Henry Cuellar

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judge Mercurio Martinez, Jr. of Laredo, Texas, on his retirement from the Laredo College Board of Trustees after more than six decades of service to higher education and the Laredo community.

Judge Martinez began his career in the classroom. He served as a full-time instructor at Laredo Junior College from 1959 to 1968, returned as a part-time instructor in the spring semesters of 1976 and 1978, and taught Business Administration full time from 1982 until June 1987.

Altogether, he gave roughly 15 years to instruction at the institution now known as Laredo College.

His service to public education continued on the Laredo Independent School District Board, where he served from June 1973 to March 1977. During part of that time, the LISD Board also governed Laredo Junior College.

Judge Martinez was first elected to the Laredo College Board of Trustees in 1988 and served 24 years on that board across multiple terms.

As a trustee, he helped strengthen the college's financial footing and its ability to serve students across Webb County.

His public service extended well beyond education. He served on the Laredo City Council from 1978 to 1991 and as Webb County Judge from 1991 to 2002, leading one of the largest counties in Texas.

Mr. Speaker, few people have shaped a community's schools and colleges as long or as directly as Judge Martinez.

On behalf of the 28th District of Texas, I thank him and his family for six decades of service to Laredo, and I wish him the very best in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable initiative born in my district in Jourdanton, Texas, that is helping change how we approach youth safety and emergency preparedness.

Recognizing that children are often the first individuals present at a medical emergency, my constituents Dustin and Michelle Titzman, along with their children Penelope, Everly, Adeline, and Stokes, founded Warrior Kid Medic.

This program is the culmination of Dustin's two decades of experience as a San Antonio firefighter, paramedic, and Army Reserve Blackhawk pilot, combined with over 14 years of youth leadership development at their summer program, Camp SkyWay.

Together, they have translated real-world emergency experience into lessons children can understand and use. Through camp programs, homeschool groups, and community trainings, they have taught more than 1,000 children.

Their work does far more than teach practical first aid; it builds lifelong character. In an emergency, it is easy for a child to feel scared, helpless, or like a victim. This training helps them step forward and determine, `What can I do? How can I help?' It replaces fear with critical thinking, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to serving others.

Furthermore, this work addresses a real training gap. While it is often difficult to find the time to train adults, our youth are an attentive audience already in the mindset of learning. By teaching these skills early, we give students knowledge they can carry for life.

The child we prepare today becomes the parent, banker, coach, coworker, neighbor, and community leader who not only knows exactly what to do in a crisis, but cares enough to act.

Mr. Speaker, empowering our youth to lead builds stronger, more resilient communities. On behalf of the 28th District of Texas, I commend the Titzman family and Warrior Kid Medic for their dedication to cultivating the next generation of citizens and first responders, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this important work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished career and dedication to education of Dr. Gilda Y. Martinez, Assistant Professor of Bilingual Education at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas.

A native of Laredo and a proud graduate of TAMIU, Dr. Martinez has dedicated her career to advancing bilingual education and creating opportunities for bilingual students, educators, and communities.

She began her career as a bilingual educator in Laredo and has since served as a dual-language teacher, bilingual education administrator, consultant, and university professor.

Today, Dr. Martinez prepares and mentors the next generation of bilingual educators and serves as Coordinator of TAMIU's Master of Science in Bilingual Education program.

Her scholarship focuses on bilingual and dual-language education, with particular attention to culturally and linguistically responsive practices in South Texas and our U.S.-Mexico border communities.

In 2020, Dr. Martinez founded the Unidos Para Texas Bilingual Education Conference, bringing educators, school leaders, researchers, and community partners together to strengthen bilingual education. The conference now serves hundreds of educators and provides scholarships for educators pursuing graduate studies.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Martinez commitment to education and our community reflects the very best of South Texas.

I thank her for her service and congratulate her on her continued leadership in advancing bilingual education for future generations.