Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Herbert H. Richardson for his incredible dedication to the scientific community at Texas A&M University as Director of the Texas Transportation Institute and Associate Vice Chancellor for Engineering.

Dr. Richardson was born in the State of Massachusetts and was educated at Colby College in Maine and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received a B.S. and M.S. degree with honors in 1955, and the Sc.D. in 1958 from MIT. Shortly after graduation, he served as a faculty member, then as head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Association Dean for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for 27 years. Under his leadership, he conducted and directed a wide-ranging research program, and made numerous publications of his research in mechanical engineering and transportation systems.

He then served as the first Chief Scientist of the U.S. Department of Transportation from 1970 to 1972, and joined the Texas A&M University System in 1984 as Vice Chancellor for Engineering, and Dean of the College of Engineering and Distinguished Professor of Engineering. Dr. Richardson brought together the three engineering research and service agencies--the Texas Engineering Experiment Station, the Texas Engineering Extension Service, and the Texas Transportation Institute-- to form an integrated Engineering Program. In 1993, he became Director of the Texas Transportation Institute, the largest university- affiliated transportation research organization, and Associate Vice Chancellor for Engineering. Under his leadership, the Texas Transportation Institute has become home to nine national research centers with expenditures ranging to $36 million.

Dr. Richardson has also received numerous accolades and awards from his peers for his exemplary academic leadership such as the recently awarded 2006 Roy W. Crum Distinguished Service Award from Transportation Research Board, Rufus Oldenberger Medal, Centennial Medal and the Benjamin Garver Lamme Medal by the American Association for Engineering Education; and in addition to these awards, he was elected to several notable organizations such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Associate of the National Academies and the Research Council.

In his 22 years of academic service with the Texas A&M University System, Dr. Richardson has shown exemplary leadership in building strong academic and research programs, thus helping make the College of Engineering and the Texas Transportation Institute one of the unparalleled centers for excellent education in engineering.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the strong academic leadership of Dr. Herbert H. Richardson for the Texas A&M University System.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Robert Hunter, who has served for twenty years in the Texas State House of Representatives, and his dedication to the City of Abilene, Abilene Christian University, and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas.

Robert Hunter was born in 1928 in Dodge City in Kansas, as the tenth child of twelve children. He enrolled at Abilene Christian College after graduating from San Mateo High School in California in 1948. Shortly after graduation from college, he married his wife, Shirley Long of Austin, in Thailand, and served in the United States Navy as Security Aide to two admirals in the South Pacific and in Washington, D.C., from 1952 to 1955. Hunter then accepted the invitation of Abilene Christian College President Don H. Morris to become director of special events. There, at his alma mater, he quickly moved up the academic ladder to become the Executive Vice President of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas. During his work with the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, he coordinated the passage of the Texas Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) program, which helped Texas students attend private colleges and universities in the State of Texas.

In 1970, Hunter served on the City Council in the City of Abilene, and thus began his passion for civic service in which he ran for the Texas State House of Representatives in 1986, won the seat to this day which he has remained a wonderful voice for his constituents and for the State of Texas. In the Texas House of Representatives, Hunter chaired the House Committee on International and Cultural Relations, and is currently vice-chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee and serves on the Government Reform Committee. He also serves on committees for several national legislative organizations.

In 2006, Hunter will have completed his tenth term as State Representative, with more than $1 billion appropriated for the Texas Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) program, and more than fifty years of service with the Abilene Christian University.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the passion Dr. Bob Hunter has in serving as State Representative for the State of Texas, and his wonderful commitment to higher education for Texas students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Ethel Minor, the outgoing President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), for her 14 years of service to the San Antonio Chapter of the NAACP.

Ms. Minor was born on November 26, 1922 in the City of San Antonio in the State of Texas. She attended Prairie View A&M University and majored in Business Administration at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas. She then began her 35 years of service to Kelly Air Force Base as an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist in the Black Employment Program, fighting for equal treatment of employees at the Kelly Air Force Base until her retirement in 1980.

