Gallego to Offer Last Chance Amendment to Save SNAP

Washington, D.C.: Today the house will vote on H.R. 3102 – which would slash $40 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and take away nutritional assistance from nearly four million Americans – including children, seniors and 170,000 Veterans.

Congressman Gallego will offer a Motion to Recommit- which is essentially the last chance to amend legislation. He is expected to deliver his remarks between5:00pm-5:30pmEST/ 4:00pmCST-4:30pmCST. You can watch the floor debate here http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN/.

During Congressman Gallego’s floor speech today against HR 3102 – he will tell the story of a San Antonio family that would be affected by cuts to SNAP. His remarks will include the following: 

“What we’re doing here affects everyday families. I want you to picture their faces.

Back in San Antonio, Texas, Dellany is a working mother of three.  She works FULL TIME at a doctor’s office – that’s 40 hours a week.

She raises three boys ages 8, 9, and seventeen.  They study at Sinclair Elementary, Salado Intermediate, and East Central High School.

Dellany said to our office, “I’m trying my best. I’m working hard.”

She’d like to get a second job, but then there would be no one to look after her children.

SNAP is not a luxury for her family by any means — it’s a necessity. The family turns to SNAP usually at the end of the month when their budget is tighter to help put food on their table. 

Cutting nutritional assistance would gravely impact her family - and nearly 4 million Americans across the country who would lose access to SNAP. 

When you cast your vote today, I’d like for you to think of Dellany and her three boys — and countless others like her. We should work to support families' needs, not take food off their kitchen table.”

Background

• The average person on SNAP receives $3.36 per day on food. Most individuals receive benefits for two weeks.
• 82% of households receiving SNAP include minor children or seniors
• Under H.R. 3102 210,000 kids would lose their school lunch.
• Already, in November, without Congressional action, SNAP will automatically lose funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As a result, the average beneficiary will receive $133 per month – less.
• Error rates for the SNAP program are only three percent. Ninety seven percent of SNAP benefits are paid in the proper amounts to people who are really eligible.

Following the Congressman’s floor speech, we will send you a video of his complete remarks.

Per the email I sent yesterday, below, I’ve included a graph from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission that shows a breakdown of SNAP food benefits cases and recipients in the CD23 counties for August 2013. (Note that CD23 includes only parts of El Paso and Bexar counties).

The number of cases equals the designated group of people certified to receive the benefit (can be more than one person). The recipients equal the number of individuals receiving the benefit.

MONTHLY SNAP FOOD BENEFITS CASES and RECIPIENTS by COUNTY - August 2013 Benefit Month

City of Eagle Pass/County of Maverick

Emergency Operations Center  -  Heavy rainfall update

Following up on the severe storms situation…..

The following streets have been closed for public transit:  Roosevelt at the intersection with Laredo Street and Camarinos from Delcrest to Yoblanda.

We urge the public to avoid traveling through these streets in order to prevent accidents and allow emergency crews to attend to the situation.

Stay tuned to your local radio stations, news, and weather channels.

Mary Velasquez

Public Information Officer

September 20, 2013 1:32 PM

Ciudad de Eagle Pass, Condado de Maverick

Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia  -  Actualización en noticias de fuertes lluvias

Siguiendo la situación de emergencia………

Las siguientes calles están cerradas al público: Calle Roosevelt en interseccion con la Calle Laredo, y la Calle Camarinos de Delcrest hasta Yoblanda.

Le pedimos al publico que no transite por estas calles para evitar accidents y dejar trabajar a los equipos de emergencia que estan atendiendo a esa situacion.

Mantengase informado a traves de las estaciones locales de radio, televisión y canales meteorologicos.

Mary Velasquez

Oficial de Informacion Publica

September 20, 2013 1:32 PM

City of Eagle Pass/County of Maverick

Emergency Operations Center  -  Heavy rainfall update

Following up on the severe storms situation, the flash flood warning issued by the Weather Service for Maverick County will continue in effect up to Saturday morning.  Heavy rain will continue to fall flooding our streets and low-lying areas.  Persons who line in these low-lying areas should take all necessary precautions to safeguard from floods.

The following streets have been closed for public transit:  Roosevelt at the intersections of Austin, Luis, King David, Adolphus, and Royal Point and Royal Ridge within the arroyo area.

We urge the public to avoid traveling through these streets in order to prevent accidents and allow emergency crews to attend to the situation.

We will continue to provide updated information as we receive it.  Stay tuned to your local radio stations, news, and weather channels.

Mary Velasquez

Public Information Officer

September 20, 2013 12:47 PM

Ciudad de Eagle Pass, Condado de Maverick

Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia  -  Actualización en noticias de fuertes lluvias

Siguiendo la situación de emergencia concerniente a la fuerte lluvia, la advertencia de inundación emitida por el Servicio Meteorológico continuara en vigor para el Condado de Maverick hasta el sábado por la mañana.  Lluvias fuertes seguirán cayendo e inundaran nuestras calles y zonas bajas.  Las personas que en estas zonas bajas deben tomar todas las precauciones necesarias para protegerse de posibles  inundaciones.

Las siguientes calles están cerradas al público: Calle Roosevelt en interseccion con las Calles Austin, Luis, King David, Adolphus, y las Calles Royal Point y Royal Ridge alrededor del area del arroyo.

Le pedimos al publico que no transite por estas calles para evitar accidents y dejar trabajar a los equipos de emergencia que estan atendiendo a esa situacion.

Estaremos informandele sobre esta situacion tan pronto tengamos nueva informacion.  Mantengase informado a traves de las estaciones locales de radio, televisión y canales meteorologicos.

Man Arrested for Assault on CBP Officer at Del Rio Port of Entry

DEL RIO, Texas – A man landed in jail recently after an altercation at the Del Rio Port of Entry resulted in an injury to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.

“The safety of our CBP officers during the performance of their duties is a top priority,” said Michael Perez, Port Director, Del Rio. “Any threats to their wellbeing while carrying out their assigned tasks will not be tolerated.”

Sunday afternoon, CBP officers inspecting a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer as it arrived from Mexico, referred the driver to Passport Control, for further review. The driver, a 36-year-old Mexican citizen, presented a Spanish passport as identification. During inspection, the man became upset and pulled documents from the hands of the inspecting officer. The man then proceeded to a nearby water fountain where he attempted to destroy the documents by soaking them with water, and then dispose of them in a trash can. When officers tried to restrain the man, he aggressively resisted and struggled with them, causing injury to one of the officers.

The driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for federal prosecution on a charge of assaulting/impeding a federal employee, 18 U.S.C. § 111.

The injured officer was taken to Val Verde Regional Medical Center where he was treated for shoulder injuries. The incident comes less than a month after a similar occurrence in which a local man was charged with making threats against a CBP officer during inspection at the Del Rio Port of Entry.

The Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within U.S. Customs and Border Protection tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the U.S. while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.