[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 43 (Wednesday, April 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H1905-H1907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REYNALDO G. GARZA AND FILEMON B. VELA UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 483) to designate a United States courthouse in Brownsville,
Texas, as the ``Reynaldo G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela United States
Courthouse''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 483
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 ``Reynaldo G. Garza and
Filemon B. 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 ``Reynaldo G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela
United States Courthouse''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Honda) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 438, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz),
designates the United States courthouse located in Brownsville, Texas,
as the Reynaldo G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela United States courthouse.
This is the second time the Congress has considered this matter,
having previously passed identical legislation by voice vote during the
108th Congress.
This legislation honors two men for their service to their country,
both inside and out of public service.
Reynaldo Guerra Garza was born in Brownsville, Texas, and spent his
lifetime serving that community.
President Kennedy appointed then State Judge Garza to the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of Texas in 1961. At that
time, Judge Garza became the first Mexican American on any U.S.
District Court.
In 1979, when Jimmy Carter appointed him to the Fifth Circuit Court
of Appeals, Judge Garza became the first Mexican American to serve in
that position.
Filemon Bartolome Vela was born and raised in Harlingen, Texas. Like
Judge Garza, he dedicated his life to South Texas, first as a State
judge and then as a Federal judge, taking over the District Court seat
vacated by Judge Garza upon his appointment to the Circuit Court of
Appeals.
Judge Vela is perhaps best known in the community for his work with
schools, encouraging youth education and literacy programs.
{time} 1045
This naming is fitting tribute to their dedicated service, and I urge
my colleagues to support this legislation.
I would also like to recognize my colleague, the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Ortiz), for his dedication to bringing this legislation to the
floor. I thank him for ensuring these men are recognized for their
service.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I join with the gentleman from Brownsville, Texas (Mr.
Ortiz), in supporting H.R. 483, a bill to name the courthouse in
Brownsville, Texas, as the Reynaldo G. Garza-Filemon B. Vela United
States Courthouse.
Madam Speaker, this bill honors the life and works of two
extraordinary Mexican Americans. The first honoree, Judge Reynaldo
Garza, was born in Brownsville in 1915. He graduated from local
elementary schools as well as Brownsville High School. After graduating
from Brownsville Junior College, he attended the University of Texas
where he received the combined degrees 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. In 1979 President Carter appointed
him to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. In
addition to his judicial duties, Judge Garza has long been interested
in education issues.
He served former Governors John Connally and 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 uneducated men at the mercy of unscrupulous people.
Judge Garza was very active in his church and has served the Knights
of Columbus in the Brownsville area for many years.
Pope Pius XII twice decorated Judge Garza for his work on behalf of
public charities. In 1989 Judge Garza was honored by the University of
Texas with a Distinguished Alumnus Award.
His record of public service includes the work with the Rotary Club,
the Latin-American Relation Committee in Brownsville, trustee at his
law school, advisory council for the Boy Scouts, and he was elected as
the city commissioner for 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.
The second honoree, Madam Speaker, Judge Filemon Vela, was also a
native Texan 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 a commissioner of the City of Brownsville. He
was a 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 including being the charter president for the
Esperanza Home for Boys and the co-sponsor 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,
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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. 483.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Ortiz), the author of this bill.
Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
I think the gentleman has done a great job in describing the
contributions of two great giants from south Texas. I want to thank the
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from West Virginia
(Mr. Mollohan) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and
all those involved who helped expedite this bill.
This is not the first time this bill has been before the House. It
has passed two or three times, but it has stalled in the Senate. This
bill would rename the Brownsville courthouse for two legislative giants
from south Texas. This bill will rename the courthouse the Reynaldo G.
Garza and the Filemon B. Vela United States Courthouse.
We have a wealth of riches in south Texas, including these two giants
of men. Reynaldo Garza was the first Hispanic 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 back in 1980.
Both of these men have become legends in the south Texas area by virtue
of their commitment to education and to our community. Both heroes
passed away last year.
This legislation is noncontroversial, and I hope the Senate will
quickly consider and pass this as well.
I thank the House and my friends for helping expedite this bill again
to get to the floor.
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa).
Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
483, the Garza-Vela United States Courthouse Designation Act, offered
by my colleague and my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Ortiz).
This bill pays tribute to two great Americans, Federal Judge Reynaldo
Garza and Federal Judge Filemon Vela who were judicial legends in the
great State of Texas.
Judge Garza was the Nation's first Mexican American Federal district
judge appointed to the Federal bench by President Kennedy in 1961. This
outstanding man had done advanced study in the field of law and was a
great orator.
Judge Garza served our Nation through the turbulent years of the
civil rights movement. His decisions contributed to the changes that
opened up many opportunities for minorities.
In 1976 President Carter asked him to serve as the Nation's Attorney
General, but he declined because he did not want to leave his beloved
south Texas and his service on the Federal bench. He did, however,
accept an appointment to the 5th Court of Appeals by President Carter
and for many years commuted back and forth between south Texas and the
circuit court in New Orleans.
In 1982 he obtained senior status; and even after his retirement, he
remained active by filling in on the bench whenever he was needed. He
was committed to education, particularly in encouraging literacy; and
he was known and highly respected by everyone for the even-handed way
in which he dispensed justice.
