[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 119 (Monday, July 28, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6874-H6875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONFERRING HONORARY CITIZENSHIP ON BERNARDO DE GALVEZ Y MADRID

  Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 105) conferring honorary 
citizenship of the United States on Bernardo de Galvez y Madrid, 
Viscount of Galveston and Count of Galvez.
  The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
  The text of the joint resolution is as follows:

                             H.J. Res. 105

       Whereas the United States has conferred honorary 
     citizenship on 7 other occasions during its history, and 
     honorary citizenship is and should remain an extraordinary 
     honor not lightly conferred nor frequently granted;
       Whereas Bernardo de Galvez y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston 
     and Count of Galvez, was a hero of the Revolutionary War who 
     risked his life for the freedom of the United States people 
     and provided supplies, intelligence, and strong military 
     support to the war effort;
       Whereas Bernardo de Galvez recruited an army of 7,500 men 
     made up of Spanish, French, African-American, Mexican, Cuban, 
     and Anglo-American forces and led the effort of Spain to aid 
     the United States' colonists against Great Britain;
       Whereas during the Revolutionary War, Bernardo de Galvez 
     and his troops seized the Port of New Orleans and 
     successfully defeated the British at battles in Baton Rouge, 
     Louisiana, Natchez, Mississippi, and Mobile, Alabama;
       Whereas Bernardo de Galvez led the successful 2-month Siege 
     of Pensacola, Florida, where his troops captured the capital 
     of British West Florida and left the British with no naval 
     bases in the Gulf of Mexico;
       Whereas Bernardo de Galvez was wounded during the Siege of 
     Pensacola, demonstrating bravery that forever endeared him to 
     the United States soldiers;
       Whereas Bernardo de Galvez's victories against the British 
     were recognized by George Washington as a deciding factor in 
     the outcome of the Revolutionary War;
       Whereas Bernardo de Galvez helped draft the terms of treaty 
     that ended the Revolutionary War;
       Whereas the United States Continental Congress declared, on 
     October 31, 1778, their gratitude and favorable sentiments to 
     Bernardo de Galvez for his conduct towards the United States;
       Whereas after the war, Bernardo de Galvez served as viceroy 
     of New Spain and led the effort to chart the Gulf of Mexico, 
     including Galveston Bay, the largest bay on the Texas coast;
       Whereas several geographic locations, including Galveston 
     Bay, Galveston, Texas, Galveston County, Texas, Galvez, 
     Louisiana, and St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, are named after 
     Bernardo de Galvez;
       Whereas the State of Florida has honored Bernardo de Galvez 
     with the designation of Great Floridian; and
       Whereas Bernardo de Galvez played an integral role in the 
     Revolutionary War and helped secure the independence of the 
     United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved the Senate and HouseV RepresentativesV the United 
     States of Americain Congress assembled, That Bernardo de 
     Galvez y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston and Count of Galvez, 
     is proclaimed posthumously to be an honorary citizen of the 
     United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Franks) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. 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 materials on H.J. Res. 105, 
currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller).
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Franks, 
for yielding.
  H.J. Res. 105 would bestow honorary American citizenship on General 
Bernardo de Galvez. Though not born in the United States, General 
Galvez was a true friend to our country who played an integral role in 
securing the independence of this Nation.
  As governor of Spanish Louisiana, General Galvez provided American 
forces with funds, arms, and ammunition, and he provided military 
intelligence to the American commanders.
  After Spain's entry into the war, General Galvez recruited an army of 
American, Spanish, and French troops and set about a multiyear campaign 
that decimated British forces all along the gulf coast.
  General Galvez led successful campaigns in Louisiana, Mississippi, 
and Alabama before embarking on his seminal victory at the Siege of 
Pensacola, where he captured the capital of British West Florida after 
a bloody 2-month long battle, during which he in fact was wounded by 
gunfire.
  General Galvez's victory left the British with no naval forces or 
bases along the gulf coast and prevented British troops and supplies 
from reaching the battles along the eastern seaboard.
  His efforts to assist the formation of our country were recognized by 
President George Washington, President John Adams, and by the United 
States Continental Congress. In fact, President Washington cited 
General Galvez's efforts as a deciding factor in the outcome of the 
war.
  Honorary citizenship is a rare and extraordinary recognition granted 
to foreigners who have rendered great service to the United States of 
America. Only seven individuals have been granted honorary citizenship, 
including two Revolutionary War heroes, the Marquis de Lafayette, and 
General Casimir Pulaski.
  When our Founding Fathers declared our independence, they knew that 
they were going up against probably the world's most preeminent power. 
They chose to take up that battle because of their unwavering 
commitment to liberty and freedom, but they also knew that in order to 
be successful, they needed the support of allies and great men like the 
Marquis de Lafayette, Casimir Pulaski, and General Bernardo de Galvez.
  I want to thank Chairman Goodlatte, Chairman Gowdy, Chairman Franks, 
and the staff of the Judiciary Committee for their assistance in moving 
this bill through committee. I also want to thank our majority leader 
for bringing this bill to the floor.
  I would encourage all my colleagues to support this measure to 
recognize General Galvez's immense contribution to the history of our 
country by granting him honorary American citizenship.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 105, which proclaims 
Bernardo de Galvez to be an honorary citizen of the United States 
posthumously and recognizes his contribution in aiding the American 
colonists in the fight for independence against the British.
  Although he was born in Spain, General Galvez led masterful military 
campaigns against the British and played a crucial role in securing 
land and seaports on behalf of the American colonists. He additionally 
helped negotiate the terms of the treaty that ended the American 
Revolution and secured America's independence from British rule.
  This is only the eighth time that Congress has bestowed posthumous 
citizenship, most recently in 2009, when we honored Casimir Pulaski, a 
Polish military officer who, like General Galvez, fought alongside 
American

