[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H292-H297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FRANK M. TEJEDA POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 499) to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service
under construction at 7411 Barlite Boulevard in San Antonio, TX, as the
``Frank M. Tejeda Post Office Building.''
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 499
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.
The facility of the United States Postal Service under
construction at 7411 Barlite Boulevard in San Antonio, Texas,
shall be known and designated as the ``Frank M. Tejeda Post
Office Building''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper,
or other record of the United States to the facility referred
to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the
``Frank M. Tejeda Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York [Mr. McHUGH] and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fattah] each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. McHUGH].
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. McHUGH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us was introduced by
the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Bonilla] and supported by the Texas House
Delegation.
H.R. 499 designates the facility of the U.S. Postal Service being
constructed at 7411 Barlite Blvd., San Antonio, TX as the Frank M.
Tejeda Post Office Building.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation honors our colleague Frank Tejeda, who
died at the age of 51 at his home in San Antonio, TX on January 31
after succumbing to a 17-month battle with a malignant brain tumor.
Frank was born on October 2, 1945 in San Antonio, TX and grew up in
that city's south side. He did not finish high school, having been told
not to return after an incident with a school counselor. Frank then
joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1963 during the Vietnam conflict, and 2
weeks before his scheduled return home from Vietnam in 1966, he was
ambushed and struck in his leg by shrapnel. Frank Tejeda was awarded
the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Commandant's Trophy, the Marine
Corps Association Award, and many others for his valor and for his
soldiering skills. Just recently, Mr. Speaker, he was posthumously
awarded the Silver Star.
Mr. Speaker, I have a very extensive statement on the many
achievements of this fine American and of this man whom we all knew and
loved very deeply, and I would like to enter that more full statement
into the Record in its entirety.
Frank Tejeda loved the Marine Corps; even as a Member of Congress,
Frank continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve. When attending
officer candidate school, Frank maintained a 99.6 academic average, the
highest in the history of the Marine Corps. After leaving the Corps,
Frank earned his undergraduate degree in government from St. Mary's
University in San Antonio, a J.D. from the University of California,
Berkeley in 1974, a master's degree in public administration from
Harvard in 1980, and a master of law from Yale in 1989.
He served in the Texas House in Austin from 1977 until 1986 when he
was elected to the Texas Senate where he remained until 1992. He was
the leader of the south side political coalition in San Antonio. Frank
Tejeda left his imprint on workers' compensation reform, business
initiatives for minorities and women, housing for veterans, protection
of crime victims, and he promoted measures to ensure voting rights for
minorities. He became known for his investigation into the malfeasance
of two members of the Texas Supreme Court, who were disciplined. The
result of this investigation was the enmity of the State's trial
lawyers.
Frank Tejeda was elected the first Representative to Congress from
the 28th District of Texas in 1992. He was known as a quiet, dedicated,
and independent-minded Representative, voting his conscience and the
concerns of his constituency. He was a staunch defender of veterans,
active duty personnel and military installations and he served on the
Committees on Veterans Affairs and National Security.
Coincidently, Mr. Speaker, toward the end of the 104th Congress, on
October 9, 1996, the President signed Public Law 104-255, the
designation of the Amos F. Longoria Post Office Building in Elmendorf,
TX, introduced by Frank Tejeda, honoring Elmendorf's native son who
lost his life in service to his country during World War II. It is
fitting that this House now remembers one of its own by designating a
new post office building in San Antonio as the Frank M. Tejeda Post
Office Building.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all our colleagues to support the measure before
us.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield to other Members who
have gathered here in the House to pay honor to this great American,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise also in support of House Resolution 499. This is
a moment in which the House has an opportunity to show its respect for
a fallen comrad. This is a gentleman whose work here in the Congress
and his life sets an example for us all. And it has been offered
[[Page H293]]
by two of his colleagues from Texas, both Congressman Ortiz and
Congressman Bonilla, and we want to on this side suggest that this is a
truly bipartisan effort to recognize the accomplishments of a great
American.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for
his very appropriate remarks.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas [Mr.
Bonilla], the primary sponsor of the bill.
(Mr. BONILLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for
yielding me the time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 499 to designate this
new postal facility under construction in the 28th congressional
district as the Frank M. Tejeda Post Office Building. I am honored to
sponsor this legislation, along with my dear friend and Frank's long
time dear friend, the gentleman from Texas, Congressman Solomon Ortiz.
