Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Texas A&M University at Kingsville on their 100-year anniversary.

As we celebrate Texas A&M University-Kingsville's 100-year legacy, we must look back at their history and achievements and continue to build upon the university's legacy of Care, Integrity, Pride, Innovation, and Excellence.

On February 24, 1917, the State of Texas passed Bill No. 72, to establish a teacher training institution in South Texas. This institution would go on to be called the South Texas Teachers College. Eventually, in 1929, the school would once again change its name to the Texas School of Art and Industries.

The Texas School of Art and Industries would later grow and expand to provide courses in agriculture and engineering.

In 1941, the school briefly transitioned to a wartime curriculum, teaching national defense courses to support with the war effort. Two decades later it would become officially known as Texas A&I University.

In March of 1972, Texas A&I was selected as one of the first schools in the country to offer ROTC for women, to eventually be commissioned into the U.S. Army as Second Lieutenants. In 1975, Texas A&I would be the first university to offer a doctoral degree in bilingual studies.

In 1989, Texas A&I University joined Texas A&M University System, one of the largest systems of higher education in the country.

The list of achievements is endless, from the establishment of a groundbreaking serpentarium and the National Natural Toxins Center to the Opening of the Music Education Complex.

Throughout its entire history, one thing remains certain, since its inception in 1917, Texas A&M-Kingsville (TAMUK) has played a vital role in shaping the minds of some of our region's leading academics and professionals.

Through their dedication to higher education, they have provided South Texas with an exceptional opportunity to succeed. Thereby, not only nurturing academic success but also molding the minds of the next generation of South Texans.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank Texas A&M University at Kingsville for their contributions to our region and congratulate them on this remarkable milestone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of our south Texas war hero, Sergeant Alfredo ``Freddy'' Gonzalez, a hero who will never be forgotten.

Sergeant Gonzalez was killed in action February 4, 1968. History is clear, he was a marine sergeant in charge of a third platoon company near Hue City, Vietnam. His company came under heavy fire for days. Sergeant Gonzalez maneuvered his men and returned fire and personally carried wounded warriors out of harm's way. He didn't ask what ethnicity these men were or religion or what region of the country they came from. They were all Americans fighting one of the most atrocious and unpopular wars in our history.

Freddy was awarded the Medal of Honor not because he asked for a special privilege or recognition or job. Freddy was dead. He was recognized by his men for his bravery, for going beyond his call of duty to save other American lives while losing his own.

This administration's appalling efforts to erase history under the disguise of eliminating DEI has seen no boundaries, prompting indiscriminate removals of Latinos, women, and other minorities from our Nation's archives.

They removed the Tuskegee Airmen, who proudly defended our country in Europe during World War II, removed our Navajo Code Talkers who helped us defeat Japan, and they removed our most recent and Honorable General Colin Powell, for God's sake.

For God's sake, have they no shame? Have they no decency? This is not about eliminating DEI. This is straight-up, old-fashioned racism against some of the most deserving Americans in our history.

I ask my friends on the other side of the aisle who have worn our uniform and some who have fought for our freedom to stand with me, to stand on the right side of history with the American people and oppose these un-American, unpatriotic policies coming from this administration, from folks who never had the gall to serve themselves.

Let's grow a spine in this House and preserve the American values that actually made us great.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Mr. Jose Cantoral on being named Mr. Amigo 2025.

Since 1964, the Mr. Amigo Association has celebrated the friendship between the cities of Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Each year, the Mr. Amigo Association selects an individual that promotes and contributes to the cultural exchange between our two countries and helps maintain the dialogue and friendship that have tied our cities together for so long.

Mr. Cantoral has spent his career producing quality music and entertainment that has enriched our culture and inspired people from across the world with a love for music and the arts.

Through his music and through his work on the Cantoral Institute, Mr. Cantoral has become a prominent figure in music and film. He has co- authored music in famous movies such as Disney Pixar's ``Coco'' as well as being nominated for a Latin Grammy for his musical contributions.

Mr. Cantoral is now the third member of his family to receive the honor of Mr. Amigo. His late father, Roberto Cantoral having received the honor in 1981 and most recently his sister, Itati Cantoral, in 2015.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank Mr. Cantoral, for his contribution to music and congratulate him on this remarkable achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend votes as I was under the weather. Due to my absence, I was not present to vote on Roll Call No. 28 and Roll Call No. 29.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No 28. I fully support the Alaska Native corporations to exercise self- governance over their lands.

