Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. for his 36 years of service to the residents of South Texas, 32 of which have been spent in the Texas State Senate.

Senator Lucio was born in Brownsville, Texas, and graduated from Pan American University. His public service career began in 1971 when he was elected Cameron County Treasurer at just 24 years old. For the next 15 years, Senator Lucio served in the local county government before being elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1986 and then to the Texas State Senate in 1990.

While serving in the Texas State Senate, Senator Lucio was a champion for education, including the creation of South Texas College, the University of Texas at Brownsville, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. In addition, he spearheaded efforts for the creation of the University of Texas RGV School of Medicine.

Not only did he make significant advancements in establishing these colleges, but he also improved teachers' retirement system and expanded universal breakfast and lunch plans for students.

As a devout Catholic, Senator Lucio is affiliated with organizations like the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Legislators Network and has been unapologetic about his convictions. Throughout his time in the Texas State Senate, Senator Lucio remained steadfast to his values, even when this meant not being popular within his own party.

Senator Lucio has been married to his wife, Minnie Lucio, for 54 years and is the father of 2 children, Lynda Lucio-Cisneros, a school counselor, and Eddie Lucio IV, a member of the Texas House of Representatives.

For this, and for his great mentorship, I am truly grateful for Senator Lucio's service and know that the RGV region and the State of Texas, are forever better because of his dedication and service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Gloria Moreno of Cameron Park, Brownsville, Texas on her amazing work as the community leader of Cameron Park.

Mrs. Moreno currently serves as the community leader of Cameron Park, Brownsville. For the past 45 years, Mrs. Moreno has served her colonia by lobbying her local and state officials for the needs of her community. Her work as a community leader has brought many needed utilities to her neighborhood such as the paving of the streets and the installment of running water and sewer lines. Mrs. Moreno is the prime example of a community leader who is focused on helping her community grow.

Mrs. Moreno has served Cameron Park faithfully by being a voice for her fellow residents and advocating for the needs of Cameron Park and beyond. Her commitment to her home and her community deserves honor, praise, and gratitude. It is only fitting that Mrs. Moreno celebrates amongst her friends and family as her impact will be felt by generations to come.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Mrs. Moreno for her accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Alfredo and Roxanna Trevino, owners of Nana's Taqueria in Weslaco, Texas. Originally from Nuevo Progresso, Mexico, Alfredo and Roxanna immigrated to the United States and opened Nana's Taqueria in January 2010.

Since then, Nana's has become a staple in the Rio Grande Valley, serving thousands of hungry customers over the last twelve years. Roxanna, a breast cancer survivor, has continually served as a source of inspiration for all of us in South Texas as the embodiment of the Hispanic values of God, family, and hard work.

The generosity and hospitality shown by the Trevino family are second to none, and it is an honor to represent them in Congress. Their family is living proof that the American Dream is alive and well, and I congratulate them for their incredible work in the Rio Grande Valley.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to recognize this incredible family and restaurant.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Michael Schlater of Brownsville, Texas on his amazing accomplishment of running 100,000 miles.

Mr. Schlater is currently the Assistant Track and Cross Country coach at Saint Joseph Academy and has one of the longest consecutive day running streaks in the world. For the past 21 years, Mr. Schlater has run at least three miles every day. On October 21st, he will complete over 100,000 career miles by completing his last two laps at the SJA stadium before the Homecoming football game.

Mr. Schlater has served his community faithfully by being a role model for students in Brownsville. His commitment to his students and to the community is commendable and deserves recognition. It is only fitting that Mr. Schlater celebrates his final run amongst students, friends, and family, as he has devoted part of his career to the Brownsville community.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Mr. Schlater for his accomplishment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Aaron Blount and Benjamin Trevino as they performed at the Noche de Gala this week.

Aaron and Benjamin are from the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and graduated from Harlingen South High School and Harlingen High School in 2022, respectively. Throughout their time in the RGV, they were both members of the Harlingen Performing Arts Conservatory, where their talent was refined and displayed for their community. Despite their age, both have excelled in their careers. Earlier this year, Benjamin was awarded the Palm Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Aaron won Best Actress in a Leading Role. This week, they had the opportunity to bring their talent from the RGV to Washington, D.C. to perform at the 26th annual National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts' Noche de Gala.

The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts is committed to helping elevate young talented Hispanics in the entertainment industry. This year, Aaron and Benjamin were selected to be a part of this event. Not only was this an incredible accomplishment for themselves, but also for their friends and families.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to represent these two talented individuals, and I congratulate Aaron and Benjamin on their amazing accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Port of Harlingen, Texas, as it celebrated its 70th anniversary this year.

On February 27, 1952, John Fullbright, the President of the Intracoastal Canal Association of Louisiana and Texas, stood in front of a crowd and said, ``Port Harlingen is now open for business!'' For 70 years, the Port has served a major role in the growth and development of those in the Rio Grande Valley and throughout the country.

