[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18] [House] [Pages 26240-26249] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF FORMER CONGRESSMAN HENRY B. GONZALEZ The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 6, 1999, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, I paid my last respects to a man that I knew since the age of 12, a man that I respected and admired immensely, Henry B. Gonzalez. I have called this special order so that we may honor Henry B., a friend and a former colleague. I would like to express my condolences to his wife, Senora Gonzalez; my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Charles Gonzalez); and the entire Gonzalez family. My heart and prayers are with them in this time of sorrow. Henry B. was one of the hardest working men I have ever known. My father often referred to him as ``El [[Page 26241]] Compadre,'' the godfather. He was a true friend to all San Antonions and all Texans and throughout the country. From my father's radio I grew up listening to the words of Henry B. My dad's Compadre was famous for his blazing honesty, strong convictions, compelling oratory, and undying dedication to public service. Long hours working at a Southside San Antonio gas station as a young man gave me the opportunity to meet dozens of people every day when I used to fill gas tanks. When I worked at the gas station and people came by, I checked their oil and washed their windows. I still vividly recall the day almost 40 years ago when I was working there at that gas station on Pleasanton Road and a special customer drove up and asked me to fill up his tank. When I realized that it was Henry B. Gonzalez who had parked next to me, I was filled with pride and excitement. Even at that age, as a teenager, I knew Henry B. and the legacy that he was hard at work establishing. Congressman Gonzalez was a role model to all of us, a strong man with a strong work ethic fighting for all of us. But at the time, for me, he was one who needed gas; and I took pride in being able to fill up his gas tank at that age. As the Nation pays tribute to Henry B. and the hard-fought battles he championed, Alamo City mourns the profound loss of one of the most well-known figures in Texas public office. He served proudly in the United States House of Representatives, but long before his famous days in Washington, our Compadre served as a civilian cable and radio censor for military and naval intelligence, as a Bexar County probation officer, the deputy director of the San Antonio housing authority, and as a city councilman in San Antonio and the Texas State Senate fighting for our communities. Henry B. spoke for those who had no voice of their own. Then State Senator Gonzalez is also known for his famous filibuster. To this day, as a State Senator in Texas, he still holds the record for the longest filibuster. And his filibuster helped kill several bills, in fact almost 20 or 30 bills, that were still pending in the Texas House that would have overridden and circumvented the Supreme Court decisions regarding segregation. Congressman Gonzalez shepherded the construction of a medical school in San Antonio and veterans hospital in San Antonio, he brought the HemisFair exposition to the city, he passed measures protecting San Antonio's vital drinking water supply, supported area military installations, and worked to expose the 1980 savings and loan scandal. As a partisan firebrand in the United States Congress and chairman of the House Committee on Banking, Henry B. was tireless at his work. As chairman, he helped to usher over 71 bills through the legislative process. He was an advocate for making more credit available to small businesses, helping find safe places for people to put their savings, and reauthorizing the Federal housing loans and laws. In 1997, from the floor of the United States House of Representatives, our Compadre introduced me to the country as I was sworn in to the Congress. As he introduced me to his colleagues of more than 30 years, I recalled with great pride his leadership throughout the years that he had espoused. I also thought back to that one day when some 40 years before that I had had a chance to meet him for the first time and marveled at how far our community and Nation had come because of this single man. It is with deep sadness that we say good-bye to a true American hero. Henry B. dedicated his life to public service and we have all benefitted from his kindness and his wisdom. Mr. Speaker, I will attach additional documentation on Mr. Gonzalez at this point for the Record. Henry B. Gonzalez; United States Representative, Democrat of Texas Eighty-seventh-One Hundred Fourth Congresses, November 4, 1961-Present A strong personality who has received national attention for his various crusades, Henry Gonzalez was the first Hispanic Representative from Texas, and has served in Congress longer than any other Hispanic. He was born Enrique Barbosa Gonzalez in San Antonio, Texas on May 3, 1916. His parents, Leonides Gonzalez Cigarroa and Genoveva Barbosa Prince de Gonzalez, fled to San Antonio from the state of Durango in northern Mexico during the Mexican Revolution in 1911. Leonides Gonzalez had served as mayor of the town of Mapimi, Durango in Mexico. Henry Gonzalez attended public schools and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1935. He continued his education at the University of Texas and San Antonio College. In 1943 he graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law. Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he was called to government service and worked as a civilian cable and radio censor for military and naval intelligence. After graduation he worked as assistant juvenile probation officer, quickly rising to chief probation officer of the Bexar County Juvenile Court. In 1947 he was hired by the Pan American Progressive Association as executive assistant. From 1947 to 1951 he helped his father ran a translation service in San Antonio. In 1953, with the support of Mexican-Americans and Anglos, Gonzalez was elected to the San Antonio City Council, serving as mayor pro-tempore for part of his first term. In the city council he spoke against segregation of public facilities, and the council passed desegregation ordinances. In 1956 he was elected to the State Senate; he was subsequently reelected and served until 1961. In 1957 Gonzalez, along with Senator Abraham Kazen, attracted national attention for holding the longest filibuster in the history of the Texas Legislature, which lasted thirty-six hours. They succeeded in killing eight out of ten racial segregation bills that were aimed at circumventing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case. Among his other achievements in the Senate were a slum clearance law and the passage of a bill for the creation of a medical school. In 1958 Gonzalez unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Texas; although an unlikely candidate, he wanted to offer an alternative to the race between Governor Daniel and former governor W. Lee O'Daniel. During the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy requested Gonzalez's help in organizing Viva Kennedy Clubs throughout the country. Gonzalez and U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez of New Mexico served as national co-chairman. Gonzalez was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Paul J. Kilday (D-TX), who had been appointed to the Court of Military Appeals. In 1961 he was elected with over half of the votes. Subsequently he has faced little challenge in reelection bids; he has generally won with at least eighty percent of the vote and a number of times he has run unopposed. Although he has supported and initiated legislation for the welfare of Hispanics, he has never run on a Hispanic platform. As a Representative, Gonzalez quickly got attention in 1963. He received substantial publicity when he voted against additional appropriations for the House Committee on Un- American Activities, because it received more money than other committees that produced more reports and legislation. During his first term, Gonzalez was assigned to the Committee on Banking and Currency, which in 1977 became the Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs Committee, where he worked for the passage of a number of legislative proposals of the New Frontier and Great Society including the Housing Act of 1964. He worked on legislation that was eventually incorporated into the Equal Opportunities Act of 1964, and supported the Library Service Act of 1964, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition, Chairman Wright Patman (D- TX) appointed Gonzalez as a special liaison representative on Latin-American affairs; Gonzalez attended the Inter-American Development Bank Board of Directors conference in Panama in April 1964. During the 1960's he also campaigned to put and end to the bracero program, which allowed the use of foreign labor to harvest agricultural crops. He criticized the program for the deplorable conditions under which laborers worked. In the 1970's Gonzalez continued with his crusades. In 1977 he gained national attention as Chairman of the House Assassinations Committee that was established to investigate the murders of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Animosity developed between Gonzalez and the attorney who headed the probe. Gonzalez quit within weeks, due to the fact that in his opinion the investigation was doomed because powerful forces in organized crime were against it. He also urged an investigation of the murder of Judge John W. Wood in San Antonio. When the indictments were handed down, Federal prosecutors thanked