[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4686-H4687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING FORMER MAYOR DOLLY PEREZ

  (Ms. De La Cruz of Texas was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Ms. De La Cruz. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor former mayor, 
Dolly Perez, on her retirement after nearly four decades of service to 
the city of Premont.
  Dolly's deep commitment to her hometown is a family legacy, inspired 
by her father who served on the city council over 70 years ago.
  After giving 36 incredible years of service as Premont's city 
secretary, Dolly answered the call to leadership, successfully running 
for mayor to finish community projects, balancing the city budget, and 
building a brighter future for the town she loves.

                              {time}  1015

  Her decades of sacrifice, compassion, and leadership have left an 
incredible mark on the community.

[[Page H4687]]

  I thank Mayor Dolly Perez for her extraordinary lifetime of public 
service and congratulate her on her well-deserved retirement.


            Honoring Retired Air Force Major Homer Gallegos

  Ms. De La Cruz. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary 
life and legacy of an American hero and a pillar of the McAllen 
community, retired United States Air Force Major Homer Gallegos.
  Born and raised in McAllen, Major Gallegos answered the call to duty 
in 1968, enlisting in the Air Force and serving a tour of duty in south 
Vietnam. He dedicated 30 years to the Air Force Reserves, ultimately 
retiring at the rank of major.
  His service to our Nation did not end when he took off the uniform. 
For over two decades, Major Gallegos worked as a licensed professional 
counselor at the McAllen Vet Center, helping his fellow veterans heal 
from the invisible wounds of war.
  He served as a commander of the VFW Post 8788 for over 20 years, 
where he stood in the honor guard to provide final military honors to 
Rio Grande Valley veterans.
  His lifetime of selflessness earned him the national Hands and Heart 
Award from the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs. His legacy will forever 
be defined by his faith, devotion to his family, and his servant's 
heart.


       100th Anniversary of Falfurrias Volunteer Fire Department

  Ms. De La Cruz. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the incredible men 
and women of the Falfurrias Volunteer Fire Department for 100 years of 
service to south Texas.
  The department's history traces back to 1926, when local citizens 
formed a bucket brigade to fight a fire breaking out in Falfurrias.
  Recognizing the need for an organized operation, the brave community 
members officially established the department. From its earliest days, 
operating with an old Jeep carrying a single barrel of water, the 
department has grown into a modern emergency response powerhouse with a 
fleet of over 15 trucks, covering more than 500 square miles across 
Brooks County.
  For 100 years, their mission has remained unchanged: to serve with 
honor and with bravery.
  We are grateful to the Falfurrias Volunteer Fire Department for 
keeping Brooks County safe.


                      Recognizing Special Interns

  Ms. De La Cruz. Mr. Speaker, I would like to quickly recognize that 
we have special interns from the district that are celebrating their 
birthday today. I would like to wish a happy birthday to David 
Rodriguez and Joseph Uribe. We wish them many blessings, today and 
always. God bless them.

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