Although it is a small gesture to recognize Frank's lifetime of
commitment to our country and to his constituents, this post office
will serve as a reminder of his legacy for generations to come. This
post office will combine the present Terrell Wells, Harlandale and
south San Antonio stations. The new facility will service the largest
square mile area, the largest geographic area in San Antonio.
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The Frank Tejeda Post Office will deliver mail to more than 40,000
city customers. It will house 118 postal employees. Coincidentally, it
is going to be built on Barlite Street, which is a street that I grew
up about half a mile away from, and used to ride my bicycle up and down
that street all the time. I bring that up because Frank and I are from
the same part of town. He went to Harlandale High School, and I went to
South San Antonio High School, which Barlite runs right alongside. We
often talked about coming from that part of town and wondered how we
had become so blessed as to serve in this great body at the same time.
He and I were elected at the same time.
This post office will be only the second one in the city to be named
in honor of an individual, the first one being the J. Frank Dobie
station in honor of a pioneer Texan and historian born in the 1800's.
This bill will provide a permanent landmark in memory of a great
patriot and a great friend. Frank represented all that is good about
America. He always led by example, and he had the utmost character and
dignity, and inspired all who met him.
Frank was an outstanding representative for his district, and he made
us all very proud. I cannot think of a better way to lead than by
example. That is exactly what Frank did and will be remembered for. He
was a dedicated public servant whose memory will continue to serve as
an ideal example for many.
It is difficult to accept that someone with such character,
intelligence, vigor, and promise has been taken from us. As I mentioned
earlier, we were often together on the airplane flying back and forth
between San Antonio, spending hours on the airplane talking about all
of the things we wanted to do and all the things we wanted to
accomplish while we were in the U.S. Congress. It is now hard to
believe that Frank will not be here with us to see some of his ideas
carried through.
I will always be grateful for my time in Congress. It gave me the
opportunity to become friends with Frank. We will miss Frank, but we
know that he is always with us, and his legacy will live on forever.
Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. BONILLA. I yield to my friend, the gentleman from Texas, Solomon
Ortiz, a cosponsor of this legislation. Just to reflect on some of the
great moments he and I spent with Frank on this House floor and
oftentimes walking between here and our office buildings across the
street, it is hard to believe he is not with us.
(Mr. ORTIZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. ORTIZ. That is right, Mr. Speaker. Frank was a good leader. As we
well know, he was very reserved. The gentleman and I and Frank and some
of our friends would sit behind there and joke and kid about south
Texas, and talk about our friends. He was a great father, a very
dedicated American, a gentleman who gave freely of his life, whether in
public service or in the military, like he did.
I am so happy that we are naming a post office after Frank. This is a
way that we can pay tribute to a great American who has contributed so
much to our society, to our country.
I understand, at the same time, that they are sponsoring or raising
funds for a contribution for Frank Tejeda's scholarship fund. Those
Members who might be listening to us who would like to contribute, to
also honor Frank in another way, feel free to call my office or call
the gentleman's office.
In a resolution before the House yesterday that commemorated Frank,
Member after Member from both sides praised Frank for the way he acted
and the way he led our country.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my good friend, the
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Bonilla]. I would also like to thank the
leadership on both sides for giving us time to bring this bill to the
floor. I know the gentleman was close to Frank. We have lost a great
friend, a great American, but I know, my friend, that you are in a
better place.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill renaming the Terrell Wells
Station in San Antonio as the Frank M. Tejeda Post Office Building
after our friend and colleague.
Many friends across the Nation as well as in Texas and the close-knit
south Texas community have grieved mightily for our friend Frank since
his death last Thursday night.
For this reason we want to commemorate him in a very public way, and
the best way to do so is to name a post office in his honor.
In the resolution before the House yesterday that commemorated Frank,
Member after Member rose to praise him for his outstanding service from
the jungles of Vietnam to the corridors of power in Austin and
Washington.
As these Members spoke, there was a recurring sentiment voiced.
Frank Tejeda was an uncomplicated man--he meant what he said and he
said what he meant. He was a true leader who believed in the value and
decency of the working class.
I believe that remembering Frank by naming a post office in his honor
would be an outstanding tribute to a man who gave his life for his
country, many times over.
Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Texas
[Mr. Ortiz]. I think Frank would appreciate right now that we are
smiling because of the memories we had with him on this House floor. He
was very serious and diligent in his work, but he was also a very funny
guy.
