[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2165-H2166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1130
                JUDGE EMILIO VARGAS POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1072) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 151 West End Street in Goliad, Texas, as the ``Judge 
Emilio Vargas Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1072

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF JUDGE EMILIO VARGAS POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 151 West End Street in Goliad, Texas, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Judge Emilio Vargas 
     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 ``Judge Emilio Vargas Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Graves). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Marchant) and the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Marchant).


                             General Leave

  Mr. MARCHANT. 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 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this meaningful legislation honors Emilio Vargas, a 
committed social advocate in south Texas. H.R. 1072 designates the 
postal facility in Goliad, Texas, as the Judge Emilio Vargas Post 
Office Building. I am pleased to join with all Members of my home State 
of Texas as a cosponsor of H.R. 1072.
  Judge Vargas worked at the Department of Human Services as a 
caseworker directly helping citizens in need for 28 years. He also 
served as a trustee on the Goliad Independent School District Board, 
and for the past 10 years he has been a justice of the peace for Goliad 
County, which in Texas is an elected position in which one earns the 
title ``judge.''
  I know the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) feels strongly about 
the contributions of Judge Vargas, and I congratulate my colleague for 
advancing H.R. 1072 on the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).
  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of H.R. 1072, which, as 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Marchant) has said, has the unanimous 
support of the whole Texas delegation, both Democrats and Republicans, 
the 32 members of the Texas delegation.
  H.R. 1072 is a piece of legislation that will name the post office in 
Goliad, Texas, after a great American, a great Texan, Judge Emilio 
Vargas. Judge Emilio Vargas is a first-generation American who was born 
in Goliad.
  As a child, he attended segregated schools because of his Hispanic 
background. Despite that, he went off to Bee College, graduated, and 
then he volunteered, joined the American Air Force where he served as 
an airman. After serving his country, he went home and focused on 
improving the lives of his people in the community.
  During the 1960s, Judge Vargas was active in the civil rights 
movement and worked to eliminate the poll tax in Texas. He worked to 
increase Hispanic participation in government and focused on getting an 
educated population in his community. For 14 years he served in the 
Goliad Independent School District Board of Trustees, where he focused 
on education. He believed in the words of President John F. Kennedy 
when President Kennedy said the progress of a Nation can be no swifter 
than the progress of its educational system; and he worked hard to make 
sure that students could go to school, go to college, and become good 
citizens and become part of the American Dream.
  I stand here with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) in support 
of this particular bill, H.R. 1072, and ask that we name the post 
office in Goliad after this great American, great Texan, Judge Vargas.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa), the sponsor of this legislation.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
1072, a bill to name the post office in Goliad, Texas, in honor of 
Judge Emilio Vargas.
  I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Tom Davis) and the 
ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), for their 
assistance in moving this legislation to the floor prior to the Cinco 
de Mayo celebration. I also thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Marchant) as well as four 
other Members of Congress, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz), the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Gonzalez), and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar) for their kind 
words on behalf of this legislation to name this Federal building for 
an outstanding citizen.
  Judge Vargas is a first-generation American who was born in Goliad, 
Texas. As a child, he attended segregated schools because of his 
Mexican heritage. Yet his father and mother always taught him to be 
proud of being an American. He took this lesson to heart and after 
graduating from Bee College, he volunteered and joined the Air Force 
where he served as an airman. After leaving the Air Force, he returned 
home and spent the rest of his life working to improve the lives of the 
people in his community of Goliad.
  During the 1960s, Judge Vargas was active in the civil rights 
movement and worked to eliminate the poll tax in Texas. Since then, he 
has fought to increase Hispanic participation in government at all 
levels.
  Judge Vargas understands the importance of developing an educated 
population. For 14 years, he served on the Goliad Independent School 
District Board of Trustees. During his tenure, the Goliad School 
District was voted one of the 10 best school boards in Texas. Because 
of his commitment to quality education, numerous students from Goliad 
have gone to prestigious colleges and universities, including the U.S. 
military academies.
  For over 28 years, Judge Vargas served with the Texas Department of 
Human Services as a caseworker, distinguishing himself for helping the 
indigent and vulnerable in a six-county region. He worked with a Job 
Corps program helping to train new workers and with the surplus 
commodity programs feeding hungry families.
  For the past 10 years, he has served as the justice of the peace for 
Goliad County and for 9 years was a reserve deputy for the Goliad 
County Sheriff's Department.
  In addition to his military, his public and civic service, Judge 
Vargas has also dedicated a large part of his life to the preservation 
and celebration of Goliad's rich heritage and historical significance. 
For my fellow colleagues who may not be aware, Goliad, Texas, is the 
birthplace of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza. General Zaragoza is a 
Texas-born hero who on May 5, 1862, led his Army of 4,000 Mexican 
soldiers to defeat 1,000 of Napoleon's men. This military victory is 
credited as the action that turned the tide of the French-Mexican War 
in Mexico's favor.