Additionally, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 29. I support programs that provide states assistance to control and/or eradicate invasive species which wreak havoc on local ecosystems.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 6244, to rename the post office located at 1535 East Los Ebanos Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas, after 1st Lieutenant Andres Zermeno.

Mr. Speaker, 1st Lieutenant Zermeno was born November 30, 1984, in Brownsville, Texas. He went on to graduate from St. Mary's University in San Antonio. While a student at St. Mary's, he participated in the university's ROTC program and enlisted in the Texas National Guard.

After graduating from St. Mary's, he was commissioned into the United States Army as a first lieutenant. On September 25, 2011, while serving in a combat operation known as Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, while on patrol, 1st Lieutenant Zermeno was sadly killed in action by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Lieutenant Zermeno is a hero who laid down his life to protect our freedoms, leaving his loving wife and two children behind.

By passing H.R. 6244, we as a nation will honor 1st Lieutenant Zermeno and the sacrifice he made on behalf of our great Nation. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in honoring the life and legacy of an American hero.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Brownsville native, Staff Sergeant Jason Tabansky, for his outstanding accomplishment of winning gold in the Men's Individual W-1 Paralympic Archery on September 1, 2024, at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games.

Staff Sergeant Jason Tabansky, a decorated veteran, honorably served in the U.S. Army for over 15 years in active duty. During his tenure in the Army, Staff Sergeant Tabansky displayed great courage and continues to show the world that with strength, perseverance, and dedication one can overcome any obstacle and become a victor in their field. Mr. Tabansky has exemplified great athleticism and inspired countless Americans to face their challenges head on and work hard to reach their goals. His accomplishments are a lesson to us all.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Mr. Tabansky on winning a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games. I thank him for his service to our country and for making our community in South Texas all incredibly proud.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Hazel Laverne Myrick on the momentous milestone of her 108th birthday.

Mrs. Myrick was born on August 20, 1916, in the town of Taloga, Oklahoma. As a member of the Greatest Generation, she demonstrated a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility while taking a job at her local drugstore from the young age of 12. Throughout her youth she enjoyed an active lifestyle, playing a multitude of sports, including golf, baseball, basketball, and bowling.

In 1975, Laverne moved to Harlingen, Texas, where she continues to reside surrounded by family and loved ones.

A devout Christian, her faith has held strong and inspires us all to never lose sight of our morals and values. Her life story and firecracker energy are an inspiration to us all.

I am proud to represent constituents like Mrs. Myrick whose wisdom and strength continues to have an unimaginable impact on our community and her loved ones. In the words of Laverne--``You do the right thing at all time, and at the right time. You don't do it just the first time. You do it all the time no matter how much it hurts.''

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mrs. Hazel Laverne Myrick on such an exceptional occasion and wish her the best on her special day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and times of my good friend, Juan Maldonado.

Juan served his country faithfully during the Vietnam war. His perseverance and determination later translated into public service and political activism. During the Carter administration, Juan served on the Economic Opportunity Council and proudly represented the United States on an official delegation to Latin America.

As State chairman of the Mexican-American Democrats and a local Democrat, he paved the way for Tejano Democrats in south Texas working to elect the first Hispanics to public office in the Rio Grande Valley.

He was a devout Catholic, devoted educator and coach, and an institution in our community.

We will remember his faith, his devotion to south Texas, and his service to the people of the Rio Grande Valley.

Today, let us honor his life, accomplishments, and impact on our community and our country.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend votes as I was accompanying President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., to my district--the 34th Congressional District of Texas. Due to my absence, I was not present to vote on Roll Call No. 57, Roll Call No. 58, and Roll Call No. 59.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 58. I stand firm against my stance on government shutdowns as they have adverse impacts on every part of the country, national economy, and national security.

Likewise, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 59. It is crucial that funding for the

Federal Aviation Administration does not lapse as it would have great implications for our air travel, activities and programs related to airport planning and development, facilities and equipment, and operations.

Moreover, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 57. Everyone deserves a seat at the table and the establishment of the Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration will do just that by establishing substantial resources to support Native American-owned businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the retirement of Norma Torres. Ms. Torres will retire today, on December 15, 2023, after three decades of service to the Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway (BRG). She was the first and only Hispanic female president of a short line railroad in Texas history.

Norma joined the Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway as a Customer Service Agent in 1989, rose through the ranks becoming President in 2001. During her tenure as president, BRG's carload grew exponentially from moving 10,000 cars per year to more than 52,000 cars today.