Ms. Minor was involved in the civil rights marches and protests throughout Bexar County during the turbulent 1960s, was elected to the San Antonio Branch of the NAACP in 1987, and served for 10 consecutive years from 1987 to 1996, and 4 years from 2003-2006. Under her remarkable leadership, the San Antonio Branch of the NAACP succeeded with the voter registration drives. She also promoted the education of the African-American youth, advocated for the local African-American community, and organized the San Antonio Annual Martin Luther King Day March Celebration, which has become the largest annual civil rights celebration in the entire Nation with over 100,000 attendees.

In addition to her work as the first female President of the San Antonio Branch of the NAACP, Ms. Minor is extensively involved in many community service and educational organizations including the Centennial, Scholarship, and Diversity Committees at St. Philip's College, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and the National Council of Negro Women. She was the first black PTA President at Brackenridge High School, a Member of the District Educational Improvement Council (DEIC) in the East Central School District, and the Program and Nominating Chair of the International Training and Communication ITC. She has received numerous honors and awards such as: the Yellow Rose of Texas which was given to her by then-Governor Mark White, the Key to the City of New Orleans, the Friend of Education Award from American Federation of Teachers, Top Ladies of Distinction Spirit Award, and the Martin Luther King Award. She was also an inductee into the Women's Hall of Fame and has been presented several awards by the local branches and the state chapter of the NAACP as well involved in the religious community at the Antioch Baptist Church where she remains a devoted member.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the passion Ms. Minor has demonstrated in advancing the civil rights of the African-American community.

Mr. Speaker, whereas, the Vaqueros are the true original cowboys of South Texas, and they were an essential part of the early ranching industry in Jim Hogg County.

Whereas, Vaqueros were renowned for their exemplary ranching and stock-handling skills, which were needed for the development of ranches and without them, the ranching industry would not have developed to the State it is today.

Whereas, the skills and the ranching practices shown by the vaqueros have left a lasting impact on modern ranching. The equipment of the vaquero--saddle, chaps, bandana, lasso, and spurs--has become the standard gear of all Texas cowboys.

Whereas, the first ranches founded in the area with the help of the vaqueros were Randado, Las Noriacitas, Las Animas, San Antonio Viejo, Las Emamadas, Las Viboritas, El Baluarte, and San Javier. Some of these ranches are still held by descendants of the original owners such as Randado, which was visited by General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War.

Whereas, ranching remains one of the vital elements of the economy in Jim Hogg County, and the City of Hebbronville is located on the land that once was a part of the Las Noriacitas Ranch. W.R. Hebbron, the town's namesake, established the city along the route of the Texas Mexican Railway in 1883.

Be it hereby resolved, That Congressman Henry Cuellar, in representing the 28th Congressional District of the State of Texas, commends the City of Hebbronville on its celebration of the history of the vaquero on November 4, 2006.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 150th anniversary of the Sebastopol House State Historic Site in the City of Seguin, located in the 28th District of Texas.

This 3,000 square foot home was built in 1856 and is constructed mainly of limecrete, an early form of concrete, a material rarely used in the area. Joshua Young, who lost his son in the Civil War, built the Sebastopol House and later sold the house to his sister, who then sold it to Joseph and Nettie Zorn. Joseph Zorn served as Alderman, Postmaster, and Mayor of Seguin for twenty years, was instrumental in the growth and the modernization of the city, and left a remarkable legacy in the creation of the trustee-managed, free public school system in 1891. The house remained with the Zorn family until the death of Calvert Zorn, when the house was rented out to families, including that of Robert and Mary Ybarra, who lived in the house for many years.

The Sebastopol House faced the threat of demolition in the early 1960s, but was saved by the Seguin Conservation Society to serve as a historic house museum until 1976, and was restored to its original condition in the 1980s by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to preserve this important piece of Texas architectural history. As we look back on the past 150 years of this house and its inhabitants with pride, we also look forward to an enduring future for the Sebastopol House State Historic Site.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to honor the 150th anniversary of the Sebastopol House State Historic Site.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor COL James D. Rogers for his outstanding service in the United States Army during the Vietnam war.

COL James D. Rogers went above the call of duty in his service as senior advisor to the 11th Vietnamese Ranger Battalion on Operation ``Harvest Moon'' in the Thang Binh District. On December 8, 1965, the entire battalion came under attack with heavy casualties on the Ranger side.

