[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21768]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    THE KIKA DE LA GARZA COURTHOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague from Texas, 
Mr. Doggett, for his work in getting the McAllen courthouse named for 
my dear friend, our former colleague, Kika de la Garza.
  It is fitting that after a long and distinguished career as a 
lawmaker, the McAllen courthouse, which dispenses justice in the Rio 
Grande Valley, will bear the name of the former Chairman of the House 
Agriculture Committee. Kika de la Garza was instrumental in passing 
many of the laws under which many people will be judged.
  The former Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee is a son of 
South Texas and a man who understood completely the unique culture of 
the Rio Grande Valley and the culture of Capitol Hill.
  While his expertise was in agriculture, Chairman de la Garza made a 
legendary lesson of how food was integral to our military warfighters. 
He famously asked the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee so 
long ago, ``How long can a submarine stay under water?''
  After listening to a long and detailed discourse on the capabilities 
of submarines from the Armed Services Committee Chairman, Chairman de 
la Garza responded, ``That's not right, sir. A sub can only stay under 
water as long as the food supply lasts.''
  Kika de la Garza is a giant in the history of the United States 
Congress, of South Texas and in the hearts of all of those of us who 
know and love him. It is a fitting tribute that this courthouse will 
bear the name of Kika de la Garza.

                          ____________________