Gonzalez for his perseverance. As a member of the House Small Business Committee in the 94th Congress, Gonzalez served as Chairman of the ad hoc subcommittee on the Robinson-Patman Act, Anti-trust Legislation, and Related Matters. He played a key role in salvaging the Robinson-Patman Act, which some consider to be the ``Magna Carta'' of small business. During the 1970's Gonzalez opposed nuclear power and introduced legislation to phase out existing nuclear facilities, and continued his work in support of public housing. [[Page 26242]] In 1981 Gonzalez became the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development, where he worked on legislation to approve a program to assist families who faced foreclosure on their homes. Later he battled the Reagan administration when it proposed cuts in public housing programs. With the leadership of Gonzalez as Chairman of the Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs Committee, the committee was able to enact many pieces of legislation, including flood insurance reform, major housing initiatives, increasing the accessibility to credit to small business, and strengthening anti-money laundering laws, bank fraud, and other financial crimes. In addition, through his efforts with legislation and through hearings, he succeeded in making the Federal Reserve more publicly accountable. During his ten year Chairmanship (1971-1981) of the Banking Committee's Subcommittee on International Development Institutions, and Finance, he sponsored an amendment to a number of international banking bills. The ``Gonzalez amendment.'' as it was commonly known, protects U.S. citizens from expropriation by countries that receive loans from international development institutions to which the U.S. contributes. During his tenure as Chairman of the Banking Committee, Gonzalez had to deal with the collapse of the savings and loan industry, a crisis he had predicted throughout the 1980's. In 1991 he led a restructuring of the federal deposit insurance system. As Chairman he earned a reputation for being a fair leader who allowed equitable participation in the creation of bills. Gonzalez was once again in the national spotlight in 1992, when he requested an investigation of the Bush administration's involvement in loans to Iraq. In addition to his legislative career Gonzalez has served seven times as a House Delegate to the Mexico-United States Interparliamentary Conference, and has received numerous awards from universities, including honorary doctorates from St. Mary's University and from Our Lady of the Lake College. ____ Henry B. Gonzalez of San Antonio--Elected 1961; 18th Full Term Biographical Information Born: May 3, 1916, San Antonio, Texas. Education: San Antonio College, 1937; U. of Texas, Austin, 1937-39; St. Mary's U. of San Antonio, LL.B. 1943. Occupation: Teacher; public relations consultant; translator. Family: Wife, Bertha Cuellar; eight children. Political Career: Candidate for Texas House, 1950; San Antonio City Council, 1953-57, mayor pro tem, 1955-57; Texas Senate, 1957-61; sought Democratic nomination for governor, 1958; sought Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, 1961. Capitol Office: 2413 Rayburn Bldg. 20515; 225-3236. Committees Banking & Financial Services (ranking). In Washington: Gonzalez, more than most other senior Democrats who once ruled the roost in the House, went into a shell with the Republican takeover in 1995. The energetic (if eccentric) former chairman of the Banking and Finance Committee was absent or inactive at many important committee sessions in the 104th Congress. An intensely proud man, he showed little interest in waging losing battles in committee, unlike many other Democrats who put up fierce resistance to the newly empowered GOP majority. Ironically, Gonzalez's most notable achievement of late involved him defeating Democrats, and Republicans. In November 1996, he fended off two Democrats who challenged him for the ranking spot on Banking for the 105th Congress. But one of the factors that kept him in the ranking seat was his promise to party colleagues that he would give up the seat after two more years and serve in an emeritus capacity-- if Gonzalez, now past 80, tries for a 19th full term in the House in 1998. The House Democratic Caucus let Gonzalez have two final years as ranking member after he made an emotional plea to stay on. The mercurial Texan, who legendary independent streak has long ruffled the feathers of House leaders, demonstrated a vigor in the caucus session that noticeably has been lacking since the GOP takeover. He emerged with a plurality of the vote in a three-way race with John J. LaFalce of New York and Bruce F. Vento of Minnesota, second- and third-ranking Democrats on the committee. Gonzalez got 82 votes, LaFalce 62 and Vento 47. LaFalce conceded rather than continuing the fight into a runoff, sparing the party a clash that made many Democrats uncomfortable. The effort to topple Gonzalez arose after his repeated absences from committee meetings in the 104th caused even longtime supporters such as Barney Frank of Massachusetts to recommend that Democratic leaders push out Gonzalez. ``I think we had a very good six years under Henry,'' said Frank, who had been Gonzalez's conduit to the House Democratic leadership but supported LaFalce's challenge. ``But the transition from chairman to ranking member was personally very tough for him.'' Gonzalez's supporters mounted an active campaign. Committee colleague Joseph P. Kennedy II of Massachusetts said that Banking Democrats had pulled together to repel GOP initiatives even though Gonzalez himself had slowed. ``What are we going to do, take away a ranking membership from a guy who is a folk hero among Democrats?'' Kennedy asked. ``This guy defines the Democratic Party's values.'' Gonzalez helped himself with a masterful speech in which he made the one-last-term pledge that earned him the benefit of some members' doubt. ``I say to you, I have served with honor and integrity and success. I have never failed myself and I have never failed you,'' Gonzalez told the caucus behind closed doors. ``And so I appeal to you: Do the right thing. Do the fair thing. I appeal to your sense of justice: One last term as ranking member, and I will not disappoint you.'' The caucus erupted in applause audible in the corridors of the Longworth House Office Building. ``There were probably some votes that he swayed even in that speech, which is unusual around here,'' admitted LaFalce supporter Floyd H. Flake of New York. Gonzalez received two standing ovations, and balloting started immediately after his speech ended. Gonzalez's victory came despite LaFalce received the Democratic Steering Committee's endorsement by a 22-19 margin, and Vento campaigning vigorously. ``It's very difficult to express in words the profound sense of gratitude I feel at this moment,'' Gonzalez said after the vote. He said he did not harbor any ill feelings towards LaFalce or Vento, saying, ``It's all part of the process. It's better to be tested and tried and win than not to be tried at all.'' During a congressional career that has spanned nearly four decades and included three terms as chairman of the Banking Committee, Gonzalez has earned a reputation for iconoclasm that few can match. Republicans remember him for advocating impeachment of Presidents Ronald Reagan after the 1983 Grenada invasion and the 1987 Iran-contra scandal, and George Bush after the 1991 Persian Gulf War. But Gonzalez also has been an affliction to some in his own party. His bulldogging of savings and loan kingpin Charles Keating, Jr. played a part in ending the political careers of three Democratic senators with ties to Keating. And he gave no quarter when interrogating Democratic wise man Clark Clifford about his role in the world's biggest bank scandal, involving the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI). Gonzalez's hands-off attitude toward Whitewater was rather out of character; in the past he had often shown himself to be an aggressive investigator. After the Gulf War, for instance, he waged a lonely crusade to expose what he saw as the U.S. government's wrongheaded pre-war attempts to curry favor with Iraq and help it strengthen its military--a policy he said had encouraged Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait. But from the beginning, Gonzalez opposed using his Banking Committee to hold Whitewater hearings. He condemned Republican inquiries as a ``witch hunt'' and an ``array of half-truths, old rumors, half-baked conspiracy theories and out-right lies.'' Gonzalez finally gave in, but when the hearings took place in August 1994, he made prolific use of the gavel to enforce a five-minute limit for questioners and limit the scope of the inquiry. Before he assumed the Banking chairmanship, his record as a legislator was dismissed as thin, even as he was revered in San Antonio for his unstinting defense of the underclass. But in the six years he chaired Banking, Gonzalez significantly rehabilitated his image in Washington. He helped repair one of the biggest financial debacles in the nation's history-- the near-collapse of the savings and loan industry. He also helped avert a lesser crisis affecting banks by shepherding an overhaul of the deposit insurance system in 1991. He earns credit for being one of the House's most committed fighters for affordable housing, although victories on that front have been few in recent years. And in the 103rd--a Congress that failed to enact major legislation in several areas it pursued--Gonzalez's committee passed two significant measures: in interstate banking law and a community development law that married bank