I recall so many times here where perhaps a debate was being held on
an issue that did not affect our area, perhaps a Federal facility was
being debated in Montana or another area of the country, and the
gentleman and I and Frank would sometimes sit by that door on the side
of the House Chamber and just spend some amusing moments that we will
all remember him for. I know he will appreciate that we are reflecting
on that as well today.
Mr. ORTIZ. I know Frank is listening to us. As many are well aware,
he was a strict dietitian. Frank had a very special diet. Not only did
he take care of his soul, he took care of his body. Sometimes I was a
little embarrassed to eat with Frank, because he would ask for stuff
that the kitchen could prepare: No butter, no cokes, no sweets, no
nothing. I looked at Frank, and I would say, how do you still stay
healthy? This is the way I stay healthy, and I eat all the greasy stuff
for Frank.
But again, I thank the leadership for giving us this time to praise
Frank. The gentleman from Texas [Mr. Bonilla], he and his family were
very close to him. In fact, his mother is here visiting with us today,
and visiting Frank's office.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, Frank's legacy is one for which we should all be
thankful. This is a person at a young age, not completing high school,
who served his country with great courage, went on then to get an
undergraduate degree, a law degree from Berkeley. Then one of the
things that I shared with Frank was the experience of studying at the
[[Page H294]]
Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. So his legacy of educational
excellence is a role model for all of the young people of San Antonio
and throughout the Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my colleague, the gentleman from
Texas [Mr. Green].
Mr. GREEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for allowing me to speak
today, and yielding me this time. It is an honor to be here and to
honor the memory of one of America's finest men, Frank Tejeda, by
naming a post office in his memory.
Frank was a man who displayed courage and honor and unwavering
commitment to his constituents and to Texas and to our Nation. Frank
and I served together since 1977 in the Texas Legislature. We served in
the State house, and sat near each other on the house floor, in the
State senate, until 1992, when we both decided we wanted to come to
Congress.
We honor our colleague because he is one of the strongest individuals
I ever knew, both personally and, obviously, physically. One of the
best times I guess I remember of Frank is when he was promoted to major
in the Marine Reserves. A couple of colleagues and I went with him to
the Marine Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, for he and another
colleague of ours, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. McHale], was
promoted to colonel.
It was a great experience for Frank, because he was most proud of
being a marine. To see that happen at the Marine Memorial at Arlington
National Cemetery, we can stand up here and talk all day about memories
of Mr. Tejeda, but a post office being named for him in San Antonio,
TX. As chairman of the committee, you will remember last year we
renamed a post office in his district, in honor of a veteran, for Mr.
Tejeda in one of our bills. I think this is fitting.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I am now honored to yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton], the chairman of the full
committee, for some comments on this bill.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New
York for yielding me this time.
I also want to thank my colleagues from Texas, Henry Bonilla and
Solomon Ortiz, for sponsoring this legislation. Mr. Speaker, this is a
sad thing to do right off the bat, in a new session of the Congress, to
have to eulogize and remember a fellow like Frank Tejeda. He did a
great service to this country. He was an outstanding Congressman.
One of the things that strikes me, Mr. Speaker, is that at times like
this, even though this Congress is vilified from time to time, people
can see that there is a closeness between both Democrats and
Republicans. We have our differences on philosophical issues and so
forth, but we all respect and honor one another, and at times like
this, it shows the American people that we are one body and we are
concerned about our fellow men and our fellow legislators.
The gentleman from Texas, Mr. Tejeda, did great things for this
country in Vietnam. He served this country well. He accomplished great
things. A high school dropout that went to Vietnam after getting his
education, part of it, he got the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star
serving his country. I do not think this has been mentioned yet, but at
Officer Candidate School he had the highest academic average that any
marine has ever had in the history of the Marine Corps. That is
extraordinary. It shows that people who are ruled out early on in their
life can achieve great things. He is an example for every young person
in this country who has had academic problems to follow.
So even in his death we can remember him, and people across this
country should remember him, for achievements that extend beyond the
time when he was looked upon as a failure in life.
He became a very fine member of the service. He became a very fine
member of the Congress. He never forgot his fellow servicemen, his
fellow enlisted men that served in the conflict in Vietnam and in the
other wars. He served his constituency well, and he is one that we will
remember with honor and dignity.