The Battalion's executive officer was killed, the command group radio operator was wounded, and CPT Dzu Thua Nguyen, the commander of the 11th Vietnamese Ranger Battalion, was wounded in both legs. During this battle is when Colonel Rogers displayed extreme bravery in fighting off the enemy, tending to the wounded during the withdrawal, and safeguarding their lives while air support was being called in.

He remained behind, and carried Captain Dzu on his back to safety over dangerous, cane-filled terrain in which he wounded his foot by stepping on a punji stake. Despite this injury, he kept on going, and carried Captain Dzu to the safety of the reserve company where he and his assistant senior advisor, LT Jan Senecal, worked with the battalion in repelling further attacks. Six months after that heroic display in the face of absolute danger, Colonel Rogers was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his valor on May 18, 1966.

Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to have had this time to recognize the bravery and dedication of COL James D. Rogers to his fellow soldiers and to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support for the permanent normalization of trade relations (PNTR) with Vietnam. With the Doha round of global trade talks in limbo, the U.S. must continue to pursue an active bilateral trade agenda that makes real gains for America's working families.

My hometown of Laredo has been transformed by trade. Since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), I have watched as trade transformed communities in Texas from areas of marginal business activity, to some of the most rapidly developing counties in the nation. Laredo now serves as the largest inland port in North America and takes in 60 percent of all NAFTA traffic.

But our current trade agreements are simply not enough. In today's global economy, we cannot afford to stand idle but instead must push ahead with increased trade liberalization. The Vietnam agreement does just that.

Agricultural products are crucial exports for my congressional district. With Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and our new trade relations, Vietnam will reduce tariffs on most U.S. agricultural exports to 15 percent or less. Texas farmers will be able to sell in the Vietnamese market on a level playing field with competitors in other WTO member countries. Without PNTR with Vietnam, Texas's exporters will lose. I urge my colleagues to join me today in making history and supporting America's working families by granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations to Vietnam.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 476, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Adan Gutierrez, the local columnist for the Zapata County News, one of the largest community newspapers in Zapata County.

Adan Gutierrez was born on August 29th, 1946, in the City of Zapata in the State of Texas. He currently resides in the City of Zapata as one of its most involved members of the community. He served proudly in the United States Army for ten years, and shortly after being honorably discharged, started working at the local library in 1984. His passion for literature was evident and helped him become the Assistant Librarian in less than two years. He was on his way to a higher administrative position within the Library when he suffered from a brain aneurysm in 1993.

But this did not slow him down; instead, it made him even more involved in the community through his frequent correspondence with the editor of the Zapata County News regarding current news events. Due to the quality of his writing, he was invited to become a regular columnist for the Zapata County News in writing about the history of Zapata County, cultural local events, and other social events. He presently is teaching conversational Spanish

at the Zapata County Public Library to residents of the community. It is said of Mr. Gutierrez's involvement with the Zapata County News by his fellow peers that ``Adan has a conversation with Zapata County every Thursday morning and we really enjoy it.'' One can only wish to have the extent of local community impact that Mr. Gutierrez has and I commend him for it.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize Mr. Adan Gutierrez.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Eduardo Andres Lucio, Sr., the father of the Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., who recently passed away on September 4, 2006 at 89 years of age.

Eduardo Andres Lucio, Sr., was born on November 10, 1916, in the City of Brownsville in the State of Texas to his parents, Teodoro Lucio and Maria Antonia Lopez Lucio. He then was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church at the historic Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville on June 11, 1916. He was one of 11 children: eight brothers and three sisters.

Mr. Lucio also has a long familial lineage that stretches all the way back to King Ferdinand the Catholic of Spain, and several of his ancestors were conquistadores who fought with Hernan Cortez in the early 1500s in Mexico. Some of the descendants of his ancestors include the founders of Matamoros, Monterrey, Mier, Saltillo, and Camargo, Mexico.

In 1937, during the Great Depression, he worked at the Chapman Ranch in Kingsville, Texas, and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in Bonita Canyon in the small town of Douglas in Arizona. He later met and fell in love with his wife, Josefa Liendo, who would become his future wife of 65 years and mother to his 10 children. He then joined the United States Army Air Corps on December 30, 1941, in San Antonio, Texas, to fight on behalf of the United States of America in World War II. He was a part of the 46th Service Squadron which served in North Africa and in Italy.