regulatory relief with several schemes to encourage lending in distressed communities. Gonzalez has been a fighter since the beginning of his career, whether pressing solo causes or setting personal quarrels. He is a passionate populist, and a sincere if long- winded one. He also can be stubborn, short-tempered and prone to eruptions of anger. In 1963, he threatened to ``pistol whip'' and then struck a House Republican who claimed Gonzalez's ``left-wing voting record'' served the socialist- communist cause. In a San Antonio restaurant 23 years later, Gonzalez struck a man who had called him a communist; prosecutors later dropped misdemeanor charges. At Home: Like many Texas Democratic incumbents, Gonzalez felt some impact from the big GOP year of 1994. While his Republican opponent, Balcones Heights City Council member Carl Bill Colyer, pulled in less [[Page 26243]] than 40 percent of the vote, he nevertheless held the incumbent to his lowest winning-margin since his first election in 1961. The son of Mexican immigrants, Henry B. (as he is known both in Washington and in Texas) began climbing the local political ladder after World War II. He sought office while helping his father, the managing editor of a Spanish-language newspaper, run a translation service. Gonzalez made it to the state Senate in 1957 and quickly drew attention by filibustering against Democratic Gov. Price Daniel's bill to allow the state to close schools threatened by disturbances surrounding integration. In 1958 Gonzalez ran as the liberal alternative to Daniel in the Democratic gubernational primary. He was beaten by a margin of more than 3-to-1, but the defeat only encouraged his ambition. Three years later, he sought the Senate seat vacated by Lyndon B. Johnson. While Gonzalez carried his home base, Bexar County, his statewide appeal as a candidate with a Hispanic name was limited. He ran sixth out of 73 candidates, gaining 9 percent of the vote. But he soon had another chance. Later in 1961, Democrat Paul Kilday resigned from the House to accept a judgeship, and Gonzalez became the consensus Democratic candidate for the seat. The special election was a clear liberal-conservative choice. Gonzalez was warmly endorsed by the Kennedy administration. John Goode, a former GOP county chairman, had the active assistance of Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater and Texas' newly elected GOP senator, John Tower. With strong support in Hispanic areas, Gonzalez won with 55 percent. He became the first person of Mexican-American extraction to be elected to the House from Texas. HOUSE ELECTIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1996 General: Henry B. Gonzalez (D).............................. 88,190 (64%) James D. Walker (R)................................ 47,616 (34%) Alejandro ``Alex'' DePena (LIBERT)................. 2,156 (2%) 1994 General: Henry B. Gonzalez (D).............................. 60,114 (63%) Carl Bill Colyer (R)............................... 36,035 (37%) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Previous Winning Percentages: 1992 (100%); 1990 (100%); 1988 (71%); 1986 (100%); 1984 (100%); 1982 (92%); 1980 (82%); 1978 (100%); 1976 (100%); 1974 (100%); 1972 (97%); 1970 (100%); 1968 (82%); 1966 (87%); 1964 (65%); 1962 (100%); 1961, special election (55%). CAMPAIGN FINANCE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Receipts Receipts from PACS Expenditures ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1996: Gonzalez (D)..................................................... $123,375 $46,600 (38%) $86,231 Walker (R)....................................................... 138,847 450 (0%) 138,735 1994: Gonzalez (D)................................................. 116,025 32,650 (28%) 55,382 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DISTRICT VOTE FOR PRESIDENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1996: D................................................... 82,892 (59%) R................................................... 48,485 (35%) I................................................... 7,285 (5%) 1992: D................................................... 81,373 (48%) R................................................... 57,964 (34%) I................................................... 28,970 (17%) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ KEY VOTES ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1997: Ban ``partial birth'' abortions............................... N 1996: Approve farm bill................................................. Y Deny public education to illegal immigrants....................... N Repeal ban on certain assault-style weapons....................... N Increase minimum wage............................................. Y Freeze defense spending........................................... N Approval welfare overhaul......................................... N 1995: Approve balanced-budget constitutional amendment.................. N Relax Clean Water Act regulations................................. N Oppose limits on environmental regulations........................ Y Reduce projected Medicare spending................................ N Approve GOP budget with tax and spending cuts..................... N ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VOTING STUDIES ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Presidential Party unity Conservative support ---------------- coalition Year ---------------- --------------- S O S O S O ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1996............................................................ 84 16 84 16 67 31 1995............................................................ 82 14 82 11 48 44 1994............................................................ 78 19 96 4 22 78 1993............................................................ 90 10 95 5 34 66 1992............................................................ 23 77 94 6 38 63 1991............................................................ 32 67 93 7 16 84 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTEREST GROUP RATINGS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1996........................ 80 n/a 38 15 1995........................ 85 100 20 4 1994........................ 75 100 25 15 1993........................ 80 100 9 8 1992........................ 80 92 38 4 1991........................ 75 100 10 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ____ [From the San Antonio Express-News, Dec. 2, 2000] Political Leaders Offer Their Tributes (By Gary Martin) Washington.--A flag flew at half-staff Wednesday above the U.S. Capitol as former Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez's death was met with a national outpouring of sorrow and mourning. President Clinton offered the country's condolences to the Gonzalez family. ``Henry will forever be remembered as a man of conviction and humility who devoted his life to lifting people up and building bridges of understanding.'' Clinton said in a statement released by the White House. ``Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Bertha, his children, and his family and friends,'' Clinton said. Gonzalez, 84, awoke feeling ill and was rushed to Baptist Medical Center in San Antonio, where he died Tuesday. The feisty congressman was the first Mexican-American elected from Texas to serve in the House of Representatives. Now there are six from Texas, including three from San Antonio. ``Congressman Gonzalez was a trailblazer and a leader for all of Texas,'' Clinton said. In addition to kicking down ethnic barriers, Gonzalez had a colorful career in the House that spanned 37 years. It was sprinkled with acts of defiance--calling for the impeachment of two Republican presidents--and fisticuffs that led to national headlines when he punched a GOP congressman in 1963 and a restaurant patron at Earl Abel's diner in San Antonio 23 years later. A maverick lawmaker who sometimes frustrated the leaders of his own party, Gonzalez wore his populist and liberal leanings on his sleeve, often dressed in seersucker or large- lapel suits that caused visitors and Gucci-dressed lobbyists on Capitol Hill to gawk. ``I do remember that. They were great suits,'' said a chuckling J.J. ``Jake'' Pickle, a former Democratic congressman from Austin and one of Gonzalez's closest friends. ``You could always spot Henry. But he wore, and said, what he thought. It offended some people. But Henry did it his way. And he was as fearless in his crusading, as he was right on most issues,'' Pickle said. ``He was one of the rarest political characters I have ever known. And he was champion for civil rights before we even knew what it was,'' said Pickle, who retired in 1994 after 30 years on Capitol Hill. House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt said Gonzalez ``always fought the good fight.'' ``Henry's passing leaves us all with a void that can't be filled,'' Gephardt said. Despite a long legislative career, Gonzalez was most proud of legislation he shepherded through Congress to help the underprivileged gain a foothold to the American Dream. ``Millions of Americans will sleep tonight in homes made possible through Mr. Gonzalez's battles for affordable housing and community development,'' said Ralph Nader, the Green Party presidential candidate and consumer activist. ``Mr. Gonzalez's record will stand forever as a reminder of what legislators can accomplish when they have the courage and thought to follow their best instincts,'' Nader said. His long list of fights and achievements on behalf of racial minorities, women and working families brought out a ``Who's Who'' of politicians paying respect. ``Henry B. Gonzalez