[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H2749-H2751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DR. MIGUEL A. NEVAREZ POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4299) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 410 South Jackson Road in Edinburg, 
Texas, as the ``Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4299

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF DR. MIGUEL A. NEVAREZ POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 410 South Jackson Road in Edinburg, Texas, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez 
     Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Dr. Miguel A Nevarez Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I rise 
in support of H.R. 4299 that designates a post office in Edinburg, 
Texas as the ``Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez Post Office Building.'' All of the 
members of the Texas State delegation have cosponsored this important 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Miguel Nevarez has been president of the University 
of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg for the last 23 years. In 1981, Dr. 
Nevarez inherited a small university of only 8,000 students. But today, 
UT-Pan American boasts more than 15,000 students and 600 faculty 
members. Dr. Nevarez's 23 years of service makes him the longest-
serving Hispanic university or college president in the entire Nation.
  A distinguished educator, Dr. Nevarez is a vice-chair of the Council 
of Public University Presidents and Chancellors, and he is a member of 
the American Council of Education and the American Association of State 
Colleges and Universities.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Nevarez retires this Friday, May 14. President 
Nevarez led his final spring commencement exercises just last weekend, 
as over 1,200 students from UT-Pan American received their degrees. 
House passage of this legislation will provide Dr. Nevarez and his 
family with a timely honor for his contributions to all past, current, 
and future students of UT-Pan American.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 4299.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, 
I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4299, 
legislation naming a postal facility in Edinburg, Texas after Dr. 
Miguel A. Nevarez.
  This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Hinojosa) on May 6, 2004 enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the 
Texas delegation.
  Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez has served as President of the University of 
Texas-Pan American for 23 years. The University of Texas-Pan American 
is the leading institution serving underserved and underrepresented 
students in the south Texas community. The university is home to a high 
concentration of Hispanic students. Currently Hispanic enrollment is 87 
percent of the student body.
  Throughout his tenure as president of the university, Dr. Nevarez has 
made a difference in his community and profession by providing and 
improving higher educational opportunities to south Texas residents. 
For his efforts, Dr. Nevarez has received numerous accolades. He was 
named Outstanding Educator by President Reagan in 1985, and has worked 
closely with many United States Presidents on education reform and 
Hispanic education initiatives.

                              {time}  1515

  Dr. Nevarez has testified in Congress on the contributions of 
America's Hispanic-serving institutions. He has been named one of the 
100 Influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine and has been 
credited with creating a Hispanic middle class in south Texas.
  Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez is retiring this year. By way of recognizing 
his many years of dedicated service, the university is hosting a 
special dinner on May 14, 2004, in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleague, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Hinojosa), in honoring the enormous educational and 
professional contributions of Dr. Nevarez. Designating the post office 
in Edinburg, Texas, is an excellent way to pay tribute to Dr. Miguel A. 
Nevarez.
  I urge swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers at 
this moment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he might consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa), 
the sponsor of this bill, from the 15th Congressional District of 
Texas.
  (Mr. HINOJOSA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to support 
H.R. 4299, a bill that will rename the post office in Edinburg, Texas, 
home of the University of Texas Pan American, in honor of Dr. Miguel A. 
Nevarez. I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Tom 
Davis) and the gentleman from California (Ranking Member Waxman) for 
their assistance in bringing this legislation to the floor so quickly.
  I want to congratulate and thank one of the great modern heroes of 
south Texas, Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez, my good friend, who is retiring 
this year from the presidency of the University of Texas Pan American.
  Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez has presided over a sea change in south Texas. 
His leadership of the University of Texas Pan American has transformed 
the region. In fact, he laid the infrastructure that will transform 
south Texas.
  Dr. Nevarez has guided this institution from the days when this was 
still a position called Associate Dean of Men and only 8,000 students, 
many in remedial education, to today when UTPA is a full-fledged 
research institution, offering 56 undergraduate programs, 42 master's 
programs and three doctoral programs. Today, in 2004, UTPA enrolls over 
15,000 students.
  The growth and development of south Texas are inextricably linked to 
the growth and development of UTPA. Dr. Nevarez has risen to the 
challenge and has made south Texas and its south Texans proud. He has 
mentored faculties, students, and administrators.

[[Page H2750]]

