Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and honor that I rise today to recognize the 175th anniversary of the First United Church of Brownsville, a cornerstone of faith, fellowship, and service in the Rio Grande Valley. For nearly two centuries, this congregation has stood as a beacon of spiritual strength and community engagement, guiding generations of Brownsville.

Founded in 1850 by the Reverend Nehemiah Cravens, who traveled from Alabama on horseback, the First Methodist Church began its mission of service to the people of Brownsville, Texas. Over the decades, the church has grown and adapted, relocating several times before establishing its current home on Boca Chica Boulevard in 1974. Through every chapter of its history, the church has remained committed to serving God and neighbor.

Among its many contributions, the church founded the Good Neighbor Settlement House in the early 1950s, a ministry that provides meals, shelter, and care to the homeless and migrant populations of Brownsville. This enduring service reflects the congregation's deep commitment to compassion toward the community.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful South Texas, I congratulate the First United Methodist Church of Brownsville on its 175th anniversary. I commend the church's clergy and all members past and present for their enduring devotion to faith and community. May their light continue to shine brightly for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to congratulate and recognize Sidewinder of Texas, a legendary band from Los Fresnos, for bringing joy and pride to South Texas for over four decades. Their music embodies the Valley's resilience, creativity, and pride, reminding us that ``time flies when you're having fun.''

Since its founding in 1984, Sidewinder of Texas has been a defining part of the Rio Grande Valley's music scene, blending their signature ``Texas Style Rock and Roll'' with deep community roots. Formed by David Valdez, Paul Pederson, Rey Ybarra, and Raul Garcia, they quickly earned recognition across the state and beyond with hits like Cruisin' on the Levee, Ready to Rock, Can't Take my Dreams, and My Country. Their music has reached audiences on radio, at the South by Southwest Music Festival, and through countless live performances.

Beyond their musical achievements, Sidewinder of Texas has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the community. They have donated their time and talent to many charitable causes, including Toys for Tots, the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Wounded Warrior Project. Their generosity and service reflect the spirit of unity and compassion that defines the people of Los Fresnos and the Rio Grande Valley.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of South Texas, I join the City of Los Fresnos in honoring Sidewinder of Texas for their outstanding contributions to music, their dedication to service, and their commitment to representing our community with heart and pride.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the City of Brownsville's Engineering and Public Works Department for their exemplary service following the severe storms that struck Cameron County and devastated neighborhoods in Harlingen and surrounding areas last spring.

In March of this year, our region received more than 20 inches of heavy rainfall, which caused widespread flooding, damaged infrastructure, and left countless families in need of urgent support.

During this crisis, the Brownsville Engineering and Public Works Department deployed staff, equipment, and expertise to assist flood- impacted communities. Their crews worked tirelessly, operating pumps, heavy machinery, and other resources to help remove water from our streets and restore accessibility for residents. Their work provided not only critical relief, but also a sense of hope to our neighbors in Harlingen.

This effort was not theirs alone. The Brownsville Police Department served more than 600 hot meals to affected families at

Laureles County Park. Meanwhile the Brownsville Fire Department stood alongside residents to safeguard their health and safety. Together, these coordinated actions reflect the best of who we are in South Texas--neighbors helping neighbors, united through compassion and service.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of South Texas, I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to the Brownsville Engineering and Public Works Department, along with all the city staff who answered the call to serve. Their dedication and solidarity in times of hardship embody the very spirit of community that makes the Rio Grande Valley strong.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the outstanding service of the Brownsville Police Department during the historic flooding that struck South Texas earlier this year.

In just two days, our community in South Texas was hit with nearly a year's worth of rainfall. The city of Harlingen was hit especially hard, receiving over twenty inches of rain, which left vehicles stranded, streets flooded, and many residents without power or access to food.