I would just like to say to his family how sorry we are that he is
lost to us and my colleagues, and to tell them that both Republicans
and Democrats will miss him.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his very thoughtful and kind
remarks. I think it is important to note that, as we all know, the
progress of legislation can often be a tortuous one, but I think this
body owes a particular word of thanks to the chairman and to his staff
for assisting in helping to expedite this bill being before us here
today. It was a kind of gesture that really does endorse the very kind
words that the gentleman just spoke about the man we have gathered to
honor this afternoon.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the minority I also thank the chairman for
the expedited procedures with which this bill comes to us for
consideration.
I also appreciate Frank's tremendous contribution with regards to
expanding the GI bill so veterans could participate in earning teaching
certificates through the alternative State certification process.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from
the great State of California [Mr. Becerra].
Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, for yielding me time.
Let me also begin my remarks by thanking the leadership on both sides
of the aisle so very much for making this possible and, with such
grace, adding to the words others have said about Frank Tejeda. I do
not know if angels blush, but I know right now there is one angel
blushing, and that is Frank Tejeda, because he is the most modest of
individuals. He would look at us right now and say, you need not do
this, I do what I need to do.
So in naming a post office after Frank, I think we pay him tribute
but it is a tribute that he himself would probably say, I just did my
job. And unfortunately in this case, we are doing it because he has
left us, and I wish we did not have to name a post office after Frank.
If we take a look at the bill for today, there are two paragraphs,
and in typical Frank Tejeda style, that is the way he would like it.
More than two paragraphs probably would be too long for Frank, because
he would say, keep it simple, keep it brief. I think we could all learn
a great deal from a man for whom simplicity was such a tribute and such
a way of life. Too often we bog down in the politics of things here.
Too often we lose sight of what we are really trying to do here.
As much as Frank never spoke up a lot, I think he always kept sight
of what he was in charge to do as a Member of Congress. For me to be
able to stand here and say to the blushing angel up in the sky today,
``You deserve this, Frank,'' is an honor. I thank both my colleagues on
both sides of the aisle, and the leadership, especially, for making
this time available to Frank Tejeda.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas [Mr. Sessions].
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to offer words of not
only encouragement for what is going on with this H.R. 499, but also to
offer my insight. As a person who attended the funeral of Congressman
Frank Tejeda, I was able to see firsthand those people who live within
the 28th Congressional District of Texas in San Antonio. They knew
Frank Tejeda as a man who was not only honest and hardworking, but a
man who represented the people.
I stand today in support of H.R. 499 because Frank Tejeda deserves
this tribute that we will be giving to him. Like those men who have
fallen before him who died as Texans, Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and
Colonel James B. Travis, Frank Tejeda also is a man who represented
Texas with arms.
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He represented our country, he was a proud marine and a man who knew
that this country by its standards can stand strong. This U.S. Postal
Service center that will be named after Frank Tejeda is important
because it will be a memory to those who were in his community who
recognized that positive leadership, good citizenship and honesty is a
way of life that they can look
[[Page H295]]
at and want to model themselves after. I stand today in support of this
bill and thank the gentleman for yielding the time to me.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes and 15 seconds to the
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Doggett], a colleague who started his service
in the Congress in the same class that I did, who has distinguished
himself as a supreme court judge in Texas and now is a member of the
House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues from
Texas and from across America in honoring Frank Tejeda. I served with
Frank in the Texas Legislature and here in Congress, and I knew him to
be a very tough advocate for the people of south Texas. He was a
tireless worker for positive change both in the Texas Legislature and
here on the floor of Congress.
Frank was a person that inspired others by his example. I think that
surely his name is synonymous with courage and with commitment to his
community. I believe, as I reflected over his legislative career, which
was extensive, that the last piece of legislation that Frank worked
with us on in the Texas delegation was quite ironically the naming of a
post office in Elmendorf in his district. He named it on behalf of a
veteran.
Frank believed in service to our country. He demonstrated that as a
true American hero, fighting on the battlefield, sustaining wounds on
behalf of this country and the freedom of this country in his service
in Southeast Asia. And all of us who participated in the service Monday
at San Leo's Catholic Church on the south side of San Antonio saw
firsthand that Frank practiced what he preached when we had a chance to
meet and visit with the members of his family, to see what strong
family bonds and commitment his family had. I think it was an inspiring
moment for all of us who had an opportunity to participate in that
service honoring Frank.
