ABA Thanks Rep. Cuellar for Promoting Pro-Growth Economic Policies

WASHINGTON — The American Bankers Association, in partnership with the Texas Bankers Association, threw its support behind Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, this week, and urged Texans to join in supporting his efforts.

In a series of new ads launched Wednesday, the organization, which serves as the voice of small, regional and large banks across the nation, lauds Cuellar for “fighting to expand hope and opportunity for families” in his congressional district and for backing a bill to help Texans realize their dreams of owning a home or starting a small business.

The support comes at a critical time for Cuellar, a 15-year incumbent who is facing his first-ever primary challenge in Texas’ 28th congressional district.

House District 28 stretches from eastern San Antonio to Laredo and into western Hildago County, just outside McAllen. Cuellar’s constituents are largely rural and Latino, and they’ve long embraced his moderate approach to government, an approach or philosophy that includes working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to promote business and trade.

Among other things, he recently played a critical role in the passage of the USMCA, the updated U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, and he took a principled stand, parting with the majority of his Democratic colleagues, in voting against The Pro Act, pro-union legislation he feared would threaten local jobs and small businesses in his district, particularly the franchises that account for over 12,000 of those jobs.

Cuellar’s primary challenger is Jessica Cisneros, a 26-year-old immigration lawyer backed by Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Rob Nichols, president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, said his organization was proud to partner with Texas bankers to shine a spotlight on Cuellar’s strong support of legislation benefiting his district and its residents.

“We appreciate his willingness to advance commonsense policies that promote economic growth in Texas and across the country,” Nichols said.

Chris Furlow, president and CEO of the Texas Banking Association agreed, saying Cuellar, “understands the key role community banks play in creating opportunity and jobs in South Texas, and it’s important that Texans know about his strong support for legislation that will help people buy a home and start a business.”

The advertisements, which mark the beginning of the ABA’s voter education efforts in 2020, are now running in Texas in both English and Spanish.