MCALLEN, Texas - During a recent podcast with Prosperity Task Force coordinator Mario Reyna, Rio Grande Guardian Editor Steve Taylor said he would like to hear from any leader in South Texas that supports the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
That's because the Guardian has posted a lot of stories featuring groups opposed to the legislation.
The podcast had featured a conversation on the organizations that do not like key provisions in the bill, such as the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen Boys & Girls Club, Hidalgo County Community Service Agency, and Starr County Memorial Hospital. All have said their funding will be dramatically cut under the bill.
No sooner had Taylor made the request, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn issued a press release saying he supports the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Cornyn's analysis of the bill contrasts with that of most border lawmakers.
"There’s nothing beautiful about a bill that slashes health care, increases hunger, and lowers the income of every American earning less than $51,000 per year," said U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar of El Paso.
Citing analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen said the Republican bill would cut health insurance coverage for nearly 12 million Americans and add $3.3 trillion to the national debt.
“There is nothing ‘beautiful’ about a bill that lowers taxes for the ultra-rich on the backs of our senior citizens, our children, and our veterans,” Gonzalez said. “Ripping away health insurance, raising food prices nationwide, increasing the cost of education, harming our senior citizens, and hurting federal workers’ retirement is shameful and I will not stand for it.”
Appearing on Fox Business’ Kudlow show, Cornyn said the legislation provides an historic opportunity to prevent a more-than $3,000 tax hike on Texas families and bend the spending curve. Here are excerpts from his appearance:
“We've got to continue the current tax provisions so we don't see a multi-trillion-dollar tax increase.”
“President Trump understands that the real key here is getting our economy growing again, and his deregulatory agenda, his focus on American energy production, and lowering taxes, and expensing equipment, and things like that, is going to see this economy boom – just like it did after the 2017 tax bill up until the time the pandemic hit. It was the best economy I've seen in my lifetime, and I think this promises to be even better.”
“If you don't vote for the bill, you're going to see a multi-trillion-dollar tax increase. That does nothing for the deficit and debt.”
“So we're making good, incremental change – a good first start.”
“We need to get this bill done so people don't experience a huge tax increase.”
Cornyn followed up with another press release that listed the benefits of the legislation. The second press release came after the Senate voted to proceed to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“Senate Republicans are one step closer to delivering on President Trump’s agenda by advancing the One Big Beautiful Bill, which will avoid a massive tax increase on Texas families, secure our southern border, remove burdensome taxes on Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights, and chart our country on a path toward fiscal sanity after years of frivolous spending in Washington under Joe Biden,” Cornyn said.
“This significant legislation includes key provisions I have championed that put Texans first, and soon we will vote to send it over to the House and on to President Trump’s desk to become law.”
Cornyn said the One Big Beautiful Bill Act contains the following provisions that he has championed:
Cornyn said the legislation also includes the following tax provisions to benefit Texas families:
Cornyn said the bill also makes historic investments in border security through the following provisions:
State Rep. Henry Cuellar has a different view to Sen. Cornyn on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Cuellar made clear his views in a roundtable meeting with Starr County Memorial Hospital executives and doctors.
One of the participants at the roundtable was Thalia Muñoz, administrator at Starr County Memorial Hospital. Muñoz said:
“We truly appreciate, Congressman, you coming to visit us, and we appreciate the work you do," Muñoz said.
"(The federal legislation) would be extremely detrimental to small hospitals like ours. Our population very much depends on Medicaid, and it would be extremely difficult for small hospitals like ours to keep surviving (without Medicaid funding for the poor). We are the sole community provider within a 50-mile distance. So survival of hospitals like ours is vital. I mean, it's vital. Our population has grown and grown, and again, the indigent population continues to grow.”
Here is a video from the event:
And here is a video recording of an interview the Guardian secured with one of the doctors at the roundtable discussion, Dr. Javier Margo:
The board of directors of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council has a very different view to Sen. Cornyn when it comes to the federal budget proposals.
Here is a letter the group sent to members of Congress:
May 28 2025,
Subject: Unified Support to Protect and Strengthen Old American Acts (OAA), Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and Adult Protective Services (APS) Amid Fiscal Year 2026 Federal Restructuring.
Dear Congressman/Senator:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC) - which administers the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for Cameron Hidalgo and Willacy counties in Texas - we write to express our strong concerns regarding proposed changes to the Fiscal Year 2026 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget that would negatively impact services to the elderly and most vulnerable population.
The LRGVDC AAA is one of 28 Area Agency on Aging programs designated in Texas, and serves as critical link in the statewide Aging Network under the OAA. The proposed restructuring, if enacted, would dismantle core elements of the aging and disability service infrastructure that has supported our elderly and region since it was enacted by Congress in 1967.
Specifically, the draft budget would negatively impact services as follows:
Fragment the OAA by moving programs away from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the Administration for Children and Families(ACF), undermining the integrity and coordination of the Aging Network. Eliminate essential programs such as:
This would hinder our ability to conduct outreach and deliver services, as we employ staff that’s strategically placed to cover our entire region. We maintain a vital presence in medical facilities, including hospitals and clinics throughout the region.
In FY 2023-2024, the LRGVDC delivered services to 11,165 older resident, older adults and caregivers: Cameron County: 4,532 - Hidalgo County 6,155 - Willis County 395 - Other 83
We also routinely assist residents from outside our tri-county region who contact our offices in Weslaco and Harlingen.
The elimination of these programs would directly harm our most vulnerable residents, threatening their ability to age safely at home and placing additional pressure on institutional care systems. The potential impacts also extend to our workforce and economy, threatening staffing and outreach capacity across the region.
We have seen firsthand the vital role of these services. The Ombudsman Program has prevented unsafe discharges, protected residents from abuse and exploitation, and ensured that medically fragile adults retain access to care and dignity. These are not theoretical risks - they are daily realities that our team works to resolve. We respectfully request and highly urge Congress to consider the following:
We’ve enclosed supporting documents that include regional data, personal testimonials and national advocacy briefs to further illustrate the urgent need for congressional support. These documents reflect the lived experiences of older adults with caregivers in our region, and the indispensable nature of the services your decisions uphold.
In advance, we thank you for your service and your commitment to your constituents. I hope you will support and urge your colleagues to support the FY 2026 funding bill that includes protection or increases funding for critical OAA and other aging programs. The LRGVDC Board of Directors stands ready to collaborate in defense of aging services that reflect our community's values and needs.
Sincerely,
Norma Sepulveda, Mayor
LRGVDC Board President
The letter was signed by all the group’s directors.