In response to this natural disaster, the Brownsville Police Department answered the call for help. Partnering with The Salvation Army, they served over 600 hot meals to families in need. Their swift action and compassion provided critical relief to families struggling in the aftermath of the storm. Mr. Speaker, this cross-city partnership is a powerful reminder of our region's resilience and commitment to service. When disaster struck, the Brownsville Police Department stepped up when our community needed them the most, exemplifying the highest standards of service and solidarity.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful South Texas, I am proud to honor the brave men and women of the Brownsville Police Department for their exemplary heroism during a devastating flood.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 60th anniversary of the Diocese of Brownsville, a community of faith that has for decades served as a spiritual home and source of strength for the people of the Rio Grande Valley.

Since its founding in 1965, the Diocese of Brownsville has grown into one of the most vibrant Catholic dioceses in the nation. Through its parishes, schools, and ministries, the Diocese has nurtured the faith of its members and provided essential services to countless families across South Texas.

The Diocese has long been a committed voice for justice and compassion in our region. Its leaders and parishioners have worked tirelessly to support immigrant communities, provide disaster relief, and advocate for the dignity of all people. This commitment reflects not only the teachings of faith, but also the values of service and solidarity that define the Rio Grande Valley

As the Diocese marks its 60th anniversary, it does so with a proud legacy of compassion, inclusivity, and unwavering dedication to the people of South Texas. Its clergy, religious, and lay leaders have carried forward a mission rooted in faith and community, inspiring generations to service others and live lives of devotion.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful South Texas, I congratulate the Diocese of Brownsville and all those who have contributed to its mission over the past six decades. May the Diocese continue to serve, inspire, and strengthen our communities for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with immense pride to recognize Dalilah Garcia, President of FemCity Brownsville, of a women empowerment organization.

Ms. Garcia was recently honored as one of twelve 2025 Women of Distinction by the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC) for her unstoppable resilience, dedication to female empowerment, and rich cultural heritage.

Dalilah Garcia is an example of what it means to build community, leadership, and foster inclusivity. She boasts over five years of experience in public relations, business, organizational development, and project management.

Prior to her role as President of FemCity Brownsville, Ms. Garcia served as a Census Media Specialist at the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).

After her work with the EDA, she assumed her role as President of FemCity Brownsville in December of 2017. In her current role, she collaborates and organizes monthly gatherings, workshops, and business support services for women in our community hoping to become entrepreneurs and success stories in their own right.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Ms. Garcia is a recipient of the 2025 Estrella de Tejas Award. This award is presented to outstanding Hispanic women who have made great contributions to their local communities and serve as role models for other women.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of South Texas, I wish to honor Dalilah Garcia for her commitment to women empowerment and our community. Her advocacy has changed the landscape of our region, and her story is only just beginning.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to speak on the passing of Richard ``Dick'' Ervin Messbarger. Mr. Messbarger was an exemplary Texan and a pillar of the Kingsville community.

Mr. Messbarger received his bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from St. Mary's University and master's degree from Texas A&I University, now Texas A&M University Kingsville. His commitment to improving his community will always be remembered.

As a proud Navy veteran and the 38th recipient of the Naval Aviation Honorary Wings of Gold, Mr. Messbarger was the founder and key member of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville Task Force. His devotion to NAS Kingsville helped alleviate many of the concerns that made the base vulnerable to possible closure and ensure that this vital economic engine for Kingsville remained intact. His exemplary efforts have ensured that our military community in Kingsville is up to the highest standards of excellence.

Mr. Messbarger was also the former president of the Kingsville Chapter of the Navy League, the former Navy League National Director and, the Executive Director of the Greater Kingsville Economic Development Council (EDC) for 32 years. Mr. Messbarger was a proud recipient of the Sam Walton Business Leader Award. His exemplary work was further recognized when he received the Kingsville Citizen of the Year award in 2008. In 2013, he was the recipient of the Otis West Lifetime Service Award by the Kingsville Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful South Texas, I wish to honor the life of Mr. Richard ``Dick'' Ervin Messbarger.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to recognize the inspiring young women from the West Brownsville Little League's Senior Team, aged 15-16, for their astonishing achievement in finishing as runner-up as they competed for a spot in the 2025 Little League World Series.

