LegiStorm

Summary

Biographical

Family:

Education

• University of Texas School of Law - JD (1987)

• Georgetown University - BA, government (1985)

• Loyola University New Orleans (La.) - Attended (1981-1982)

• St. Joseph Academy (Brownsville, Texas) - High school diploma (1981)

Office History

Election Results

• 2021 (Nov. 3, 2020 election)

  34th Congressional District of Texas
  Filemón Bartolomé Vela Jr., 55.43%

  Democrat
  Reynaldo Gonzalez Jr. (Rey), 41.84%

  Republican
  Anthony Cristo, 1.60%

  Libertarian

• 2019 (Nov. 6, 2018 election)

  34th Congressional District of Texas
  Filemón Bartolomé Vela Jr., 60.00%

  Democrat
  Reynaldo Gonzalez Jr. (Rey), 40.00%

  Republican

• 2017 (Nov. 8, 2016 election)

  34th Congressional District of Texas
  Filemón Bartolomé Vela Jr., 62.67%

  Democrat
  Reynaldo Gonzalez Jr. (Rey), 37.33%

  Republican

• 2015 (Nov. 4, 2014 election)

  34th Congressional District of Texas
  Filemón Bartolomé Vela Jr., 59.47%

  Democrat
  Larry S Smith, 38.57%

  Republican
  Ryan Rowley, 1.96%

  Libertarian

• 2013 (Nov. 6, 2012 election)

  34th Congressional District of Texas
  Filemón Bartolomé Vela Jr., 61.89%

  Democrat
  Jessica Puente Bradshaw, 36.23%

  Republican
  Steven Ziggy Shanklin, 1.88%

  Libertarian

Employment History

• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (April 2022-2024)

  Partner

Associated Organizations

• Vaquero PAC

• Law Offices of Filemon Vela

• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas

• U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas

Awards

• Distinguished Community Health Advocate Award (National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.) (2018)

• Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (March 2017)

• Legislator of the Year (State Bar of Texas) (2015)

• Champion of Change (National Down Syndrome Society) (May 2013)

Official Signature

Lobbying and Foreign Representation

Listed as lobbyist by registrants:

• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (2022-2024)

Lobbied on behalf of:

• Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC
• Arajet SA
• Atalco Gramercy LLC
• Brownstone Consultants LLC
• City of San Antonio, Texas
See more >>

Privately Financed Travel

1 trip taken in 2014 costing $1,712

See map of trips

Personal Financial Disclosures

Disclosures as a member:

Congressional Staff

Caught Our Eye

• To take advantage of House MRA increase, offices must spend, spend, spend

  Posted by Keturah Hetrick on June 6, 2022
  If they want to take full advantage of this year's budget increase, House offices need to dramatically up their spending since March. read more

• Ex-Rep. Filemón Vela fast tracks lobbying registration

  Posted by Keturah Hetrick on May 9, 2022
  Former Rep. Filemón Vela (D-Texas) has officially registered as a lobbyist, just five weeks after resigning from Congress to join Akin Gump. read more

• New Rep. Troy Carter's hires include ex-con

  Posted by Keturah Hetrick on May 17, 2021
  Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.), Congress's newest member, included a controversial hire among his first staff picks. read more

• Ex-aide bending backward to help spinal-injury victims

  Posted by Keturah Hetrick on July 29, 2016
  Don't say that Juan "Jasey" Cárdenas doesn't have your back. The former congressional aide is lobbying to make life a little better for those living with spinal-cord injuries and diseases. read more

• Ruiz hires lobbyist as new legislative director

  Posted by Jenna Ebersole on June 19, 2015
  Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) has hired a legislative director back to the Hill after she spent just over a year working in government relations for a medical imaging technology organization. read more

• Rep. Vela's first privately funded trip takes him to South America

  Posted by John Sugden on Aug. 27, 2014
  Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas) recently returned from his first privately funded trip since taking office in 2013. Vela made it count, traveling to Bogota, Colombia. read more