[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H2600-H2601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  GARZA-VELA UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 686) to designate a United States courthouse in 
Brownsville, Texas, as the ``Garza-Vela United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 686

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The United States courthouse located at the corner of 
     Seventh Street and East Jackson Street in Brownsville, Texas, 
     shall be designated and known as the ``Garza-Vela United 
     States Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Garza-Vela United States Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Franks) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks).
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 686 designates the United States Courthouse in 
Brownsville, Texas, as the Garza-Vela United States Courthouse.
  Reynaldo Garza and Filemon Vela are two distinguished judges who sit 
on the Federal bench in Brownsville, Texas.
  Judge Garza began his distinguished career in public service with the 
Air Force during World War II. Upon his return from the war, Judge 
Garza returned to private practice until 1961, when President Kennedy 
appointed him to the United States District Court for the Southern 
District of Texas.
  In 1974 he became the Chief Judge for the Southern District, until he 
was appointed by President Carter to the United States Court of Appeals 
for the Fifth Circuit. In April of 1997 Chief Justice William H. 
Rehnquist appointed him Chief Judge of the Temporary Emergency Court of 
Appeals of the United States.
  Judge Vela, whose career in public service is equally distinguished, 
served in the United States Army, was the Commissioner for the city of 
Brownsville, and Judge on the 107th Judicial District, Cameron-Willacy 
County, Texas.
  Judge Vela was a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on the 
Administration of the Magistrate Judges System until 1991, a member of 
the Judges Advisory Committee to the United States Sentencing 
Commission, and active in a number of local and State associations 
associated with civic and community activities.
  This is a fitting way to honor two great judges who have dedicated 
their lives to serving their community and their country. I encourage 
my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with the gentleman from Brownsville, Texas (Mr. 
Ortiz) in supporting H.R. 686, a bill to name the courthouse in 
Brownsville, Texas, as the Garza-Vela United States Courthouse.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill honors the life and works of two extraordinary 
Mexican-Americans. Judge Reynaldo Garza was born in Brownsville in 
1915. He graduated from Brownsville Elementary School as well as 
Brownsville High School. After graduating from Brownsville Junior 
College, he attended the University of Texas, where he received a 
combined degree of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law.
  Judge Garza served his country during World War II in the Air Force. 
After the war he returned to Brownsville to practice law. In 1961 
President Kennedy appointed Judge Garza to the District Court for the 
Southern District of Texas. President Carter appointed him to the 
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 1979.
  In addition to his judicial duties, Judge Garza has long been 
interested in educational issues. He served former Governors John 
Connelly and Governor Mark White on commissions to improve the quality 
of education in Texas. Judge Garza recognized the importance of 
education in judicial proceedings and his concern for the uneducated 
man at the mercy of the unscrupulous people.
  Judge Garza is very active in his church, and has served the Knights 
of Columbus in the Brownsville area for many years. Pope Pious XII 
twice decorated Judge Garza for his work on behalf of Catholic 
Charities. In 1989, Judge Garza was honored by the University of Texas 
with the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
  His record of public service includes work with the Rotary Club, the 
Latin American Relations Committee of Brownsville, trustees at his law 
school, the Advisory Council for the Boy Scouts, and he was elected as 
City Commissioner of the city of Brownsville.
  It is fitting and proper to honor Judge Garza's outstanding, rich 
life, his commitment to excellence, and his numerous public 
contributions.
  Judge Filemon Vela is also a native of Texas and a veteran of the 
United States Army. He attended Texas Southmost College and the 
University of Texas. His law degree is from St. Mary's School of Law in 
San Antonio.
  Judge Vela served as Commissioner of the city of Brownsville. He was 
an active member of the Judges' Advisory Committee to the U.S. 
Sentencing Commission. Judge Vela is a former law instructor and an 
attorney for the Cameron County Child Welfare Department.
  His civic activities include being the charter president for the 
Esperanza Home for Boys and cosponsor of the Spanish radio program 
Enrich Your Life, Complete Your Studies.
  Judge Vela's other civic activities include membership on the 
Independent School District Task Force and membership in the General 
Assembly of the Texas Catholic Conference. He is also an active member 
of the Lions Club. Judge Vela was nominated by President Carter for the 
Federal bench, and was confirmed by the United States Senate in 1980.
  Judge Vela's career is filled with successes, commitment to his 
family, devotion to his religion and his church, love for his work, and 
respect for his colleagues. It is most fitting to honor Judge Vela with 
this designation. I join the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz) in 
supporting H.R. 686.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, Texas is known for many things--among them is 
an embarrassment of riches in the Southern Judicial District of Texas.
  In South Texas, we have two judicial giants in the Rio Grande Valley 
for whom citizens throughout the area have asked that the new federal 
courthouse in Brownsville be named.
  Judge Reynaldo Garza was appointed to the federal bench by President 
John F. Kennedy in 1961 and Judge Filemon Vela was appointed to the 
federal bench by President Jimmy Carter in 1980.
  Both of these men have become legends in the South Texas area by 
virtue of their commitment to education and community.
  Each have shown their respective dedication to the betterment of the 
next generation of South Texans by working actively with schools and 
young people.
  Judge Vela has focused on the young people who have made mistakes or 
erred, by working with the Esperanza Home for Boys, heading activities 
to keep young people in school called ``Enrich Your Life, Complete Your 
Studies,'' being part of the Texas Business and Education Coalition, 
and working with the Texas Young Lawyers Association Dropout Prevention 
and Literacy Committee.

[[Page H2601]]

  Judge Garza has served on the Brownsville Independent School Board, 
and turned his attention to the cause of higher education by serving on 
the Texas Education Standards Committee, the Coordinating Board of 
Colleges and Universities, and the Select Committee on Higher 
Education.
  He is revered for a story he relates about his father, while dying, 
who told the Judge and his siblings that while he did not leave them 
with wealth, he left them with the gift of education, one which no one 
can ever take away.
  Both these legends have schools named in their honor.
  When construction began on the federal courthouse, all across the 
Valley, people wondered whose name would grace the courthouse upon 
completion.
  I was moved at the number of letters that came to my office relating 
personal stories about one or the other and advocating naming the 
courthouse after either Judge Vela or Judge Garza.
  After reading all the heart-felt expressions on behalf of both 
judges, and listening to people who sought me out while I was in the 
District, I realized how rich we were in judicial talent and thought 
that the only way to satisfy the concerns of all South Texans was to 
name this courthouse after both judges.
  This name is a reflection of the will of those people whose interests 
will be served in the new courthouse, and of those people for whom 
justice will be dispensed there.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 686.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof), the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________