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Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Republican Reconciliation 2.0

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement after S.2, the FY2026 Budget Resolution (also known as Reconciliation 2.0) passed in the House:

“Republicans are asking taxpayers to hand ICE and CBP another $70 billion, even though the Department of Homeland Security still has roughly $100 billion from the so-called 'One Big Beautiful Bill.’ I voted NO.

"In communities like El Paso, we've already seen how that money is being spent: on massive detention facilities, no-bid contracts, and warehouses being converted into immigrant detention centers while serious concerns about oversight, conditions, and accountability remain."

"At a time when families are struggling with higher costs and programs they rely on are being cut, Congress should be investing in affordable housing, health care, infrastructure, and support for working families—not writing another blank check to reckless agencies with virtually no guardrails attached."

"Budgets reflect our priorities. This bill puts billions more toward an approach that has already raised serious questions about rampant abuse, lack of oversight, and effectiveness while completely ignoring the needs of the American people. I strongly oppose it.”

The Congresswoman’s testimony during the House Rules Committee hearing on Reconciliation 2.0, can be found here.

TRANSCRIPT: Congresswoman Escobar Speaks on Republican Reconciliation 2.0 Bill, Discusses Republican Priorities, Camp East Montana, ICE & CBP Funding

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) provided testimony during the House Rules Committee hearing on S.2, the FY2026 Budget Resolution (also known as Reconciliation 2.0). This legislation passed in the Senate last week and is to be considered in the House this week.

In her opening remarks, she spoke about Camp East Montana, the $1.8 billion slush fund Donald Trump continues to advocate for to pay off domestic terrorists, hypocrisy by Republicans proudly supporting this legislation, and more.

Congresswoman Escobar also had several follow up interactions with the Rules Committee. In the first, she was asked by Democratic Ranking Member Mary Gay Scanlon to further discuss the waste, fraud, and abuse she’s seen with ICE and CBP, particularly in regards to Camp East Montana. In the second, she discusses with Representative Teresa Leger Fernández what she believes the purpose of the Republican legislation is. She also responds to several Republican talking points about the bill.

The videos can be found here (opening remarks), here (first follow up), and here (second follow up), and a transcript of all of the Congresswoman’s speaking roles can be found below:

Opening Remarks

House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx: Representative Escobar, you’re recognized.

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you, Madam Chair and Madam Ranking Member.

Let's bring some facts back into this room. I want to begin by saying it's a privilege for me to serve on both the House Budget and Appropriations Committees. I serve on the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which is where we should be talking about appropriations. But unfortunately, Congress is helping the president take away our obligation and duty to fund the government through this reconciliation bill.

I want to remind everyone here and everyone watching that the One Big, Beautiful Bill provided $140 billion - billion with a B - for CBP and ICE. It increased our deficit by $4.7 trillion - trillion with a T - and the Department of Homeland Security still has $100 billion left. $100 billion. There is money in the bank, and Republicans want the American taxpayer to give them $70 billion more in order to blow up the deficit even further.

I want to talk about also what this money - what the One Big, Beautiful bill money - has unleashed in our country. And I want to begin by by saying I live on the US-Mexico border. I am one of a handful of members of Congress that actually live on the border. No one wants a safe, secure border more than those of us who live there. Those of us who raised our families there. Those of us who go home every weekend.

But what the reconciliation dollars are doing is not creating a safer or more secure country. In fact, this money has unleashed abuses that U.S. citizens are offended by. If you look at President Trump's polling numbers, you will see that American voters, American people, do not like the way this administration is unleashing those dollars against our very own fellow citizens.

In fact, as a result of this money, 170 US citizens were arrested and two were killed on the streets of Minneapolis. 60 people have died in ICE custody. This is a historic, shocking number, and that includes a homicide that occurred inside the detention facility in my district at Camp East Montana. This money has unleashed abuses and violations of law and violations of the Constitution. And there have been attempts, after attempts, after attempts to limit our oversight of this money.

I want to tell you about Camp East Montana in my district, which is funded with the One Big Beautiful Bill dollars that Republicans approved. That facility can hold up to 5,000 human beings. It is a $1.24 billion facility. I've had conversations with my constituents about what that $1.24 billion could do to help them improve their lives.

Instead, it's going into a tent city that is run by a private contractor who has prioritized profits over meeting federal standards. And that's not all. This money has also been used by DHS to purchase three warehouses, warehouses that were created to hold pecans from our agricultural industry, purchased by DHS in my district for $122 million. ICE is now going to spend probably hundreds of millions of dollars to retrofit these warehouses so that they can hold 8,500 immigrants.

It is - that should shock the conscience of everyone. There's not even the water capacity or wastewater capacity to hold that many people. But this money has emboldened and empowered ICE to do this. And I will say, instead of - it is shocking that instead of using the $100 billion still available - this $70 billion that's being added will really further empower ICE to do more of the same.

And we all do support law enforcement. I take great offense to Republicans claiming we do not support law enforcement. This is why Democrats uniformly are opposed to the $1.8 billion slush fund that Donald Trump wants to use to pay off insurrectionists who beat cops on January 6th. So please, do not lecture us about not supporting law enforcement.

