[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 42 (Wednesday, April 5, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1492-H1494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FRANCISCO `PANCHO' MEDRANO POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 4561) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 8624 Ferguson Road in Dallas, Texas, as the 
``Francisco `Pancho' Medrano Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4561

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

     SECTION 1. FRANCISCO ``PANCHO'' MEDRANO POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 8624 Ferguson Road in Dallas, Texas, shall 
     be known and designated as the ``Francisco `Pancho' Medrano 
     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 ``Francisco `Pancho' Medrano Post Office 
     Building''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. 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 Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4561, offered by the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson). This 
bill would designate the postal facility in Dallas, Texas, as the 
Francisco ``Pancho'' Medrano Post Office Building.
  Francisco ``Pancho'' Medrano was a driving force in bringing the 
Hispanic culture into the City of Dallas and working to eliminate 
discrimination. Medrano was an activist and a hero with Dallas' 
Hispanic communities and promoted the importance of civic 
responsibility and political participation.
  Mr. Medrano is well-known for his years of union and civil rights 
work with the United Auto Workers. During his years with the UAW, he 
integrated lunch counters in Dallas, took part in civil rights marches 
in the Deep South and organized farm workers in the Texas valley. 
However, his work was

[[Page H1493]]

not just confined to the UAW. He participated in numerous equality 
campaigns in Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas.
  I urge all Members to honor the perseverance of this honorable civil 
rights leader by passing H.R. 4561.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as she may consume to the author of this resolution, the Honorable 
Eddie Bernice Johnson from Texas.
  (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to 
revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to 
thank Mr. Tom Davis and the ranking member, Henry Waxman, of the House 
Government Reform Committee and also the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. 
Westmoreland, and the ranking member, Mr. Danny Davis, for moving this 
important legislation through the committee. This resolution has been 
endorsed by every single Member from the Texas delegation.
  Francisco ``Pancho'' Medrano played an integral part in bringing 
Hispanics into the cultural and social mainstream in Dallas. He was a 
leader to his community in the struggle against discrimination.
  The son of a Mexican laborer, Pancho Medrano was born in Dallas in 
1920. In his youth, in 1952, he was heavyweight boxing champion of 
Mexico, and grew up as a community activist in the fight for social and 
economic equality.
  He grew up in an area of Dallas called Little Mexico and he 
encountered much prejudice and segregation. But he never was considered 
violent. As a young man, he was banned from public swimming pools and 
all of the other things, and frequently said that he didn't see that he 
should be any different from any other black American because he was 
treated the same way.
  At the beginning of World War II, when unions began to form in the 
Dallas area, he was inspired by the political conditions around him. He 
was captivated by the political agenda of the United Auto Workers and 
he was then named by Walter Reuther to be organizer of the UAW Union in 
Dallas. His work had an immeasurable impact on the lives of thousands 
of working women and minorities.
  In 1960, when television began to change the visibility of the 
American civil rights movement, the UAW president commissioned him to 
be an international representative for civil rights. So he participated 
in all the landmark marches with Martin Luther King. He was probably 
one of the only Mexican Americans in the Montgomery boycott and in 
Selma along with Dr. King.
  He continued his organizing throughout the country, including 
Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, California and Arizona. He worked to 
help repeal the poll tax in 1964, and he really spoke all the time 
about understanding the struggle of all of the African Americans, 
because he fought the same battle for all.
  He was a father of five. Pancho, Jr., had preceded him in death. He 
died in 2002 but continued to be active up to his death. His only 
daughter, Pauline, is a member of the city council, his son Robert has 
been, and his son Ricardo has been on the school board.
  It is important I think for all young people to know that we have had 
leadership that came along and made things better for them and did not 
have to be violent. He was always a gentleman, but never silent when it 
came to rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Tom Davis and Ranking 
Member Henry Waxman of the House Government Reform Committee for their 
leadership on moving this important resolution through the committee 
and to the House floor for its consideration today.
  ``Pancho'' Medrano played an integral part in bringing Hispanics into 
the cultural and social mainstream in Dallas.
  He was a leader to his community in the struggle against 
discrimination.
  The son of a Mexican laborer, Pancho Medrano was born in Dallas in 
1920.
  Pancho Medrano, who in his youth was the 1952 Heavyweight Boxing 
Champion of Mexico, grew up to be a community activist in the fight for 
social and economic equality.
  Growing up in the Little Mexico area of Dallas, Medrano encountered 
prejudice and segregation. As a young man, he was banned from the 
public swimming pool as well as banned from watching movies within the 
public park in Little Mexico.
  Medrano attended St. Ann's Catholic School and Dallas public schools 
through the eighth grade. At the beginning of 9th grade, his high 
school principal told him he could no longer attend classes and 
directed him to go to work at the local rock quarry.
  While working at the quarry, Medrano trained to become a riveter and 
eventually went to work at the North American Aviation Company. There 
were few skilled minority workers at the plant, and the majority of 
white workers refused to work with Medrano. Conditions at the plant 
were even worse for African Americans, as nearly all of them were 
assigned to cleaning restrooms. Medrano was surrounded by an 
environment where everything, even the punch clocks, were segregated.
  At the beginning of World War II, unions began forming in the Dallas 
area.
  Inspired by the political conditions around him Medrano was 
captivated by the political agenda of the United Auto Workers, in 
particular the motto that there shall be no discrimination based upon 
race, color, or creed, and sex.
  Medrano played a key part in organizing the UAW union in Dallas.
  His work made an immeasurable impact in the lives of thousands of 
working women and minorities.
  In 1960, when television began to change the visibility of the 
American Civil Rights Movement, UAW President, Walter Reuther, 
commissioned Medrano as a special UAW International Representative for 
Civil Rights.
  Medrano went on to participate in virtually all of the landmark 
events of the civil rights movement.
  Mr. Medrano integrated lunch counters in Dallas, and took part in 
civil rights marches in the Deep South.
  He organized demonstrations in Dallas and was involved in the 
integration in Little Rock.
  Often times there were no Mexican-Americans organizing these civil 
rights demonstrations. Medrano played a key part in organizing and 
energizing the Mexican-American community throughout the South.
  Medrano participated as one of the only Mexican-Americans in the 
Montgomery Bus Boycott.
  He also marched in Selma along with Dr. King.
  He continued his organizing throughout the country including: 
Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, California and Arizona.
  In addition, he organized farm workers in the Texas Valley alongside 
civil rights leader Cesar Chavez.
  In 1967, Texas Rangers broke up a peaceful protest where Medrano and 
five women attempted to picket a train carrying melons picked by non-
union workers. The protest in Mission, Texas, was part of a year-long 
effort by farm workers.
  During this time, Medrano and others were subjected to persistent 
harassment and violence from law enforcement officers for their union-
organizing protests. Medrano sued the Ranger who broke up the protest. 
He took his case all the way to the Supreme Court--overturning the 
Texas laws that barred mass demonstrations.
  Medrano worked with the UAW to help repeal the poll tax in 1964. Mr. 
Medrano said, ``I could understand the struggle of black people because 
my people were experiencing the same sort of thing.'' Medrano was 
driven to fight for economic and social justice for all individuals--
Hispanics, Blacks, Women, and others.
  Mr. Medrano's work to end discrimination and prejudice has had a 
profound and lasting effect on myself and on the lives of millions of 
Americans.
  We must all work to carry on his remarkable legacy.
  Even when he retired in Dallas, Medrano continued to be an active 
member of UAW Local 848's retiree group.
  Mr. Medrano passed away in April of 2002.
  In addition to his daughter, Pauline, he is survived by three sons, 
Robert, Ricardo, and Rolando.
  There are many young people who may not know of, or did not 
experience Mr. Medrano's battle towards equality. It is imperative we 
recognize and celebrate our civil rights leaders as a nation. Honoring 
leaders such as Pancho Medrano teaches our young people about the 
leaders who came before them--and hopefully gives a new generation the 
inspiration to fight for change.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4561, to name the postal 
facility at Ferguson Road in Dallas, Texas in honor of Pancho Medrano.

