Henry Cuellar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Henry Cuellar
Official portrait, 2017
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 28th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Ciro Rodriguez
102nd Secretary of State of Texas
In office January 2, 2001 – October 5, 2001
Governor	Rick Perry
Preceded by	Elton Bomer
Succeeded by	Geoff Connor (acting)
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
In office January 13, 1987 – January 2, 2001
Preceded by	W. N. Hall
Succeeded by	Richard Raymond
Constituency	43rd district (1987–1993) 42nd district (1993–2001)
Personal details
Born	Enrique Roberto Cuellar (1955-09-19) September 19, 1955 (age 69) Laredo, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Imelda Cuellar
Children	2
Education	Laredo Community College (AA) Georgetown University (BS) University of Texas at Austin (JD, PhD) Texas A&M International University (MA) Naval War College (MS)

Henry Cuellar (born September 19, 1955) is an American lawyer and politician. He serves as a U.S. representative for Texas's 28th district. He has held this position since 2005. Cuellar is a member of the Democratic Party. His district stretches from the Rio Grande river to the suburbs of San Antonio.

Before becoming a U.S. Representative, Cuellar served in the Texas House of Representatives for 14 years. This was from 1987 to 2001. He also briefly worked as the Texas secretary of state in 2001. He is the most recent Democrat to hold a statewide office in Texas.

Cuellar was first elected to Congress in 2004. He is known as a moderate or conservative Democrat in the House Democratic Caucus. He has been reelected many times. He has also won several close primary elections.

Early Life and Education

Henry Cuellar was born in Laredo, Texas. This city is the county seat of Webb County in South Texas. He has lived there for most of his life. Both of his parents were Mexican American.

His father, Martin Siller Cuellar Sr., was born in Tamaulipas, Mexico. He moved to the United States. His mother, Odilia Perez, was from Zapata, Texas.

Cuellar went to Buenos Aires Elementary School. He became a strong reader there. He graduated from J. W. Nixon High School in 1973.

He earned an associate of arts degree from Laredo Community College. He later taught government classes at this college.

He then studied at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He also earned a Master of Arts in international trade from Texas A&M International University. He has a law degree (Juris Doctor) from the University of Texas School of Law. He also holds a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin.

As of 2023, he was completing another master's degree. This degree is in defense and strategic studies from Naval War College.

Early Career in Public Service

In 1981, Cuellar started his own law firm in Laredo. He became a licensed customs broker in 1983. From 1984 to 1986, he taught at Texas A&M International University. He was an adjunct professor of international commercial law.

Serving in the Texas House of Representatives

Cuellar was a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He served from 1987 to 2001. He represented most of Laredo. During his 14 years, he held important roles. He served on the House Appropriations, Higher Education, and Calendar committees. He also worked on national legislative committees. These committees focused on state budgets, the U.S.–Mexico border, and international trade.

Becoming Texas Secretary of State

In 2001, Governor Rick Perry chose Cuellar to be secretary of state of Texas. He held this office for about nine months. He then resigned. Geoff Connor took over the role temporarily. As of 2023, Cuellar is the last Democrat to have been Texas Secretary of State.

During his time, Cuellar shared an opinion about voting. He said that cities in Texas could not use ranked-choice voting. This opinion was not legally binding. However, it has been used by the city of Austin. Austin used it to not adopt ranked-choice voting.

U.S. House of Representatives

How Henry Cuellar Won Elections

2002 Election Race

In 2002, Cuellar ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the Democratic candidate for Texas's 23rd congressional district. He lost to the Republican incumbent, Henry Bonilla. This was Bonilla's closest election at that time.

2004 Election Victory

Cuellar planned to run against Bonilla again in 2003. However, new district maps were drawn. Most of Laredo moved into the 28th district. This district was represented by Ciro Rodriguez. Cuellar decided to challenge Rodriguez, who was a former friend. Cuellar won the primary election by just 58 votes.