Norma recently stated, ``When I started 20 years ago, I was the only woman in many rail industry meetings. And for me, coming from being the one woman in the meeting, it's always a proud moment to see all the women contributing to the rail industry today with high leadership positions.''

Mr. Speaker, Norma Torres is a trailblazer and a leader. Her contributions to the Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway and the Rio Grande Valley are invaluable, and I congratulate her on her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Over the last seven decades, the U.S. Small Business Administration has played a vital role in supporting and empowering small businesses. Providing entrepreneurs important guidance on financial products, the SBA has proven to be an invaluable resource.

Small businesses and their employees drive growth and innovation and play an essential role in the American economy. In the United States, there are over 33 million small businesses that employ approximately 61.7 million Americans. In the past 28 years, these businesses have created 17.3 million net new jobs, which accounts for 62.7 percent of jobs created since 1995.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley District of the U.S. Small Business Administration serves 14 counties in south Texas. In 2020, over 179,000 jobs were supported by approximately 10,000 establishments in the 34th Congressional District alone. Through their various programs and initiatives, the SBA has provided small businesses access to capital, Federal contracting certifications and opportunities, and disaster recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I have witnessed the U.S. Small Business Administration open doors for and provide a lifeline to small business owners across south Texas and it gives me great pleasure to acknowledge this agency's invaluable contributions to our region and country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. James Howell, a dedicated public servant, who has gone above and beyond for the people of Mercedes, Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the winner of the 35th annual Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee, Roberto ``Robbie'' Ortiz from Brownsville's Incarnate Word Academy.

In a contest that determines who would represent the Rio Grande Valley in the Scripps National Spelling Bee right here in Washington, D.C. this May, Robbie Ortiz outlasted 41 other spellers to bring home the regional championship and trophy.

While the Ortiz family is no stranger to the Rio Grande Valley Regional Spelling Bee, as his sister had previously finished in 2nd place, it was the correct spelling of ``bastion'' and ``crustaceans'' that confirmed his win. I want to take this time to thank all the other contestants, parents, and educators that made this event possible, as well as the second-place finisher, Diego Reyna Oviedo, from IDEA College Preparatory-McAllen, and third place finisher, Luke Holt, of Port Isabel Junior High.

It takes tremendous dedication, preparation, and training to win a competition like this, and I am thrilled that his hard work paid off and came to fruition with this victory. I cannot wait to see everything that Robbie accomplishes next.

I look forward to welcoming Robbie to Washington in May, and I can say with certainty that I, along with the entire Rio Grande Valley, will be behind him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor four courageous police officers, who risked their lives providing aid to two people who escaped a burning car and rescuing another two people from the car on January 28, 2023, in Brownsville, Texas.

Brownsville, Texas is home to over 187,000 residents who are served by the Brownsville Police Department. Their unwavering commitment to the protection of our communities was put on nationwide display when Brownsville was named the 16th safest city in the United States. Their work was more recently recognized due to the lifesaving cooperation between the Brownsville PD and other emergency services personnel on January 28.

At the 2:00 a.m. hour of January 28, first responders were called to the scene of a single-vehicle crash. When the officers arrived, they discovered the vehicle had been flipped over. While 2 men had managed to escape with noticeable injuries, there was a time-sensitive emergency still happening in the vehicle. The officers were notified of 2 others still trapped in the burning vehicle and they quickly reacted to save their lives. Body cam footage showed the dramatic situation as police officers pulled these 2 men to safety, who were actively being burned inside the vehicle, which was still engulfed in flames.

With amazing assistance from the Brownsville Fire Department, Patrol Officer Erik Balboa, Officer Erick Amaro, Officer Federico Jaramillo, and Officer Gilberto Hernandez were able to breach the burning vehicle's doors and save the people in the car.

Our first responders are often unsung heroes, but today we get the amazing opportunity to praise and thank the Brownsville Police Department for their heroic work and for their constant commitment to the safety and security of South Texas.

Mr. Speaker, Officers Balboa, Amaro, Jaramillo, and Hernandez, the Brownsville Police Department, and all first responders who dedicate their lives to our amazing communities, and thank them. I have no doubt that these heroes will continue to go above and beyond to provide lifesaving support to those in need, and I am forever thankful for their service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote on February 27, 2023 for Roll Call Vote 120 and Roll Call Vote 121. Had I been present, my vote would have been the following: Yea on Roll Call Vote 120, and Yea on Roll Call Vote 121.