And if we want to talk waste, fraud and abuse, let's not forget that Kristi Noem used reconciliation money for a luxury jet. Was it one or was it two? I can't remember - three! Three luxury jets. Also, her bizarre commercial that cost more than most Hollywood films cost. There's some waste, fraud and abuse there, for sure, and Republicans want $70 billion more.

Budgets certainly are a statement of our values. And if we - I can imagine what Democrats would do with the with the $70 billion that Republicans are asking for.

So what what could that $70 billion actually buy? It could build more than 280,000 new affordable housing units in America. It could cover almost 9 million people on Medicaid for a full year. It could feed nearly 10 million families on SNAP for a full year. It could fix more than 70,000 miles of highway. It could provide mental health care to more than 9 million veterans for a full year.

But instead of doing that at a moment when American families are hurting because of Trump's tariffs, because of Trump's illegal war in Iran, families are seeing increased grocery prices, increased gasoline prices, increased utility prices, and health care and nutrition programs that have been cut.

This is what Republicans are doing. I strongly oppose this bill, and I encourage everyone here to do the same. I yield back, Madam Chair.

1st Follow Up with Congresswoman Scanlon

House Rules Committee Ranking Member Mary Gay Scanlon: I guess first I'd like to go to Representative Escobar. We're hearing a lot about fraud, waste and abuse here. Can you talk to us a little bit about the money that ICE and CBP have and what is happening with that money, particularly in your district? I know in my district we've had a lot of concerns. We've had a constituent die in ICE custody because he wasn't given appropriate medical treatment.

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you, Miss Scanlon. I'll be glad to detail for this committee what my team and I have seen inside these facilities in my district in El Paso. And again, just as a reminder, CBP and ICE currently have $100 billion unspent, $100 billion. Just a reminder to everyone.

But the One Big, Beautiful Bill (so-called) funded Camp East Montana, a $1.24 billion tent city. And the American taxpayer is allegedly paying for medical care that detainees are not getting, cleaning services that are not happening, laundry services that are not happening. But the private corporations running these facilities are still getting their money.

I want to give you an example of the horrific cases we've seen. I'll give you a couple of quick ones. First, there was a gentleman who entered the country legally, mind you, because the vast majority of the folks I've met have no criminal record and entered the country legally. I sat and I spoke with him, and he told me about an injury he sustained in Minneapolis when he was arrested by ICE. He was arrested so violently by the ICE agents that they broke his arm. He was then flown to El Paso, to Campus Montana, and he was wearing a brace when I met him. He had been in the facility for a few weeks. I asked him how his arm was doing. He took off his brace. I could literally see the break in his forearm. His arm - his broken arm - had never been set. He was given aspirin to deal with the pain. Clearly, after weeks of that kind of break, his bones were fusing in a way that he would very likely need surgery.

There are other examples. One of our colleagues, Angie Craig, flew to El Paso to visit one of her constituents, who was arrested, detained and arrested. The week she was supposed to have surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, ICE flew her to El Paso to Camp East Montana, held her for four months, refused to let her get her surgery. She was finally released on humanitarian parole. It took Senate intervention. She may not ever be able to have children because she was prevented from getting the medical care she needed.

I have met dozens and dozens and dozens of detainees who told me they have to clean their own what are called pods. Now, some people might rejoice in that, but the company is getting paid to clean these pods, and they're forcing detainees to do it instead.

When I have visited, I've seen clothes hanging up inside their pods on their beds because they don't have access to laundry services, yet Congress is paying a private company to do this. So there is not just - there are just not horrific abuses happening inside these facilities, but there's massive fraud. Meanwhile, the private corporations who won these contracts, by the way, with no bid contracts, so there was no competitive bidding that took place.

The company that that was hired to run Camp East Montana had never run immigration detention ever before, but were supposed to care for 5000 people per day. There was a homicide inside of Camp East Montana, and I still have yet to get information on what the consequences were for the private detention employee who committed the homicide.

But the medical examiner in El Paso ruled it a homicide. And guess what? After that, they no longer use the services of the medical examiner. So this money is being used to perpetrate fraud, perpetrate waste and for in-humanitarian purposes. And many of the folks inside those facilities should not be held in detention at all.

2^nd Follow Up with Congresswoman Leger Fernandez

Congresswoman Leger Fernandez: Did you want to address it? Because you have seen this - you, Representative Escobar - you have seen the mistreatment of women in ICE detention facilities. And we can read some of the stories. Pregnant women shackled, pregnant women miscarrying, almost bleeding to death. And there is nothing in this bill that addresses guardrails. So this doesn't continue to happen. So I have a lot of questions to get to, but I know you want to add something to that.

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you so much, Miss Leger Fernandez. You hit the nail on the head. There are zero guardrails in this bill. And that is, I believe, by design and why Republicans have chosen to use reconciliation instead of the normal appropriations process. Through reconciliation, there are very strict rules. One of them, the Byrd rule, so it's very difficult to add in policy on the Senate side.

My colleagues - my Republican colleagues - here in the House know that. And so this essentially creates a slush fund for Donald Trump to continue to reward his cronies with no bid government contracts and also to create conditions that should be unacceptable to all of us.

