Congressman Lance Gooden with his wife, Alexa, and their son, Liam.

I campaigned for over a year and my constituents all say they want meaningful border security. They are prepared to stand with me as long as it takes to stand with the president. I cast my first vote in Congress to follow through on that promise”

Rep. Gooden

U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Terrell) was sworn in Jan. 3 amid a partial government shutdown and cast his first U.S. House vote along party lines. Gooden opposed Democratic legislation to reopen nine federal agencies closed since Dec. 22 and punt the fight over border wall funding to February.

The bill passed by 239-192, with five Republicans joining Democrats.

Democrats have offered $1.3 billion for border security, including fencing. However, they refuse to meet President Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion to build a border wall. More than 800,000 federal workers are feeling the effects of the shutdown, and many government functions have been interrupted.

Regarding funding for a border wall, Gooden stated, “I campaigned for over a year and my constituents all say they want meaningful border security. They are prepared to stand with me as long as it takes to stand with the president. I cast my first vote in Congress to follow through on that promise.”

Gooden, who succeeded Republican Jeb Hensarling in the Texas 5th Congressional District seat, joins another 100 newly elected members of the 116th Congress. The 5th District stretches from Dallas County to Cherokee, Henderson, Kaufmann, Anderson, Van Zandt and Wood counties. Gooden and his wife, Alexa, have a son, Liam.