The people that will be working in this postal facility there in the
south side, the postal workers, the letter carriers, know that Frank
was here in respect to their service to their community. Each day as
they go to work there, they will remember Frank Tejeda as a person who
stood up for Government workers, whether they were at Kelly Air Force
Base or whether they were working in neighborhood postal facilities.
More importantly, the people who go there for service will remember
Frank Tejeda as a true servant of his south side community, someone who
grew up knowing all of the disadvantage of a community but who enjoyed
the advantage of strong family ties and made it through the marines and
then came back having had the alternative of many other careers with
the distinguished degrees that he had earned at some of the Nation's
top colleges but who went right back to the south side and worked on
behalf of his community.
We saw lining the streets, a large church unable, filled to capacity,
unable to accommodate all of the many hundreds of people who wanted to
be there to honor Congressman Tejeda.
I would say that the Members of Congress and the people of America
who had the good fortune to deal with Congressman Tejeda will remain
inspired by the courage and the dignity that he demonstrated to the
very end, that he inspires all of us.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from California [Ms. Harman].
Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, naming a post office after our friend and
colleague Frank Tejeda is a wonderful thing. I support it.
I would like to suggest in addition, however, that we consider
dedicating this Congress to the principles he embodied. And they are,
as we have all heard, humility, kindness, intellect and compassion.
These are critical things for all of us to consider, if we are to do
something productive in the next 2 years.
When I heard that my classmate, my neighbor in the Cannon Building
and my colleague on the Committee on National Security had died, my
first question was, why. Why are the nicest among us taken first? I
asked the same question in the last Congress when Bill Emerson, another
one of the nicest people here died.
It is a shame to lose somebody who makes you understand why you are
here, who makes you want to hug the person next to you, who makes you
warm about the endeavor we are engaged in. It is an enormous shame and
loss. I say to the Tejeda family, you produced the best. And I say to
Texas, you are a State that produces some of the biggest heroes in our
Nation's history. I know that Frank's star will be among those. Vaya
con Dios, amigo.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from
American Samoa, [Mr. Faleomavaega], another colleague who has joined us
and has asked for a few minutes to also make some comments on behalf of
our colleague.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I think it is most appropriate that
this body does all it can to make sure that the post office that is now
for purposes of discussion being named in the memory and honor of this
great colleague of ours, Congressman Frank Tejeda.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of a good friend, the very
distinguished colleague, the late Congressman Frank Tejeda of Texas,
who passed away Thursday after a long battle with cancer. He was a man
whose life was entirely dedicated to serving his community and
certainly to our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I met Congressman Tejeda when he first came to the
Congress after being elected in 1992. He was someone for whom I had
tremendous respect and affection. He always extended the hand of
friendship to me, and I always appreciated the fact that he made me
feel welcome every time I saw him on the House floor.
Congressman Tejeda had a distinguished career in public service when
he arrived in Washington. After having served for a decade in the Texas
House and for 6 years in the Texas Senate, he was an accomplished
academician, with graduate degrees from my own alma mater, the Boalt
Hall School of Law at the University of California in Berkeley, the
Yale Law School, and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
Mr. Speaker, Congressman Tejeda was a warrior, as far as I am
concerned, of the first order. He was as great a battler for the rights
of individuals as he was a courageous marine on the field of battle,
and he never gave up. When he believed in something, he fought for it.
I know that everyone in this body who had ever had the privilege of
working with this gentleman had tremendous respect for this gentleman.
He was the kind of person that you looked forward to working with
because you knew that, once he was committed to a course of action, he
would not rest until he succeeded. Congressman Tejeda made a career of
battling injustice, and he never faltered.
He was generous to everyone, generous with his time and generous with
his talents. There are countless stories of how he took money from his
own pocket to provide uniforms for the local baseball teams, how he co-
signed notes to pay power bills and the lights could remain on the
field, and how he took out loans to meet medical expenses for his
friends, how he bought the furniture for the day care center at the
local church. The list of his good deeds goes on and on, Mr. Speaker.
I realize my time is short. I certainly want to extend on behalf of
our Samoan community our condolences to Mrs. Tejeda and the members of
his family.
I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
I rise to honor the memory of a good friend and a very distinguished
colleague, the late Congressman Frank Tejeda of Texas, who passed away
Thursday after a long battle with cancer. He was a man whose life was
entirely dedicated to serving his country and his community.
