[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 14, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2519-H2521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING DR. HECTOR GARCIA
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 222) recognizing the leadership
and historical contributions of Dr. Hector Garcia to the Hispanic
community and his remarkable efforts to combat racial and ethnic
discrimination in the United States of America.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 222
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia changed the lives of Americans
from all walks of life;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia was born in Mexico on January 17,
1914, and immigrated to Mercedes, Texas, in 1918;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia is an honored alumnus of the
School of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch,
Class of 1940;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia fought in World War II,
specifically in North Africa and Italy, attained the rank of
Major, and was awarded the Bronze Star with six battle stars;
Whereas once the Army discovered he was a physician, Dr.
Hector Garcia was asked to practice his profession by
treating his fellow soldiers;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia moved to Corpus Christi, Texas,
after the war, and opened a medical practice; rarely charged
his indigent patients, and was recognized as a passionate and
dedicated physician;
Whereas he first became known in south Texas for his public
health messages on the radio with topics ranging from infant
diarrhea to tuberculosis;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia continued his public service and
advocacy and became founder of the American G.I. Forum, a
Mexican-American veterans association, which initiated
countless efforts on behalf of Americans to advance
opportunities in health care, veterans benefits, and civil
rights equality;
Whereas his civil rights movement would then grow to also
combat discrimination in housing, jobs, education, and voting
rights;
Whereas President Kennedy appointed Dr. Hector Garcia a
member of the American Treaty Delegation for the Mutual
Defense Agreement between the United States and the
Federation of the West Indies;
Whereas in 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Dr.
Hector Garcia as alternate ambassador to the United Nations
where he gave the first speech by an American before the
United Nations in a language other than English;
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia was named member of the Texas
Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil
Rights;
Whereas President Reagan presented Dr. Hector Garcia the
Nation's highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom, in
1984 for meritorious service to his country, the first
Mexican-American to receive this recognition; and
Whereas Pope John Paul II recognized him with the
Pontifical Equestrian Order of Pope Gregory the Great: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) encourages--
(A) teachers of primary schools and secondary schools to
launch educational campaigns to inform students about the
lifetime of accomplishments by Dr. Hector Garcia; and
(B) all people of the United States to educate themselves
about the legacy of Dr. Hector Garcia; and
(2) recognizes the leadership and historical contributions
of Dr. Hector Garcia to the Hispanic community and his
remarkable efforts to combat racial and ethnic discrimination
in the United States of America.
[[Page H2520]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. CONYERS. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include
extraneous materials on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. CONYERS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, this resolution was brought to the Judiciary
Committee's attention by our friend Solomon Ortiz of Texas, which
recognizes the leadership and historical contributions of Dr. Hector
Garcia to the Hispanic community and to the Nation in his remarkable
efforts to combat racial and ethnic discrimination. Dr. Garcia was born
in Mexico, and his family settled in Mercedes, Texas. So this
concurrent resolution recognizes the leadership and historical
contributions of this great American.
It is singularly important to me that he graduated from a segregated
high school in Texas. Segregated how? Well, it was segregated because
Hispanics could not go to the schools that everybody else went to. Of
course, African Americans couldn't either, so I guess they had two
levels of segregation. Eventually, he got through the University of
Texas, and then became a doctor. During World War II, he was a combat
engineer, which is a field of the military that I, too, served in. The
rest, as they say, is history.
It is my intention to yield to our colleague Mr. Ortiz, who has more
detail that we can add to this, though, Madam Speaker, at this moment,
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to thank my Texas colleague Mr.
Ortiz for introducing this resolution. It reflects well on him and on a
wonderful individual who has contributed so much.
I support House Concurrent Resolution 222, which recognizes the
leadership and the historical contributions of Dr. Hector Garcia. My
colleague in the other body, Senator Cornyn of Texas, sponsored a
similar resolution during the last Congress, and I am glad to see that
it is being considered in the House this year.
In 1914, Hector Garcia was born in Llera, which is a small town in
Mexico. As a child, he was brought to Mercedes, Texas, after his
parents fled the Mexican Revolution in 1917. He graduated from the
University of Texas Medical School in 1940 and used that education to
serve his country in the United States Army.
In the Army, Dr. Garcia served during World War II as an infantryman,
as a combat engineer, and as a medical doctor. He earned the Bronze
Star medal with six battle stars for his distinguished service; but his
public service did not end there. Dr. Garcia founded the American GI
Forum in 1948, which fights for equal treatment of Mexican American
veterans in medical care and educational benefits.
