[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATING JESSE RODRIGUEZ

  (Ms. GARCIA of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an 
artist, an advocate, and a creator of community pride, Jesse Rodriguez, 
better known as Magnolia Grown.
  Last month, Jesse achieved something special for our community. His 
sculpture, ``Dale Shine,'' which you see behind me, was chosen to go to 
The Cheech, the finest private collection of Chicano art in the world, 
to become a part of their permanent collection.
  This is a first for Houston. It is a first for Texas.
  Jesse's work draws from deep cultural roots established while growing 
up in my district in Magnolia Park. His art is the art of our 
community, of growing up poor while living in full color, of a shared 
history ``de nuestra gente'' ``of the people.''
  Jesse has become a community advocate in the East End portion of our 
district. He founded Magnolia Park Arts and Community to inspire the 
next generation to use art for action and to never forget where they 
came from.
  He puts people over politics. He puts arts over darkness. We are so 
proud of him and everything that he has done, and I congratulate Jesse.

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