James R. Dominguez Memorial Act of 2023

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 5799, the James R. Dominguez Memorial Act. I thank this Chamber for bringing this bill to the floor for a vote today.

I have the privilege of serving Texas 23 and the people of Uvalde. I was in Uvalde yesterday. It has been a tough couple of years for us in the district.

Just outside of Uvalde is a checkpoint called the Uvalde Checkpoint Station. Very soon that checkpoint will be known as the James R. Dominguez Checkpoint.

When I met with Border Patrol agents that day, it was nothing but smiles, whether they had been in for 2 years or they had been in for 30 years, like Agent Moreno, it was all smiles. They were smiling because they knew that they weren't going to be forgotten, whether they passed away during service over 12 years ago, they were not going to be forgotten. Their families weren't going to be forgotten.

In 2012, Border Patrol Agent James Dominguez tragically passed away in the line of duty when he was struck by a vehicle along Highway 90 in Texas.

Agent Dominguez was a loving father, a husband, a friend to all that knew him, and a strong man of faith. He dedicated 12 years of his life as a Border Patrol agent, the last serving in the Uvalde station in the Del Rio sector.

Today is a special day for this Chamber. We will move forward tonight on legislation that will honor the memory of Border Patrol Agent James Dominguez by renaming the checkpoint in Uvalde in his honor.

I am proud to work very closely with Chief Owens and his wife, Cassy Garcia, as well as the family members of Agent Dominguez, his brothers and sisters, his widow, to rename this Uvalde station and make this memorial possible.

Agent James Dominguez' legacy will live on for generations to come, and his service will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5799) to designate the checkpoint of the United States Border Patrol located on United States Highway 90 West in Uvalde County, Texas, as the ``James R. Dominguez Border Patrol Checkpoint''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 5799.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5799, a bill that honors the service and sacrifice of Border Patrol Agent James R. Dominguez by naming the United States Border Patrol checkpoint in Uvalde County, Texas, after him.

Border Patrol Agent Dominguez served our country for more than 12 years. On July 19, 2012, Agent Dominguez stopped to clear debris out of the roadway when he was tragically struck and killed by a passing car.

It is fitting that we honor Agent Dominguez by naming this Border Patrol checkpoint after him.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of H.R. 5799, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Tony Gonzales), who is the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill to honor the service and sacrifice of U.S. Border Patrol Agent James R. Dominguez by designating the United States Border Patrol checkpoint in Uvalde County, Texas, as the James R. Dominguez Border Patrol Checkpoint.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Gonzales, for his advocacy.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5799, a bill to designate the checkpoint of the U.S. Border Patrol located on United States Highway 90 West in Uvalde County, Texas, naming it the James R. Dominguez Border Patrol Checkpoint, and I thank Mr. Gonzales for bringing the bill.

In 2012, 41-year-old United States Border Patrol Agent James R. Dominguez was struck and killed by a vehicle while assisting a disabled motorist on U.S. 90 near Cline, Texas.

Agent Dominguez had served with the U.S. Border Patrol for 12 years. He is survived by his wife and four children. Agent Dominguez' brother and father were also members of the Border Patrol.

I support this legislation to rename the Border Patrol checkpoint located on U.S. Highway 90 West in Uvalde County, Texas, as the James R. Dominguez Border Patrol Checkpoint.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this legislation, as I said, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

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

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 555, H.R. 5799.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.