was one of my heroes,'' former Texas Gov. Ann Richards said. ``He spoke out for people and the needs of the poor and working class long before it was easy to do. Henry B. was a catalyst for the advancement of the rights of Hispanics, people of color and women. Our gratitude is boundless,'' Richards said. On Capitol Hill, where lawmakers were in adjournment until Monday, fax machines transmitted comments of praise and adulation for Gonzalez, who reluctantly left his Washington office because of illness in 1998. Many colleagues were in the Capitol in 1997 when he left a session of Congress in an ambulance. A dental infection had traveled to Gonzalez's heart and damaged a valve. After a 14- month absence, he returned, only to announce his retirement. His son, Charlie Gonzalez, was elected to succeed him. Charlie Gonzalez said his father struggled with the illness and being away from Washington. ``It's been hard these last couple of years, being away from Congress,'' Gonzalez said moments after his father died. A tireless advocate for San Antonio, Gonzalez was a New Deal Democrat who worked to bring pork barrel projects back to his congressional district, helping to establish Kelly AFB as one of the largest aircraft repair depots in the Air Force, and securing the 450-bed Brooke Army Medical Center. Pickle said his biggest achievement was HemisFair 1968. Gonzalez funneled federal money into the project, prompting the city to name the nearby convention center after him. ``He put San Antonio on the map, through the HemisFair event,'' Pickle said. Early in his congressional career, San Antonio loyalists would hold an annual dinner to honor Gonzalez, Pickle recalled, noting: ``The program would last on and on and on. ``On two or three occasions I would just go to listen to him. About 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. they would get around to introducing Henry B.'' Pickle said he was elated when Gonzalez, who was known for his lengthy speeches, announced at one event that he wouldn't make a speech. [[Page 26244]] Instead, the congressman planned to introduce his extended family, which would ``fill up a phone book.'' Pickle sneaked off. ``By the time I got back to Austin, he was still introducing his last cousin,'' he said. ``We were good friends,'' Pickle said. ``I accepted his odd characteristics, as I know he accepted mine.'' ____ [From the San Antonio Express-News, Dec. 2, 2000] Prayer, Praise at Funeral (By Carmina Danini and Sherry Sylvester) The rich, the poor, the powerful, the disadvantaged, the young and old gathered at San Fernando Cathedral on Saturday to celebrate the life of a man they sent to Congress for 18 consecutive terms. Henry B. Gonzalez was paid tribute by colleagues, friends and family in a funeral the size of which is rarely seen in San Antonio--and one marked by laughter and applause. Aired live on television, the Mass was part political rally and part toast to the life of a remarkable man who was honored in pure San Antonio style with ``Amazing Grace'' sung in Spanish to mariachi music. Nearby, about three dozen mourners watched the Mass on two large screens in the City Council chambers. The 84-year-old Gonzalez, who retired from public life two years ago after an illness brought on by a dental infection, died Tuesday afternoon. For two days last week, thousands of San Antonians paid their respects and shared stories of the man who transcended his West Side background and captured the public's affection with an uncanny ability to connect with people. Despite chilly temperatures, throngs of people stood inside the cathedral, in Main Plaza and along the four-mile route of the procession to San Fernando Cemetery No. 2, where he was buried alongside his parents, Leonides and Genoveva Gonzalez. The oldest cathedral sanctuary in the United States was the perfect setting for the Mass of such a historic figure--a man beloved by those cramming the old church to capacity. Many of them knew him. Others, like Lina Bello, a City Hall secretary in Taxco, Mexico, were visiting but were caught up in the ceremony. San Antonians loved Gonzalez, said former U.S. Congressman Kika de la Garza, the Democrat from Mission, because he had ``el don de gentes.'' The Spanish phrase means having the capability to win the good will of people. Former Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros said Gonzalez was never a ``jefe politico'' or political boss. ``He didn't control a political machine,'' Cisneros told mourners, many of whom arrived at the cathedral three hours early to ensure they had a place to sit at the Mass. ``His political code was a bond directly between him and the people. The only words that I find to describe this man is that he was a tribune of the people,'' Cisneros said. Considered sacred in ancient Rome, the tribunes could defend commoners against unfair acts by officials. Other speakers, many of whom worked alongside Gonzalez on Capitol Hill, told of his unwavering work on behalf of the voiceless. ``He was the champion of the common man and an extraordinary figure in Texas politics,'' said U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, D-Dallas, dean of the Texas congressional delegation. Gonzalez's congressional colleagues came from all over Texas and the nation to say goodbye to a man they called a warrior, a statesman, a pioneer, a hero and a national treasure. They also called him funny, brilliant, a maverick and a coalition builder who lived his life with gusto. But the long line of elected officials who spoke also described their longtime colleague as a warm and loyal friend. Bill Richardson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, told people that Gonzalez loved Congress and the people of San Antonio. ``But he was not just yours,'' Richardson said. ``He belonged to everybody. He was national, but he was local.'' Richardson, who represented President Clinton at the Gonzalez funeral, knelt before Gonzalez's coffin before he spoke, calling Henry B. ``a champion of the downtrodden.'' U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island, predicted that Gonzalez's legacy will never die because he had pursued the path of what was right instead of what was easy. ``Like FDR, Henry B. was loved for the enemies he made,'' Kennedy said. ``He had the privilege of being a thorn in the side of great privilege.'' Cisneros called Gonzalez the single most important person in San Antonio's history and one of the great leaders of the 20th century. ``Hearts were touched and dreams were forged by what Henry B. Gonzalez inspired,'' Cisneros said. ``We have lost a great one.'' Frost, who served with Henry B. for a longer time than any other Texas congressman, called Gonzalez ``an extraordinary figure in Texas history.'' Frost said that during his time in Congress, Gonzalez always took the stand he believed was right. Frost said that unlike many politicians, Gonzalez never cast a token vote for the other side in an effort to avoid looking ``too liberal.'' ``He never threw a vote, he never trimmed his sails,'' Frost said. Gonzalez's congressional colleagues credited him for creating housing laws, financial regulations that opened the way to home ownership and financial security for poor people. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, told the mourners at San Fernando Cathedral that he had flown to San Antonio on Saturday because Henry B. had played a key role in rescuing his state of Rhode Island from a severe financial crisis. ``He brought hope to a state whose motto is hope,'' Reed said. ``We could not have done it without Henry B.'' Former Congressman Bob Krueger said that Gonzalez was able to follow his conscience in Congress and speak from his heart because he knew he had the support of the people of San Antonio. Former Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox said he was a little ill at ease seeing so many political dignitaries at Gonzalez's funeral. ``I have a feeling that Henry B., would open the doors and make sure all the common folks could get in here,'' Mattox said. U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, thanked the Gonzalez family for allowing the high Mass to become a ``state funeral,'' and Texas state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos noted that he was in segregated schools when Henry B. first went to Congress. He thanked Gonzalez for making his career possible. U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, told the crowd about joking with Gonzalez about a young Republican in Congress who learned how to vote by watching Gonzalez and always voting the other way. State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, former U.S. Rep. Bill Patman, U.S. Rep. Ken Bentsen, U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio, and de la Garza also spoke eloquently about their comrade. ``Texas is a better place today because Henry B. Gonzalez spent 84 years on the face of this earth,'' Frost said. Both Richardson and Jackson Lee told of the time, close to his retirement, when several young Democrats believed Henry B. should be replaced as chairman of the House Banking Committee. ``We needed 211 Democratic votes,'' Richardson said, ``I was a little worried.'' But Richardson said that Henry B. would not allow him to do any campaigning to keep him in the job. When it came time for the Democratic Caucus to vote, Henry B. spoke last. ``I've never failed myself, and I've never failed you,'' Gonzalez said. Richardson said he won the vote by a 3-to-1 margin. ``It wasn't even close.'' A sorrowful Charlie Gonzalez paid the final tribute to his father with stories, jokes and poetry. Gonzalez said that he had no questions about whether or not his