[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 48 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 48

 Recognizing the leadership and historical contributions of Dr. Hector 
 Garcia to the Hispanic community and his remarkable efforts to combat 
   racial and ethnic discrimination in the United States of America.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 16, 2009

 Mr. Menendez submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the leadership and historical contributions of Dr. Hector 
 Garcia to the Hispanic community and his remarkable efforts to combat 
   racial and ethnic discrimination in the United States of America.

Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia changed the lives of Americans from all walks of life;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia was born in Mexico on January 17, 1914, and immigrated 
        to Mercedes, Texas, in 1918;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia is an honored alumnus of the School of Medicine at the 
        University of Texas Medical Branch, Class of 1940;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia fought in World War II, specifically in North Africa 
        and Italy, attained the rank of Major, and was awarded the Bronze Star 
        with six battle stars;
Whereas once the Army discovered he was a physician, Dr. Hector Garcia was asked 
        to practice his profession by treating his fellow soldiers;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, after the war, and 
        opened a medical practice; rarely charged his indigent patients, and was 
        recognized as a passionate and dedicated physician;
Whereas he first became known in south Texas for his public health messages on 
        the radio with topics ranging from infant diarrhea to tuberculosis;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia continued his public service and advocacy and became 
        founder of the American G.I. Forum, a Mexican-American veterans 
        association, which initiated countless efforts on behalf of Americans to 
        advance opportunities in health care, veterans benefits, and civil 
        rights equality;
Whereas his civil rights movement would then grow to also combat discrimination 
        in housing, jobs, education, and voting rights;
Whereas President Kennedy appointed Dr. Hector Garcia a member of the American 
        Treaty Delegation for the Mutual Defense Agreement between the United 
        States and the Federation of the West Indies;
Whereas in 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Dr. Hector Garcia as 
        alternate ambassador to the United Nations where he gave the first 
        speech by an American before the United Nations in a language other than 
        English;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia was named member of the Texas Advisory Committee to 
        the United States Commission on Civil Rights;
Whereas President Reagan presented Dr. Hector Garcia the Nation's highest 
        civilian award, the Medal of Freedom, in 1984 for meritorious service to 
        his country, the first Mexican-American to receive this recognition; and
Whereas Pope John Paul II recognized him with the Pontifical Equestrian Order of 
        Pope Gregory the Great: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) encourages--
                    (A) teachers of primary schools and secondary 
                schools to launch educational campaigns to inform 
                students about the lifetime of accomplishments by Dr. 
                Hector Garcia; and
                    (B) all people of the United States to educate 
                themselves about the legacy of Dr. Hector Garcia; and
            (2) recognizes the leadership and historical contributions 
        of Dr. Hector Garcia to the Hispanic community and his 
        remarkable efforts to combat racial and ethnic discrimination 
        in the United States of America.
                                 <all>