Mr. Speaker, I met Congressman Tejeda when he first came to the
Congress after being elected in 1992. He was someone for whom I had
tremendous respect and affection. He always extended the hand of
friendship to me, and I always appreciated the fact that he
[[Page H296]]
made me feel welcome every time that I saw him on the House floor.
Congressman Tejeda already had a distinguished career in public
service when he arrived in Washington, having served for a decade in
the Texas House and for 6 years in the Texas Senate. He was an
accomplished academician, with graduate degrees from my own alma mater,
the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California in
Berkeley, Yale Law School and Harvard University's Kennedy School of
Government.
Congressman Tejeda was a decorated veteran who joined the Marines and
served in Vietnam from 1963 to 1967. He was awarded the Purple Heart,
the Bronze Star, the Marine Commandant's Trophy, the Marine Corps
Association Award and the Colonel Phil Yeckel Award for the best
combined record in leadership, academics and physical fitness during
the time when he was at officers candidate school, where he maintained
an academic average of 99.6--the highest ever recorded in Marine Corps
history. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star by the U.S. Navy
for risking his life under enemy fire to save a wounded fellow marine.
Congressman Tejeda was a warrior of the highest order and a hero to our
country.
In the Congress, Congressman Tejeda was a warrior as well. He was as
great a battler for the rights of individuals as he was a courageous
marine on the field of war, and he never gave up. When he believed in
something, he fought for it. I know that everyone in this body who ever
had the privilege of working with him had tremendous respect for the
gentleman. He was the kind of person that you looked forward to working
with because you know that once he was committed to a course of action,
he would not rest until he succeeded. Congressman Tejeda made a career
of battling injustice, and he never faltered.
Because of his tenacity, because of his leadership, because of his
generosity and because he never forgot where he came from, Congressman
Tejeda was loved and respected by the people he served. One of his
constituents said to him, ``even though he spent many years in
Washington, his heart was always in San Antonio * * * He was a
community man.''
Congressman Tejeda never lost touch with the family, friends and
constituents who worked on behalf of his political success, and he
continued to make a home in the neighborhood where he grew up. He was
generous with everyone--generous with his time and generous with his
talents. There are countless stories of how he took money from his own
pocket to provide uniforms for the local baseball teams, how he
cosigned notes to pay power bills so that the lights could remain on at
the field, how he took out loans to meet medical expenses for friends,
how he bought the furniture for the day care center at the local
church. The list of his good deeds goes on and on.
His generosity of spirit was well known. He was a mentor to many
young people. As he gained political stature, he made sure he helped
younger aspiring leaders--he opened up windows of opportunity. As
Undersecretary of the Army Joe Reeder said of him, ``He was a great
role model, a great advocate for Hispanics and a great advocate for
veterans.'' Congressman Henry Bonilla concurred, adding, ``Frank Tejeda
represented all that is good about America. He always led by example,
and his character and dignity inspired all who met him.'' He was a
genuine American hero.
Representative Henry Gonzales, congressional Hispanic caucus chairman
Xavier Becerra, Representative Solomon Ortiz, Representative Henry
Bonilla, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros
and many other distinguished leaders have all spoken of their great
loss--both personal and communal--because of this untimely death. The
Hispanic community has lost a great man, a great leader and a great
warrior. As former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros said, ``You don't find
many public officials who stand for anything. Frank Tejeda took
stands.''
Whether we remember the war hero, the anti-poverty activist, the
brilliant attorney, the crusading State legislator, the dedicated U.S.
Congressman, the role model for our youth, the compassionate and
generous member of the community, the fighter for justice and equality,
the good friend whose personal warmth was always evident, or any of the
other remarkable aspects of this man, we all mourn his loss.
And so, Mr. Speaker, we mourn the loss to Texas, the loss to the
Hispanic community, the loss, finally, to all of America. We will all
miss the presence and the leadership of Congressman Frank Tejeda.
Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I want to just finally state that, notwithstanding his great service
to our country, both in the armed services and here in the Congress and
the Texas Legislature, I think that our colleague would want us to know
that in all likelihood as it is for all of the rest of us that his
greatest personal achievement is his family and his children. I think
that they have a legacy that he has left them that they can be proud of
through his personal courage and commitment and dedication. He has been
a shining example of what is possible from that beautiful city in
Texas, San Antonio.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I certainly want to start by thanking the gentleman from Pennsylvania
for his leadership on his side of the aisle in helping us to move this
very important piece of legislation through the process. Obviously, Mr.
Speaker, the words spoken in the last minutes on this floor say very
eloquently the high regard and the deep love that this body holds
toward our departed colleague.
Frank Tejeda was elected to this body as the first Representative
from the 28th Congressional District in Texas in 1992. He was known
simply as a quiet, dedicated, and independent-minded Representative who
always voted his conscience first in the interest and concerns of his
constituency. We have been told here today time and again he was a
staunch defender of veterans, active duty and military personnel and
installations and expressed that concern through his service on the
Committee on National Security and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
It has been mentioned twice here, I believe, Mr. Speaker, by the
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Green] and the gentleman from Texas [Mr.
Doggett], that indeed our departed colleague took as one of his final
actions on this floor to see that a postal installation in Texas in
Elmendorf was named after Amos F. Longoria, who was, like Frank, a war
veteran and a native son of Texas, a gentleman who lost his life in
service to his country. I think perhaps we should take the lead from
Frank's efforts in that regard and very appropriately go forward in
adopting this worthy piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Texas [Mr. Armey], a leader in this House, the majority leader.
Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlemen for taking this
time to honor our friend and colleague, Frank Tejeda.
As I watched this very sad event of the passing of our colleague
Frank, I began to realize that a real problem we have among ourselves
as colleagues, I believe, is our failure to ever really stop and take
the time out of our schedules to get to know each other. I must confess
that that was a problem I had. Frank was with us as a Member and a
colleague for a short period of time. I know I must have had
opportunities to sit down and visit with him and to know more about him
and his family. I think it is sad that all too often what we do is,
when we find that we lose a colleague, we then learn from their friends
and their family and associates that did get to know them better what a
special person this is.
I would like to wonder if perhaps we might take this time as we take
the day today to honor his memory to give respect and condolences to
his family, to build within ourselves a new resolve as colleagues to
begin to take the time to see each other more than just another member
on the committee, perhaps somebody on the other side of the aisle who
we start off with the presumption that they must be the enemy or they
would not be on that side of the aisle, and on an airplane ride or in a
lunch counter or at some time more frequently with a greater degree of
real and genuine interest, take the time among ourselves to get to know
each other and to appreciate not only those characteristics and
attributes that we will later stand on the floor and celebrate but to
even appreciate the differences that we have among ourselves that can
be seen as complements rather than competitors.
{time} 1200
In any event, let me express my disappointment in myself that I lost
this opportunity when it was there before me.
I appreciate again the time my colleagues have taken and the time
they have given to share with me for us to say our appreciation for
Frank Tejeda, his life, and his service.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to
[[Page H297]]
say that I thank the majority leader for his thoughtful and, I think,
appropriate remarks.
As I understand, procedurally the gentleman from Pennsylvania had
yielded back his time, but I note yet another Representative from
Texas, the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] has entered.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms.
Jackson-Lee] if she would like to make some comments.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I certainly do thank the
gentlemen on the floor for their leadership and for their kindness.
Let me simply add, I see my friend and colleague, among others, the
gentleman from Texas, Solomon Ortiz, who eloquently yesterday examined
the life of Frank Tejeda. He examined it from the perspective of true
friendship. As I watched both of them, I saw them as brothers.
And I appreciate the remarks of the majority leader, saying to all of
us that we should get to know each other as individuals, as people, as
brothers and sisters. Clearly, the home-going service of Congressman
Frank Tejeda on Monday, which many of us had the pleasure, the
enrichment of participating in indicated that he was a man of the
people.
Yesterday, in my tribute, I did not get a chance to describe for my
colleagues the many friends that lined the highways waiving farewell to
their dear brother. He was a patriot but certainly he was a father. He
belonged to people.
This tribute of a post office, which grounds itself in the very needs
of citizens--there used to be the old general store. I think the post
office has come to be accepted as a place where the community meets and
the community engages itself. So I think it is more than appropriate
for a man who engaged himself with the community, with the people,
never straying away from their beliefs, never straying away from
feeling committed to representing them.
Frank Tejeda was never a king among men. He is that. He has royalty
but he was someone, Mr. Speaker, who knew how to walk with all of the
people.
I am very proud, as I indicated yesterday, to have known the
Congressperson briefly. I am gratified for his life and his legacy and
I wanted to come today to add tribute and to add my support for this
honor being bestowed upon him today.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McInnis). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. McInnis] that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 499.
The question was taken.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 400,
nays 0, not voting 33, as follows:
[Roll No. 9]
YEAS--400
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Allen
Andrews
Archer
Armey
Bachus
Baesler
Baker
Baldacci
Ballenger
Barcia
Barr
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Bateman
Becerra
Bentsen
Bereuter
Berman
Berry
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop
Blagojevich
Bliley
Blumenauer
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonior
Bono
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady
Brown (CA)
Brown (FL)
Bryant
Bunning
Burr
Burton
Buyer
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Canady
Cannon
Capps
Cardin
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Christensen
Clayton
Clyburn
Coble
Coburn
Collins
Combest
Condit
Conyers
Cook
Costello
Cox
Coyne
Cramer
Crane
Cubin
Cunningham
Danner
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis (VA)
Deal
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
DeLay
Dellums
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart
Dickey
Dicks
Dingell
Dixon
Doggett
Dooley
Doolittle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Edwards
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
Engel
English
Ensign
Eshoo
Etheridge
Evans
Everett
Ewing
Farr
Fattah
Fawell
Fazio
Filner
Flake
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Fowler
Fox
Frank (MA)
Franks (NJ)
Frelinghuysen
Frost
Gallegly
Ganske
Gekas
Gephardt
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gilman
Gonzalez
Goode
Goodlatte
Goodling
Gordon
Goss
Graham
Granger
Green
Greenwood
Gutierrez
Gutknecht
Hall (OH)
Hall (TX)
Hamilton
Hansen
Harman
Hastert
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayworth
Hefley
Hefner
Herger
Hilleary
Hilliard
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoekstra
Holden
Hooley
Horn
Houghton
Hulshof
Hunter
Hutchinson
Hyde
Inglis
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jenkins
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (WI)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kasich
Kelly
Kennedy (MA)
Kennedy (RI)
Kennelly
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kim
Kind (WI)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kleczka
Klink
Klug
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kucinich
LaFalce
LaHood
Lampson
Lantos
Latham
LaTourette
Leach
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
Lipinski
Livingston
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Lowey
Lucas
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Manton
Manzullo
Markey
Martinez
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McCrery
McDermott
McGovern
McHale
McHugh
McInnis
McIntosh
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek
Menendez
Metcalf
Mica
Millender-McDonald
Miller (CA)
Miller (FL)
Minge
Mink
Moakley
Molinari
Mollohan
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Morella
Murtha
Myrick
Nadler
Neal
Nethercutt
Neumann
Ney
Northup
Nussle
Oberstar
Olver
Ortiz
Owens
Oxley
Packard
Pallone
Pappas
Parker
Pascrell
Pastor
Paul
Paxon
Payne
Pease
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pickett
Pitts
Pomeroy
Porter
Portman
Poshard
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Regula
Reyes
Richardson
Riggs
Riley
Rivers
Rogan
Rogers
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Rothman
Roukema
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Rush
Ryun
Sabo
Salmon
Sanchez
Sanders
Sandlin
Sanford
Sawyer
Saxton
Scarborough
Schaefer, Dan
Schaffer, Bob
Schiff
Schumer
Scott
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Sisisky
Skaggs
Skeen
Slaughter
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (OR)
Smith (TX)
Smith, Linda
Snowbarger
Snyder
Solomon
Souder
Spence
Spratt
Stabenow
Stark
Stearns
Stenholm
Stokes
Strickland
Stump
Stupak
Sununu
Talent
Tanner
Tauscher
Tauzin
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Thomas
Thompson
Thornberry
Thune
Thurman
Tiahrt
Tierney
Torres
Upton
Velazquez
Vento
Visclosky
Walsh
Wamp
Waters
Watt (NC)
Watts (OK)
Waxman
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Wexler
Weygand
White
Whitfield
Wicker
Wise
Wolf
Woolsey
Wynn
Yates
Young (AK)
NOT VOTING--33
Barrett (NE)
Barrett (WI)
Blunt
Brown (OH)
Carson
Chenoweth
Clay
Clement
Cooksey
Crapo
Cummings
Doyle
Foglietta
Furse
Gejdenson
Hill
Hostettler
Hoyer
Largent
Lazio
Linder
McDade
Norwood
Obey
Pombo
Roemer
Skelton
Smith, Adam
Towns
Traficant
Turner
Watkins
Young (FL)
{time} 1229
Mr. HILLIARD changed his vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were
suspended and the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________