[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 53 (Wednesday, May 3, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2459-H2461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             KIKA DE LA GARZA UNITED STATES BORDER STATION

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1901) to designate the United States border station located 
in Pharr, Texas, as the ``Kika de la Garza United States Border 
Station.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1901

       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 border station located in Pharr, Texas, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Kika de la Garza 
     United States Border Station''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the border station 
     referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``Kika de la Garza United States Border Station''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1901 designates the United States border station in 
Pharr, Texas, as the Kika de la Garza United States Border Station. 
Congressman de la Garza was born in Mercedes, Texas, in 1927. He 
attended St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, earning his law 
degree in 1952.
  Prior to that, he served in the United States Navy from 1945 until 
1946 and in the United States Army from 1950 until 1952. After serving 
in the Texas State House of Representatives for 11 years, he was 
elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1964. He was 
reelected to serve for 16 consecutive terms.
  Congressman de la Garza began serving on the Committee on Agriculture 
in 1965. He served as chairman of the committee from 1981 until 1994. 
As chairman, he compiled an impressive record of achievement and 
dedication to America's farming community.
  During his tenure as chairman, the United States Department of 
Agriculture underwent major restructuring. This bill and this naming 
is, at this time, fitting tribute to an esteemed former colleague. I 
support passage of the bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa), my good friend.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
1901, a measure designating the U.S. border station at Pharr, Texas, as 
the Kika de la Garza Border Station. I am proud to stand here today 
with my colleagues to honor Congressman de la Garza, my predecessor.
  Many of my colleagues here in this Chamber had the pleasure and 
privilege of working with him during his long tenure and especially as 
chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.

[[Page H2460]]

  Naming the Pharr, Texas, border station after the Honorable Mr. de la 
Garza is important to our district because it honors his role in 
service as international ambassador for American agriculture, an 
industry which thrived during Kika's tenure in the House.
  Agriculture is a strong element of our economy, and it only seems 
fitting to honor the man who did so much in this area. H.R. 1901 is 
indeed a tribute to a man who dedicated his life to public service and 
is known throughout all of Texas and the Nation simply as ``Kika.''
  Kika made a dignified institution all the more distinguished with his 
vision, his keen insight, and his devotion to his constituents and to 
his country. No one deserves this honor more. I urge my fellow Members 
to join me in passing this measure to say, Thank you, Kika; we are 
indebted to you for your decades of outstanding work on behalf of the 
residents of the 15th congressional district of Texas and to the 
Nation.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bentsen).
  (Mr. BENTSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Traficant) for yielding this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1901, to designate the 
United States border station located in Pharr, Texas, as the Kika de la 
Garza United States Border Station. I want to join with my colleague, 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) from Mercedes, in his comments.
  Kika de la Garza was clearly an institution in this body. He served 
the State of Texas in this body for 32 years from the 15th 
congressional district in the Rio Grand Valley; prior to that, having 
served in the State legislature.
  As my colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa), stated, Mr. 
de la Garza was known perhaps more than anything else for his work as 
chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and the ranking member of the 
Committee on Agriculture and the work that he did on drafting and 
writing successive omnibus farm bills as both the chairman and the 
ranking member. But I think it is also important to note that 
Congressman de la Garza fought for much legislation that would help the 
constituents of what is also one of the poorest congressional districts 
in the United States.
  He fought for legislation to provide affordable housing programs for 
rural home buyers. He pushed for hunger relief measures to feed hungry 
children, and he helped launch a full scale Federal offensive against 
the spate of devastating birth defects in the Rio Grand Valley in 
Texas.
  It is a special honor for me because not only was Mr. de la Garza a 
close family friend of my grandfather Lloyd Bentsen, Sr., who was a 
rancher and farmer in south Texas for many years until his death in 
1989, but Kika held the seat that my Uncle Lloyd Bentsen, Jr., the past 
Secretary of the Treasury and Senator from Texas held.
  So our families have had a very longstanding relationship, and I was 
really pleased and proud to have the opportunity to serve with Kika 
during my first term in Congress. I spent a great deal of time with him 
not just on the House Floor but also sitting next to him on the flight 
from Houston to Washington, as he would catch it from McAllen and he 
would tell me stories going back to his early days in the House of 
Representatives when things certainly were not as they are today.
  I also want to commend not just Kika but his wife of many years, 
Lucille, who has clearly been his partner in his days in Congress. She 
was always very kind to all of the spouses, I believe, up here in 
telling them how things are done and, in particular, whereas she was 
close to many of my relatives in south Texas also became close not only 
to my wife but to my daughters as well having gotten the opportunity to 
spend time flying back and forth to Texas with them.

                              {time}  1445

  So I think, Mr. Speaker, this is a tremendous honor for one who has 
been a tremendous public servant for the people of Texas, not just the 
Rio Grande Valley, and I strongly endorse it and urge my colleagues to 
adopt it.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1901 to designate the United 
States border station located in Pharr, TX, as the ``Kika de la Garza 
United States Border Station.''
  I believe this is an appropriate way to honor Congressman de la 
Garza's many years of service to the United States and the state of 
Texas, during which he provided tremendous leadership in support of 
agriculture, improved relations with Mexico, a better quality of life 
for residents along the border, among many other issues.
  I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve in Congress with 
Kika de la Garza, even if for only 2 of his amazing 32 years in this 
body. He is an example to all of us of a true gentleman and public 
servant who brought honor to this House through the civility, respect, 
and commitment to doing what is right that he brought to conducting the 
people's business. He is also a true Texan who worked with his 
colleagues from both sides of the aisle to further the best interests 
of our state.
  Throughout his tenure in Congress, Congressman de la Garza never 
forgot the people he represented, who live in a district considered to 
be the poorest in the state, and which is now ably represented by my 
esteemed colleague Ruben Hinojosa. Congressman de la Garza fought for 
legislation to provide affordable housing programs for rural 
homebuyers. He pushed for hunger relief measures to feed hungry 
children. And he helped launch a full-scale federal offensive against 
the spate of devastating birth defects in the Rio Grande Valley.
  When he was named the Texas Legislative Conference's Texan of the 
Year in 1991, Congressman de la Garza said:

