The Fight for the RGV: Julio Salinas's Vision for HD-41

1. Economic Security & Real Affordability

The RGV thrives on hard work, but today, that work no longer guarantees a stable life. Julio is fighting to bring down costs and ensure every worker earns a decent living.

Wage Dignity and Labor Rights: Repeal Texas's "Right to Work for Less" laws, which are designed to weaken unions and drive down wages. Fight for strong labor protections and prevailing wage standards on all state contracts.

Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA): Secure a permanent and meaningful Cost of Living Adjustment for all retired teachers and state employees whose pensions have been decimated by inflation.

Paid Family Leave: Fight for a statewide Paid Family Leave program so no family must choose between a paycheck and caring for a newborn or sick loved one.

Housing Stability: Advocate for policies that stabilize the housing market and provide relief against surging rents and property taxes that are displacing working families.

2. Investment in Public Education

Julio’s own experience as a bilingual student who had to rely on community support showed him that the system is not designed to lift up all children. We must fully invest in our public schools—not private interests, so that all children have access to a decent education.

Full Funding, Not Vouchers: Oppose all attempts to funnel public education dollars into private school voucher schemes. Instead, direct state resources to fully fund public education and increase the Basic Allotment.

Support Staff Pay & Benefits: Extend benefits like free full-day Pre-K (passed for teachers) to all school support personnel (aides, custodians, cafeteria workers) to improve recruitment and retention for the entire school team.

Support for Bilingual Students and Teachers: Champion programs that fully support dual-language instruction and invest in better resources and training for overworked bilingual educators.

3. Accessible & Affordable Healthcare

Too many families in the Rio Grande Valley go without care because it’s simply too expensive or too far away. Julio believes the Texas Legislature must act to make healthcare accessible for every family in HD-41.

Expand Medicaid: Fight in the Texas House to expand Medicaid, bringing billions of federal dollars back to Texas and covering hundreds of thousands of uninsured Valley residents — including access to mental health care.

Lower Prescription Drug Costs: Support state action to cap insulin prices, increase transparency, and prevent price gouging on essential medications.

Strengthen Community Clinics: Advocate for increased state funding for community health centers and safety-net hospitals that serve working families, seniors, and bilingual communities in HD-41.

Mental Health Access: Push for greater investment in counseling, crisis services, and school-based mental health programs so families can get help before a crisis.

4. Flood Protection & Climate Resilience for the RGV

Flooding in the Rio Grande Valley is no longer an occasional disaster — we’re in a crisis. Families in HD-41 face repeated flooding that damages homes, destroys savings, and puts lives at risk, while the state continues to underinvest in basic flood protection.

Julio will fight in the Texas House for sustained funding for drainage, pumps, levees, and flood control infrastructure, with a focus on communities that have been ignored for decades. He will push to ensure flood mitigation dollars reach colonias and working-class neighborhoods, support home repair and flood-proofing assistance, and advance smarter planning standards so new development doesn’t make flooding worse for existing residents.

5.Public Transportation That Works

For many residents in McAllen and Edinburg, public transit isn’t unreliable because people don’t want to use it — it’s unreliable because wait times are too long and routes aren’t efficient. That’s not acceptable.

Julio will push for state support to improve Valley Metro service by increasing bus frequency, reducing wait times, and modernizing routes so workers, students, and seniors can get where they need to go on time. Reliable public transportation means better access to jobs, school, healthcare, and local businesses — and less traffic for everyone.

6. Small Business Growth & Emprendedores

From food trucks to family shops to logistics and freight companies, Julio believes entrepreneurs are the backbone of McAllen’s economy.

Cut Red Tape: Fight to cut unnecessary state red tape for small businesses.

Access to Capital: Expand micro-grants for start-ups and emprendedores, and improve access to capital for women- and Latino-owned businesses.

Bilingual Assistance: Provide bilingual business assistance services to ensure local entrepreneurs have the support they need to grow and succeed.

7. Cross-Border Commerce: Protecting Our Economic Lifeline

McAllen thrives on binational trade. Cross-border commerce should be treated as what it is: an economic engine, not a political battlefield.

Modern Ports of Entry: Champion modern ports of entry and faster customs processes that support businesses and truckers.

Logistics Investment: Support investments in bridges, freight corridors, and logistics hubs to enhance trade efficiency.

Protect Trade Relationships: Work to protect and stabilize USMCA trade relationships that are vital to South Texas economic prosperity.

Promote foreign spending in the valley via tourism: The Rio Grande Valley’s economy depends heavily on tourism and outside spending. Julio will work to promote the Valley as a destination for visitors, events, and cultural tourism, bringing new dollars into the 956 and supporting local businesses, workers, and communities.

8. Standing Up to a Complicit State Government

For too long, state leaders have allowed and promoted rogue, chaotic federal-level immigration theater instead of real border solutions. Julio will not let Austin use the Valley as a photo-op or political prop.

Demand Real Solutions: Demand policies that prioritize safety, order, and human dignity—not political stunts.

Cross-Agency Cooperation: Push for cross-agency cooperation and collaboration with federal and local partners.

Resource Allocation: Demand the state provide real resources for border communities that actually live with the effects of federal inaction, rather than spending billions on ineffective political theater.