[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10752-10753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        23 IN 1--DEL RIO, TEXAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Gallego) for 5 minutes.

[[Page 10753]]


  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to continue our journey 
throughout the vast 23rd District of Texas and talk about San Felipe 
Del Rio, known today as Del Rio, Texas.
  San Felipe Del Rio was founded by the Spaniards in the 1600s. In 
fact, local lore talks about the Spaniards offering a mass there on St. 
Philip's Day in 1635, hence the name San Felipe.
  When the local post office was established in 1883, the name was 
condensed simply to Del Rio, in order to avoid confusion with San 
Felipe de Austin.
  Del Rio, from the onset, has been carried forward by those with 
innovation and entrepreneurship in their blood, from the San Felipe 
Agricultural, Irrigation, and Manufacturing Company, which first 
harnessed the clear waters of the San Felipe Creek to satisfy the 
thirst of crops and a growing population, to Julio's Corn Chips, which 
went from a smalltown favorite now being mailed to Texans abroad who 
want a little taste of home.
  From the skies over war-torn Europe to protecting our border, Del Rio 
has a long history of military accomplishment and continues to 
contribute to the safety and security of our Nation.

                              {time}  1030

  In 1942, during World War II, the War Department opened Laughlin 
Field as a training base to prepare pilots for high-risk missions over 
European skies.
  In 1962, U-2 high-altitude spy planes that played a critical role in 
the discovery of Russian missiles hidden in Cuba were stationed at 
Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. This action would eventually lead 
our Nation to having the resolve to win the Cold War.
  Through Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio continues its military 
tradition by training the greatest pilots in the world and serving as a 
base to those who guard our borders.
  Being a mix of Spanish and Mexican tradition, Del Rio is a cultural 
hub and an example of how in America many cultures can blend together 
to form something wonderful and exciting.
  In Del Rio, you can fill a day visiting a winery run by the Qualia 
family, which is the oldest winery in Texas; learn about regional 
history and see Judge Roy Bean's grave at the Whitehead Memorial 
Museum; or, you can catch an evening show by the Upstagers, Del Rio's 
award-winning live theater group.
  In fact, if you like the outdoors, visit Seminole Canyon, not far 
from Del Rio, which has one of the largest collections of Indian 
pictographs found anywhere in the world. You can also visit Devils 
River, which is the last river in Texas still in its natural state.
  If you are a sports fan, there are plenty of sporting events to 
catch, such as Del Rio's Mighty Ram football team, or the annual 
fishing tournament held on Lake Amistad, which is an absolutely 
phenomenal lake and a national recreational area run by the National 
Park Service.
  So if you find yourself near Del Rio, I invite you to experience the 
culture, take a dip in the clear waters of the San Felipe Creek, or 
catch a theater show. And bring back a bag of Julio's Corn Chips, which 
you are sure to enjoy.

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