[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 57 (Thursday, May 11, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H2506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                 McALLEN-EDINBURG-PHARR REGION OF TEXAS

  (Mr. HINOJOSA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, this week, the business periodical INC.com 
named the McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr region in my congressional district in 
Texas as its second hottest mid-size metropolitan area in the country.
  When I first came to Congress nearly 10 years ago, this area was one 
of the poorest, economically deprived and most neglected regions of the 
country. It was plagued with three decades of double digit unemployment 
rates. I made it one of my primary goals to help curb these trends, and 
I am thankful to have seen that dream come true in 2006.
  Today, the area is booming. The population has increased by 48 
percent in 10 years. Creation of new jobs is up substantially, and the 
unemployment rate is now below 8 percent. Children are graduating from 
high school and accessing higher education, and more students are 
seeking advanced college degrees. I have seen the increase in Federal 
resources, investments in human capital and infrastructure. Thanks to 
business investment, job training programs and open markets, McAllen, 
Edinburg, and Pharr are models of achievement for the rest of the 
country.
  The successes experienced in this region are the results of a 
collaborative effort by community leaders and a tremendous amount of 
hard work.
  I congratulate all those involved in so many of the projects, 
conversations and planning that we had along the way. We must continue 
our collaborative efforts to improve the quality of life in South 
Texas.

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