I served 1 year as foreman of a Federal grand jury which he appointed
in his district court in Brownsville, Texas. It was a privilege and a
pleasure to work with him and meet in his chamber where I witnessed
firsthand the honesty, the integrity, and compassion of this gentleman
from south Texas.
His last official act took place from his hospital bed when he
officiated the swearing in of his protege, Federal Judge Ricardo H.
Hinojosa, as the new chairman of the Federal Sentencing Commission.
Judge Vela was nominated to the Federal bench by President Carter in
1980. He became an expert on comparative American and Mexican law.
During his tenure, the Federal docket dramatically increased due to the
enormous population growth in south Texas. Yet despite the heavy case
load, Judge Vela fought to ensure that every person received prompt and
fair treatment. He worked tirelessly to design and have built the new
courthouse in Brownsville. It is indeed fitting that his name will be
on this new Federal courthouse.
Judge Vela, like his good friend Judge Garza, was known for his
impeccable integrity and his willingness to mentor young attorneys. He
also was passionate about teaching children about the law and the
criminal justice system in order to encourage them to make right
choices of life. He would bring inmates to school auditorium programs
to tell children about the mistakes they had made and the consequences
they suffered as a result.
Judge Vela had one of the longest running and most successful radio
programs on legal subjects which was broadcast in Spanish to more than
2 million listeners in south Texas and northern Mexico.
He also participated in 220 Spanish radio programs entitled
``Enriquezca Su Vida, Termine Sus Estudios,'' meaning ``enrich your
life, complete your studies,'' that focused on encouraging children to
stay in school and off drugs.
He was tireless when it came to community involvement and showing
compassion for low-income families. I am proud to have called him my
second cousin.
He gave countless hours as a mentor and leader to youth programs
whether as an attorney for the Cameron County Child Welfare Department,
as founder of the Esperanza Home for Boys, or as the Chair of the Board
of Rio Grande Marine Institute Home for Youth.
We lost both of these great men last year, but their service to the
people of Texas and to this great Nation must not be forgotten.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation that provides a
fitting tribute to these two great Americans.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 483, a
bill to honor two members of the United States Judiciary. The bill
would designate the federal courthouse located in Brownsville, Texas as
the Reynaldo G. Garza and the Filemon B. Vela United States Courthouse.
I'd like to recognize the Gentleman from Texas, Congressman Ortiz, for
introducing this bill. The Gentleman introduced this same legislation
in the 108th Congress, which passed the House last September.
Unfortunately, the Other Body did not act on that bill. I am hopeful
that with our passage of the bill today, the Senate will take quick
action on it.
These two jurists displayed the very finest in legal scholarship.
Judges Garza and Vela have contributed several decades of legal
excellence to the judicial system of the United States. In addition,
both these gentlemen have made substantial contributions, through
extensive volunteer efforts, to the well being of their communities.
Judge Reynaldo Garza was appointed by President Kennedy to the
federal bench and was the first Hispanic Federal Judge. After serving
in the federal district court, Judge Garza was appointed to the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He also served on the
Brownsville Independent School Board, the Texas Educational Standards
Committee, and the Select Committee on Higher Education.
When Judge Garza was appointed to the Fifth Circuit, Judge Filemon
Vela succeeded him on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District
of Texas in Brownsville. Judge Vela had a history of service to the
community of South Texas. He worked closely with The Esperanza Home for
Boys, and headed numerous local activities to encourage young people to
stay in school. He was an active member of the Texas Conference of
Churches and was former district Chairman of the Boys Scouts of
America.
Judges Garza and Vela were active members in numerous civic
organizations including the Texas Bar Association, and the United
States Sentencing Commission, Brownsville Rotary Club, the Latin
American Relations Committee, and the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce.
They were beloved and revered members of the Mexican-American
community, the judicial community, and the city of Brownsville.
Judges Garza and Vela were outstanding jurists and good friends. This
designation is a fitting tribute to their distinguished public and
civic careers of two remarkable Texans and I urge its adoption.
Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, it is rate that a man has a chance to known
his heros. It is
[[Page H1907]]
even rarer for a man to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with his
heros as a fellow community leader. While serving as Border Patrol
Sector Chief for the McAllen, Texas sector, however, I had that chance.
Today, we are remembering the lives and groundgreaking achievements of
the late Judges Reynaldo Guerra Garza and Filemon Vela and inscribing
the U.S. Courthouse in Brownsville with their names.
Like me, Judge Garza came from a humble background, from a family
whose parents were born in Mexico and came to this country in search of
opportunity for their children. He rose to preside over one of the
highest courts in the land, in the process becoming the first Mexican-
American federal district judge and rendering some of the most
important civil rights decisions in this country's history. Judge Garza
ended his career on the prestigious Fifth Circuit of the U.S. Court of
Appeals.
Judge Vela, much like Judge Garza, grew up of modest means in South
Texas. He is remembered as a hard-working and committed judge whose
impact was felt not only in the courtroom, but in the community as
well.
Perhaps the essential message for me to convey here, however, is that
each of these men spent considerable time and effort emphasizing the
incredible power of education. Both Judges Garza and Vela understood
how education could transform the lives of young people, because they
and their families had benefited greatly from it.
Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this
legislation naming the courthouse in Brownsville, Texas after Reynaldo
G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela--two great judges, great role models, and
great men.
Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capito). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 483.
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.
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