I want to also address something Mr. [Chip] Roy said about how this somehow corrects what happened during the Biden years. A number of the individuals I have met in immigration detention have been here for decades. And, to again point out something I mentioned in my testimony, many of the folks I have met entered the country legally. So when Donald Trump says we're going to go after all of the "bad people," that's not true. That's never been true.

This is about funding Stephen Miller's mass deportation fantasy, rewarding contractors who essentially are engaged in a pay to play situation. And with regard to the other claim that the existing $100 billion cannot be used to pay for CBP operations and personnel: [Trump’s] been doing that. The president has been using that money. And in fact, even during his first administration, he violated the Empowerment Control Act over and over and over again. So did DOGE. [They] violated that act over and over and over again. But they want to tell us that he can't use $100 billion in the DHS fund to pay for operations? I don't believe that for a minute.

TRANSCRIPT: Congresswoman Escobar Speaks on Meta Data Center, Drunk Driving During Appropriations Markup

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Last night, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) spoke during the House Appropriations Committee mark up of the Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill, and the Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies Bill. In her remarks, she spoke on two amendments.

The first amendment was provided by Rep. Escobar to prohibit the use of federal funds to implement a policy proposed by President Trump that would clear the way for construction to begin on data centers without local input. This amendment was rejected by Republicans.

The second amendment was provided by Republicans to block federal agencies from researching technologies used to prevent drunk driving. It was passed by Republicans.

The videos can be found here and here, and a transcript of both parts can be found below:

Rep. Escobar Amendment (Data Centers)

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My amendment is about data centers, and I know I have stood up and spoken about data centers before in this committee. And I want to share with you all that in my community, the data center issue is probably the number one front and center issue. And if data centers haven't come to your community yet, they will, and hopefully we can do something to protect your community before that happens.

We know that many of our residents are already dealing with skyrocketing utility bills. In my community, we are dealing with a rapidly warming environment. In fact, El Paso is the third fastest warming community in America, behind Reno and behind Las Vegas. We are breaking records. Unfortunately, we have the dubious distinction of breaking heat records in my community now, and we have three data centers going up in our region already, with another one planned on our military installation. And these data centers are using gas turbines to more than double the electrical output. They need a lot of electricity. And in my community, we have issues with air quality. I am really concerned that we are going to reach a non attainment level in El Paso with the proliferation of these data centers.

I'm also worried about water. The drought that we have to deal with is real. And in El Paso for decades, we have regulated ourselves. We've xeriscaped lawns. People have pulled up, you know, their water-thirsty lawns and put xeriscape. We limit our showers. We only water our outdoor plants on certain days of the week during certain hours. But yet here come data centers that are going to use hundreds of gallons per day to keep them cool.

And I will tell you, it's not just my community that's concerned about the proliferation of these data centers. A recent Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans oppose building AI data centers in their backyards. 71% of Americans. This is a bipartisan issue with bipartisan concern.

The EPA's proposed rule revision to begin actual construction in the new source review, or the NSR, pre-construction permitting program, changes the definition of when a facility “begins actual construction to only require a Clean Air Act permit before constructing emitting units, not other facility components.” And what this means is that a data center that relies on gas polluting generators like those in my community, they'd be able to begin millions of dollars worth of construction without permits and, more importantly, without the public comment period that these permits require.

One of the data center companies constructing a data center in my community is Meta, and Meta made all sorts of assurances before coming into the community, and I've been trying to get them to participate in the town hall with me.

And we have security at our town halls. We've never let our town halls get out of control. You know, like all of you, we have order to our conversations in the community. But constituents have real questions and they deserve answers. Meta has refused to engage with my community. We cannot let these big corporations have access to our natural resources without the public being involved, without there being a process.

And so that is what my amendment would do ensure that the public has the ability to have a public comment period before construction begins. Let's give our folks a chance to ask their questions and have a say in our own communities.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

Republican Amendment (Drunk Driving)

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I want to say to the author and the collaborators: I understand where you're coming from, and I am not - I think your motivations are good, but I do rise in opposition to this amendment.

Texas is one of the worst states when it comes to drunk driving. And in fact, let me read you some statistics. Texas is home to five cities with the highest rate of drunk driving fatalities, and unfortunately, my community has the dubious distinction of being the top offender. Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Arlington all have alcohol related crash fatality rates between 46.3% and 51.9%. In El Paso, that number is 61%.

We should not be standing in the way of options provided to Congress. As my colleague from the state of Florida mentioned, we will have the ability to say no to technology that we think goes too far.

In my community, my constituents think Congress isn't doing enough to stop drunk driving. Vehicles are weapons when an impaired or drunk driver is behind the wheel. And absolutely, there's different forms of impairment for sure: distracted driving, texting while driving, changing radio stations, other drugs, and we have to think about that as well. But the statistics show that someone has driven drunk 80 times on average before they are finally caught.

And this is a crisis in many communities. There is no kill switch right now. Frankly, one of the organizations in my community, the Sober Streets movement, would probably love a kill switch because they are a club no one wants to be a part of. They have lost children, spouses, loved ones, to someone who didn't bother to order an Uber, a Lyft or get a ride home.