In 1926, Mr. Lon C. Hill, the first Mayor of Harlingen, envisioned that the newly formed city would be a vital port for the Arroyo Colorado River. He was right. Soon after, he and several other colleagues began the process of creating the Port. From 1926 to 1941, the commissioners worked to secure the funding for the Port of Harlingen and in 1938, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers approved the building of the channel. Not long after, construction began. For the next nine years, construction workers tirelessly worked to build the Port. Finally, the Port of Harlingen was finalized. On February 27, 1952, the Port was officially opened as it discharged its first cargo shipment of steel pipes.

Initially, the Port was responsible for transporting steel, fuel, a variety of seafoods, and gasoline. Later, it quickly began to be a transporter of fertilizer and liquid bulk. This meant that the Port could serve as a means of transporting the goods local farmers produced as well as means of receiving the needed assistance to increase their production. The Port of Harlingen continued to expand. In 1979, the construction of the Administration Building began, and in 1983, it officially changed its name to ``The Port of Harlingen Authority''.

It also serves as the starting point of the Gulf-Intracoastal Waterway and has become a critical port for the South Texas as well as the rest of the country. The RGV would not be the area like we know it without the Port of Harlingen. It is an essential part for the people of the Valley as it employs just over 4,600 jobs for individuals directly and indirectly.

It is for these reasons and our history that I congratulate the Port on its 70th anniversary and look to the future as it will continue to impact the RGV.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address my strong opposition to H.R. 8297, the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act.

Protecting the voiceless ought to be a top priority in this House and in every corner of this land.

As a mother of four beautiful and strong children, I find it hard to believe there are those who think defending life is optional, even to the last month of pregnancy.

H.R. 8297 is the opposite of what brought me to Congress, and it is the opposite of the values of the people of my district, Texas 34.

Let's be clear what this bill does: Undermines the ability of States to hold sexual abusers accountable, stops States from preventing abortion pill mills, and it gives human traffickers and abusers more direct access to chemical abortions in all 50 States.

Protecting life shouldn't be political.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 8297.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose the previous question so that we can immediately consider H.R. 471, Representative Yvette Herrell's bill, to enforce title 42 at the border.

As a Mexican-born legal immigrant, Border Patrol wife, and a mother, I know firsthand how out of control our border crisis is. Our south Texas communities are hurting because of this crisis, and our people feel totally ignored by our government. Dangerous drugs are pouring across the border. Eighty percent of the fentanyl killing Americans comes into our country at the southern border.

Human traffickers are taking advantage of our open border to conduct their evil and heartbreaking trade. Criminal organizations are in total control of our southern border.

Last month alone, 240,000 illegal immigrants were encountered entering our country, a new record. And those are just the people who were caught. The true number is undoubtedly far higher. And in 2022 so far, 50 people on the FBI's terror watch list have been arrested by the Border Patrol. That is higher than the previous 5 years combined.

Title 42 is one of the only things keeping the crisis at the border from getting even worse, allowing Border Patrol the flexibility to expel some illegal immigrants quickly. And yet, for some inexplicable reason, President Biden and the Democrats want to end title 42 for good. Doing this would put out an even larger welcome sign to drug, sex, and human traffickers. It would send the signal across the world that America's border is open, and that the administration has no intention of upholding the rule of law.

As a Border Patrol wife, I also know that the morale of our agents is already low. Eliminating title 42 would discourage those brave men and women even further as they struggle to contain the never-ending surge of illegal immigration that the Biden administration is trying to make even worse.

I came to this country legally, as did so many in south Texas, for the chance to live the American Dream. My legal immigration experience as a child was incredible. That legal process is how it should be done, and I want more children to have that same positive experience. My experience should not be rare.

We need to focus on legal immigration and how to make the process faster and affordable for those good people who want to come to this amazing country. Yet, today, we have a Federal Government that encourages illegal immigration, knowing the dangers that they will have to go through.

Not only does this put our country at risk, but it also puts thousands of women and children in harm's way as they make this dangerous journey and face the possibility of horrendous abuse.

My heart breaks every time Border Patrol agents tell me about the human tragedies they see unfolding before our eyes. Yet, the Biden administration seems determined to make things worse.

Madam Speaker, I urge my new colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with our border communities and support Representative Herrell's critical bill to preserve title 42. The humanitarian crisis at our border demands we do nothing less.

I believe that securing our border shouldn't be political. It is the right thing to do.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to give a voice to the voiceless and to say that the people who live and work in south Texas have had enough. We want to be heard, and we are tired of being treated like second-class citizens.

I was born in Burgos, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and raised with strong values to always put God and family first. My father, Saul Flores, moved us to the United States because of the promise of America. He told me that in this country, if you work hard, you can accomplish anything. My story proves he is right.

But right now our people are struggling. They are taken for granted. That ends now.

I am here. I have risen from working in the cotton fields to representing the community I love in the United States Congress. And I will give them a voice. I will use it to say: Our lives are not a game. Our people deserve to have opportunity, security, and freedom, and I will work every day to give it to them.

I am a proud Border Patrol wife and a mother of four young children fighting for a better future for them and for all our children.