[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 126 (Wednesday, September 9, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9368-H9370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ALBERT ARMENDARIZ, SR., UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2053) to designate the United States courthouse located at 
525 Magoffin Avenue in El Paso, Texas, as the ``Albert Armendariz, Sr., 
United States Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2053

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The United States courthouse located at 525 Magoffin Avenue 
     in El Paso, Texas, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Albert Armendariz, Sr., United States Courthouse''.

[[Page H9369]]

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Albert Armendariz, Sr., United States 
     Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2053.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 2053 honors an outstanding American jurist. Judge Albert 
Armendariz, Sr. had a long and distinguished career of public service 
and was a true patriot of the United States of America.
  Judge Armendariz was a native Texan. After he served his country in 
World War II, he left the U.S. Army and used the GI bill to continue 
his education. He graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso, 
then the University of Southern California Law School where he was the 
only Mexican American in attendance. After graduating from USC law 
school in 1950, Judge Armendariz returned to El Paso, Texas.
  Early in his career, Judge Armendariz tackled discrimination head on 
while serving on the El Paso Civil Service Commission and pushing the 
agency to end discrimination against Latino applicants for civil 
service positions. Judge Armendariz also served as an immigration judge 
within the U.S. Department of Justice. He was the first Latino judge to 
serve as a justice on the Eighth Judicial District Court of Appeals for 
the State of Texas.
  In addition to his service in the government, Judge Armendariz also 
found time to serve in leadership positions in several influential 
civic organizations and helped form the influential Mexican American 
Legal Defense and Education Fund in 1968.
  Judge Armendariz had a never-ending passion for service to his 
community and practiced law until his death at the age of 88 on October 
4, 2004. Given his extraordinary service, it is fitting and proper to 
honor Judge Armendariz by designating the United States Courthouse 
located at 525 Magoffin Avenue in El Paso, Texas, in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, again, the gentlelady 
has explained this resolution. I obviously have no objection to the 
passage of this bill. And I also want to thank the gentlelady for 
highlighting not only his distinguished career as a judge, but also the 
fact that he was part of what is known as the greatest generation.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
2053, a bill to name the new El Paso Federal courthouse after the late 
Judge Albert Armendariz, Sr.
  Judge Armendariz helped change the landscape for Latinos in Texas and 
nationwide. He dedicated his life to representing immigrants and is 
best remembered for his work on the landmark case, Hernandez v. the 
State of Texas, which established Latinos as a distinct class entitled 
to protection under the 14th amendment.
  Over his lifetime, Judge Armendariz had a wide and varied career. Not 
only was he a distinguished judge and civil rights leader, but he was a 
WWII veteran, the founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and 
Educational Fund (MALDEF), national president of the League of United 
Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Federal immigration judge and 
founding board member of the Mexican American Bar Association of El 
Paso.
  In addition, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Judge Armendariz 
served on the El Paso Civil Service Commission and is credited with 
helping to open the city's police and fire departments to Mexican-
Americans.
  Judge Armendariz gave so much to the El Paso community and to our 
Nation. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution to honor 
this great American.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2053, which 
designates the U.S. courthouse located at 525 Magoffin Avenue in El 
Paso, Texas, in honor of Albert Armendariz, Sr.
  Judge Armendariz was one of the most significant figures in Latino 
history, especially in the southwest region of the United States. He 
was the president of the League of United Latin American Citizens 
(LULAC), and the founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense 
Education Fund. He was a life-long champion of civil rights, a fighter 
against racism, and a defender of the underserved.
  Judge Armendariz was a World War II veteran, and obtained his law 
degree from the University of Southern California Law School. Upon 
graduation, he returned to El Paso, where he set up his law office. He 
quickly became a community leader and activist.
  His judicial legacy includes his work on Hernandez v. The State of 
Texas, which established Latinos as a protected class entitled to 
protection under the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Judge 
Armendariz also served as an immigration judge within the U.S. 
Department of Justice. In addition, he was the first Latino judge to 
serve as a Justice on the Eighth Judicial District Court of Appeals for 
the State of Texas. Judge Armendariz had a never ending passion for 
service to his community and practiced law until his death at age 88 on 
October 4, 2007.
  Given his extraordinary service, it is fitting and proper to honor 
Judge Armendariz by designating the United States courthouse located at 
525 Magoffin Avenue in El Paso, Texas, as the ``Albert Armendariz, Sr., 
United States Courthouse''.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2053.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep pride that I rise in strong 
support of H.R. 2053, a bill that seeks to name the new El Paso Federal 
courthouse after the late Judge Albert Armendariz, Senior.
  Judge Armendariz dedicated his life to advocating on behalf 
underserved communities and it is through his leadership and tireless 
efforts that we witnessed an improved landscape for Latinos in Texas 
and nationwide. He was a trailblazer who began his distinguished legal 
career by opening his law office in downtown El Paso with a $50 loan 
from his father. Judge Armendariz maximized that small investment by 
quickly becoming a national leader who served on countless committees 
and boards that addressed the issues he would advance in his legal 
practice. Judge Armendariz would go on to practice law in Texas for 
over 50 years and would argue before the United States Supreme Court. 
He is best remembered for his work on the landmark case, Hernandez v. 
The State of Texas, which established Latinos as a distinct class 
entitled to protection under the 14th Amendment.
  Judge Armendariz graduated from El Paso High School in 1934. After 
graduation, he became a sergeant in the military and was responsible 
for overseeing the motor pool at Ft. Bliss in El Paso. He was later 
assigned to oversee the Italian prisoners of war at Ft. Bliss. When the 
war ended, he used the GI Bill to attend the University of Texas at El 
Paso for his undergraduate studies and then the University of Southern 
California Law School, where he was the only Mexican-American student 
at that time.
  Judge Armendariz was a proud American who possessed a deep commitment 
to ensuring equal opportunity for all. In the late 1950's and early 
1960's, Judge Armendariz served on the El Paso Civil Service Commission 
and is credited with helping to open the city's police and fire 
departments to Mexican-Americans. In 1976, Judge Armendariz was 
appointed an administrative judge for the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service and served in that capacity until 1985. He was 
later appointed to the 8th Court of Appeals of Texas. He was a founder 
of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF); 
national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens 
(LULAC); and founding board member of the Mexican American Bar 
Association of El Paso.
  Judge Armendariz was a great American who gave so much to the El Paso 
community and to our nation. I urge all Members to join me in voting in 
favor of H.R. 2053.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to support my 
colleague from Texas, Congressman Silvestre Reyes, and his bill, H.R. 
2053.
  Albert Armendariz, Sr. was a great citizen and legal mind. His 
tireless work for the Latino community and under-represented citizens 
is his legacy that will be long remembered. His work on the landmark 
case, Hernandez v. The State of Texas, is part of this legacy and our 
judicial history. This case established protections under the 14th 
Amendment for Latinos and was a step forward in the American Civil 
Rights Movement.
  Judge Armendariz served his community of El Paso, Texas, and his 
nation in WWII. He

[[Page H9370]]

attended the University of Southern California, School of Law and was 
the only Mexican-American graduate at that time. He was the founder of 
the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a 
founding board member of the Mexican American Bar Association of El 
Paso, and a federal immigration judge.
  Judge Armendariz dedicated his life to the El Paso community and to 
our nation and it is fitting that we honor him in this manner.
  I ask your support for this bill which will name the new El Paso 
Federal Courthouse after the late Judge Albert Armendariz, Sr.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2053.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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