There's a lot of work we have to do as members to create safer communities, and I want to look at the menu of options. That's what the language in the bipartisan bill did. When we get the options before us, we can then debate those options. But why would we place limitations on something that is a crisis in many communities right now, and the research that's going in to finding solutions?

I'd like for us to do more, not less. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

Congresswoman Escobar Introduces House resolution recognizing May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month

Fri, 29 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) introduced a House resolution recognizing May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a condition characterized by difficulties in regulating emotion and is estimated to effect 14 million Americans nationwide.

"For too long, borderline personality disorder has been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or simply ignored," said Congresswoman Escobar. "Recognizing May as BPD Awareness Month is about changing that: bringing this conversation into the light, honoring those living with it, and making clear that compassion, research, and real support shouldn’t wait any longer.”

“For many Americans, BPD is a treatable mental health condition, but because of disproportionately high levels of stigma, individuals either do not seek the care they need or too often experience delayed diagnosed or misdiagnosis. This bipartisan resolution is a call to action and a reminder that early intervention, accessible treatment and stigma reduction can making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals suffering from BPD and their family and friends who care,” said Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force.

“BPD is an under-treated condition marked by painful emotion dysregulation, interpersonal isolation, and impulsivity that frequently includes suicidality and self-harm. This recognition is a necessary first step toward improving the lives of millions of people with BPD and millions more who love them, live and work with them. Let's build on this momentum to urge the National Institute of Mental Health to prioritize funding more research to improve evidence-based treatments. Together, we can improve prevention outcomes for people with BPD and bring hope to their families and loved ones,” said Alan Fruzzetti, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of Nevada, Reno and Board Member Emeritus, BPD Alliance

“This resolution is both a milestone and a starting point. Awareness is essential, and now it's time to follow it with action. We need more trained providers, more comprehensive insurance coverage, and more investment in the evidence-based treatments that can lead to recovery so that people with BPD can have meaningful lives and real hope for the future. The BPD Alliance is committed to working with Representative Escobar and her colleagues in Congress to turn this recognition into real, lasting change for the millions of Americans affected by BPD,” said Julie Frantsve-Hawley, PhD and Board Member, BPD Alliance

“People living with BPD face stigma when clinicians refuse to treat them, insurance plans deny evidence-based care, and healthcare systems turn them away. This stigma delays diagnosis, creates barriers to treatment, and can lead to tragic outcomes, including suicide or overdose. Congressional recognition of BPD Awareness Month sends a clear message: this diagnosis is real, recovery is possible, and no one should be denied care because of a label,” said Antoinette Del Rio, Interim Executive Director, Emotions Matter, Inc

The resolution is endorsed by National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), BPD Alliance, American Psychological Association Services, Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle, Center for Evidence Based Treatment, Transformation Behavioral Health, Emotions Matter, DBT Institute of Central Illinois, Scandaliato Memorial Foundation, Aspire Advocates for Behavioral Health, Evidence Based Therapy and Consultation of Atlanta, and more.

Full text can be found here or below.

RESOLUTION

Supporting the designation of May 2026 as ‘‘Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month’’.

Whereas borderline personality disorder (in this preamble re-ferred to as ‘‘BPD’’) is a serious and treatable mental health condition characterized by chronic emotion dysregulation that affects how individuals think, feel, and connect with others, and by differences in the way emotions, impulses, and stress are experienced and processed, resulting in challenges including painful emotions, often dangerous behaviors, intermittent struggles with memory and problem solving, disrupted relationships, and difficulties related to identity and sense of self;

Whereas BPD affects approximately 1.6 to 3.9 percent of the general population, representing an estimated 5,500,000 to 13,300,000 United States citizens, and because the condition profoundly affects interpersonal relationships and family dynamics, its impact reaches millions of additional family members, caregivers, loved ones, and communities across the United States;

Whereas approximately 20 to 22 percent of individuals receiving inpatient mental health treatment have BPD;

Whereas 65 to 70 percent of individuals living with BPD atempt suicide and approximately 8 to 10 percent die by suicide;

Whereas individuals living with BPD commonly experience co-occurring mental health conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders;

Whereas some individuals living with BPD have histories of trauma, chronic invalidation, or other adverse life experiences that can significantly influence emotional development, interpersonal functioning, and mental health out-comes;

Whereas, despite its prevalence and significant impact on individuals, families, caregivers, and communities, BPD has historically received insufficient public awareness, research attention, and both research funding and treatment program funding;

Whereas individuals living with BPD continue to face disproportionately high levels of stigma, including within health care and mental health settings, compared to individuals with other mental health diagnoses, and such stigma can negatively impact the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of care they receive;

Whereas individuals living with BPD frequently experience delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and barriers to appropriate treatment due to stigma, bias, misconceptions within health care systems, and lack of available effective treatment in many regions;

Whereas public awareness and understanding of BPD remain incomplete, and timely diagnosis and access to evidence-based care are often hindered by gaps in health care access, insurance coverage and affordability, misinformation, the complexity of co-occurring conditions, limited provider education, and insufficient specialized programming;

Whereas the prognosis for BPD is far more hopeful than commonly believed, with research demonstrating that many individuals experience significant improvement overtime, with many no longer meeting diagnostic criteria following effective treatment, and can benefit substantially from evidence-based treatments;