[[Page H2166]]

  To honor General Zaragoza's memory and heroism, citizens throughout 
Texas and Mexico celebrate May 5 every year as the international 
holiday of Cinco de Mayo. The city of Goliad and her citizens also 
played a significant role in the war for Texas independence. The 
massacre at Goliad of Colonel James Fannin and 342 of his troops who 
had surrendered to General Santa Ana made ``Remember Goliad'' as 
important a rallying cry for Texans in their struggle for independence 
as ``Remember the Alamo.''
  As a member of the Zaragoza Society for over 45 years and as chairman 
for at least a decade, Judge Emilio Vargas has worked to bring national 
recognition to Goliad's historic significance in Mexican history, and 
Texas and U.S. history. He has participated in numerous cultural 
exchanges with Mexico and has been awarded the Promio Ohtli Award by 
the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs for his outstanding work in 
fostering better international relations between the United States and 
Mexico.
  In closing, I often have heard Judge Emilio Vargas say no mission is 
too difficult and no sacrifice too great. Judge Vargas has truly lived 
by these words as he has dedicated his life to the people of Goliad. I 
can think of no better way to honor this distinguished service to his 
community than by naming the Goliad Post Office in his honor. I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I simply want to commend and congratulate 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) for his outstanding recognition 
and sensitivity and in raising awareness relative to the contributions 
of local residents of his congressional district. People who would 
otherwise never be heard of or heard from, he takes the time to 
highlight their accomplishments and their achievements. I commend the 
gentleman for it, join in full support of this legislation, and urge 
its swift passage.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I join my South Texas colleague, Ruben 
Hinojosa, in asking the House to pass H.R. 1072 to name the Post Office 
in Goliad, Texas, after Judge Emilio Vargas.
  A child of our times, Judge Vargas, a first-generation American, was 
born in Goliad and attended segregated schools because he was Mexican. 
He overcame the disadvantages inherent in segregation by graduating 
from Bee College and serving in the U.S. Air Force.
  After his service, he came home to spend his life laboring to improve 
the lives of South Texans. During the 1960s, Judge Garza was a civil 
rights pioneer. He fought the evil of the poll tax that flew in the 
face of democracy and he worked to persuade more Hispanics to 
participate in government.
  He knew that education was the magic bullet for improving a 
population. He devoted much of his efforts to service on the Goliad 
Independent School District Board of Trustees. His inspiration--and his 
work on local education issues--resulted in many young people from 
Goliad going to prestigious colleges and universities, including the 
U.S. military academies.
  Judge Vargas served with the Texas Department of Human Services 
helping those who had no money and no hope. His work with the Job Corps 
program helped train new workers, teaching people to help themselves. 
Also devoted to the rule of law, he has served as the Justice of the 
Peace for Goliad County and for 9 years was a Reserve Deputy for the 
Goliad County Sheriff's Department.
  Goliad is rich in the history of both Mexico and the United States. 
Goliad was the birthplace of Mexican General Zaragoza who defeated the 
French Army, for which we celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Goliad also played a 
significant role in the War for Texas Independence.
  For his life's work in championing the better angles of our democracy 
and our community, it is a just reward for the Goliad Post Office to 
carry the name of this unique American Patriot.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1072, a bill to 
designate the postal facility in Goliad, Texas, as the ``Judge Emilio 
Vargas Post Office Building.'' This bill was introduced by my good 
friend and colleague, Congressman Ruben Hinojosa.
  Born in Goliad, Texas, Judge Vargas has dedicated his life to the 
people of Goliad, and I find it most fitting to honor his service by 
naming the Goliad Post Office after him.
  As a first-generation American, Judge Vargas attended segregated 
schools because of his Mexican heritage. After attending Bee College, 
he volunteered and joined the Air Force as an airman. Upon leaving the 
Air Force, Judge Vargas worked to improve the lives of the people in 
the community. He was active during the civil rights movement during 
the 1960s and he continues to fight to increase Hispanic participation 
in government.
  Judge Vargas served 14 years on the Goliad Independent School 
District Board of Trustees. While he was there, the Goliad School Board 
was voted one of the 10 best school boards in Texas. Judge Vargas 
understands the importance of developing an educated population, and 
because of his commitment, numerous students have gone on to 
prestigious colleges and universities, including the U.S. military 
academies.
  For 28 years, Judge Vargas served as a caseworker with the Texas 
Department of Human Services, helping the indigent and vulnerable in a 
six-county region. During his tenure, he worked with the Job Corps 
program helping to train new workers, and with the Surplus Commodity 
Programs to feed hungry families.
  During the past 10 years, Judge Vargas has served as the Justice of 
the Peace for Goliad County and for 9 years was a Reserve Deputy for 
the Goliad County Sheriff's Department.
   Goliad is the birthplace of Mexican General Zaragoza whose defeat of 
the French Army is celebrated as Cinco de Mayo. In addition, Goliad has 
played a significant role in the War for Texas Independence. Judge 
Vargas has been a member of the Zaragoza Society for over 45 years, and 
the chairman for at least a decade. Through this work, Judge Vargas 
brought national recognition to Goliad's historic significance both in 
Mexican and Texas history.
  I believe it is most fitting to honor Judge Vargas' service to the 
people of Goliad by naming the Goliad Post Office after him, and urge 
my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Marchant) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1072.
  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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