[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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