Whereas individuals living with BPD deserve hope, and both clinical experience and research demonstrate that, with compassionate, evidence-based support from mental health professionals and broader community systems, individuals with BPD can experience recovery and lead lives with significantly reduced suffering and improved well-being;

Whereas with compassionate, evidence-based support and treatment, individuals living with BPD can develop effective coping skills, maintain meaningful relationships, pursue education and careers, contribute to their communities, and lead fulfilling lives;

Whereas individuals living with BPD and their family members are valuable members of society whose lived experiences, creativity, resilience, insight, and contributions enrich their families, communities, workplaces, and the broader public;

Whereas the inclusion of lived experience, family member, clinician, and researcher perspectives is essential to improving awareness, reducing stigma, advancing effective care, and shaping compassionate mental health policy; and

Whereas it is essential to increase awareness of BPD among individuals living with BPD and related problems, their families and caregivers, mental health professionals, policymakers, and the general public by promoting education, research, funding, early intervention, accessible treatment, and stigma reduction: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the designation of ‘‘Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month’’.

Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Removal of Commercial Traffic at BOTA

Wed, 27 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement in response to the El Paso Chamber of Commerce fighting against the removal of commercial traffic from the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA):

“An overwhelming majority of El Pasoans support removing commercial traffic from BOTA; we’ve known this since GSA reported that 93% of the 12,000 El Pasoans who participated in public comment said so.

“While I understand the concerns expressed by businesses who use BOTA for trade, CBP has repeatedly assured us that there is capacity and opportunity at the other land ports of entry in El Paso. Our community can maintain its commercial advantage while supporting what El Pasoans have made clear is a priority. We have to focus our energy on ensuring the other land ports are ready for this shift, and my hope is that the Chamber joins us in this effort.”

In January 2025, the General Services Administration (GSA) published their Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the modernization project. In it, GSA analyzed the impact to issues including public services, traffic, air quality, socioeconomics, and more. The EIS was published after CBP and GSA worked on this project for years. Throughout this time, the public - including members of the business community were encouraged and indeed participated in the public comment period and at events hosted by GSA and/or Congresswoman Escobar.

ICYMI: Congresswoman Escobar Honored with Voice of the Voiceless Award by Annunciation House

Tue, 26 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Last Saturday, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) was honored with the Voice of the Voiceless award as part of Annunciation House’s Voice of the Voiceless Awards recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional courage, advocacy, and commitment to justice in the border region.

“I’m deeply honored to receive Annunciation House’s Voice of the Voiceless award. To be recognized by an outstanding organization that does such meaningful work for our community is incredibly humbling,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Our country and our community were shaped by immigrants in search of a better life for themselves and their children. The work Annunciation House and countless other organizations do to fight for human dignity and justice is inspiring and a source of hope. This recognition is so meaningful to me. My work wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the incredible team I am privileged to work with in El Paso and in Washington, D.C. Their dedication and passion to the work we do is equally inspiring. I’m grateful to all the volunteers, lawyers, humanitarians and Americans who are fighting for a better world for everyone. May our efforts to help immigrants awaken compassion in others and encourage them to join the important work we are all doing.”

Photos from the event can be found here and you can learn more about the Voice of the Voiceless Awards here. More information about Saturday’s event can be found here.

TRANSCRIPT: Congresswoman Escobar Speaks at MILCON-VA Subcommittee, Questions VA Secretary

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This morning, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) spoke twice during a House Appropriations Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MILCON-VA) Subcommittee hearing. Testifying at today’s subcommittee hearing were Doug Collins, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Richard Topping, Assistant Secretary of Management and Chief Financial Officer.

The first part is regarding military construction, including the new VA medical center in El Paso. The second part is regarding VA Home Loans, veteran homeownership, and a preview of upcoming legislation the Congresswoman is working on.

The videos can be found here and here, and a transcript of both parts can be found below:

PART I

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you Mr. Chairman (Carter) and Ranking Member (Wasserman Schultz). And gentlemen, thank you so much for for being here this morning. Appreciate the opportunity. And I, too, am very proud of the fact that our subcommittee put together a bipartisan appropriations product that I wish could serve as a model for the other appropriations subcommittees.

Secretary Collins, as you know, El Paso, Texas, the community I am privileged to represent, is home to more than 40,000 veterans. In fact, El Paso has a veteran population concentration roughly 40% higher than both the Texas and national averages. And because of Fort Bliss and the strong military community there, that number continues to grow, and we are proud of that.

Veterans in our region are spread across a large area of West Texas and southern New Mexico. This creates real access and capacity challenges for the VA health care delivery in the region. So I think it's fair to say that ensuring reliable access to VA health care in the region is a significant priority for the department. Would you agree?

Secretary Collins: As it is all over the country.

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you. I'm glad to hear that. That's why in 2022, I helped secure roughly $700 million for the construction of a new VA medical center in El Paso. This facility will serve not just El Paso, but the broader region. It will be a major anchor for care in West Texas and southern New Mexico. The facility is expected to open around 2029 or 2030, and even though that sounds like it's quite some time away, planning for the staffing, quality care and operations of a facility of this scale and scope needs to start early.