President Lyndon Johnson made Dr. Garcia the first Mexican American
to serve as an ambassador to the United Nations. He also became the
first Hispanic to serve on the United States Commission on Civil
Rights; and in 1984, President Ronald Reagan bestowed upon Dr. Garcia
the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Texas, Solomon Ortiz, whom we recognize as the dean
of the Hispanic Caucus and whom I thank for bringing to our attention
this great Texan and American.
Mr. ORTIZ. Thank you, Chairman Conyers, for giving a beautiful
description of my good friend Dr. Garcia, and thank you for bringing
this to the floor.
I also want to thank my good friend from Texas (Mr. Smith) for
bringing this resolution to the floor.
Madam Speaker, I rise to honor an American hero who is very well
respected in the community. Today, we honor the life and work of Dr.
Hector P. Garcia, who is a recognized leader of better health care for
all Texans and who is a legendary civil rights advocate and promoter of
education for Hispanics.
My resolution, H. Con. Res. 222, honors a lifetime of the
extraordinary achievements of Dr. Hector P. Garcia, who lived and
worked in my congressional district in Corpus Christi, Texas, for many
years.
Dr. Garcia's family emigrated from Mexico in 1914 and settled in
Mercedes, Texas. After graduating from medical school, he served with
great distinction in World War II. He attained the rank of major and
earned the Bronze Star with six battle stars. When the Army learned
that Dr. Garcia was a physician, he was asked to practice his
profession by treating his fellow soldiers.
When he moved to Corpus Christi, he opened a private practice where
he treated all patients regardless of their ability to pay. I was there
many times when people just didn't have any money. He was able to give
them what they needed free of charge. He was a very honorable man, and
he turned down profit to make a better life for all of us, not only in
south Texas but throughout the United States.
Dr. Garcia first became known in south Texas for his public health
messages on the radio. He was on the air three times a week with a
Spanish program, ``Your Health and Welfare.'' During this time, he
struggled to bring attention to severe illnesses such as tuberculosis,
which enabled the public to become better educated about its health
needs. His messages brought to light the many health issues of the
region and the glaring poverty in south Texas.
{time} 1145
A man of tremendous talents, Dr. Garcia prized education and fought
for other Americans to also value education. In the 1940s, he struggled
to abolish the one-room segregated ``Mexican schools'' that one would
find across the Texas landscape. As a result of this example of
leadership, Texas schools in Corpus Christi were eventually
desegregated, substandard schools for children of Mexican and Latino
descent were closed, and students who previously did not have access to
adequate education were given the same opportunities available to
others. Because of these efforts, four schools are named after him in
Texas and one in Chicago, Illinois.
Perhaps most significantly, he emerged as founder of the GI Forum, a
Mexican American veterans association to redress the injustices
experienced by returning World War II veterans. The GI Forum initiated
countless efforts on behalf of Americans in the areas of health care
and veterans benefits, and now have more than 160,000 members in 500
chapters in 24 States and Puerto Rico. His civil rights movements would
then grow to combat discrimination in housing, in education, and in
voting rights.
In recognition of these achievements, President John F. Kennedy
appointed Dr. Garcia a member of the American Treaty Delegation for the
Mutual Defense Agreement between the United States and the Federation
of the West Indies. As President Kennedy once said in another context,
``In each of us, there is a private hope and dream which, when
fulfilled, can be translated into benefits for everyone.'' Dr. Garcia
understood this uplifting concept as he fought discrimination against
the voiceless, for which we should all be proud of.
In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Dr. Garcia as
alternate ambassador to the United Nations, where he gave the first
speech by an American before the United Nations in a language other
than English. Dr. Garcia spoke Spanish to a captivated audience.
President Reagan presented Dr. Garcia the Nation's highest civilian
award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1994 for his tremendous
service to this country, the first Mexican American to receive that
distinction.
Americans should do all they can to learn about Dr. Garcia. He
dedicated his life to the less fortunate, and will always be remembered
for giving so much of himself for this country and for all of us.
[[Page H2521]]
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to Mr.
Chet Edwards of Texas, a real leader on improving relations not just in
Texas but across the country.
Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Madam Speaker, let me begin by thanking the
chairman for his kind comments and for his leadership for our country.
Madam Speaker, America is a better country today because of the life
and service of Dr. Hector P. Garcia. And we will be a better country
tomorrow if every school child hears his story. It is the story of an
immigrant child who worked hard, became a physician, and dedicated his
entire life to his family and service to country. It is a story that
one person can make a difference. It is a story of the timeless values
of hard work and service to others. It is the quintessential American
story of love of country, expressed through a lifetime of service to
others.
One of the greatest privileges of my lifetime was to know Dr. Hector
Garcia. He left the world a better place, and his life story continues
to inspire everyone who hears it. And it is my hope that every school
child in America will hear his story, a true champion of our Nation's
never-ending quest for equal opportunity for all.
