[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 201 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF JUDGE DAVID GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2018

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable 
David Garcia, Judge of Denton County Criminal Court No. 3, for his 
service to Denton County and to the many combat veterans he has 
impacted through his work with the Denton County Veterans Treatment 
Court Program (VTCP).
   Judge Garcia was appointed to the Denton County Criminal Court No. 3 
on September 1, 1997 and will conclude his tenure at the end of 
December after 21 years of service to our community. Since 2012, he has 
presided over the Veterans Court. After his appointment to the Court, 
Judge Garcia not only completed a backlog of cases, but he also built a 
new model for veterans courts that prioritizes improving the quality of 
mental health care available to justice-involved veterans. Under his 
guidance, the veterans court provided evaluation and treatment for 
certain veterans' combat-related mental illnesses. In his role, Judge 
Garcia shifted the focus in sentencing from the pursuit of judicial 
compliance and reduced recidivism toward a regimen that allows combat 
veterans suffering from the impact of PTSD and MST to graduate from the 
VTCP program and return to their families and communities with charges 
dismissed.
   As a Member of Congress, one of my greatest privileges is to support 
veterans in North Texas and around the country. During his two decades 
of service, Judge Garcia has advocated for broader veteran health care 
access by supporting the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act 
of 2014 and the VA MISSION Act of 2018, legislation that improves care 
for those who have sacrificed and served for our country. On behalf of 
the 26th District of Texas, I extend my sincere appreciation to Judge 
Garcia for the contributions he has made to the Denton County community 
and to our region's veterans.

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