William Beaumont, the VA hospital that will be adjacent to this new VA facility, was $400 million over budget and was three years delayed. Thankfully, that's not the case with this facility, but as you can imagine, veterans have apprehension about making sure that the new facility is opened on time, on budget, with adequate staffing.

I am so proud that the Fiscal Year 2027 MILCON-VA bill included my provision that directs the VA to brief Congress on activation planning for the new medical center. Secretary Collins, will you commit that the department will work closely with my office and this subcommittee as activation planning for this facility moves forward?

Secretary Collins: Of course.

Congresswoman Escobar: Wonderful.

Secretary Collins: Can I bring up something here, though?

Congresswoman Escobar: Yes, absolutely.

Secretary Collins: And I do appreciate you looking at this. And maybe something we could actually [unintelligible] because you've experienced it: Construction. I brought this up on - this is my 10th or 11th time on the Hill. I'm down - somebody told me that there's only, I think Scott Bessent and Pete Hegseth [are about] the only two that's been up here more than me, but I bring this up every time. And you - I appreciate you so much doing this. Construction at the VA is abysmal. It is awful. It's terrible. I can't come up - with my thesaurus runs out of words. And the reason is, is because over the years we have tried to piecemeal stuff, place it out, and we'd give 200 million here, 200 million here, 200 million here, 200 million here. And at the end of the day, we got a 15 year project that costs 1.6 billion. Example. You know - we're - so one of the things I did was change that. I said, let's look for a major like hospital construction, which yours is ongoing, which by the way is about 49% completed. And we're completing that out.

But when we look at this, we're putting in the facilities to be built with all the money up front so that we're not coming in and giving the land one year, the paving one year, whatever else, one year. So that's one thing that we're changing. The other thing though, that we're also changing and we'd love to have help, is we're internally changing - [Undersecretary] Richard's over this. I don't know if y'all know this. Did y'all know that - everybody's heard of National Building Standards, right? We all know what national building standards are. Somewhere in the VA though a number of years ago we decided those wasn't good enough.

So we added an entire VA on top of it, which makes stuff that's going on in El Paso cost more, and it's basically not functional. We're taking that out. We're taking that whole thing out and making it going to the standards at Mayo and everybody else uses. The other thing is this, and I'm and I say this with love and trepidation, but many times, just like the wait times and how wait times got started in the VA, the construction, some of the construction delay, there's two fold.

One is set aside and number two, the other one is the big one. And that is that we put the Corps of Engineers in the middle of major projects after Aurora, which Aurora was a debacle. But we put a core of engineers. Corps of Engineers does not want to be here. They do not want to do our stuff, because what happens? We do our planning and then they get in and try to do planning. So this was slowing your project up. That's what's slowing. I mean, I appreciate what the Corps does. I mean, but they don't need to be in my buildings for hospitals. They don't need to be in my buildings for clinics. So that's got to be statutory. I can't get rid of them as much as I would love to Mr. Chairman, I can't get rid of them out of my system. That's a statutory issue. But you have highlighted perfectly what your veterans need and what you're committed to, and I appreciate that.

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I'm just - I'm over time, but my team and I are actually working on reforming MILCON funding. Also want to work on reforming VA funding because you're right, these projects are costing too much. They are taking too much time. It's unconscionable. All of that essentially creates a delay in great projects, and it gobbles up money from other projects that need funding and resources. So I would like to work closely with you on that, because that is a fundamental piece of the work that we are doing in my office. So look forward to working with you on getting that done. I know I'm out of time, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

Secretary Collins: I would like to just say I want to follow up, Mr. Chairman is look, one of you is actually right on all this, but I will say it meets money up from other. We're 70 years old. Our facilities are basically 70 year old. That's our average age. But here's something just to give everybody on the committee and the staff especially to hear this. Saint Louis, which is a facility, has already been done from last year, 1.6 billion, roughly, to build a new facility that they're doing out there. It's smaller than in my hometown. And Mr. [unintelligible] for you and for me with Gainesville, Northeast Georgia medical center built a larger facility with Ors, ERs, same kind of format. Did it for 800,000,000 in 24 months. It's going to cost six years and 1.6 billion in Saint Louis. That's the problem we have right now.

PART II

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, regarding community care, the conversation, the dialog you just had with our ranking member, I associate myself with the issues that she has raised. And I also want to say that my colleague, Mr. Levin raises issues that I have also heard about. I think it's really important that these conversations be an opportunity for the department to look holistically at what members of Congress are hearing from their own districts.

I want to pivot and shift gears to an issue that is important to my veterans in my community, which is home ownership. Last year, you described the VA Home Loan program as one of the most effective federal programs in history, and I agree, it is one of the most important benefits that we can provide to our veterans. It's helped millions of service members and veterans achieve the American dream of homeownership, which is increasingly becoming more out of reach for most Americans.

In El Paso alone, there have been more than 17,000 VA home loans over the last five years. So I think that you and I agree that helping veterans successfully access the benefits they've earned is a core responsibility of the department, but I think most people would be surprised to learn that fewer than 30% of veterans are even aware that the benefit exists, and fewer than 15% of eligible veterans actually use it. And for many who do, the home buying process can be complex and involve actors who are not always neutral or independent sources of guidance. I think I know the answer to this, but do you agree that veterans should have access to clear, trusted and unbiased guidance when making major financial decisions like buying a home?

