Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” is being discussed today in the U.S. Senate and is expected to come to a vote very soon. In response, the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force recently held a meeting with community services leaders to discuss concerns about the proposed legislation and the President’s separate budget plan, often referred to as the “skinny budget.” Mario Reyna, a member of the task force, convened the meeting.
One of the main speakers was Jaime Longoria, Executive Director of the Hidalgo County Community Service Agency (CSA). Longoria outlined how both proposals would significantly affect programs that serve thousands of residents in the Rio Grande Valley. He emphasized that the “Big, Beautiful Bill” includes deep cuts to programs such as SNAP and Medicaid. In contrast, the President’s budget proposes eliminating the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and AmeriCorps initiatives.
According to Longoria, Hidalgo County receives $2 million each year through CSBG funding. These funds support a wide range of services, including emergency response to natural disasters, support for victims of domestic violence, and immediate aid during events like the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that similar cuts would impact surrounding counties, including about $1 million in Cameron County and $700,000 in Starr County.
Longoria also noted that CSBG funds help address educational needs in the region. He cited an estimated 25,000 people between the ages of 16 and 24 in Hidalgo County who do not have a high school diploma. Programs that help these individuals earn diplomas would be affected by the proposed funding cuts.
The proposed elimination of LIHEAP would also have a significant impact. Longoria said the program provides $8 million in annual support to help around 8,000 families in Hidalgo County afford basic utilities. He pointed out that 45% of those receiving assistance are seniors over the age of 60, and 30% are children under the age of 18. He explained that these individuals often don’t match common stereotypes about public assistance recipients and emphasized the importance of looking at actual data.
Longoria also spoke about the potential loss of three AmeriCorps programs currently operating under the CSA. These include the Foster Grandparents Program, where older volunteers support children in places like Boys and Girls Clubs. Other volunteers assist at food pantries and provide support services in hospitals and VA clinics through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). These programs offer small, tax-free stipends to volunteers, many of whom are living on limited incomes.
Longoria said the loss of these AmeriCorps and volunteer programs would mean the loss of hundreds of volunteers and key services that many residents rely on daily. He estimated the total financial impact of all the proposed cuts to be approximately $12 million per year in Hidalgo County alone, excluding the indirect effects on the local economy.
The CSA employs 40 full-time staff members and works with approximately 450 volunteers, including 350 retired senior volunteers and around 100 AmeriCorps members. When asked how many individuals benefit from these programs annually, Longoria replied that between 8,000 and 10,000 people do.
The discussion highlighted a growing concern among local leaders that the federal proposals, if passed, could significantly impact essential services throughout the Rio Grande Valley, particularly those serving the most vulnerable populations.
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