The campaign was described as "nasty." The first vote count showed Rodriguez ahead. But after a recount, Cuellar won. His victory was one of only two times an incumbent lost a primary that year.

The 28th district was more Democratic. This made Cuellar a strong favorite for the general election. In November, he won by a large margin. He became the first person from Laredo in over 20 years to represent the 28th district. Cuellar's win was important for Democrats in 2004. Republicans gained seats in Texas that year, but Cuellar's election was a win for his party.

2006 Election Challenge

On March 7, 2006, Cuellar again defeated Rodriguez in the Democratic primary. He won with 52% of the vote. No Republican candidate ran in this primary.

Later, the U.S. Supreme Court made a ruling. It said that Texas had violated Latino voters' rights. This happened when Laredo was moved out of the 23rd district. As a result, many districts had to be redrawn. The primary results for these districts were canceled. A new map was created. All of Laredo was moved into the 28th district. An election was set for November 7, 2006.

In the general election, Cuellar had no Republican opponent. He easily won against Ron Avery and Frank Enriquez. He received almost 68% of the votes.

2008 Election Success

Cuellar ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 4, 2008. In the general election, he won reelection with nearly 70% of the vote. This was more than President Barack Obama received in the district.

2010 and 2012 Elections

Cuellar was unopposed for the Democratic nomination in 2010. He won reelection in the general election. In 2012, he faced Republican and Libertarian candidates. A Republican area, Guadalupe County, was removed from his district. Cuellar won with 68% of the votes.

2014 and 2016 Elections

Cuellar was unopposed in the Democratic primary in 2014. He also had no Republican opposition in the general election. In 2016, Cuellar won the Democratic primary. He then defeated Republican Zeffen Patrick Hardin in the general election.

2018 Election Win

In 2018, Cuellar was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He won the general election with 84.4% of the votes.

2020 Election and Primary Challenge

In 2019, a group called Justice Democrats looked for a challenger for Cuellar. They supported Jessica Cisneros, a young lawyer from Laredo. Cuellar defeated Cisneros in the primary election. He then won the general election in November.

2022 Election and Recount

Cuellar finished first in the Democratic primary in 2022. He received 48.4% of the votes, while Cisneros got 46.9%. They both went to a runoff election in May. During the runoff, there was discussion about a past event. This involved Cuellar and a former staffer.

Cuellar won the runoff election by a small margin. Cisneros asked for a recount. Cuellar's lead grew slightly during the recount. The Associated Press confirmed his win on June 21, 2022. Cuellar then easily won reelection against the Republican candidate.

2024 Election Support

Cuellar has received strong support from key party leaders for the 2024 election. This support aims to prevent a primary challenge against him. Leaders like Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi have endorsed him.

Understanding Committee Assignments

Cuellar serves on important committees in the House.

• Committee on Appropriations: This committee decides how the government spends money.
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security (Ranking Member): He is a top member on this subcommittee. It deals with funding for homeland security.
  • Subcommittee on Defense: This group handles money for the military.
  • Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies: This subcommittee funds military construction and veteran services.

Caucus Memberships and Groups

Cuellar is part of several groups in Congress. These groups are called caucuses.

• Blue Dog Coalition: This group is made of moderate to conservative Democrats.
• New Democrat Coalition: This group focuses on economic growth and innovation.
• Afterschool Caucuses: This group supports afterschool programs for kids.
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus: This caucus represents Hispanic members of Congress.
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus (co-chair): This group works on international wildlife conservation.
• U.S.-Japan Caucus: This group promotes relations between the U.S. and Japan.

Political Positions and Views

Cuellar describes himself as a "moderate-centrist" or conservative Democrat. He often votes with the Democratic Party. During the Trump administration, he also voted with Trump's views sometimes. He was ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the House. This means he works well with both parties. He is one of two members of the Blue Dog Democratic Coalition from Texas. This group focuses on careful spending.