Secretary Collins: Of course. And it should come from the VA as well.

Congresswoman Escobar: Excellent. Thank you. So I and I presume that protecting veterans from fraud and predatory financial practices is also a shared priority for us. Is that correct?

Secretary Collins: For yes, personally and in fact, yes.

Congresswoman Escobar: Great. And, Secretary Collins, do you believe that there would be value in improving access to trusted, independent guidance for veterans using the VA Home loan benefit?

Secretary Collins: I’ll probably do agree, but can you expand on that just a little bit, just so I'm understand what you're saying?

Congresswoman Escobar: Well, I'm getting there. I think you will agree with me.

Secretary Collins: I know - you’re leading down the questions. Yeah. Whatever you're headed, I'm pretty sure we're going to be pretty close on this.

Congresswoman Escobar: Okay. And would you support a program to provide veterans with independent VA home loan navigation services to better protect them?

Secretary Collins: Inside the VA?

Congresswoman Escobar: Yes. So I'm my team and I are working on legislation called the VA Home Loan Navigator Act, which would do this. [It] would help protect our veterans, ensure they have access to the information they need so that we can get them into the homes that they want to live in. This bill would extend the trusted model used for other VA benefits to the home loan benefit. It would create a voluntary network of independent accredited housing counselors. They would help veterans navigate the home loan process from start to finish: buying a home, resolving loan issues, preventing foreclosure, free for veterans, and fully independent from lenders, servicers and brokers. I understand you have not had a chance to review the text. We're working on this, but based on what I believe are shared goals of improving utilization and the VA of the VA home loan benefit and protecting veterans from fraud, I'd like your commitment that the department will work with me and my team as we develop this proposal.

Secretary Collins: Not a problem. We’ll work with any member on technical assistance on bills that you come up with.

Congresswoman Escobar: Great. Thank you so much, Mr. Secretary. This is a priority for us and we look forward to working with you. Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

Congresswoman Escobar Calls on the Army to Increase Transparency and Community Engagement on Proposed Fort Bliss Data Center

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) sent a letter to Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll calling for greater transparency, meaningful public engagement, and stronger accountability regarding the proposed Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) data center project at Fort Bliss.

The proposed project, which has reportedly been discussed at hyperscale levels approaching 2.5 gigawatts, continues to raise significant questions from El Pasoans regarding potential impacts on local infrastructure, water and energy resources, household costs, environmental conditions, and community quality of life. While the Army has begun engaging with the community, Congresswoman Escobar expressed concern that critical project decisions may be advancing before residents have received clear answers or meaningful opportunities for public input.

Excerpts from the letter can be found below or in its entirety here.

“I write regarding the proposed Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) data center project at Fort Bliss and the significant concerns that continue to be raised by El Pasoans about the project’s scope, location, environmental impacts, infrastructure demands, and security implications.

“As you know, Fort Bliss and El Paso share a long and proud history. I have consistently worked to support Fort Bliss, its service members, and its mission because the installation is vital for our national security and local economy. Precisely because the relationship is so important, I am concerned that the Army risks undermining community trust if residents come to view this process as dismissive of legitimate local concerns regarding the project’s location and long-term impacts.

“El Pasoans deserve clear answers regarding the project’s anticipated impacts on local energy infrastructure, water resources, the environment, and overall quality of life. The project has been discussed at hyperscale levels approaching 2.5 gigawatts, yet critical questions remain unresolved on energy sourcing, grid impacts, infrastructure upgrades, and whether local ratepayers could absorb indirect costs associated with the project. While I acknowledge references have been made to “behind-the-meter” solutions, the Army and Carlyle Group have not provided the public with detailed projections or enforceable commitments to allow the community to assess the project’s impact.

“These concerns are especially acute in El Paso, which is already facing prolonged drought conditions, extreme heat, poor air quality, and severe water stress. Residents living near the proposed site should not be asked to absorb more environmental and quality-of-life burdens without clear demonstration that every reasonable mitigation measure and alternative location have been fully evaluated.

“El Pasoans deserve a process that is transparent, thoughtful, and responsive to legitimate public scrutiny before irreversible decisions are made. I urge the Army and Carlyle Group to slow this process, provide greater transparency, and seriously reconsider the proposed location of the facility.

“Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to your response.”

Congresswoman Escobar Secures Key Wins in Bipartisan Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Funding Bill

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MILCON-VA) Appropriations bill, which advanced out of the House Appropriations Committee with unanimous bipartisan support.

The FY2027 MILCON-VA bill provides $481 billion overall, including $157 billion in discretionary funding for military construction and veterans’ programs. It increases funding for veterans’ health care, including investments in suicide prevention, women’s health, and rural services, while including several key provisions the Congresswoman secured.

“As a member of the MILCON-VA Subcommittee, I worked to ensure this bill delivers meaningful progress for our service members, our veterans, and communities like El Paso,” said Rep. Escobar. “While no bill is perfect, this legislation reflects thoughtful bipartisan work and includes important steps forward on oversight, innovation, and accountability.”

