U. S. House of Representative Henry Cuellar Announces $750,000 Earmark for El Indio Community Center Improvements

By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Maverick County officials joined U.S. House of Representative Henry Cuellar on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in El Indio, Texas ywhere he announced that he had secured inclusion of a $750,000 earmark for community center improvements in federal appropriations legislation. Funding remains contingent on final passage of the bill.

The news conference took place at the El Indio Community Center, located at 115 West Texas Blvd., bringing together county leaders and residents to discuss the planned investment and additional needs in the area.

Interim Maverick County Judge Pablo Garcia, Jr. uthanked Congressman Cuellar for his dedication to the region since learning that part of Precinct 2, including El Indio, would be included in his congressional district under the redistricting plan.

“Thank you, Congressman Cuellar, for your dedication to our region and for working to bring these improvements to the El Indio community,” Garcia said.

Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber also thanked Cuellar for his dedication, recognizing his willingness to visit the community and help address local needs.

Cuellar then addressed the public, outlining the improvements planned for the community center.

“Today we’re announcing $750,000 earmark for this community center,” Cuellar said.

A House Appropriations Committee Fiscal Year 2027 funding table lists $750,000 for Maverick County’s El Indio Community Center improvements. Cuellar said the money would become available following passage of the appropriations bill.

Cuellar said the funding would support interior and exterior renovations, restroom improvements and other work to improve the community center’s facilities.

His published funding request identifies the existing facility as a 2,500-square-foot building and includes equipment and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance upgrades to improve safety, accessibility and public use.

Maverick County is the intended recipient.

During Wednesday’s announcement, Cuellar also described paving the parking area with asphalt, repairing fencing and developing a walking trail and community park.

Those improvements would provide residents with a renovated gathering place and additional opportunities for outdoor recreation.

“We’ll work with the county to make sure that it’s done,” Cuellar said.

“The money should be available once we pass the appropriation bill at the end of the year,” he added. “After that we’ll work with your county commissioner, with your county judge, to make sure that we move forward on this as soon as possible.”

Cuellar explained that an earmark involves a member of Congress requesting funding for a specific project through the appropriations process.

“An earmark is not an application. You don’t file an application. You ask for the money,” Cuellar said.

He also discussed future funding priorities, noting that conversations with residents have included requests for lighting and street improvements.
“Sometimes people ask for lighting. Sometimes people ask for streets,” Cuellar said.

He then promised that he would continue working to represent not just the area in Pct 2 that has been designated to his district but Maverick County overall.