He has built the capacity of the institution both physically and 
intellectually. UTPA is one of the most beautiful and well-equipped 
campuses in the State of Texas, and it is on the cutting edge in new 
research and technologies.
  As UTPA has matured, so has south Texas. This is a dynamic region 
with dramatic growth in population and jobs in all areas of economic 
activity; and UTPA, with Dr. Nevarez as the university president, is at 
the center of it all. This is his legacy.
  Furthermore, Dr. Nevarez has been the longest-serving Hispanic 
president of a college or university. He was one of the pioneers that 
paved the way for Federal support for Hispanic-serving institutions. 
His leadership and advocacy on behalf of HSIs helped create a specific 
designation in the 1998 higher education reauthorization. This 
designation has resulted in increased Federal funding by all Federal 
agencies for HSIs nationwide. These colleges and universities open the 
doors of higher education to half of the Latinos attending college in 
the country.
  Dr. Nevarez's leadership has laid the foundation for the educational 
advancement of the fastest-growing, largest minority group in the 
country, Hispanic Americans. Raising the level of educational 
attainment for the Hispanic community is of paramount importance to our 
future security and prosperity.
  I want to also acknowledge and recognize Dr. Nevarez's family. First, 
his beautiful wife Blanca Medina Nevarez who has been a very loving and 
strong supporter of her husband. Second, I have seen his three 
children, Miguel III, Annette and Marc, who have had to share their 
father with so many people. His duties and responsibilities may have 
kept him from participating in some important family gatherings, but 
rest assured that his family's sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. I 
thank them for supporting Miguel's efforts.
  I am happy for my friend. He has earned his retirement. He has given 
so much of himself to the great State of Texas, to the Hispanic 
community, and to our great Nation. His efforts and his accomplishments 
will long be remembered. The post office in Edinburg, Texas, an all-
American city, shall bear the name of Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez. He is 
ready to pass the mantle of leadership for UTPA and south Texas as we 
move into the 21st century; and thanks to him, we are ready.
  Que Dios le bendiga! May God bless you.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he might consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), a 
representative from the 10th Congressional District of Texas.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Though we honor the life's work of Dr. Miguel Nevarez by designating 
a post office with his name, his real legacy is reflected in the lives 
and the careers of the students that he has helped for over a quarter 
of a century with his leadership and service, mostly as president of UT 
Pan American.
  Dr. Nevarez is the first Hispanic president of UT Pan Am and the 
longest seated Hispanic president of any four-year institution of 
higher learning. He has a total of over 30 years of service to UT Pan 
Am, including his tenure as a professor in the education department, 
associate dean of men, vice president for student and university 
affairs and, of course, as president and leader of the university.
  Dr. Nevarez has repeatedly been recognized for his leadership, 
including being named one of the ``100 Most Influential Hispanics in 
America'' and as one of the ``50 Most Influential Hispanics in Business 
Technology.'' His commitment to education has fundamentally and forever 
changed not only the Rio Grande Valley but elsewhere across our Nation 
as UT Pan Am graduates have assumed positions of leadership.
  It is not surprising to any of us who have worked with Dr. Nevarez 
that, after a much-deserved sabbatical, he will be returning to work 
with Dr. Velma Menchaca and the outstanding faculty of the Department 
of Educational Leadership. There, he will return to teaching, and he 
will be working primarily with the doctoral and master's programs 
involving higher education, organizational behavior and organizational 
management, programs that came into being through his leadership as the 
president at UT Pan American.
  Just as the commencements that we are celebrating across America 
represent both an end and a beginning, so does this announcement by Dr. 
Nevarez. The opportunity is there for us to step up to the challenge of 
giving students all the education for which each is willing to work. We 
can honor this legacy of Dr. Nevarez not only by the quite appropriate 
naming of a post office down the street in his honor, but by giving our 
public institutions of higher learning the financial support that they 
need to do the job to which he has dedicated his life, and 
particularly, in preparing our students for quality jobs upon 
graduation, by giving them the financial assistance that they deserve.
  With the overwhelming majority of students at UT Pan American 
qualifying for student financial assistance, but with too many unable 
to receive the assistance that they need at current funding levels, it 
would be particularly appropriate to honor Dr. Nevarez with the further 
tribute of extending and expanding that financial assistance. I believe 
that we must double the maximum amount of Pell Grants in order to 
achieve that objective.
  Dr. Nevarez already has the grateful thanks of a community that he 
has served for decades. Today, as we designate this post office with 
his name, this body, the United States Congress, affirms our gratitude 
for his life's work in service, not just to the Rio Grande Valley but 
to our entire Nation in developing the leaders who will guide our 
country in the future.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he might consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity also to rise 
on behalf of the Texas delegation and congratulate the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) on 
these efforts.
  Let me share with my colleagues that H.R. 4299, which designates the 
facility of the United States Post Office that will be located at 410 
South Jackson Road in Edinburg, Texas, as the Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez 
Post Office Building, is fitting and proper.
  Let me just say that I had the opportunity to serve in the Texas 
House for 11 years in the higher education committee; and during that 
period of time, I had the opportunity to work with the doctor there, 
and there is no doubt that his tenacity, his perseverance, and his 
dedication were displayed.
  I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate him on the 
efforts not only at Pan Am but in higher education throughout Texas. 
During that period of time, we have found ourselves in Texas in the 
crossroads of lacking a lot of resources, and one way was to start 
capping enrollment and was to begin to expand the opportunities for 
south Texas; and I know Dr. Nevarez was there for us as a whole, making 
sure that those opportunities were there.
  When we started to sue the State of Texas during that time, he was 
there to make sure that we followed through; and the results of those 
efforts resulted in a piece of legislation that allowed opportunities 
for the expansion not only at Texas Pan Am but also the 4-year 
institution at Brownsfield, the 4-year institution at Downtown San 
Antonio, the 4-year institution at Corpus Christi, the 4-year 
institution at Laredo, the expansion at A&I in Kingsville and others.

                              {time}  1530

  And he played a significant role in those efforts.
  So I rise today in support of the naming of the United States Post 
Office for Dr. Miguel Nevarez and to congratulate his service.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume to advise my colleague that I have no further requests for 
time. I would simply congratulate the gentleman for his introduction of 
the bill and urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.

[[Page H2751]]

  I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 4299. I also 
understand that Dr. Nevarez will actually be an honoree at a dinner 
reception on Friday night in McAllen, Texas. And certainly on behalf of 
all the Members of this body, I want to thank and wish Dr. Nevarez the 
very best in his retirement, and I specifically want to thank the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) for introducing this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Putnam). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4299.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________