[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 64 (Monday, April 15, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E349-E350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE CITY OF VICTORIA'S BICENTENNIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MICHAEL CLOUD

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 15, 2024

  Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the remarkable 
bicentennial of the City of Victoria, Texas--the city I am proud to 
call my home. What a wonderful occasion it is.
  Two hundred years is an incredible achievement, and Victoria's many 
years are filled with rich history and tradition. Our history begins 
back in 1824, when Martin de Leon and his wife, Patricia de la Garza, 
set out on a journey to establish a city then known as Guadalupe, 
Victoria. The city was initially incorporated into the Republic of 
Mexico on April 13th, 1824, under the name Nuestra Senora Guadalupe de 
Jesus Victoria, and quickly became an integral part of the surrounding 
community.
  Then, in 1839, Victoria made its true mark on Texas history--when it 
was officially chartered as one of the original 23 founding counties in 
the Republic of Texas. The first Mayor of Victoria, John J. Linn, was 
elected in 1839, and subsequently handpicked five aldermen to advocate 
for the citizens of Victoria, marking the official birth of what is now 
Victoria in the state of Texas. Since that time, Victoria has continued 
to grow and thrive from a humble one-square-mile townsite into a 
sprawling 21st-century city, which covers around 37 square miles and 
provides a home for over 65,000 proud Texas residents--including 
myself.
  Of all the key original hallmarks of Victoria, perhaps the best of 
them is its sense of friendly community. The original founders wanted 
to make sure Victoria brought people together--seeking to build their 
city around the idea of helping residents build relationships with one 
another--and today, the city embodies that same spirit, providing a 
thriving environment for small businesses, ranchers, the agriculture 
community, churches, and many others.
  This is a truly significant milestone in not just the City of 
Victoria, but in the great state of Texas. As we reflect on the city's 
past, let

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us commit to honoring that history by continuing to work together for a 
prosperous future for south Texas.
  I give congratulations to everyone in Victoria on this historic day, 
and may God continue to bless and keep us in the days and years ahead.

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