[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8596]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF THE DEEP EAST TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND ECONOMIC 
                          DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2017

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I, along with Representative 
Brian Babin and Representative Louie Gohmert, recognize the 50th 
anniversary of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments and Economic 
Development District, better known as ``DETCOG.''
  In November of 1966, over fifty community officials and leaders, 
concerned with the economic growth and development of East Texas and 
the quality of life of its residents, gathered together to lay the 
groundwork for the Deep East Texas Economic Development District.
  The Honorable Charles Wilson, a Member of the Texas Senate and later 
a Member of the United States House of Representatives, was unanimously 
elected Chair, and later President, of the new organization.
  The Deep East Texas Economic Development District continued its 
meetings throughout 1967. It employed its first Executive Director in 
August and opened its first office in September. In 1968, the District 
even became a Regional Planning Commission under the laws of the State 
of Texas, and in 1972, it adopted the new name of Deep East Texas 
Council of Governments and Economic Development District.
  DETCOG has facilitated the development of effective responses to such 
issues as community and economic development, affordable housing, aging 
and disability services, public safety and emergency response, disaster 
recovery, information and referral services, volunteerism, 
transportation and the environment that have had a profound and 
positive impact on the Deep East Texas Region.
  Over the past half-century, DETCOG's activities have improved the 
quality of life for all residents in the 12-county region known as Deep 
East Texas, including the counties of Angelina, Houston, Jasper, 
Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, 
Trinity and Tyler.
  Representative Babin, Representative Gohmert, and I are proud to 
congratulate the Deep East Texas Council of Governments and Economic 
Development District on its 50th Anniversary and its legacy of 
outstanding service to the governments and citizens of the Deep East 
Texas region.

                          ____________________