[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6184-6186]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     REYNALDO G. GARZA AND FILEMON B. VELA UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE

  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 483) to designate a United States courthouse in Brownsville, 
Texas, as the ``Reynaldo G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela United States 
Courthouse''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 483

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The United States courthouse located at the corner of 
     Seventh Street and East Jackson Street in Brownsville, Texas, 
     shall be designated and known as the ``Reynaldo G. Garza and 
     Filemon B. Vela United States Courthouse''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Reynaldo G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela 
     United States Courthouse''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Honda) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).
  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 438, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz), 
designates the United States courthouse located in Brownsville, Texas, 
as the Reynaldo G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela United States courthouse.
  This is the second time the Congress has considered this matter, 
having previously passed identical legislation by voice vote during the 
108th Congress.
  This legislation honors two men for their service to their country, 
both inside and out of public service.
  Reynaldo Guerra Garza was born in Brownsville, Texas, and spent his 
lifetime serving that community.
  President Kennedy appointed then State Judge Garza to the U.S. 
District Court for the Southern District of Texas in 1961. At that 
time, Judge Garza became the first Mexican American on any U.S. 
District Court.
  In 1979, when Jimmy Carter appointed him to the Fifth Circuit Court 
of Appeals, Judge Garza became the first Mexican American to serve in 
that position.
  Filemon Bartolome Vela was born and raised in Harlingen, Texas. Like 
Judge Garza, he dedicated his life to south Texas, first as a State 
judge and then as a Federal judge, taking over the District Court seat 
vacated by Judge Garza upon his appointment to the Circuit Court of 
Appeals.
  Judge Vela is perhaps best known in the community for his work with 
schools, encouraging youth education and literacy programs.

                              {time}  1045

  This naming is fitting tribute to their dedicated service, and I urge 
my colleagues to support this legislation.
  I would also like to recognize my colleague, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Ortiz), for his dedication to bringing this legislation to the 
floor. I thank him for ensuring these men are recognized for their 
service.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I join with the gentleman from Brownsville, Texas (Mr. 
Ortiz), in supporting H.R. 483, a bill to name the courthouse in 
Brownsville, Texas, as the Reynaldo G. Garza-Filemon B. Vela United 
States Courthouse.
  Madam Speaker, this bill honors the life and works of two 
extraordinary Mexican Americans. The first honoree, Judge Reynaldo 
Garza, was born in Brownsville in 1915. He graduated from local 
elementary schools as well as Brownsville High School. After graduating 
from Brownsville Junior College, he attended the University of Texas 
where he received the combined degrees of bachelor of arts and bachelor 
of law.
  Judge Garza served his country during World War II in the Air Force. 
After the war he returned to Brownsville to practice law.
  In 1961 President Kennedy appointed Judge Garza to the district court 
for the Southern District of Texas. In 1979 President Carter appointed 
him to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. In 
addition to his judicial duties, Judge Garza has long been interested 
in education issues.
  He served former Governors John Connally and Mark White on 
commissions to improve the quality of education in Texas. Judge Garza 
recognized the importance of education in judicial proceedings and his 
concern for uneducated men at the mercy of unscrupulous people.
  Judge Garza was very active in his church and has served the Knights 
of Columbus in the Brownsville area for many years.
  Pope Pius XII twice decorated Judge Garza for his work on behalf of 
public charities. In 1989 Judge Garza was honored by the University of 
Texas with a Distinguished Alumnus Award.
  His record of public service includes the work with the Rotary Club, 
the Latin-American Relation Committee in Brownsville, trustee at his 
law school, advisory council for the Boy Scouts, and he was elected as 
the city commissioner for the City of Brownsville.
  It is fitting and proper to honor Judge Garza's outstanding, rich 
life, his commitment to excellence and his numerous public 
contributions.
  The second honoree, Madam Speaker, Judge Filemon Vela, was also a 
native Texan and a veteran of the United States Army. He attended Texas 
Southmost College and the University of Texas. His law degree is from 
St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio.
  Judge Vela served as a commissioner of the city of Brownsville. He 
was a member of the Judges Advisory Committee to the U.S. Sentencing 
Commission. Judge Vela is a former law instructor and an attorney for 
the Cameron County Child Welfare Department.
  His civic activities including being the charter president for the 
Esperanza Home for Boys and the co-sponsor of the Spanish Radio Program 
``Enrich

[[Page 6185]]

