Congressman Gonzalez, union leaders protest 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) —  Congressman Vicente Gonzalez joined local union leaders in Brownsville Thursday afternoon to voice opposition to Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' which he claims will drastically cut funding for essential programs.

Gonzalez criticized the bill for slashing $400 billion from Medicaid, warning that 100,000 people in his congressional district will lose healthcare by 2026.

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez criticized the bill for potentially leading to significant cuts in healthcare funding, which he argues will negatively impact his district.

The event in Brownsville served as a platform for Gonzalez to highlight various issues he has with the new bill, which he argues will negatively impact not only individuals but also businesses and organizations reliant on healthcare benefits.

Community members expressed their concerns, with Joleen Ramos, a local union secretary, sharing her family's struggles with social security benefits, and Luther Elmore, a retiree representative, emphasizing the financial difficulties faced by retirees due to potential cuts.

Opinions on the bill are divided among residents. Carlos Gonzalez supports the bill, citing efforts to eliminate waste and fraud, while Ximena Mendiola fears the negative economic impacts.

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, who voted in favor of the bill, stated that it delivers significant benefits, including tax cuts and border security investments.

Most of the bill's cuts to healthcare and food programs are set to take effect in December 2026, prompting Gonzalez to argue that misinformation surrounds the bill's provisions.

As the debate over the bill continues, Gonzalez warns of the broader implications for the healthcare system, including potential closures of hospitals and clinics, and urges clarity on the bill's impact.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KVEO. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KVEO staff before being published.