Representing our community to the nation is an unseen achievement in the past 73 years of the team's history in Brownsville. Competing in softball takes dexterity and discipline, but most importantly, sacrifice. A tremendous commitment has been made by the participants and their families as they worked towards this exciting goal. They are showing the country the hard work and team spirit that South Texans have always represented.

These young women have made their community, families, coaches and friends immensely proud, and I encourage them to continue supporting each other in the games ahead. But most importantly, I encourage them to cherish every moment as they are making history in The Rio Grande Valley. Rest assured I am cheering for you every step of the way.

Mr. Speaker, our West Brownsville Little League Senior Softball Team has made all of us immensely proud.

Mr. Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was not present to vote on Roll Call No. 207. Had I been present, I would have voted NO on Roll Call No. 207. I support the Israeli Cooperative Programs as they are essential for Israel to defend itself and protect U.S. interests.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of every senior citizen in Texas and across America. Unfortunately, it is not with celebration, but with outrage and disgust.

I am here to shed continued light to the damage this institution has caused seniors by the recent passage of this big, beautiful bill, which was anything but. It is the most significant betrayal of our senior citizens yet, a betrayal of our values and our Nation's promise.

Let's not be fooled by the branding. This bill wasn't beautiful. It was brutal. It slashed Medicare funding under the guise of reform. It wrapped its cruelty in buzz words like ``efficiency,'' ``modernization,'' and ``fiscal responsibility.'' However, beneath the surface, it is a cold and calculated attempt to strip millions of Americans of the dignity they have earned over a lifetime of work.

This bill tells our parents and grandparents: Thank you for building this country, now go fend for yourself. It says to the most vulnerable: Healthcare is a luxury in this country, not a right. They dare to call that beautiful.

Let's be clear: Medicare is not a handout. It is a sacred promise paid for by workers every day of their entire lives, and it is a lifeline for seniors choosing between food and prescriptions, for families relying on home healthcare, for Americans who believe that aging should not come with abandonment. Cutting Medicare was not fiscally responsible. It was a moral failure.

All of this was done at the behest of their master, their master who wants tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy billionaires and multinational corporations, with empty slogans for the rest of Americans. It sacrificed the well-being of American retirees on the altar of political theater.

In fact, they were so diabolical about it that they purposely set a start date for these policies, December 2026, right after midterm elections, trying to poke seniors' eyes. They want to fool voting senior citizens by making these painful policies kick in right after the November elections. They are not fooling anyone. Americans are smarter than this.

We need healthcare policies that uplift older Americans, not undermine them; that care for them, not cast them aside; that honor our social contract to American senior citizens.

To those who voted for this bill, don't call it beautiful. Own what it is: a betrayal to older Americans who helped build this country.

To every senior who is watching today, to every caregiver, to every grandchild and child caring for an older American, to every worker in Texas and across this great Nation who hopes to retire with peace and dignity: We see you. We hear you, and we will not stop fighting.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Kingsville Independent School District (ISD) Superintendent, Dr. Cissy Reynolds-Perez on her retirement from 38 years of public service.

Dr. Reynolds-Perez is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University- Kingsville where she earned a bachelor's degree in education with a minor in English. She later went on to earn a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Dr. Reynolds-Perez has made incredible contributions to our state's education system, having served as principal for multiple schools and Assistant Superintendent of West Oso ISD. During her tenure as an administrator, Dr. Reynolds-Perez established herself as a leader in school safety. In 2018, Governor Greg Abbott appointed her to serve on the Texas School Safety Center Board of Directors for two terms. Later she was selected to sit on Texas House Chairman Todd Hunter's Suicide Prevention Task Force, where she helped spearhead the passage of HB 3980 and HCR 137, monumental suicide prevention legislation

In August of 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Dr. Reynolds-Perez was appointed as the Superintendent in her hometown of Kingsville, Texas. Her dedication to education and public service is unmatched, and I thank her for her tremendous work in educating the future generations of South Texans.

