After First Year in Office, Congressman Tony Gonzales Celebrates Achievements for Military & Veteran Communities

by Tony Gonzales on January 4, 2022 at 12:45 PM

As I celebrated my first year in office on Monday, I issued the following statement highlighting my work for the military and veteran communities within Texas’ 23^rd Congressional District:

“As a veteran myself, one of my top priorities is to ensure our men and women in uniform, veterans and military families have all the proper resources and benefits they deserve,” I said. “I look forward to prioritizing the needs of our bases and installations, veteran populations, and active duty servicemembers and their families in 2022.”

I am a veteran of the United States Navy. I served two decades as a cryptologist, completing multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. I retired in July of 2019 as a Master Chief Petty Officer.

I proudly delivered the following results for the military and veterans communities in TX-23:

Served as a member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee.
Joined the bipartisan For Country Caucus, a nonpartisan group of veteran lawmakers in Congress.
Hosted the Veterans Outreach and Engagement Event in El Paso County and Fort Stockton.
Assisted 392 veterans with federal casework.
Hired military and veteran focused staff including Wounded Warrior and HillVets Fellows, and a Veterans Advocate.
Introduced and cosponsored bills to help servicemembers, military families and veterans, including:
- VA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project Act.
- Childcare Expansion for Military Families Act.
- Military Spouses Hiring Act.
- Global War on Terrorism Memorial Act.
- Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act.
- I am Vanessa Guillen Act.
- PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act.
Secured $4.9 billion in funds for veterans through the House Appropriations process:
- $1 million for Del Rio Tiny Homes for Veterans.
- $150 million for a new El Paso Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center.
- $2.2 billion for Veteran Suicide Prevention Programs, the most ever appropriated.
- $2.5 billion for Veteran Telehealth and Connected Care.
Secured $138 million in the House Appropriations process for active-duty military and their families:
- $22 million for Lackland Air Force Base Child Development Center.
- $10 million for an updated Camp Bullis vehicle maintenance shop.
- $71 million for Basic Military Training Dormitories at Lackland Air Force Base.
- $35 million for Ambulatory Care Center at Lackland Air Force Base.