Veterans & Our Military
More than 600 guardsmen, more than 34,000 veterans, and 780 servicemembers call the 15th District home. There are two National Guard facilities and several defense equipment and parts manufacturers located in the congressman’s district. The 15th District also runs adjacent to several of the active duty and National Guard installations in South Texas, including Randolph Air Force Base – Joint Base San Antonio and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi Army Depot, and Naval Air Station Kingsville, among others. The Lonestar State is home to 15 major military installations, several defense manufacturers, and nearly one in ten servicemembers.
Congressman Gonzalez is a proud member of the Blue Dog Coalition’s Task Force on National Defense, a group that proactively promotes a strong national defense and supports efforts to improve the lives of our servicemembers and veterans. Congressman Gonzalez and his colleagues are committed to ensuring that America’s military has the resources it needs to keep Americans and our allies safe from new international security challenges.
Congressman Gonzalez is proud of his military background, having graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi with a Bachelor’s of Science in Aviation Business Administration.
The Congressman’s father was a U.S. Merchant Marine who served honorably in the Korean War. He understands the debt that America owes to our veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices to our grateful nation. Whether it is fighting for improved mental health services; additional resources for military families, caretakers, and injured or disabled veterans; strong GI bill benefits to ensure every veteran has access to higher education; or safeguarding their right to stay where they belong, in the United States of America, Congressman Gonzalez is committed to veterans and their families.
Congressman Gonzalez is leading the charge in Washington to bring our unjustly deported veterans home. These honorable men and women risked life and limb to protect our freedom. Currently, Congressman Gonzalez is working with the White House and his colleagues in the U.S. Congress to right this wrong and repatriate our patriots.
More on Veterans & Our Military
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced his support for the bipartisan I am Vanessa Guillén Act introduced following the horrific disappearance and brutal murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillén of Houston, Texas.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) issued a statement in support of increased Congressional oversight of the tragic and suspicious activities surrounding Fort Hood, the death of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, Sgt. Elder Fernandes, and other service members stationed there. There has been the revelation of multiple instances of soldier disappearances, homicides, sexual assaults and deaths at Fort Hood over the past few years.
MCALLEN, Texas – Today, in an effort to include more veterans, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced the new rescheduled date for the Vietnam War 50th anniversary commemoration lapel pinning ceremony for those in the 15th District of Texas. The event will be held virtually on Saturday, September 19 at 1 p.m. CST.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez announced $6,387,549 for Endeavors to help end veteran homelessness in the 15th District of Texas. Endeavors provides homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing services to veterans at risk.
MCALLEN, Texas – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced the new rescheduled date for the Vietnam War 50th anniversary commemoration lapel pinning ceremony for those in the 15th District of Texas. The event will be held virtually on Saturday, August 22 at 1 p.m. CT.
Veterans who are eligible to receive a Vietnam lapel pin must have been on active duty between November 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975. Veterans and their family members are welcome to register.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) and Filemon Vela (TX-34) issued statements calling for action and oversight in regards to the tragic death of Spc. Vanessa Guillen:
MCALLEN, Texas – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) joined the calls of many other Texans calling for an independent investigation in regards to the disappearance of Private First Class (PFC) Vanessa Guillen.
“The question everyone is asking is ‘Where is Vanessa Guillen?’. It’s unacceptable that a young soldier simply disappears from a military base and is unaccounted for this amount of time. I agree with Congresswoman Garcia that there should be an independent, federal investigation into this matter. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and find Ms. Guillen.”
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) issued a statement following the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw 9,500 U.S. troops from Germany:
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) issued a statement following the president’s authorization of theuse of force against peaceful protestors and threats to deploy the military across the United States:
WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of 125 Senators and Members of Congress in a letter to President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor calling on the administration to ensure National Guard personnel who are serving on the front lines of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) response efforts across the nation receive the federal benefits they have earned.