[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2358-E2359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    A TRIBUTE TO HENRY B. GONZALEZ, AN EXEMPLARY LEADER FOR ENSUING 
                              GENERATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Henry B. Gonzalez, Dean of 
the Texas Delegation and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, will be 
honored by his community on November 23 at the Henry B. Gonzalez 
Archival Library Dinner in San Antonio, TX. Although I will not be able 
to join his family and friends

[[Page E2359]]

at this gathering, I take this opportunity to pay high tribute to his 
44 years of public service and thank him for blazing a path for 
subsequent generations of Americans, especially Hispanics, pursuing the 
nobelist ideals of public office.
  The accomplishments of the Honorable Henry B. Gonzalez in public 
office, particularly in the last 36 years in Congress, are substantial. 
He shepherded 71 bills through enactment, ranging from abolishing the 
poll tax, which was still in effect in the early 1960's, to restoring 
the strength of our Nation's deposit insurance system. While he was 
chairman, the House Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs Committee held 
more than 500 hearings on financial issues that affected consumers, 
small businesses, and banks. Through his investigative powers Chairman 
Gonzalez wielded substantial influence in combating financial crimes. 
Chairman Gonzalez championed legislation enabling small businessowners 
to secure credit essential to the prosperity of their enterprises. And 
let us not forget that Dean Gonzalez was instrumental in reauthorizing 
Federal housing laws, providing shelter for thousands of families 
throughout the country.
  Always doing what he believed to be right rather than what was 
popular, Dean Gonzalez made superlative use of special orders in the 
House Chamber. He alerted all of us to the impending savings and loan 
crisis years before the industry collapsed; he educated the Nation 
about the culture and contributions of Mexican-Americans. In recent 
years, his most popular special orders were about history: his own, the 
history of San Antonio and Texas, and the history of the founding of 
our Federal Government.
  The Honorable Henry B. Gonzalez' accomplishments are many and his 
legacy is an inspiration to us all, but especially our youth. As the 
chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I thank Dean Gonzalez, 
for blazing a path for ensuing generations of Hispanic leaders. His 
dedication to public service and the many contributions to his 
community, the State of Texas and our Nation were accomplished with 
tenacity, passion, and a tireless work ethic. Integrity was his 
hallmark. Our youth, who are certain to achieve great accomplishments 
of their own, will 1 day look upon the legacy of Henry B. Gonzalez for 
inspiration and pride.
  Mr. Speaker, on this auspicious occasion I ask my colleagues to join 
me and the people of San Antonio in saluting a great friend and grand 
American: the Honorable Henry B. Gonzalez. He will always be an 
exemplary leader * * *. He will always be Henry B.

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