Editing Ciro Rodriguez (section)

==U.S. House of Representatives (1997–2005, 2007–2011)==
[[Image:Ciro D. Rodriguez.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Rodriguez serving as a member of the [[United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs|House Committee on Veterans' Affairs]].]]

In January 1997, 28th District congressman [[Frank Tejeda]] died at the start of his third term. [[Texas's 28th congressional district special election, 1997|A special election to fill the remainder of his service was held in April]], resulting in Rodriguez defeating his nearest rival Juan F. Solis III with 66.7% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist64_state.htm|title=Race Summary Report: April 1997 Special Runoff Election|publisher=Texas Secretary of State |access-date=April 28, 2018}}</ref>

After being sworn in on April 12, Rodriguez served as a member of the [[United States House Committee on Armed Services|Armed Services]], [[United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Veterans' Affairs]] and [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|Resources]] Committees. He was also the [[ranking member]] of the [[United States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health|VA Subcommittee on Health]]. Additionally, he led the [[Congressional Hispanic Caucus]] as chairman from 2003 to 2004 after four years as its Health Care Task Force Chairman.

He was also involved in [[military base]] creation and redevelopment and drafted legislation creating the [[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks City-Base]]; he also promoted the transformation of the former [[Kelly Air Force Base]] into Kelly USA, a  maintenance and logistics center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_19990610/ai_n10128242 |title=Texas Air Force base clears hurdle &#124; Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City) &#124; Find Articles at BNET |publisher=Findarticles.com |date=1999-06-10 |access-date=2010-07-12}}</ref>

Rodriguez was the lead sponsor of the Hispanic Health Improvement Act.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://olpa.od.nih.gov/legislation/108/pendinglegislation/hispanic.asp |title=OLPA – Legislative Updates – Hispanic Health Improvement Act of 2003 |publisher=Olpa.od.nih.gov |access-date=2010-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527210449/http://olpa.od.nih.gov/legislation/108/pendinglegislation/hispanic.asp |archive-date=2010-05-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In his capacity in Congress from 2006–2011, Congressman Rodriguez led as a champion of Veterans, farmers, law enforcement, and border security for the people of the 23rd District. He made sure the [[University of Texas at San Antonio]] had the funds to build a department for the development of Homeland Security, Veterans' received the benefits they deserved, the border was secure from the violence in Mexico, and secured funds for the agriculture community that consists of farmers, [[Texas A&M University]], and [[Sul Ross State University]] research programs.

In July 2011, Congressman Rodriguez celebrated with El Paso County officials the groundbreaking of the Tornillo Port of Entry. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee in the 2009–10 legislative session, Congressman Rodriguez was able to secure the $97 million to build the port of entry while also securing funds for new Veterans' Clinics in [[Del Rio, Texas|Del Rio]], South San Antonio, and [[Uvalde, Texas|Uvalde]].

===Committee assignments===
*[[United States House Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]
**[[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security|Subcommittee on Homeland Security]]
**[[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch|Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch]]
**[[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies]]
*[[United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]
**[[United States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health|Subcommittee on Health]]
**[[United States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs|Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs]]

===Caucuses===
*Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Chair of the Taskforce on Agriculture and Rural Communities

Rodriguez voted against both President Bush's and Obama's TARP/bank bailouts. He also voted against the General Motors bailout. Rodriguez did support the Stimulus plan, Health Care Reform and Financial Regulation of Wall Street. He helped pass the largest increase in veteran’s health care funding and the Wounded Warrior Act, reducing red tape for veterans in need. See: [http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=16389 The Voter's Self Defense System]  He has also focused on national security issues including cyber-security.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/cyber_securitymoves_into_newhome_at_utsa_98154679.html|title=Cyber security moves into new home at UTSA|newspaper=Mysa |date=10 July 2010 |last1=Ludwig |first1=By Melissa }}</ref>