father was in heaven, saying he believed his father was probably talking politics with St. Peter. ``In heaven all the political yard signs will say `Keep Henry B. in D.C.' and `All the Way with LBJ' and, of course, `Viva Kennedy.' '' Gonzalez said he wanted to thank everyone who had ever voted for his father. ``You are the people who made his life possible,'' he said. Gonzalez said that he and his family had been comforted in recent days by the knowledge that his father had left so much more to the world than he had taken. The congressman shared some of the many stories he said he has heard since his father's passing from people who said Henry B. had touched their lives. The younger Gonzalez said he had been visited by two brothers who had met Henry B. when he was their juvenile probation officer. ``He straightened us out,'' Gonzalez reported one brother saying. ``He got me out of reform school and sent my brother there.'' Gonzalez also read the William Wordsworth poem, ``The Character of the Happy Warrior'' as his elegy. ``He opened eyes, he opened hearts and that shall be my father's legacy,'' Gonzalez said. Sitting on a back pew, Maria Palencia spoke proudly about the photos she had of Gonzalez holding her then-3-month-old granddaughter, Adelita Becerra. ``He went to Ruiz Elementary School, where my daughter was a teacher,'' Palencia said. ``She had taken the baby to school that day.'' The granddaughter is now 26 years old. Outside the cathedral, people stood three deep as the pealing of bells competed with music by the Mariachis Campanas de America. A few waved as the casket was placed inside the hearse. An elderly man who began weeping uncontrollably was led away by his daughter. ``We'll never have anyone like him ever again,'' the man said. Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the [[Page 26245]] gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), our dean and chairman. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the designation of the minority leader, the balance of the time is reallocated to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), and the gentleman from Texas may proceed. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of my friend and colleague, the late Henry B. Gonzalez. I remember the day in January of 1979 that, as a new freshman Congressman from Dallas, I walked across the floor of the House and first introduced myself to Henry B. Gonzalez. I, of course, knew who he was and what he had stood for; but I am not sure he knew anything about me. I mentioned to Congressman Gonzalez that my father was from San Antonio, that I had a lot of family in his district; and I said something about my 88-year-old grandmother, Pearl Frost, living in San Antonio. His eyes brightened, and he replied that of course he knew my grandmother. Well, after all, he knew everybody in San Antonio. From that moment on, Henry B. took a special interest in my career. He was very kind and very helpful as I started learning how to be a Congressman. For 20 years, I had the chance to observe Henry B. up close. Several things struck me during that time. First, he was always true to his core beliefs. He never varied from his support for the downtrodden and in his support for equal justice for all people, regardless of race, color, or creed. Some Members of Congress will follow a zigzag path in their voting pattern from time to time, casting a conservative vote here and there so that opponents cannot call them a liberal in the next election. Henry B. never worried about that kind of thing. He was always on the side of the people, no matter what the issue. He did not try to trim his sails. He was who he was. Second, Henry B. was well read, smart and very able. When he first became chairman of the House Committee on Banking, some Members questioned whether he had the temperament to chair a major committee. Some good-naturedly commented to him about how he had changed his wardrobe now that he chaired the Committee on Banking. He no longer wore brightly colored suits all the time, but could often be seen in dark pinstripes. They told him that he was even dressing like a banker. The concerns about Henry B.'s ability to handle the Committee on Banking quickly disappeared. He was a steady chairman, fair to all sides, and he guided the committee through some very tough legislative balances. Early on, he correctly predicted problems faced by deregulating Texas savings and loans and, as chairman, crafted a fair, tough plan to correct these problems. Finally, no one could ever say that he benefitted financially from his position, or that he was in any way influenced by special interest contributions. He simply did not need the contributions and probably would not have taken them even if he ever did have a campaign, which he usually did not. Most of us spent hours putting together our annual financial disclosure statements we had to file with the House. Henry B. filed the same statement every year. He had his congressional salary, and that was it. During his final years as a Member of Congress, age finally had started to slow him down. He was challenged in the Democratic caucus in 1996 by two younger Members who wanted his position as ranking Democratic Member on the Committee on Banking. Henry B. rose in a hushed meeting of the caucus to ask his colleagues for one more term as the ranking member. He eloquently recounted his career, how he had fought for the people his entire life and what he had done as chairman of the committee. It was no contest. The caucus rallied behind this champion of the common man and the challenge disappeared. As Molly Ivins said in a recent column, ``Henry B. was not a saint, but he was a fighter. He was the genuine article, the real thing. He was an extraordinary figure in Texas political history who advanced the cause of Hispanics and all minorities in our State. Texas is a better place today because Henry B. Gonzalez spent 84 years on the face of the Earth. He will be remembered long after most of his contemporaries have been forgotten. And that's the way it should be. We love you, Henry, and we are better because you walked our way.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bentsen), who served on the Committee on Banking and Financial Services with Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas for yielding to me, and let me say that the people of San Antonio, the people of Bexar County, Texas, and the people of Texas and the United States suffered a great loss with the passing of our former colleague, Henry B. Gonzalez, last week. {time} 1145 There is no question that Henry B. Gonzalez, in his service on the San Antonio City Council, in the Texas State Senate, and as a Member of this body, including the pinnacle of being the Chair of the House Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs did more for the people he represented than probably most Members who have served in this body. But more than that, Henry was a trail blazer for the Hispanic population of Texas and the United States, and he was a trail blazer and a leader for American consumers as well. There is not a piece of legislation dealing with consumer rights, financial issues, or housing issues that was not greatly influenced or does not bear the mark of Henry B. Gonzalez that occurred over the last 30 years. Henry B. Gonzalez was the father of the Community Reinvestment Act. He was the father of much of the financial services reform that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. And he clearly was the father of the various laws dealing with public housing and housing assistance that were adopted by this body in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Henry B. Gonzalez was always true to his word. He always rose to the occasion and conquered whatever task was put before him. As my colleague from Ft. Worth has mentioned, there were some who questioned whether or not he would be able to rise to the occasion as Chair of the House Committee on Banking, and there were some who questioned whether or not he would be able to go beyond issues related to consumer rights and community reinvestment and housing issues to deal with the tough, intricate issues of financial regulation, particularly in the midst of the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s. And yet Henry B. Gonzalez was the person who was able to show the leadership, to drive a force through the middle to pass the FIRREA and FIDICIA legislation and pass other legislation which brought this country out of its worst banking crisis since the Great Depression. So, Mr. Speaker, I do not think there is any question that Henry B. Gonzalez did what he was asked and served with great distinction for the people of the 20th District of Texas and the United States. I would just close by saying this: I had the honor of serving with Henry B. Gonzalez in two ways, one as a Member and also as staff; and I can remember, while in graduate school as a young staffer on the Hill long before the Conservative Opportunity Society and Members really knew what Special Orders were about, it was Henry B. Gonzalez who came to the floor every day and closed the House and would speak extemporaneously for 60 minutes about whatever issue he happened to be interested in, drawing back on his extensive knowledge of history and captivating the audience that was there, the new C-SPAN audience that was out there. Later, as a member of the House Committee on Banking, when Henry was the most senior member, with all due respect to the chairman, but still the most senior member on the committee, and I the most junior member on the committee, he brought me along. And I will never forget, as the chairman of the committee knows this well, Henry B. Gonzalez, who built his career, who has the longest record for a filibuster in the Texas State Senate, fighting the so-called States' rights [[Page 26246]] issues and the Jim Crow laws, that at the end of his career, it was Henry B. Gonzalez and I who were fighting for States' rights and the rights of Texas to determine its home equity laws. We were not successful that day in the House Committee on Banking, as the chairman will remember. But, in the end, Henry prevailed and the issue went back to the State of Texas. It was a great honor and privilege to serve with Henry B. Gonzalez. He will long be remembered not just in the 20th District and not just in Texas, but throughout the United States, for the work that he did for the American people. We are a better place for his service. