Vicente Gonzalez is currently serving his third term in the United States Congress as the elected representative of the 15th District of Texas which encompasses the growing suburban counties of Brooks, Duval, Guadalupe, Jim Hogg, Karnes, and Live Oak as well as portions of Hidalgo, and Wilson counties. Congressman Vicente Gonzalez came to Washington to continue fighting for South Texans and ensure that individuals and communities have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. Congressman Gonzalez earned his GED in 1985 before attending Del Mar College where he received an Associate’s degree in Banking and Finance in 1990. He worked his way through college at Embry Riddle University where many of his classmates were active duty military personnel.
Congressman Gonzalez firmly believes that children are the future and that all children deserve a quality education from nursery school to college and beyond.
The congressman works tirelessly to ensure that South Texas K-12 schools receive proper funding to equip teachers and prepare young people for the challenges they may face in the classroom and beyond.
Congressman Gonzalez is a strong supporter of Head Start, Title I, GEAR-UP, Pell Grant, and other programs that support early childhood education, secondary education and post-secondary education and enable children in low-income communities to fulfill their academic potential and graduate from high school ready for college.
The congressman realizes that while invaluable, a top-notch education can come at a high price. Congressman Gonzalez supports efforts to lower student loan debt and make college more accessible and affordable. The congressman co-sponsored two pieces of legislation that would address these issues: H.R. 2015, the Equitable Student Aid Access Act, which would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to facilitate the process of applying for financial aid, and H.R. 813, the Affordability for Constant and Continual Education to Enhance Student Success Act, which amends the higher education fund of 1965 to increase the number of Pell Grants a student can receive in one year.