WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, and Brooks Counties were designated as contiguous disaster counties by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue qualifying them for federal assistance. “Hidalgo, Jim Hogg and Brooks have been named contiguous disaster counties due to ongoing drought conditions in South Texas,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “This designation will help our struggling counties and farmers by providing access to federal resources to combat these circumstances. I encourage those in the 15th District of Texas affected by these conditions to apply for these resources.” A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in primary ...