Mr. Speaker. I wish to thank Dr. Reynolds-Perez for her 38 years of public service and congratulate her on her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Mr. Richard Messbarger for his 32 years of invaluable service to the Greater Kingsville Economic Development Council (EDC).

Mr. Messbarger has displayed true dedication to his community. As an exemplary Texan. Mr. Messbarger received his bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from St. Mary's University and master's degree from Texas A&I University Kingsville. Since then, he has dedicated his life to public service and ensuring the development of our community.

A veteran of the United States Navy, he became the 38th recipient of Naval Aviation Honorary Wings of Gold for his contribution to his community. As the founder and key member of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville Task Force, his commitment to his community has alleviated many concerns which made NAS Kingsville vulnerable to Base closures. His exemplary efforts have ensured that our military community in Kingsville is up to the highest standards of excellence. Mr. Messbarger is also the former president of the Kingsville Chapter of Navy League and the former Navy League National Director.

Mr. Messbarger is a proud recipient of the Sam Walton Business Leader Award. His exemplary work was further recognized when he received the Kingsville Citizen of the Year award in 2008. In 2013, he was the recipient of the Otis West Lifetime Service Award by the Kingsville Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank Mr. Messbarger for his dedication, passion, service to our country and his many years of public service.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend votes due to unforeseen flight delays. Due to my absence, I was not present to vote on Roll Call No. 172, Roll Call No. 173, and Roll Call No. 174.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 172. I support safeguarding the economy and the national security interests of the United States. Global trade must be protected against the rising threat of piracy.

Likewise, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 173. I support expanding the accredited investor eligibility requirements to include individuals with qualifying education and job experience to participate in private investment offerings.

Moreover, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 174. I support initiatives that promote capital-raising opportunities for underserved small businesses and businesses in rural areas.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to speak on the tragic and untimely passing of Seaman Angelina Petra Resendiz. I wish to honor her for her invaluable service to our great country.

Seaman Resendiz displayed the highest levels of duty and courage in the line of duty. Her service is representative of the many brave men and women who volunteer to serve their country.

This exemplary young woman enlisted in August 2023 as a culinary specialist in the United States Navy. During this time, she performed her duties admirably and to the best of her abilities.

Unfortunately, Seaman Resendiz was unable to finish her service to our country due to her tragic passing. Nobody should ever be targeted or harmed by their peers or superiors. We owe an enormous debt to our brave service members, and the least we, as Members of Congress, can do is ensure that they are protected regardless of gender, ethnicity, or where they are stationed.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful Nation, I wish to honor Seaman Resendiz for her service and sacrifice. She was taken from us too soon and I stand in solidarity with her family and so many others in their pursuit of justice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Chief Petty Officer Eric Uhr on his well-deserved retirement from the Coast Guard after 20 years of valiant service. I am honored to represent brave individuals like Chief Petty Officer Uhr for their hard work and dedication to our great Nation.

Chief Uhr enlisted in the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on June 27, 2005, and completed basic training at USCG Training Center Cape May in New Jersey.

After his enlistment, he began his military career as a deck seaman aboard the USCG Edisto in San Diego, California, before being promoted to Officer in Charge of USCG Aids to the Navigation Team in South Padre Island, Texas. Additionally, Uhr also served as the Executive Petty Officer of this team and the first lieutenant of the USCG Station Port Aransas, Texas.

Chief Uhr has exemplified the valor and dignity in the United States Coast Guard. His dedication to his county has not gone unnoticed, and I wish him a long and happy retirement with his family, his wife and two children.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Chief Petty Officer Uhr on his retirement and honor his 20 years of service to our Nation.