Sepulveda: The Valley’s voice in Congress is at risk

I’ve always believed that leadership is about results, not partisanship. Since the day I took office, I’ve worked with anyone willing to stand up for Harlingen and the RGV. 

I’ve partnered with our federal delegation, including Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, a Democrat, and Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both Republicans. I’ve worked closely with our state delegation, both Republicans, and during my first year, I collaborated with State Senator Morgan LaMantia, a Democrat.

Why? Because Harlingen families don’t care about party lines. They care about whether the dollars show up….whether the floods gets mitigated, the grants get approved, and the streets get fixed. That’s what I was elected to do and that’s what I’ve done.

But right now, the Valley’s voice in Congress is at risk. Harlingen’s voice is at risk.

Texas’s 34th Congressional District is more than 75% RGV. Cameron County alone has over 430,000 people. Add in Starr, Willacy, and parts of Hidalgo, and it’s clear: we are the heart of this district. It is crucial that our Rep be from the RGV period.

Yet proposals are circulating that would draw in places like Wharton and Matagorda Counties, communities hundreds of miles away, with different needs and priorities. That may not seem like a big shift on paper. But in practice, it would mean a weakened voice for the Valley and a potential loss of the resources we depend on. 

We cannot afford that. Not now. Not ever.

This isn’t about red or blue, it’s about green. The color of federal dollars we need in our communities. The color of investment. The color of infrastructure dollars. The color of opportunity.

I’m asking everyone in the RGV to pay attention. Speak up. Submit public comments. Attend hearings. Call your state legislators. Because if we stay silent, we risk being overlooked and once we lose that seat at the table, it’s a long road to get it back.

The Valley is not a political afterthought. We are a powerhouse. And we will not be ignored.

Editor’s Note: The above commentary was penned by Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda. It first appeared on Sepulveda’s social media pages.

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