To designate the United States courthouse located at 525 Magoffin Avenue in El Paso, Texas, as the "Albert Armendariz, Sr., United States Courthouse".

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep pride that I rise in strong support of H.R. 2053, a bill that seeks to name the new El Paso Federal courthouse after the late Judge Albert Armendariz, Senior.

Judge Armendariz dedicated his life to advocating on behalf underserved communities and it is through his leadership and tireless efforts that we witnessed an improved landscape for Latinos in Texas and nationwide. He was a trailblazer who began his distinguished legal career by opening his law office in downtown El Paso with a $50 loan from his father. Judge Armendariz maximized that small investment by quickly becoming a national leader who served on countless committees and boards that addressed the issues he would advance in his legal practice. Judge Armendariz would go on to practice law in Texas for over 50 years and would argue before the United States Supreme Court. He is best remembered for his work on the landmark case, Hernandez v. The State of Texas, which established Latinos as a distinct class entitled to protection under the 14th Amendment.

Judge Armendariz graduated from El Paso High School in 1934. After graduation, he became a sergeant in the military and was responsible for overseeing the motor pool at Ft. Bliss in El Paso. He was later assigned to oversee the Italian prisoners of war at Ft. Bliss. When the war ended, he used the GI Bill to attend the University of Texas at El Paso for his undergraduate studies and then the University of Southern California Law School, where he was the only Mexican-American student at that time.

Judge Armendariz was a proud American who possessed a deep commitment to ensuring equal opportunity for all. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, Judge Armendariz served on the El Paso Civil Service Commission and is credited with helping to open the city's police and fire departments to Mexican-Americans. In 1976, Judge Armendariz was appointed an administrative judge for the Immigration and Naturalization Service and served in that capacity until 1985. He was later appointed to the 8th Court of Appeals of Texas. He was a founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF); national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); and founding board member of the Mexican American Bar Association of El Paso.

Judge Armendariz was a great American who gave so much to the El Paso community and to our nation. I urge all Members to join me in voting in favor of H.R. 2053.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2053) to designate the United States courthouse located at 525 Magoffin Avenue in El Paso, Texas, as the ``Albert Armendariz, Sr., United States Courthouse''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2053.

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

H.R. 2053 honors an outstanding American jurist. Judge Albert Armendariz, Sr. had a long and distinguished career of public service and was a true patriot of the United States of America.

Judge Armendariz was a native Texan. After he served his country in World War II, he left the U.S. Army and used the GI bill to continue his education. He graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso, then the University of Southern California Law School where he was the only Mexican American in attendance. After graduating from USC law school in 1950, Judge Armendariz returned to El Paso, Texas.

Early in his career, Judge Armendariz tackled discrimination head on while serving on the El Paso Civil Service Commission and pushing the agency to end discrimination against Latino applicants for civil service positions. Judge Armendariz also served as an immigration judge within the U.S. Department of Justice. He was the first Latino judge to serve as a justice on the Eighth Judicial District Court of Appeals for the State of Texas.

In addition to his service in the government, Judge Armendariz also found time to serve in leadership positions in several influential civic organizations and helped form the influential Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund in 1968.

Judge Armendariz had a never-ending passion for service to his community and practiced law until his death at the age of 88 on October 4, 2004. Given his extraordinary service, it is fitting and proper to honor Judge Armendariz by designating the United States Courthouse located at 525 Magoffin Avenue in El Paso, Texas, in his honor.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2053, which designates the U.S. courthouse located at 525 Magoffin Avenue in El Paso, Texas, in honor of Albert Armendariz, Sr.

Judge Armendariz was one of the most significant figures in Latino history, especially in the southwest region of the United States. He was the president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense Education Fund. He was a life-long champion of civil rights, a fighter against racism, and a defender of the underserved.

Judge Armendariz was a World War II veteran, and obtained his law degree from the University of Southern California Law School. Upon graduation, he returned to El Paso, where he set up his law office. He quickly became a community leader and activist.

His judicial legacy includes his work on Hernandez v. The State of Texas, which established Latinos as a protected class entitled to protection under the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Judge Armendariz also served as an immigration judge within the U.S. Department of Justice. In addition, he was the first Latino judge to serve as a Justice on the Eighth Judicial District Court of Appeals for the State of Texas. Judge Armendariz had a never ending passion for service to his community and practiced law until his death at age 88 on October 4, 2007.

Given his extraordinary service, it is fitting and proper to honor Judge Armendariz by designating the United States courthouse located at 525 Magoffin Avenue in El Paso, Texas, as the ``Albert Armendariz, Sr., United States Courthouse''.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2053.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2053, a bill to name the new El Paso Federal courthouse after the late Judge Albert Armendariz, Sr.

Judge Armendariz helped change the landscape for Latinos in Texas and nationwide. He dedicated his life to representing immigrants and is best remembered for his work on the landmark case, Hernandez v. the State of Texas, which established Latinos as a distinct class entitled to protection under the 14th amendment.

Over his lifetime, Judge Armendariz had a wide and varied career. Not only was he a distinguished judge and civil rights leader, but he was a WWII veteran, the founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Federal immigration judge and founding board member of the Mexican American Bar Association of El Paso.

In addition, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Judge Armendariz served on the El Paso Civil Service Commission and is credited with helping to open the city's police and fire departments to Mexican- Americans.

Judge Armendariz gave so much to the El Paso community and to our Nation. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution to honor this great American.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to support my colleague from Texas, Congressman Silvestre Reyes, and his bill, H.R. 2053.

Albert Armendariz, Sr. was a great citizen and legal mind. His tireless work for the Latino community and under-represented citizens is his legacy that will be long remembered. His work on the landmark case, Hernandez v. The State of Texas, is part of this legacy and our judicial history. This case established protections under the 14th Amendment for Latinos and was a step forward in the American Civil Rights Movement.

Judge Armendariz served his community of El Paso, Texas, and his nation in WWII. He

attended the University of Southern California, School of Law and was the only Mexican-American graduate at that time. He was the founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a founding board member of the Mexican American Bar Association of El Paso, and a federal immigration judge.

Judge Armendariz dedicated his life to the El Paso community and to our nation and it is fitting that we honor him in this manner.

I ask your support for this bill which will name the new El Paso Federal Courthouse after the late Judge Albert Armendariz, Sr.