Mr. Lucio was honorably discharged from the Army of the United States on July 3, 1945, for a near-fatal injury which he had suffered in battle. He has various decorations and citations which include the EAME Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, four Bronze Service Stars, and four Overseas Bars. In 1996, during a ceremony held in the City of McAllen in the State of Texas, other World War II medals and ribbons were given to him by Vice President Al Gore.

He worked hard for his family by achieving his goals of a higher education, first with the diploma from Brownsville High School on May 30, 1949, and then an Associate in Business Degree from Texas Southmost College in Brownsville, Texas, on May 29, 1950. He then worked at the Cameron County Courthouse in the Sheriff's Office for almost 30 years, and in his last 3 years, he served as Head Office Deputy Sheriff with great pride. Mr. Lucio retired from his civil service in 1979, and enjoyed his retirement as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans of America. He also took great strength from his faith as a Roman Catholic parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Mr. Lucio is survived by his 19 grandchildren, four step- grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and four step-great- grandchildren. His eldest son, Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., has served as a public official for over 33 years. He has left behind a remarkable legacy in his children, who have degrees in education, administration, supervision, business, engineering, classical music, law, medicine, theater arts, school counseling, chemistry, biology, pharmaceutical sciences, and technology. He truly led by example and inspired his children to be the best they could be in achieving their dreams and goals.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize Mr. Eduardo Lucio, Sr.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jose ``Pepe'' L. Gonzalez who recently passed away on September 8, 2006, at 82 years of age. He will be forever remembered for his passion for higher education for our youth and his commitment to public service.

Mr. Gonzalez was born in the City of Laredo on June 16, 1924 and left the city to serve in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Force in the Aleutian Islands, and later served with the United States Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant in Laredo. He then attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1950, followed by a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1964.

Thus began his legacy of providing health care services to the citizens of Laredo by developing the Laredo-Webb County Health Department, often cited for its achievements in disease control, health promotion and chronic disease prevention, and innovative programs in environmental health. He will be forever remembered for his work in promoting environmental health through his collaboration with organizations such as the Pan-American Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association, the Texas Health Advisory Committee, and the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation. The last project he was involved in was the Rio Bravo Foundation, which aims to improve the health of residents along the border region along with the ``Nuestra Gente'' project which focused on improving living standards for the colonias along the border.

In addition to his public service, he was dedicated to his Roman Catholic faith as a Papal Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre and as a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Church in Laredo. Mr. Gonzalez was also a large part of community events such as the famous Washington Birthday Celebrations Associations and established the bridge ceremony that is one of the hallmarks of the Washington Birthday Celebration. Mr. Gonzalez was also a proud alumnus of the University of Notre Dame and dedicated his life to the University by being the Notre Dame recruiter of South Texas, passionately recruiting young scholars for the past 21 years to attend Notre Dame in addition to being on the Hispanic Board of Alumni for 15 years.

Mr. Gonzalez was preceded in death by his wonderful wife, Margarita V. Gonzalez, and is survived by his daughters, Alejandra G. Brady, Gabriela G. Tawil and his grandchildren, Ryan Joseph Brady, Joseph Jakob, and Elliot James Tawil. He is also survived by his brother, Ignacio Gonzalez, brother and sister-in-law, Jorge and Olga Verduzco, and the rest of his family. He has left behind a remarkable legacy, and without that legacy, the City of Laredo has suffered a sad loss in one of its greatest members of the community.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the legacy of Mr. Jose ``Pepe'' L. Gonzalez.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the sesquicentennial of Atascosa County, which resides within the 28th District of Texas. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of Atascosa County.

Atascosa County had its beginnings after the Texas Revolution, when several land grants were given out to notable Texans such as Jose Antonio Navarro that marked extensive colonization in the area in 1853. The first county seat, Navatasco, was established in 1857 on land donated by Navarro. Many of the new settlers were recent immigrants from Mexico, Germany, and England. The early years of the twentieth century brought many changes to Atascosa County. Several railroads were built that helped connect the towns of Leming, Pleasanton, McCoy, Charlotte, and Hindes. In 1910, the residents of Atascosa County voted to officially make Jourdanton the county seat.