                              {time}  1330

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, just to close, I strongly rise in 
support of this postal facility naming for Mr. Frances Pancho Medrano, 
who was an outstanding community activist. I think it is the kind of 
people that he

[[Page H1494]]

was who really make America and have made America what it ought to be, 
and so I strongly support this resolution.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the naming of a United 
States Postal Facility in Dallas, Texas as the ``Francisco `Pancho' 
Medrano Post Office Building.'' Pancho Medrano was the embodiment of 
the civil rights movement for the Hispanic community in Dallas. He was 
a decisive leader in encouraging Hispanics to actively participate in 
the political process in Dallas. Mr. Medrano brought Hispanics into the 
city's mainstream community and mentored a generation of Dallas 
political leaders. His operational base centered in Little Mexico, an 
enclave immediately north of downtown Dallas. In this neighborhood 
where he was banned from swimming in the public pool as a child, he 
raised a family whose name became synonymous with civic life.
  Not only was he a strong civil rights leader, but along the way, he 
became a very talented and successful heavyweight prize fighter.
  Today Pancho Medrano would be most proud of his family's 
achievements. One of his sons was a Dallas ISD school board member. 
Another was selected to serve on the Dallas City Council and Dallas/
Fort Worth International Airport Board. Additionally, his daughter, 
Pauline Medrano, was recently elected to the Dallas City Council, 
representing the area that has long been home for the Medrano family. 
She proudly carries on the legacy of leadership and passion to serve 
the community. I will continue to work with her locally to better our 
great city.
  Therefore, it is with distinction that I recognize the designation of 
the United States Postal Facility located at 8624 Ferguson Road in 
Dallas, Texas as the ``Francisco `Pancho' Medrano Post Office 
Building.'' I ask that all of my fellow colleagues support H.R. 4561.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of H.R. 4561.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4561.
  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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