To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 East Kleberg in Kingsville, Texas, as the "Irma Rangel Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4829, the legislation to honor State Representative Irma Rangel by naming the Post Office in her name in her beloved hometown of Kingsville, Texas.

Irma Rangel had three careers over the course of her life. She was a teacher first, then a lawyer, then a State legislator. In each one of those roles, Irma was dedicated to helping the poor, improving the Hispanic community, reaching out to everyone, and fighting for justice and equality. I have had the honor not only of calling her a friend but also a colleague in the Texas House.

During my tenure in the Texas legislature, I had the privilege of working with Representative Irma Rangel. As a colleague on the Committee on Higher Education, I saw Irma consistently fight to improve the quality and accessibility of education for not only her constituents but all students. She was a driving force in securing the passage of the 10 Percent Plan, which makes the top 10 percent of students in every high school eligible for admission to any State or college university, in the wake of the devastating Hopwood case.

I would like to just mention that, during this particular case, I had filed that particular legislation, and I was very pleased to have worked directly with her. It was at that point that I got elected to the Congress, and she was able to move forward a piece of legislation that has meant tremendous advantages for both African-Americans and Latinos, in spite of the Hopwood case, and when the administration in Texas went after us on affirmative action.

Her advocacy helped create the School of Pharmacy at the Texas A&M University at Kingsville, the first professional school in south Texas, now named the Irma Rangel School of Pharmacy. We all look forward to the day when the first class of the School of Pharmacy graduates from Texas A&M, Kingsville.

For many young Hispanic women, she was also a trailblazer. She was the first Hispanic woman elected to the Texas legislature and the first woman to act as the chairman of the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus. I would also add, she was extremely responsible, along with a large number of others, but she was right there, because

she was part of the Higher Education Committee in Texas, when we recognized the disparities that existed throughout south Texas, where we had no universities of any professional type, and we fought. We were very pleased with then Governor Ann Richards and others to be able to push forward what she made happen in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and that was the formation of a 4-year institution in Corpus Christi; the formation of a 4-year institution in Brownsville, Texas; the formation of a 4-year institution in Webb County; the expansion of the A&M downtown campus in San Antonio. During her tenure, in her efforts in higher education, she knew that those were the areas that she needed to move on.

She has left a lasting legacy, and this is a tribute that will continue to remind the residents of south Texas of her strength and courage.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4829, a bill to designate the U.S. Post Office in Kingsville, Texas, as the Irma Rangel Post Office Building.

First, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Tom Davis), the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), and, of course, my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for all their assistance in bringing this bill to the House floor today. I also want to thank all my colleagues in the Texas delegation for their unanimous support of this legislation.

Last year, the people of Texas lost a true Texas legend when State Representative Irma Rangel finally lost her battle with cancer. Irma Rangel was the first Mexican-American woman elected to the Texas House of Representatives, where she served the people of the great State of Texas for 26 years.

During her tenure, she devoted her efforts to increasing the educational attainment of Hispanics, empowering Texas youth with the tools they need to succeed and bring economic development to Texas.

She was proud of her legislation that ensured that all Texas high school seniors who graduated in the top 10 percent of their class will be able to attend any public university in the State of Texas. As a former teacher, she knew that the economy of Texas depends on creating a highly educated, diverse workforce.

Irma was always ready to engage her colleagues not only on the pressing issues of the day, but also on the issues that were forgotten or ignored, but were important to average working families. She was famous for her motto, ``will it help or hurt'' and used it as a standard for judging legislation.

She was a fighter for her congressional district, and because of her relentless efforts, Texas A&M Kingsville now has a School of Pharmacy, the first such professional school in south Texas.

Irma was also a courageous example of how to live life fully, even with cancer. She survived bouts of breast and ovarian cancer before she finally succumbed to the brain cancer. When she lost all of her hair because of chemotherapy treatments, she proudly wore her bright, colorful hats on the Floor of the Texas House. She was a positive force in educating women about cancer treatment and prevention. Her fighting spirit, her courage and her passion for educational excellence will truly be missed.

It is very fitting that the U.S. Post Office in her hometown of Kingsville, Texas, should bear her name. Every Member of Congress from Texas endorsed and cosponsored this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4829.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4829) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 East Kleberg in Kingsville, Texas, as the ``Irma Rangel Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members

may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4829.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4829 designates the post office in Kingsville, Texas, as the Irma Rangel Post Office Building. I congratulate the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) for garnering the cosponsorship of each Member of the Texas delegation and for advancing the bill to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, Irma Rangel was the first Mexican-American woman elected to the Texas State House of Representatives. She was a political institution in the State of Texas and very deserving of this honor today.

Irma Rangel sadly lost her valiant struggle against cancer on May 18, 2003. On June 2, 2003, the House unanimously agreed to a resolution that expressed sorrow following Irma Rangel's death. Today's legislation will be a more lasting tribute to Irma Rangel's groundbreaking service, and I support its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. Speaker, I have no other additional speakers, I urge passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to serve with Irma in the Texas legislature. They broke the mold with Irma Rangel. She was so knowledgeable and so caring. I sat just a few seats away from her in my freshman year. She was and is in our memories a wonderful legislator.

I was a Republican, and there were times when she could certainly put me in my place. But the fact of the matter is, she had such a great heart for people. She had such a great heart for Texas. She was a tireless worker for people who had no voice and who needed someone to stand up in the halls of Austin and fight for their beliefs.

I am proud to be a supporter of this important bill. I appreciate the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) and other members of the Texas delegation bringing this very important person to America's attention and naming this Post Office after someone who is so deserving of it. I am glad to be part of this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join in support of H.R. 4829, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 East Kleberg in Kingsville, Texas, as the Irma Rangel Post Office Building.

Irma Rangel was an outstanding civic, community and political leader who became an institution in her community, and I commend the gentleman from Texas for seeking to honor her in this manner.

I would urge passage of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa)

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).

Mr. Speaker, I do not have any additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.