[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 146 (Friday, August 14, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING SPC. VANESSA GUILLEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SYLVIA R. GARCIA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 14, 2020

  Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my 
constituent, Specialist (Spc.) Vanessa Guillen--a daughter, a sister, 
and a beloved member of the Southeast Houston community. She was a 
beautiful, talented, and intelligent 20-year old Latina soldier who 
tragically went missing on April 22, 2020 after she was brutally 
murdered by another soldier at Fort Hood.
  Spc. Vanessa Guillen was born on September 30, 1999 to her loving 
parents Rogelio and Gloria Guillen, and was one of six brothers and 
sisters. Her father Rogelio likes to recount the story of how Vanessa 
dreamed of joining the U.S. Army since she was 12 years old. She would 
often tell him, ``Papa yo me quiero inscribir en el Army. I want to 
enlist in the Army.'' She felt a deep sense of love for America and the 
Army represented an opportunity for a better life--her shot at 
achieving the American Dream. She worked really hard towards this goal 
and in 2018 she graduated in the top 15 percent of her class from Cesar 
E. Chavez High School where she loved playing soccer. Shortly after her 
graduation, Vanessa fulfilled her dream to serve our country by 
enlisting in the Army where she was trained as a 91F, small arms/
artillery repairer.
  Unfortunately, her dream turned into a true nightmare. Before her 
murder and disappearance, Vanessa confided in her family that she felt 
unsafe at Fort Hood due to experiences with sexual harassment. She did 
not file a report out of fear of retaliation. The Army failed her and 
the Guillen family, and all those responsible for this failure must be 
held responsible.
  Vanessa did not deserve to die the way she did, and her story has hit 
so many of us in our hearts, especially in the Latino community of 
Houston. We mourn with the Guillen family because Vanessa was one of 
us. So many of us have sisters, daughters, nieces, cousins, and friends 
who could have easily been Vanessa because so many Latinas have 
answered the call to serve our country.
  Unfortunately, Vanessa's story is not unique. In response to this 
case, current and former Latina servicemembers have demonstrated 
incredible bravery in sharing their experiences with sexual harassment 
and assault in the military. Their stories reinforce the troubling 
reality that too often female servicemembers do not report their sexual 
trauma because they fear how their chain of command will respond. This 
is not only wrong, but Vanessa's story has galvanized efforts across 
the country to put an end to a culture that perpetuates sexual assault 
and harassment in the military. We must seize this opportunity to 
ensure this never happens again to another soldier or their family.
  Madam Speaker, the Guillen family, current and former female 
servicemembers, and everyone in the Houston region, myself included, 
ask that we make sure that what happened to Vanessa Guillen never 
happens again, so not one more family has to suffer like the Guillens 
have.
  We want justice for Vanessa Guillen. Nosotros queremos justicia para 
Vanessa Guillen.

                          ____________________