Pete P. Gallego

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say thank you to the wonderful people of the 23rd District of Texas who, for the last 2 years, have given me the great privilege of serving as their voice here in the people's House.

I am living proof that this is a nation of opportunity and that the American Dream still exists. God has blessed me in many ways. I was born into a warm and loving family. My parents, Pete

and Elena, taught me to work hard and respect others. I am married to a wonderful wife, Maria Elena, who has stood with me through the peaks and valleys of the last 25 years. We are the parents of a phenomenal son, Nicolas Miguel, who has brought us joy we never knew possible and has taught us the true meaning of love. In addition, though my roots are humble, I have had the privilege of working in this Chamber. Few people get the privilege to serve here.

Yet Congress isn't what it once was. Agreements are few, partisan rancor is common, statesmanship is rare. Who are the giants of history among us? Where are the statesmen and -women who accomplished historic feats through significant signature legislative achievements?

But we know that progress is still possible. We saw this session that when Congress puts party labels aside and gets to work, like we did on VA reform, we can accomplish some great things for the American people. But those occasions were far too rare.

More often, this Chamber saw bickering and pettiness, and this Congress made history as the least productive and most unpopular Congress in the history of this proud Nation. The American people responded by making history of their own. On election day, a record number of them simply threw up their hands, wondered what is the point, and didn't go to the polls.

It is easy to see why Americans are so tired of politics, to understand why many of us don't check in on election day; when our democracy needs us the most, we check out.

Polarization, discontent, dissatisfaction, disappointment, dismay-- all now normal in the course of our public discourse. Old-fashioned values like truth and good manners and respect for others' views and appreciation are no longer in vogue. Candidates and officeholders and super-PACs are shrill and mean--and yes, for some, the word would be even un-Christian--to one another.

Politicians distort truth and attempt to stampede people with fear, and many times our fears or our lack of faith win out. We fail to realize how really truly lucky we are as Americans.

Before chiding people for not meeting their civic responsibilities, Congress as a body should reflect on whether it has been meeting its own responsibility because even Congress complains about Congress, yet it does nothing to change. Most Americans are somewhere in the middle, but that is not where Congress is. In our current system, super-PACs attack those Members who stake out middle grounds.

The American people deserve better than they are getting. Our country deserves better. Our future and our children's future is too important. Both Congress and our country must rise to the occasion and confront and conquer our own internal paralysis. Patriotism must trump partisanship.

A robust democracy requires active participation. Congress--indeed, America--needs all of us. It needs Democrats and Republicans and Libertarians and Latinos and Anglos and African Americans and Asians-- Americans all.

Soon I will have the highest title that any American can have--not the title of an elected official, but the title of citizen. And as a citizen, I hope to continue to remind Congress of the importance of governing well and our fellow Americans of the importance of participating in our electoral system.

I have faith that ours is a resilient Nation blessed by God. Despite our frustrations and our fears and our failings, despite ourselves, we still live in the greatest Nation the world has ever known.

Sure, times are tough, but they were tougher for our parents and our grandparents. If you think back a moment and you compare your life to theirs, you can see how far you and all of us have come.

The job now is not to be mad about and continually relive the old battles of the past nor to be afraid of the future, but to look forward and to build our future together.

I leave this institution with no regrets and many accomplishments for the people of home, particularly grateful for the opportunity to work with and serve our veterans and our Active Duty military and amazed at the incredible and still untapped potential of our amazing democracy.

I want to say thank you to each of my employees and thank you again to all the people of the 23rd District of Texas, especially to those I have had the privilege of representing since I first became a State legislator in 1991.

I wish my successor well, and I offer my prayers for all the Members of the 114th Congress. You are capable of doing great things for America when you remember to put people and policy ahead of partisanship and politics.

May God bless Texas, and may God bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Palo Alto College on the famed south side of San Antonio. Making a high impact through education, Palo Alto College has been meeting the needs of first generation college students in the San Antonio area and in the surrounding communities.

In doing so, Palo Alto College prepares students for a 4-year degree program or to enter the workforce with

the skills and the training necessary to strengthen the future of San Antonio, Bexar County, and the 23rd District of Texas.

Palo Alto College was officially chartered by the State of Texas in 1983. Two years later, in 1985, it began offering its first classes, and since then, Palo Alto has quickly grown with the city of San Antonio.

In 1991, because of its deep roots in the Hispanic community and its dedication to helping Hispanic families overcome common barriers to higher education, Palo Alto College was named a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the Federal Government.

Today, Palo Alto College serves over 8,000 students and offers 95 relevant academic programs that move the country forward. Programs include criminal justice and aviation technology, among many others. It also works very closely with employers like Toyota to be sure that its students are receiving cutting-edge training. In ensuring the college can meet the demands of Texas' energy production, it also offers programs in oil and gas technology.

It is ably led by Dr. Mike Flores who, prior to assuming the presidency, had worked his way up through each of the three vice president positions at Palo Alto, and he has served the Palo Alto community for over 19 years.

Where others have provided lip service, Palo Alto College has found success. With a firm understanding of the promise that our Nation has made to its veterans, Palo Alto College is committed to ensuring higher education remains accessible to veterans and Active Duty servicemen and servicewomen alike.

Palo Alto College has been listed among the top 20 percent of schools that support veteran education. It has an incredible network of people and resources available to serve veterans. I thank Palo Alto College for the work that they do with our veterans and the Active Duty military. It really is very impressive.

Palo Alto college also plays a fundamental role in the success of many individuals in our community, and its impact will be seen for many generations. Whether it's providing a second chance to nontraditional students through its GED programs or whether it is preparing students for the next level of education, Palo Alto College is there. It is there to meet the needs of the community and to help families achieve prosperity in the American Dream.

I congratulate Palo Alto College on its upcoming birthday--30 years of educational excellence--and I thank them for their continued commitment to ensure education remains accessible. Their mission to provide relevant and needed educational opportunities is admirable.

I look forward to seeing the many successes of those who pass through the doors of Palo Alto College.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 549, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''