Agriculture is a vital part of Atascosa County with a wide variety of agricultural products ranging from livestock to strawberries. In 2002, there were over 1,539 farms and ranches covering 669,890 acres, 52% of which were devoted to pasture, 33% to crops, and 12% to woodlands. In that year alone, local farmers and ranchers earned $51,808,000, with livestock sales accounting for $34,534,000 of that total. Oil and gas also continue to be a leading industry in the county, with over 1,236,387 barrels of oil produced in 1990. By the end of 2004, over 149,778,538 barrels of oil have been produced in Atascosa County. The largest communities in the county are Jourdanton, Pleasanton, Campbelton, Poteet, Lytle, Charlotte, Christine, Leming, McCoy, and Peggy. Some of the county's wonderful attractions include the famous Poteet Strawberry Festival, the Jourdanton Days Celebration, and the Cowboy Homecoming and Rodeo in Pleasanton. As we look back on the past 150 years with pride, we also look forward to a very promising future for Atascosa County.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to honor Atascosa County on their 150th anniversary, and I thank you for this time.

Mr. Speaker, Whereas, Eligio ``Kika'' de la Garza was born in Mercedes, a small town in Hidalgo County, Texas, on September 22nd, 1927, beginning what would be the start of a long, and illustrious life in representing the Rio Grande Valley.

Whereas, at 17 years of age, he enlisted in the United States Army and served until 1946, continuing his education at Edinburg Junior College and the United States Army Artillery School in Oklahoma. Soon thereafter, he earned a law degree from St. Mary's University in San Antonio.

Whereas, in 1952, Eligio ``Kika'' de la Garza was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1952, serving the Rio Grande Valley. He accomplished many goals such as the creation of the Texas Water Commission and sponsoring a bill that allowed the border cities and counties along the Rio Grande river to build their own international bridges, helping to foster the spirit of trade and cooperation that still exists to this day.

Whereas, after serving honorably in the Texas House of Representatives, Congressman de la Garza was elected in 1964 to the United States House of Representatives to represent the 15th Congressional District of Texas. In his 32 years of congressional service, he was Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, the first Hispanic to serve in the seat since 1917.

Whereas, during his leadership as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee for the next 13 years, he oversaw major agricultural legislation such as the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981, the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Act, the Food Security Act, the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, and the Disaster Assistance Acts of 1988 and 1989.

Whereas, in 1976, Congressman de la Garza became one of the founding members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which he chaired from 1989 to 1991 as a strong supporter of civil rights for minorities and free trade along the border. He was highly involved in the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which has greatly benefited the Texas-Mexico border region in South Texas: be it hereby

Resolved, That Congressman Henry Cuellar commends Congressman ``Kika'' de la Garza for having served the Rio Grande Valley with the utmost distinction and courage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Army Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, of the 101st Airborne of the United States Army, who was kidnapped and murdered by Iraqi insurgents on June 16th in Yusufiyah, Iraq.

Army Pfc. Kristian Menchaca was born on May 29th, 1983, in Houston, TX, and moved to Brownsville with his mother, Maria Guadalupe Vasquez, when he was a young boy. He attended Gary Job Corps center in San Marcos, TX, where he completed the correctional officers training program in six months and earned a certificate. He married his wife, Christina, three weeks before he joined the United States Army with the goal of using his military experience to become a Border Patrol agent. Pfc. Menchaca will be forever remembered for his service in protecting the freedoms and ideals of our country and I extend my condolences to his family, and to his wife, Christina.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the service of Pfc. Kristian Menchaca in the United States Army, and I thank you for this time.

Mr. Speaker,

Whereas, on August 7, 1782 in Newburgh, New York, General George Washington began the time-honored tradition of awarding the valor of our soldiers with his creation of a badge of distinction, known as a Purple Heart, to be given to enlisted men and noncommissioned officers.

Whereas, on January 7, 1931, a new design of the Purple Heart was created by Ms. Elizabeth Will, an army heraldic specialist in the Office of the Quarter. The design consisted of a purple enameled heart within a bronze quarter inch border showing a profile of President George Washington.

Whereas, on this day, we celebrate Purple Heart Day on the anniversary of its creation on August 7, 1782, as a part of our patriotic duty to remember and recognize our soldiers willing to serve our country.

Be it hereby resolved, that Congressman Henry Cuellar commends the City of San Antonio for recognizing the importance of Purple Heart Day and for honoring our veterans on this day.