Delivering for El Paso Veterans and Military Families

The bill includes multiple provisions led by the Congresswoman and focused on strengthening veterans’ care and supporting military infrastructure:

El Paso VA Medical Center Oversight: The Congresswoman wrote language in the legislation to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide detailed updates on activation planning for the new El Paso VA Medical Center, including staffing, equipment, and patient demand. This is in addition to her introduction of the El Paso VA Medical Center Activation Readiness Act in April. She previously helped secure $700 million for the facility’s construction and continues to push to ensure it opens in a timely and cost-efficient manner.
Veteran Health Care Coordination: The legislation directs the VA to study ways to improve coordination for veterans who rely on multiple health systems, helping reduce gaps in care and improve outcomes.
Dialysis Care Protections: The bill reinforces the importance of maintaining and strengthening access to specialty dialysis services for veterans in regions like El Paso.
Expanded Medical Image Sharing: The Congresswoman advanced efforts to modernize the VA’s medical imaging systems, improving coordination between VA facilities, community providers, and federal partners

Advancing Military Construction Reform and Innovation

The Congresswoman also secured provisions aimed at modernizing the military construction process:

Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs): The bill directs the Department of Defense to explore expanding the use of IGSAs for small-scale construction projects, a step toward making military construction faster, more flexible, and more cost-effective.
3D Construction Standards: The legislation encourages the Pentagon to accelerate development of standardized building codes for additive manufacturing, helping military installations adopt innovative construction technologies more efficiently, like the construction currently happening at Fort Bliss.
Support for Fort Bliss Missions: The Congresswoman supported a measure which highlights the importance of the 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command, whose aging headquarters was built in the 1950s, and encourages planning for a modern headquarters to support its global mission.

Standing Up for Veterans Nationwide

Additional provisions include:

Herbicide Exposure Review in Puerto Rico: The VA is directed to evaluate historical herbicide testing in Puerto Rico and determine whether affected veterans are properly recognized and supported.
VA Technology Modernization Oversight: The bill pushes for stronger data governance and responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve claims processing while maintaining accountability.

Video remarks can be found here and more information about the bill can be found here.

TRANSCRIPT: Congresswoman Escobar Speaks on Bipartisan Wins in the FY27 MILCON-VA Legislation

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This afternoon, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) spoke on the bipartisan wins included in the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill on the House floor ahead of the final vote for the legislation.

The video can be found here and a transcript can be found below:

Congresswoman Escobar: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the proud representative of the great military installation of Fort Bliss, Texas, and as a member of the MILCON-VA Subcommittee, I want to thank Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz not just for their work on this bill, but for being champions of bipartisan collaboration. So grateful to the both of you for that.

And while this is not a perfect bill, it does make real progress. The bill advances my provisions supporting reforms and innovation to help modernize a military construction process that is far too slow and rigid for today's military. The needs we have for military construction are far greater than the resources available, and I am deeply committed to reforming this process so that we can stretch those dollars even further.

This bill also supports planning for a new headquarters for the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command at Fort Bliss, whose aging facilities no longer match its global mission.

On the VA side, I'm pleased that this bill includes my own legislation to ensure oversight of the activation planning of the VA medical center being built in El Paso, right next to William Beaumont Hospital. I was proud to help secure the $700 million to build this great facility, and I'm committed to ensuring it delivers world class health care for veterans on day one.

While I'm disappointed the bill still contains a partisan provision that weakens gun background check protections for veterans that I do not agree with, the final product is still a thoughtful, bipartisan one, and I support it in its current form, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Thank you. I yield back.

Federal Services Resource Fair

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

August 2025 Town Hall

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Congressional Office Hours with the Small Business Administration

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:30:00 GMT

Congressional Office Hours with Sentri/Global Entry Program

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:30:00 GMT

July 21, 2025 Tele-Town Hall

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 22:00:00 GMT

I'd like to invite you to join me on Monday, July 21st at 6pm MT for a live tele-town hall. With so much news over the last few weeks, I wanted to take some time to share my latest updates with you and answer your questions.

You can watch along on my Facebook page, or dial in at 866-478-3483 in English or 855-962-1021 in Spanish.

More Information:

The Republican Spending Bill
The Dignity Act
Impoundment
Republican Cuts: Rescissions

June 7th In-Person Town Hall

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Join Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) for her an in-person town hall on Saturday, June 7, at 10 a.m. MT at the Horizon High School Cafeteria.

This town hall is free and open to the public. El Pasoans can join this conversation on Facebook Live. El Pasoans can sign up to receive a reminder and submit their questions ahead of the event here.

For questions or more information, please contact Congresswoman Escobar’s office at (915) 541-1400.

Congressional Office Hours with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA)

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Congressional Office Hours with USCIS

Fri, 09 May 2025 18:00:00 GMT

March 29th In-Person Town Hall

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Join Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) for her an in-person town hall on Saturday, March 29, at 9 a.m. MT at the Eastwood High School Auditorium.

For questions or more information, please contact Congresswoman Escobar’s office at (915) 541-1400 or Veronica.Escobar@mail.house.gov.

Congressional Mobile Office Hours with the El Paso Passport Agency

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 14:30:00 GMT