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), the current chairman of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services. Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I particularly thank the gentleman for holding this Special Order in honor of his great Texas friend. In my time in the United States Congress, I have served with no more honorable a man. Henry was an old-fashioned liberal, and he never had a conflict of interest. He did not just simply advocate, he lived campaign reform. His only special interest was his constituents. He never let them down. Nor did they ever countenance an alternative. Honesty has its rewards. I might say that, while a bit more conservative and bent, I believe his values are very much reflected in his son, with whom we are also very honored to serve. As colleagues on the Committee on Banking, Henry and I held differing positions on a number of issues, particularly matters involving the Federal Reserve. But Henry Gonzalez always had an element of justice, an element of good judgment on the side as, for example, when he sought to bring more transparency to certain operations of the Federal Reserve. He also led Congress in efforts to uncover money laundering in all parts of the country, particularly in his own region, the San Antonio Federal Reserve District. It is sometimes said that the true riches in one's life can be measured by the lives that one has touched and changed for the better. Throughout his history in public service, Henry Gonzalez has served as a model for millions of Americans. And throughout his career, he steadfastly stood for those less advantaged. He has literally represented and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. For his honorableness, his commitment to basic values, for his remembrance of his roots, we in this House are deeply honored to have served with this man and we honor his memory. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, at this time it is my intention to yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the co-chair of our Steering Committee. And then it is my intention to yield to members of the Texas delegation. And then to the extent that we have other Members who want to speak, I will be yielding to them. But I want to give our colleagues from Texas the opportunity to speak. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I have 3 minutes. We have an hour Special Order. Each one of us that stands could spend an hour talking about our friend, Henry Gonzalez. This is the people's House. We are proud of that. No person in history better represented an advocate for the people than Henry B. Gonzalez of Texas. In a land of plenty, Mr. Speaker, and in a time of unprecedented economic prosperity across our Nation, many Americans, with no malicious intent in their hearts, may overlook the plight of the poor, the downtrodden, the vulnerable. That, however, could never ever be said of Henry B. Gonzalez of Texas, who passed away at the age of 84 just a few days ago. Throughout his entire life in public service, including his 37 years in this Chamber, where he represented his beloved community of San Antonio, he was a battler for those who were struggling in our society. He was a champion of the underdog and for social justice throughout his 37-year career in this body and previously in local and State government. He was a man of integrity, compassion, commitment, courage, unquestioned honesty. Born in 1916 to recent immigrants from Mexico, he knew firsthand discrimination and poverty. He entered public office after once resigning a position as a probation officer in juvenile court because he was prohibited from hiring an African American. Henry's fight for social justice continued when he was elected to the San Antonio Council. He won approval for a measure there to desegregate city facilities long before it was the popular issue of the day. In 1957, he became the first person of Mexican-American heritage elected to the Texas Senate. His legacy in that body, as has been referenced, certainly is focused on a 22-hour filibuster that he conducted to ensure the defeat of measures protecting school segregation. Henry could never, and would never, countenance rank injustice such as that. Henry B. Gonzalez was not always successful in the short term, but his cry for justice in the long term was usually successful. Henry's indefatigable quest for social justice and equality continued, Mr. Speaker, when he was elected to the House in 1961. Over the years, he rose to become the chairman of the Committee on Banking, as we have heard. In that regard, he fought for the little people, the people who did not have the lobbyists in Washington or the great money to advocate their position. And during his tenure on that committee, he was instrumental in helping to pass key housing legislation, repairing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and cleaning up the savings and loan scandals of the 1980s. While Henry was undoubtedly proud of his ethnic heritage, he always insisted that it did not determine his politics. ``I am a Democrat without prefix, suffix or apology or any other kind of modification,'' he once said. Yes, Mr. Speaker, in this, the people's House, the people had no more articulate, no more committed, nor more courageous advocate than our friend Henry B. Gonzalez. When I first came to this House in 1981, I was privileged to serve on the Committee on Banking. I was privileged to know him as a leader, as a role model, as a friend. America and its principles and Constitution had a great advocate in Henry B. Gonzalez. America, Texas, San Antonio, Charlie our colleague and his son, his other brothers and sisters, his wife, his family will miss him most. But, Charlie, know well that we miss him as well. We loved him when he served with us, and we love him now. Robert Kennedy once said that: Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. Henry Gonzalez did much more than send forth a few tiny ripples of hope. His life's work and his legacy were a strong, powerful wave that gives all of us the energy and commitment to keep up the good fight, and keep the faith. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz). Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, to see the future we must stand on the shoulders of a giant. At this moment, I would like to offer my condolences to the Gonzalez family and to my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez), for the loss of his father, a great American. For me and many of us sitting in the House of Representatives today, Henry B. Gonzalez was a giant of a man. He was the key that opened up many doors that in the past had been closed to many of us. People often speak of pioneers or of giants or of visionaries. Sometimes we use those words loosely. But there is literally no better example of those words than Henry B., as he will forever be remembered by those of us who loved him. Henry B. was a pioneer for Texas and for Hispanic Americans throughout the [[Page 26247]] United States. He got a law degree in the days of segregation because he loved the law and he knew that fundamentally the law would eventually come to protect all Americans. He entered politics and was successful in municipal, State, and Federal elections even in the days of the elite primaries, legal segregation, and the poll tax. It was no coincidence that the day Henry B. was sworn in as a Member of this body he clutched in his left hand the bill that he would drop that day to abolish the poll tax. I remember, when I was a young constable back in the 1960s, I was running for county commissioner and I knew that there was a political rally in San Antonio. I drove all the way from Corpus Christi to see if I could talk to Henry B. I had never met Henry B. before. I waited until he was about ready to exit the stage of this theater and I introduced myself. I said, ``Mr. Congressman, I am Solomon Ortiz. I am a constable from a small town, and I am running for county commissioner. I would like to see if you would be kind enough to give me an endorsement.'' Right on the steps as he walked down the stage in this theater, he said, sit down. And he sat right on the steps. He made one 30-second spot and a 60-second spot. I won that election as county commissioner. And then on my reelection, again an old friend by the name of Domingo Pena and Bob Cuellar, who operated the theater, we went to see Henry B. to see if he could come to my district for an event. He and his lovely wife, Charlie's mother Bertha, joined me. And we were very successful. {time} 1200 We lost a man that was loved by many, many people. No matter how much he may have disagreed with those who served with him, he always treated each person with whom he worked with great respect. We have lost a great American. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards). Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, every day when this House goes into session, we put our hands over our heart and finish the pledge to our American flag with the words ``with liberty and justice for all.'' All too often we then go back to our busy daily schedules of phone calls and meetings. But to Henry B. Gonzalez, those words ``with liberty and justice for all'' were not just a phrase to be spoken on the floor of this House the beginning of each day. They were not just a nice phrase to be put in high school civics textbooks. Those words were a passion of a lifetime. ``With liberty and justice for all.'' He believed it. He fought for it. And he sacrificed for that high principle. Because of that, America is a better place today. Henry B. Gonzalez personified to me what is good about America. What is good about America is not that we are a perfect land but that we are forever in the struggle to try to come closer to reaching the high ideals of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Henry B. Gonzalez took the principles of that Constitution and the Bill of Rights and fought year in and year out to see that they were not just words on a piece of parchment, but they were a reality for all of God's children living here in America, people of all races and all colors and creeds and religions. There is a saying that I will never forget that was given to me by a young Hispanic girl several years ago that I met. She was a 9-year-old girl fighting for her life against cancer. She gave me a little card that I will never forget, and I think it is appropriate to repeat the words of that little girl's card today, because to me they reflect the meaning of Henry B. Gonzalez's life. This is how that card went--(The gentleman from Texas spoke in Spanish--``Cuando morimos, dejamos todo lo que tenerras y nas llevarnos todo lo que dimos''), when we leave this world, we leave behind all that we have but we carry with us all that we have given. To me, Henry B. Gonzalez had a great deal to carry with him when he left this world, a person who never forgot the least of these amongst us. He made a difference for all Americans. He made America a better place for us and for our children. For that as well as his decency and his dignity, we will never forget our friend and colleague Henry B. Gonzalez. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green). Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) the dean of our delegation, for organizing this special order for our colleague, Henry B. Gonzalez. The United States lost a patriot; Texas lost a son; and I lost a mentor and a hero. Until today, I did not realize that he was a mentor for other people. When the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz) told the story of Henry B. sitting down with him and working with him, I felt the same way more recently in 1993 and 1994. Texas has had many colorful and distinguished leaders. Some have reached the level of legend. In Henry B.'s work not only in Congress but in the Texas Senate and in Bexar County and San Antonio, his dedication to his constituents has placed him in that top category of a Texas legend. Myself and my family express our deep regret to the Gonzalez family in their loss and our loss as a Nation. I think a lot of us really need to talk about how Henry B. affected us individually. I had the same situation in 1993 and in early 1994. I was elected in 1992. I have some constituents in my district who actually were a part of the Henry B. Gonzalez campaign effort in the late 1950s. There are now still precinct judges, in Harris County, A.B. Olmos; and a number of people said, when you get to Washington as they supported me in 1992, you need to look up our friend Henry B. and follow Henry B. When I was elected and I sat down with Henry B. Gonzalez, and I almost see him sitting here in this chair because he always sat just to the right of where I am standing, I sat down and introduced myself because as serving 20 years in the Texas legislature, Henry B. did not come to Austin very often. I remember meeting him a couple of times. But I sat down with him and introduced myself and said, ``I'd like to work you. I'm not going to serve on the Banking Committee, but obviously I have some very close friends in Houston who are your longtime supporters.'' I would do that every few weeks and talk with him and see what was going on as a freshman Member. I had an opponent announce in December of 1993. Henry B. in January and February of 1994 said, ``By the way, I want to help you in your reelection. I'll do a radio tape or video or whatever.'' We never could set up the video and I always wanted him to come to Houston but he always passed on through and went back to San Antonio every weekend. Henry B. did that out of the graciousness of his heart, because he said, and I will remember these words, ``I like the way you handle yourself here on the House floor.'' That was like somebody who you respected as a hero putting their hand on your shoulder and giving you such a great compliment. Henry B. did that. His filibuster in the Texas Senate in the late 1950s against the segregationist bills again makes him part of legend. He is only one of two Members of Congress whose pictures hang in the Texas Senate. The other Member is the late Barbara Jordan whose picture, along with Henry B.'s, also hangs in the Chamber of the Texas Senate. Henry B.'s accomplishments and contributions are legendary. I think it is appropriate that we remember him and his leadership. Again as a Member from Houston-Harris County, we would not have the benefits we have with our homeless funding without Henry B. being chairman in 1993 and 1994 and helping us to this day receive recognition for our effort in our homeless funding. Mr. Speaker, last week, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez. The United States lost a patriot, Texas lost a son, and I lost a mentor and hero. Texas has had many colorful and distinguished leaders. Some have reached the level of legend. Henry B. Gonzalez's work in Congress and his dedication to his constituents place him at the top of this category. Myself and my family express our regret to the Gonzalez family on their loss. Congressman Gonzalez's distinguished 38-year congressional career demonstrated his [[Page 26248]] deep commitment to public service and those in our society who had no one fighting on their behalf. Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1961, Henry B. Gonzalez served as a member of the San Antonio City Council, and as the city's mayor pro tem. He was subsequently elected to the Texas State Senate where he will always be remembered as a champion of the common people. He was revered for leading a 36-hour filibuster against legislation which sought to uphold and facilitate the principles of segregation. Henry B. Gonzalez held the floor for 22 hours and two minutes, finishing shoeless and exhausted, but victorious. He made such an impression on the Texas State Senate that his portrait hangs in the chamber in Austin. Only one other Member of Congress has ever had their portrait hung in the chamber, the late Barbara Jordan. Henry B. Gonzalez's greatest accomplishments in the U.S. Congress were in the area of affordable housing. He insisted on protecting the rights of low-income citizens, even though it was not popular. As chairman of the House Banking Committee, he led efforts to repair the savings and loans industry and helped stop the crisis from spreading to banks by overhauling the deposit insurance system. Throughout this service in Congress, Henry B. Gonzalez made it his mission to force the chief executive to justify any military action. In 1983, Congressman Gonzalez was the only Member calling for the withdraw of U.S. troops from Lebanon. He introduced a resolution to this affect and continue to speak out on this issue. Three days after his last statement on the subject, the Beirut bombing occurred. Democratic Members of the House are also well aware of Henry B.'s efforts on behalf of the Democratic Party. He was an articulate spokesman in Presidential politics since 1960, when he served as the national co-chairman of the ``Viva Kennedy'' campaign. I would like to extend my condolences to his family, especially to my colleague and friend Congressman Charlie Gonzalez. I am proud to have known Henry B. Gonzalez, and I consider my self fortunate to have served with him and to have called him my friend. Henry B. is a true Texas legend and a great American. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson). Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me rise and thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) for providing for this hour. As long as I can remember attempting to be a good citizen, from the days of not being quite old enough to vote, I remember the name of Henry B. Gonzalez. Henry B. Gonzalez came along in Texas before he was considered a minority. He attended the University of Texas before the university integrated or desegregated. And even during those times, he was committed to equality for all. He often had long statements concerning the poor, the disenfranchised being seen as equal partners. At the same time, he did not ignore his committed thinking and planning for those who were even more powerful as long as they were right and as long as he felt it was right. He truly believed, as we have heard, in liberty and justice for all. He was a family man, a community man, a man who gave personal attention to his constituents. He sat on sidewalks with a card table and visited with people and opened his office door and made all welcome. I identify him as the single person on this floor that educated Members and the public on the banking industry. When all banks were failing and the S&Ls were going under, he frequently talked about rescuing them with public dollars and with the same dollars from people that never got service from them which led to CRA. Although some may have disagreed with him, all respected him no matter what party. He will always be a hero of mine, a hero of the people, a hero of the common man, because he never left out those persons who were least able to speak for themselves. And so Henry B. Gonzalez made his mark not only in Texas but in this Nation, standing tall long before it was even thought about that Mexican Americans or the Hispanic population in this country as it has grown has now been considered a minority, but he did that. Speaking for all minorities prior to that time speaks to how committed he was to what was right and speaks to the issue of all being equal. And so I will thank him and tell my grandchildren to thank him for his service. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me add my appreciation to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) for organizing this very special tribute. A couple of days ago, on Saturday in the month of December, San Antonio, the entire city of San Antonio, paid a very special tribute to a national treasure. I want to thank the Gonzalez family for allowing us to come and share in a celebration of life. I would like to offer to Mrs. Gonzalez, Congressman Gonzalez' bride, Bertha, and the eight brothers and sisters my deepest sympathy for their loss. I want my colleagues to know that Mr. Congressman Gonzalez sat right there three rows back on the floor of the House. It did not take long for new Members to gravitate toward his calm demeanor and very special spirit. I would like to call him a champion for the poor, an on-line fighter that did not diminish his burning desire for equality no matter who was against him. He was a genteel person, even though I am told that he knew a little bit about boxing, and he handled himself very well. But I saw him as someone patient with those of us who were new, a man who could be counted on. I am reminded of his presence and friendship with President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and the fact that he was with him on the day of his death in Texas. But in my remarks last Saturday, I ask my colleagues to indulge me to allow me to tell them what Henry Gonzalez means to me. I will never forget, though as a child I would not have known at the time, that in 1957 Henry Gonzalez stood in the Senate in the State of Texas and protected me. There was no other voice that could have protected me at that time. I had no champions. I had no knowledge. I was a child. I was young. And I would not have been aware that a State such as Texas had a governor that filed 16 segregationist legislative initiatives, 16, not one, not two, not three, not four but 16, and a lone Senator with his dear friend stood for 36 hours to protect me and the rest of America who looked like me and who of those he represented. Thank you, Henry, for fighting against fear, for fighting against segregation and discrimination and racism. Thank you, Congressman Gonzalez, for acknowledging even though you led out on the Select Committee on Assassinations which I served as a staff member, thank you for acknowledging that you wanted the truth to be heard on that committee. Thank you, Chairman Gonzalez, for fighting for Federal housing and fighting against cuts. And thank you, Chairman Gonzalez, for allowing me to help nominate you to fight for your ranking position which you deserved on the Banking Committee. {time} 1215 Lastly, let me thank the Gonzalez family for, I guess, bringing about our new leader, Charlie Gonzalez, who his father was so very proud to watch being sworn in in 1999. Thank you for the sacrifice; thank you for what you have done for me and so many others. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters). Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman for organizing this time on the floor for us to pay special tribute to a very special man. It is very difficult to do this within 2 minutes, but let me try and share with you. Saturday I attended the funeral services of Henry B. Gonzalez. It was the most beautiful service I have ever attended in my entire life. I guess that was the Highest Mass that was held there on Saturday. It was a beautiful cathedral, the oldest in the country. All of the elected officials from all over the State of Texas and all of the local elected officials attended. It was magnificent. The church bells rang after the service, the town square was filled, the people were all over the steps, and the local newspaper did something I have never seen. They devoted more space to [[Page 26249]] Henry B. Gonzalez than I have ever seen devoted to anybody, any elected official, non-elected official, and I know why. It is the same reason I attended the services. He was a man of impeccable integrity. He was a very special human being who knew who he was and knew from whence he came. He was the Honorable Mr. Chairman of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, a man that had shown his commitment time and time again with the kind of legislation that he advanced. He did not care about the perks, the ceremonies, the hot shots. None of that was what Henry cared about. He cared about the people. He helped me to become an active member of that committee. When I came on to that committee, I did not want to be on that committee. I knew nothing about banking. But because of Henry B. Gonzalez, I was given an opportunity to advance amendments. He worked with me. He helped me to understand what the CRA was all about, he helped me to understand what the banking institutions of America were all about, he helped me to focus on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He was a learned man who displayed not only his historical knowledge, but his deep intellect on the floor of Congress time and time again. He was honored in the most magnificent way, and he will be spoken about by many in the most magnificent ways that human beings can today because of who he was. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm). Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, a couple of years ago my wife, Cindy, and I sent out Christmas cards on which we signed it ``Charlie and Cindy.'' We got a couple back saying, ``Thank you for the Christmas card, but who are Charlie and Cindy?'' In San Antonio, no one ever asked the question, who is Henry B.? I have known and worked with many colleagues over the years, but none that had the absolute reverence shown to them by his constituency, and knowing him and favorably calling him Henry B. Charlie, you had a great dad. I enjoyed 20 years of his life, getting to know him here on the House floor. We did not often vote together. In fact, more often than not we voted differently. But I found that at no time did I ever doubt the sincerity of the vote cast, the speech made, the point made, the dedication and the sincerity of his attempt to represent his people, his district and his views; and he articulated this in a way that this one more conservative Member never hesitated to say to those that differed, you might differ, but you can never doubt the sincerity. This place, this Congress and this country, is a better country today because of the likes of Henry B. Gonzalez that comes to this body, represents the views and wishes of his district, and does it in a way that, not only his constituents, but the rest of us will never forget who Henry B. was and is today. Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa). Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, although the occasion for these remarks is a sad one, I am honored to be able to participate in this special order paying tribute to Texas legend Henry B. Gonzalez. As he did for countless others since first being elected in 1960, Henry B. truly paved the way for my being here in Congress. His invincible will, demonstrated so many times during so many battles, served as an example to me, that while the fight may not always be easy, it is always worth waging. His example set the bar for which all of us aspire. He was a great American, a selfless and principled public servant, the best of the best, a champion for the poor, a voice for the under-represented in Washington. Only briefly did I have the pleasure of serving with him here in the House. During that all too short time, I can assure you I was eager to glean whatever I could from his treasured house of invaluable knowledge. In fact, not a day passes that I am not mindful of how he commented to me early on that he would never recommend I rope a cow as it is going down the mountain. It was sage counsel indeed, and it has served me well these past several years, as I know it will continue to do in the years to come. To me, nothing is more important than standing up for what you believe in and having the fortitude to tackle the tough issues. Henry B. did exactly that, and he did it on his own terms and with the utmost integrity. In closing, I have the greatest respect for all he accomplished, and I will always admire him. Henry B. Gonzalez represents not only the best that Congress can be, but I feel that the best that an individual can be. He was a true and caring representative of people, and I can think of no greater accolade. I will miss him, Texas will miss him, America will miss him. His loss is truly immeasurable. Charlie Gonzalez, his son, is my friend and my colleague; and I look forward to serving with him in this House of Representatives. ____________________