[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 109 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RESOLUTION HONORING CONGRESSMAN ELIGIO ``KIKA'' DE LA GARZA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2006

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, Whereas, Eligio ``Kika'' de la Garza was 
born in Mercedes, a small town in Hidalgo County, Texas, on September 
22nd, 1927, beginning what would be the start of a long, and 
illustrious life in representing the Rio Grande Valley.
  Whereas, at 17 years of age, he enlisted in the United States Army 
and served until 1946, continuing his education at Edinburg Junior 
College and the United States Army Artillery School in Oklahoma. Soon 
thereafter, he earned a law degree from St. Mary's University in San 
Antonio.
  Whereas, in 1952, Eligio ``Kika'' de la Garza was elected to the 
Texas House of Representatives in 1952, serving the Rio Grande Valley. 
He accomplished many goals such as the creation of the Texas Water 
Commission and sponsoring a bill that allowed the border cities and 
counties along the Rio Grande river to build their own international 
bridges, helping to foster the spirit of trade and cooperation that 
still exists to this day.
  Whereas, after serving honorably in the Texas House of 
Representatives, Congressman de la Garza was elected in 1964 to the 
United States House of Representatives to represent the 15th 
Congressional District of Texas. In his 32 years of congressional 
service, he was Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, the first 
Hispanic to serve in the seat since 1917.
  Whereas, during his leadership as Chairman of the Agriculture 
Committee for the next 13 years, he oversaw major agricultural 
legislation such as the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981, the Temporary 
Emergency Food Assistance Act, the Food Security Act, the Agricultural 
Credit Act of 1987, and the Disaster Assistance Acts of 1988 and 1989.
  Whereas, in 1976, Congressman de la Garza became one of the founding 
members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which he chaired from 
1989 to 1991 as a strong supporter of civil rights for minorities and 
free trade along the border. He was highly involved in the passage of 
the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which has greatly 
benefited the Texas-Mexico border region in South Texas: be it hereby
  Resolved, That Congressman Henry Cuellar commends Congressman 
``Kika'' de la Garza for having served the Rio Grande Valley with the 
utmost distinction and courage.

                          ____________________