As a child growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas, Dr. Garcia's
hometown, I lived on the same block. At the time, I did not know he was
a World War II hero who earned a Bronze Star and the rank of major. I
did not know this champion in the cause of American's Hispanic
veterans. Yet as I grew older and learned of Dr. Garcia's heroic
lifetime of service on the battlefields of war, in the halls of
Congress, and in the offices of his medical practice, his life's story
became an inspiration that led me to public service.
Had it not been for Dr. Hector, as we called him, I probably would
not be in Congress today. For that I am personally grateful. But I am
even more grateful for how he made a difference in our Nation's
history. May God bless and forever keep in his loving arms Dr. Hector
P. Garcia.
Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res.
222, a resolution that recognizes the life and contributions of Dr.
Hector P. Garcia.
In 1917, at the age of 3, Dr. Garcia immigrated to my hometown of
Mercedes, Texas, with his family, where he graduated from my alma
mater, Mercedes High School.
Despite the social injustices that pervaded the United States, like
those that forced him to attend segregated schools, he earned his
medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School.
He served the nation as a commissioned officer in World War II. After
the war, he returned to Texas and continued his medical practice. His
decision to fight for civil rights was spurred by the gross injustice
and inequality he witnessed in the United States, Particularly in the
treatment of Hispanic veterans returning from the war. He founded the
American GI Forum to help give these Hispanic veterans a voice.
Dr. Garcia also believed that every child should have equal access to
education and that everyone deserved health care. He personally treated
hundreds of indigent patients regardless of their ability to pay.
Dr. Garcia's life and work continue to be an inspirational force for
many, especially in deep South Texas.
His tireless advocacy for civil rights has benefitted all in the
United States who view equality as a fundamental component of our Great
Nation.
I am honored that I can stand here today and urge my colleagues to
pass this resolution recognizing the remarkable achievements of this
great American.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.
Con. Res. 222--Recognizing the leadership and historical contributions
of Dr. Hector P. Garcia to the Hispanic community and his remarkable
efforts to combat racial and ethnic discrimination in the United
States. Dr. Garcia was born in Mexico, in 1914, but his family fled the
Mexican Revolution and immigrated to Mercedes, Texas. His is an
inspirational story of the possibilities the American Dream holds for
immigrants. Through hard work and perseverance, he became a surgeon and
served his country in World War II Dr. Garcia's experiences after his
return from the war led him to found the American GI Forum in Corpus
Christi, Texas.
Dr. Garcia began helping Mexican-American veterans file claims with
the Veterans' Administration, in response to the unacceptably slow
treatment they were receiving. On March 26, 1948. he called a meeting
to address the concerns of these veterans. This developed into the
American GI Forum, which soon had chapters in 40 Texas cities and
became the way by which Mexican-American veterans could express their
frustration with the discrimination against-them.
And so it is with great pleasure that I recognize Dr. Hector P.
Garcia, for his service to our country and to the Mexican-American
community, and I support this resolution.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to proudly
support H. Con. Res. 222 introduced in the House of Representatives by
Mr. Ortiz. H. Con. Res. 222 recognizes the leadership and lifelong
contributions of Dr. Hector Garcia to the Hispanic community and his
remarkable work on important issues such as civil rights, health care,
veteran benefits, the struggle for racial equality, and ethnic
discrimination in the United States of America.
Dr. Hector Garcia was born in the city of Llera in Tamaulipas,
Mexico, on January 17, 1914. He is the son of two schoolteachers who
legally immigrated to Mercedes, Texas, to escape from the violence of
the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s. He graduated in 1940 from
the School of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and
in 1942 volunteered for combat in the Army during World War II. In
1946, after the war, he and his family returned to Texas and settled in
Corpus Christi, where he became the president of the League of United
Latin American Citizens (LULAC). While in Corpus Christi, Dr. Garcia
opened a private practice to treat ill people regardless of their
ability to afford health care and he founded the American GI Forum to
address VA's discrimination and the right to equality of Hispanic
American veterans. Dr. Garcia's strong advocacy and extraordinary work
made him the recipient of national and international recognition,
including the Nation's highest civilian award in 1984, the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, and the Equestrian Order of Pope Gregory the Great
from Pope John Paul II in 1990.
Dr. Garcia's leadership, advocacy, work and commitment to Hispanic
American civil rights equality, access to health care, and the fair
treatment of the government's institutions to its citizens regardless
of race and ethnicity constitute his legacy, and his invaluable
contribution to the proud history of our great nation.
I commend the life and legacy of Dr. Hector Garcia and his
contribution to the Hispanic community in the United States of America,
and I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this important
resolution.
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. DeGette). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res.
222.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
____________________