Your Life, Complete Your Studies.'' Judge Vela's other civic activities 
include membership on the Independent School District Task Force and 
membership in the general assembly of the Texas Catholic Conference. He 
is also an active member of the Lions Club.
  Judge Vela was nominated by President Carter for the Federal bench 
and was confirmed by the United States Senate in 1980.
  Judge Vela's career is filled with successes, commitment to his 
family, devotion to his religion and his church, love for his work and 
respect for his colleagues. It is most fitting to honor Judge Vela with 
this designation.
  I join the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz) in supporting H.R. 483.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Ortiz), the author of this bill.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. 
I think the gentleman has done a great job in describing the 
contributions of two great giants from south Texas. I want to thank the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from West Virginia 
(Mr. Mollohan) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and 
all those involved who helped expedite this bill.
  This is not the first time this bill has been before the House. It 
has passed two or three times, but it has stalled in the Senate. This 
bill would rename the Brownsville courthouse for two legislative giants 
from south Texas. This bill will rename the courthouse the Reynaldo G. 
Garza and the Filemon B. Vela United States Courthouse.
  We have a wealth of riches in south Texas, including these two giants 
of men. Reynaldo Garza was the first Hispanic appointed to the Federal 
bench by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and Judge Filemon Vela was 
appointed to the Federal bench by President Jimmy Carter back in 1980. 
Both of these men have become legends in the south Texas area by virtue 
of their commitment to education and to our community. Both heroes 
passed away last year.
  This legislation is noncontroversial, and I hope the Senate will 
quickly consider and pass this as well.
  I thank the House and my friends for helping expedite this bill again 
to get to the floor.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa).
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
483, the Garza-Vela United States Courthouse Designation Act, offered 
by my colleague and my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Ortiz).
  This bill pays tribute to two great Americans, Federal Judge Reynaldo 
Garza and Federal Judge Filemon Vela who were judicial legends in the 
great State of Texas.
  Judge Garza was the Nation's first Mexican American Federal district 
judge appointed to the Federal bench by President Kennedy in 1961. This 
outstanding man had done advanced study in the field of law and was a 
great orator.
  Judge Garza served our Nation through the turbulent years of the 
civil rights movement. His decisions contributed to the changes that 
opened up many opportunities for minorities.
  In 1976 President Carter asked him to serve as the Nation's Attorney 
General, but he declined because he did not want to leave his beloved 
south Texas and his service on the Federal bench. He did, however, 
accept an appointment to the 5th Court of Appeals by President Carter 
and for many years commuted back and forth between south Texas and the 
circuit court in New Orleans.
  In 1982 he obtained senior status; and even after his retirement, he 
remained active by filling in on the bench whenever he was needed. He 
was committed to education, particularly in encouraging literacy; and 
he was known and highly respected by everyone for the even-handed way 
in which he dispensed justice.
  I served 1 year as foreman of a Federal grand jury which he appointed 
in his district court in Brownsville, Texas. It was a privilege and a 
pleasure to work with him and meet in his chamber where I witnessed 
firsthand the honesty, the integrity, and compassion of this gentleman 
from south Texas.
  His last official act took place from his hospital bed when he 
officiated the swearing in of his protege, Federal Judge Ricardo H. 
Hinojosa, as the new chairman of the Federal Sentencing Commission.
  Judge Vela was nominated to the Federal bench by President Carter in 
1980. He became an expert on comparative American and Mexican law. 
During his tenure, the Federal docket dramatically increased due to the 
enormous population growth in south Texas. Yet despite the heavy case 
load, Judge Vela fought to ensure that every person received prompt and 
fair treatment. He worked tirelessly to design and have built the new 
courthouse in Brownsville. It is indeed fitting that his name will be 
on this new Federal courthouse.
  Judge Vela, like his good friend Judge Garza, was known for his 
impeccable integrity and his willingness to mentor young attorneys. He 
also was passionate about teaching children about the law and the 
criminal justice system in order to encourage them to make right 
choices of life. He would bring inmates to school auditorium programs 
to tell children about the mistakes they had made and the consequences 
they suffered as a result.
  Judge Vela had one of the longest running and most successful radio 
programs on legal subjects which was broadcast in Spanish to more than 
2 million listeners in south Texas and northern Mexico.
  He also participated in 220 Spanish radio programs entitled 
``Enriquezca Su Vida, Termine Sus Estudios,'' meaning ``enrich your 
life, complete your studies,'' that focused on encouraging children to 
stay in school and off drugs.
  He was tireless when it came to community involvement and showing 
compassion for low-income families. I am proud to have called him my 
second cousin.
  He gave countless hours as a mentor and leader to youth programs 
whether as an attorney for the Cameron County Child Welfare Department, 
as founder of the Esperanza Home for Boys, or as the Chair of the Board 
of Rio Grande Marine Institute Home for Youth.
  We lost both of these great men last year, but their service to the 
people of Texas and to this great Nation must not be forgotten.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation that provides a 
fitting tribute to these two great Americans.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 483, a 
bill to honor two members of the United States Judiciary. The bill 
would designate the federal courthouse located in Brownsville, Texas as 
the Reynaldo G. Garza and the Filemon B. Vela United States Courthouse. 
I'd like to recognize the Gentleman from Texas, Congressman Ortiz, for 
introducing this bill. The Gentleman introduced this same legislation 
in the 108th Congress, which passed the House last September. 
Unfortunately, the other body did not act on that bill. I am hopeful 
that with our passage of the bill today, the Senate will take quick 
action on it.
  These two jurists displayed the very finest in legal scholarship. 
Judges Garza and Vela have contributed several decades of legal 
excellence to the judicial system of the United States. In addition, 
both these gentlemen have made substantial contributions, through 
extensive volunteer efforts, to the well being of their communities.
  Judge Reynaldo Garza was appointed by President Kennedy to the 
Federal bench and was the first Hispanic Federal Judge. After serving 
in the federal district court, Judge Garza was appointed to the U.S. 
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He also served on the 
Brownsville Independent School Board, the Texas Educational Standards 
Committee, and the Select Committee on Higher Education.
  When Judge Garza was appointed to the Fifth Circuit, Judge Filemon 
Vela succeeded him on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District 
of Texas in Brownsville. Judge Vela had a history of service to the 
community of south Texas. He worked closely with The

