During the 111th Congress, Hinojosa voted with the majority of his party 99 percent of the time. During the 112th Congress under a Republican-led House, Hinojosa bucked the majority of his party and voted for the extension of of the USA Patriot Act as well as the 2011 budget compromise.
The Texas Democrat has pushed for legislation that would fund water-conservation projects along the border region.
Hinojosa voted for both editions of the 2008 financial bailout bill over concerns that credit lines for small-business owners should be kept open.
Education
Hinojosa's pet issue is helping minorities and low-income Americans get access to higher education.
Hinojosa was one of the more active supporters of a push to eliminate federal subsidies for student-loan providers and instead make the loans to students directly from the government. "By moving to the federal government's direct loan program, we will put the best interests of students first and make college loans more reliable and affordable," said Hinojosa, after the changes were passed along with the 2010 health-care reform bill.
Along with Rep. George Miller (R-Calif.), Hinojosa was one of the House architects of the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act, which increased maximum Pell Grants for low-income students and authorized funding for technology and graduate programs and minority-serving schools.
Immigration and Border Security
Hinojosa has been a supporter of legislation that would provide pathways to U.S. citizenship for undocumented residents. He has backed the so-called "AgJobs" bill for undocumented farm workers and the DREAM Act, which would give young illegal immigrants legal status based on a college education or military service.
Hinojosa was a co-sponsor of a 2010 bill providing $600 million in funding for border security, including the hiring of an additional 1,000 permanent Border Patrol agents and the purchase of unmanned security drones.
Hinojosa has opposed building a U.S.-Mexico border wall and is a supporter of the Merida Initiative, a foreign aid program to Mexico and Central American countries to disrupt drug trafficking.
Trade
Hinojosa has sometimes played hardball for his support on free-trade agreements.
In 2000, Hinojosa negotiated with the Clinton administration by drawing federal support for the Cross-Border Institute for Regional Development, a plan to build the technology industry in the border region, in exchange for Hinojosa's support to normalize trade relations with China.
Hinojosa was among 15 House Democrats who voted for the Central American Free Trade Agreement in 2005.
Health Care Reform
Hinojosa backed the 2010 health-care reform bill, saying it would lower health-insurance premiums while closing the Medicare prescription-drug donut hole and providing tax credits to small businesses that provide coverage.
Show less
CONGRESSMAN RUBÉN HINOJOSA announces $2.7 million Fema-Homeland Security grant awarded to Mcallen Fire Department
Family of former Marine kidnapped in Mexico speaks out, hope he's alive