As of August 2023, Cuellar voted with President Joe Biden's positions most of the time. He supported giving aid to Israel after the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

Immigration Policies

Cuellar meets with acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark A. Morgan

In 2011, Cuellar helped write a bill about border security. It aimed to increase cooperation between law enforcement agencies. This was to help with investigations of smuggling from Mexico.

In 2013, Cuellar spoke against building a border fence. He said it was an old solution for a modern problem. He pointed out the strong economic ties between the U.S. and Mexico.

Cuellar voted for Kate's Law. This law increases sentences for immigrants who re-enter the U.S. after being deported. He also supported taking federal money from cities with sanctuary policies.

2008 Presidential Primary

On June 15, 2007, Cuellar supported Hillary Clinton for president in 2008. He said she had the experience needed for the White House. He held a fundraiser for her in Laredo. It raised over $200,000. Former President Bill Clinton attended the event.

Federal Funding and Appropriations

Cuellar is the only Texas Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. He uses this role to bring federal money to his district. In 2011, he helped get funding for a Veterans Administration clinic in Laredo. The mayor said this project would not have happened without his support.

In 2020, Cuellar secured $1.2 million in federal funding. This money helped fight COVID-19 in Webb County.

Affordable Care Act Support

He supported the Affordable Health Care for America Act. This bill passed the House by a small number of votes. On March 21, 2010, Cuellar voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This act also passed the House.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

Cuellar played a key role in passing the bipartisan infrastructure deal in 2021. He was one of nine moderate Democrats who pushed for a vote on the bill. Their efforts led to the successful passage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. This was seen as a major win for President Biden.

Earmarks in Congress

Cuellar supported bringing back "earmarks" to Congress. Earmarks are funds set aside for specific projects. He has used his position to become one of the top earmarkers in Congress.

Environmental Issues

On June 26, 2009, Cuellar voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act. This bill is also known as the cap and trade bill. In March 2023, Cuellar announced he would vote to roll back some environmental rules. These rules were part of President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. He was one of only two Democrats to do this.

PRO Act Vote

Cuellar voted against the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. He voted against it in both 2021 and 2022.

Perceptics and Lobbying

Cuellar has supported automated license plate recognition company Perceptics. He has been linked to lobbying for the company. The CEO of Perceptics called him a "friendly congressman."

Support for Ukraine

Cuellar supports U.S. aid for Ukraine. This support comes after Russia's invasion. When Iran supplied drones to Russia, Cuellar led a letter. It asked the Biden administration to limit Iran's access to technology. This was to prevent American technology from being used in the war.

San Antonio to Monterrey Rail Project

Cuellar is a strong supporter of a proposed passenger rail line. This line would connect San Antonio, Texas to Monterrey, Mexico. He has supported this project since 2008. He helped get studies done by both the U.S. and Mexican governments. He also seeks federal money to help fund the project. An agreement has been signed to explore the idea.

The project is supported by Samuel García, the governor of Nuevo León. The train would connect San Antonio to Monterrey in 2 hours. It would also stop in Laredo, which is in Cuellar's district.

Trump Impeachment Votes

On December 18, 2019, Cuellar voted to impeach President Donald Trump. He voted for both articles of impeachment. After the January 6, 2021 attack, Cuellar called for a second impeachment of Trump. On January 13, he voted for impeachment again.

Personal Life

Henry Cuellar is one of eight children. His father was an immigrant who worked as a migrant worker. His brother, Martin Cuellar, is the Sheriff in Webb County. His sister, Rosie Cuellar, is a municipal judge in Rio Bravo.

Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, have two daughters. In 2014, Cuellar played George Washington in a celebration in Laredo. Cuellar is Roman Catholic.

On October 2, 2023, Cuellar was held at gunpoint outside his apartment in Washington, D.C.. Three robbers stole his car and luggage. His car and belongings were found later. Cuellar was not hurt. A police investigation is ongoing.

See also

• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress