[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.

                              {time}  1130

  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.

                              {time}  1145

  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.

                          ____________________