complete their work. The bill also updates the specific national risk assessment documents that must be submitted to Congress, replacing references to older 2020 and 2022 strategy documents with three new 2026 assessments focused on money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. This legislation affects federal agencies responsible for financial security and counterterrorism efforts, as well as Congress, which will receive updated assessments on emerging threats to the financial system. The bill does not specify new funding requirements.

This bill designates Boca Chica Beach in Cameron County, Texas with the official name "Boca Chica Beach" and updates all federal references to reflect this designation. The legislation also requires the Domestic Names Committee, which oversees geographic naming decisions, to notify members of Congress who represent affected areas whenever someone proposes a new geographic name, allowing legislators to weigh in on naming proposals that impact their districts. The bill was introduced by Representative Vicente Gonzalez of Texas in July 2026 and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. No specific funding or implementation timeline is included in the legislation.

This joint resolution would block a recent decision by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to withdraw a rule that required financial institutions to examine risks affecting active-duty military members and their families. The rule, originally issued in 2021, was designed to protect servicemembers and their dependents from predatory or harmful financial practices. By disapproving the withdrawal, Congress would effectively keep the original protections in place and prevent the Bureau from eliminating these examinations and safeguards. This legislation would primarily affect financial institutions that lend to or serve military families, requiring them to continue assessing potential financial risks to this vulnerable population. The joint resolution uses the Congressional Review Act process, which allows Congress to overturn federal agency rules.

The Say No to Warrantless Searches Act would require federal immigration enforcement officers to obtain a judicial warrant before searching private property during immigration enforcement actions, with narrow exceptions for cases where someone gives permission or urgent circumstances exist. The bill amends federal immigration law to strengthen Fourth Amendment constitutional protections for anyone subject to immigration enforcement, ensuring they have the same warrant protections as the general public. The legislation would apply to all federal law enforcement officers conducting immigration operations and does not create new retroactive liability for past searches conducted before the law takes effect. No specific funding allocation or implementation timeline is included in the bill. This measure addresses concerns about warrantless searches during immigration raids and aims to bring immigration enforcement procedures in line with standard constitutional requirements that apply to other types of law enforcement.

This bill makes a targeted change to the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to expand access to homeownership by allowing federal credit unions—in addition to banks already eligible—to participate in the Federal Home Loan Bank system. The legislation affects credit unions and the communities they serve by giving these institutions access to the same low-cost funding and lending programs that traditional banks use to support mortgages and home financing. The bill was introduced in February 2026 and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. By broadening which financial institutions can tap into Federal Home Loan Bank resources, the measure aims to increase homeownership opportunities, particularly in underserved communities where credit unions are often important lenders. No specific funding amounts or implementation timelines are specified in the legislation text provided.

The Save American Democracy Act would prohibit states from redrawing congressional district lines more than once per decade following the national census, with limited exceptions. States could only conduct a second redistricting if required by a court order to comply with the U.S. Constitution, the Voting Rights Act, or state law, or if state legislation explicitly mandates it. The bill aims to prevent the practice of mid-decade redistricting, which some argue is used for partisan advantage. Introduced by Texas Democrats in October 2025, the legislation applies to redistributing that occurs after the 2020 census and does not affect state or local elections. No specific funding is allocated, as the bill primarily restricts state actions rather than creating new federal programs.

The VISIBLE Act requires immigration enforcement officers working for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other authorized agencies to wear clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement actions. Officers must display their agency name in lettering legible from at least 25 feet away and either their last name or badge number, with all identifying information placed on outer garments and not obscured by equipment or tactical gear. The bill allows exceptions only when face coverings are operationally necessary for truly covert operations or hazardous environmental conditions. The Department of Homeland Security must enforce compliance through administrative discipline and submit annual reports to Congress detailing the number of enforcement actions conducted, instances of noncompliance, and disciplinary actions taken. Additionally, the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties will investigate public complaints about violations and include findings in its annual public reports. The legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement while maintaining operational flexibility for genuinely covert activities.

This bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to create new Offices of Small Business within each of its divisions that write rules and regulations. These new offices would work alongside the SEC's existing Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation to coordinate on rules and policies that affect how small businesses raise money and access capital markets. The legislation aims to give small businesses a stronger voice in the SEC's rulemaking process by embedding dedicated small business advocates directly within the divisions that create financial regulations. The bill does not specify any funding amounts or implementation timelines, leaving those details to be determined by the SEC. Small businesses seeking to raise capital through public markets or securities offerings would be the primary beneficiaries of this increased advocacy and coordination within the federal securities regulator.

H.R. 1791, the Increasing Credit Union Lending for Business Growth Act, would amend federal law to allow credit unions greater flexibility in lending to small businesses and homebuyers. Specifically, the bill increases the maximum small business loan amount that credit unions can make from $50,000 to $100,000, doubling their current lending capacity for business growth. The legislation also makes changes to the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to expand access to homeownership financing. The bill, introduced by Representatives Vicente Gonzalez and Brian Fitzpatrick, is intended to help credit unions better support small business expansion and home purchases in their communities.

Veterans Member Business Loan ActThis bill excludes from credit union aggregate loan limitations member business loans made to veterans.