[[Page H6875]]

colonists during the Revolutionary War.
  This honor is reserved for only the most highly-deserving 
individuals, but it should be noted that it is purely symbolic and does 
not have any substantive effect on the immigration status of surviving 
family members.
  In closing, General Galvez played an important role in the American 
Revolution, and he was recognized for his efforts by George Washington. 
The time has come for Congress to now recognize him by granting him 
posthumous citizenship.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume, and I thank the gentleman for his support.
  Mr. Speaker, H.J. Res. 105 confers honorary United States citizenship 
upon Bernardo de Galvez y Madrid in recognition of his many 
contributions to and sacrifices for the cause of American independence. 
I want to commend again our colleague, Jeff Miller, for introducing 
this legislation, and I certainly urge my colleagues to support it.
  American citizenship, Mr. Speaker, is the highest honor that our 
country can confer upon a person who is a citizen of another land. The 
granting of honorary citizenship is a symbolic gesture that welcomes 
the recipient into our national family.
  Honorary citizenship is and should always be an extraordinary honor 
not lightly conferred. Congress has granted honorary citizens on only 
six occasions in the past to seven individuals. The seven recipients 
have been Casimir Pulaski, the Marquis de Lafayette, Mother Teresa, 
William and Hannah Penn, Raoul Wallenberg, and Winston Churchill. The 
last two recipients, Casimir Pulaski and the Marquis de Lafayette, both 
played crucial roles in the United States' victory in the Revolutionary 
War.
  General Galvez's contributions to the war effort compare very 
favorably with those of Casimir Pulaski and the Marquis de Lafayette. 
H.J. Res. 105 states that Galvez ``provided supplies, intelligence, and 
strong military support to the war effort.''
  Indeed, the historical record indicates that, due to the British 
blockade of seaports on the eastern seaboard, Galvez's secretly-
coordinated smuggling operation and efforts to clear the Mississippi 
River of British influence helped to ensure that George Washington's 
Continental Army received necessary weapons and other provisions.
  H.J. Res. 105 states that:

       Galvez recruited an army of 7,500 men . . . and led the 
     effort of Spain to aid the United States' colonists . . . he 
     and his troops seized the Port of New Orleans and 
     successfully defeated the British at battles in Baton Rouge, 
     Louisiana; Natchez, Mississippi; and Mobile, Alabama.

  Commentators and historians have uniformly lauded General Galvez's 
bravery, tenacity, and tactical military skill in rapidly assembling 
and leading a diverse, multiethnic regiment. Galvez's forces were 
victorious in every battle into which he led them.
  H.J. Res. 105 states that Galvez ``led the successful 2-month siege 
of Pensacola, Florida, where his troops captured the capital of British 
West Florida and left the British with no naval bases in the Gulf of 
Mexico.''
  The historical narrative surrounding Galvez's actions leading up to 
and throughout the 2-month-long Battle of Pensacola underscores his 
heroism and leadership in pursuit of the objective of pinning down the 
British forces and driving them from the Gulf of Mexico.
  There is no question that keeping the British occupied on a second 
front during the war was crucial and critical to the success of General 
Washington's campaign.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. Speaker, some historians have noted that the length and timing of 
the Battle of Pensacola, in particular, impacted the number of forces 
and ships the British could commit to the Battle of Yorktown, which was 
the final campaign of the Revolutionary War.
  Finally, H.J. Res. 105 states that Galvez' victories against the 
British were recognized by George Washington as a deciding factor in 
the outcome of the Revolutionary War.
  I believe that Bernardo de Galvez y Madrid deeply deserves honorary 
citizenship, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Franks) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 105.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the joint resolution was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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