[[Page 6186]]

Esperanza Home for Boys, and headed numerous local activities to 
encourage young people to stay in school. He was an active member of 
the Texas Conference of Churches and was former district chairman of 
the Boy Scouts of America.
  Judges Garza and Vela were active members in numerous civic 
organizations including the Texas Bar Association, and the United 
States Sentencing Commission, Brownsville Rotary Club, the Latin 
American Relations Committee, and the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce. 
They were beloved and revered members of the Mexican-American 
community, the judicial community, and the city of Brownsville.
  Judges Garza and Vela were outstanding jurists and good friends. This 
designation is a fitting tribute to their distinguished public and 
civic careers of two remarkable Texans and I urge its adoption.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, it is rate that a man has a chance to known 
his heros. It is even rarer for a man to be able to stand shoulder to 
shoulder with his heros as a fellow community leader. While serving as 
Border Patrol Sector Chief for the McAllen, Texas sector, however, I 
had that chance. Today, we are remembering the lives and groundgreaking 
achievements of the late Judges Reynaldo Guerra Garza and Filemon Vela 
and inscribing the U.S. Courthouse in Brownsville with their names.
  Like me, Judge Garza came from a humble background, from a family 
whose parents were born in Mexico and came to this country in search of 
opportunity for their children. He rose to preside over one of the 
highest courts in the land, in the process becoming the first Mexican-
American Federal district judge and rendering some of the most 
important civil rights decisions in this country's history. Judge Garza 
ended his career on the prestigious Fifth Circuit of the U.S. Court of 
Appeals.
  Judge Vela, much like Judge Garza, grew up of modest means in south 
Texas. He is remembered as a hard-working and committed judge whose 
impact was felt not only in the courtroom, but in the community as 
well.
  Perhaps the essential message for me to convey here, however, is that 
each of these men spent considerable time and effort emphasizing the 
incredible power of education. Both Judges Garza and Vela understood 
how education could transform the lives of young people, because they 
and their families had benefited greatly from it.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
legislation naming the courthouse in Brownsville, Texas, after Reynaldo 
G. Garza and Filemon B. Vela--two great judges, great role models, and 
great men.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 483, a bill to rename the courthouse in Brownsville, Texas as the 
Reynaldo Garza and the Filemon B. Vela courthouse.
  Filemon Vela was born in Harlingen, Texas, in 1935. He served as 
State district judge in Texas for Cameron and Willacy Counties in 1975 
until he was appointed as a Federal judge by President Jimmy Carter in 
1980. He served until 2000 when he retired.
  Filemon Vela was a strong advocate of education because of his 
father's strong belief in education. As one of nine children he 
believed that he would not finish high school, but when his mother died 
his father motivated him to continue his education. He graduated from 
Harlingen High School and then went to University of Texas Austin. 
After serving in the U.S. Army Filemon Vela went to St. Mary's Law 
School and doctor of jurisprudence in 1962. Throughout his career he 
taped more than 200 radio programs urging children to stay in school 
and promoting literacy programs.
  Reynaldo Garza was the first Mexican-American Federal judge in the 
U.S. when he was appointed by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to the 
south Texas bench. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the 
U.S. Court of Appeals, making him the first Mexican-American appointed 
to that court. He served his lifetime appointment in Brownsville, 
Texas.
  Reynaldo Garza contributed many things to the Hispanic community, he 
was the first Mexican American elected to the Brownsville school board, 
and he worked with the League of United Latin American Citizens to 
improve the civil rights of Mexican Americans in Texas.
  The lifetime accomplishments of both of these men are truly 
inspirational to us all. By naming the courthouse in Brownsville after 
them we recognize not only their contribution to the judicial 
community, but also to the city of Brownsville.
  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capito). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 483.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________