       I bring with me centuries of people who at times were not 
     recognized properly. From the conquistador on the trek north 
     to the most humble of migrant workers, they stand with me 
     here.

  Naming a border station after Congressman de la Garza is a fitting 
tribute to an individual who is a true son of the Lower Rio Grande 
Valley of south Texas.
  Congressman de la Garza is perhaps best remembered for his leadership 
on behalf of American agriculture. He served as chairman of the 
Agriculture Committee for a longer uninterrupted period than anyone 
else in history and presided over the drafting and successful enactment 
of three major omnibus farm bills (1981, 1985, and 1990) that have 
reformed our nation's agricultural policies. He also guided efforts to 
reduce the cost of agricultural programs through several deficit 
reduction bills that have been approved by Congress. His other 
legislative accomplishments include legislation to streamline the 
agricultural lending system, strengthen federal pesticide laws, and 
various other measures to assist American agriculture, encourage rural 
development, and improve human nutrition.
  Congressman de la Garza was also one of Congress' leading experts on 
United States-Mexico relations and a proponent of greater trade with 
Mexico. In 1966, he became the first member of Congress from the Texas-
Mexico border area to serve on the Mexico-United States 
Interparliamentary Group, which promotes dialog between legislators 
from the two countries. He was an early congressional supporter of 
opening negotiations with Mexico to develop a free-trade agreement and 
helped rally congressional support that led to approval of the North 
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
  Throughout his career, Kika de la Garza also fought for government 
policies that fostered better living and economic conditions for all 
Americans. He obtained federal funds to provide much-needed water and 
sewer services to Texas' impoverished colonias. He was a strong 
supporter of civil rights for all Americans, better educational 
opportunities, and improved access to health care for the elderly, 
veterans, and low-income individuals. He also supported policies to 
improve the nation's infrastructure and maintain a strong, cost-
effective national defense.
  Our entire nation benefited from Kika de la Garza's service in 
Congress, and his legacy includes an agricultural system that continues 
to lead and feed the world, better relations and expanded trade with 
Mexico and other nations, and a better quality of life for many Texans 
and Americans. I am pleased to join my colleagues in honoring Kika de 
la Garza and in urging approval of this legislation to designate the 
Kika de la Garza United States Border Station.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor of the bill, I want to associate my 
remarks with those of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa), who 
succeeds Kika, our good friend, and has done an outstanding job for the 
15th Congressional District. I salute the gentleman for his words and 
for his efforts. The gentleman seems to be cut out of the same mold and 
has some big shoes to fill.

[[Page H2461]]

  I also want to associate myself with the comments of the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Bentsen) on the historical ramifications of his family 
and the association with Kika. I think it really lends a lot to the 
discussion here today.
  As the sponsor of this legislation, I just simply loved Kika. He was 
the first Hispanic American to serve as the chairman of a major 
committee, the Committee on Agriculture. I think that was a significant 
achievement for a man of such humble roots who developed into such a 
powerhouse here in the Congress.
  I can remember one time, Mr. Speaker, standing down there at the 
voting booth on a key vote years ago, and I saw the leaders come up to 
Kika and say, ``Kika, we really need your vote. You didn't vote with us 
on this particular bill.'' I will never forget as long as I live, Kika 
looked at them, and he was very loyal, and he said, ``I wish I could, 
but I am going to give my vote to my people. My people are not for 
this. I don't think it is good for my people.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), 
that was Political Science 101 that I will never forget. I admired Kika 
for that.
  I also want to say and place upon the record that he was one of the 
most ardent and outspoken advocates for United States agriculture and 
for programs to protect and improve the farm and rural economy. He had 
much more to do with the economics of farming than many people gave him 
credit for.
  Chairman de la Garza led the effort to enact landmark legislation, 
such as the Federal crop insurance reform and the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, which established a federally 
funded catastrophic risk coverage policy for crop losses that touches 
every farmer in America today. Kika has touched every farmer and has 
helped anyone who produces a food product in our country. In 1990, Kika 
helped pass the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, 
which reformed export assistance programs and established new 
initiatives to strengthen environmental protection of our agricultural 
lands.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the few surpluses we have had in trade has been 
our agriculture base, and Kika de la Garza deserves much of the credit 
for those tremendous improvements to our agriculture community.
  So I think it is just really overdue. We have passed this a couple 
times in the House. I would make this pledge to my good friend the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette): If the other body does not act on 
it this year, I am personally paying a visit over there.
  This is overdue, the distinguished career of Congressman de la Garza 
must now be commemorated by designating the border station in Pharr, 
Texas, as the Kika de la Garza Border Station.
  Before I yield back my time, I want to thank the committee staff. It 
does a great job for this committee, Mr. Barnett, Ms. Brita, and I want 
to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) for working with us 
as he has.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ose). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1901.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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