Bill Text: TX HR963 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: In memory of former United States congressman Eligio "Kika" de la Garza.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2017-04-04 - Reported enrolled [HR963 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR963-Introduced.html
Bill Title: In memory of former United States congressman Eligio "Kika" de la Garza.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2017-04-04 - Reported enrolled [HR963 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR963-Introduced.html
85R17769 BPG-D | ||
By: Guerra | H.R. No. 963 |
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WHEREAS, A life dedicated to his state and nation drew to a | ||
close with the death of former United States congressman Eligio de | ||
la Garza of Mission on March 13, 2017, at the age of 89; and | ||
WHEREAS, Born to Dario and Elisa de la Garza in Mercedes on | ||
September 22, 1927, "Kika" de la Garza grew up in Mission; he left | ||
high school to enlist in the United States Navy in the final months | ||
of World War II, and after attending Edinburg Junior College and | ||
St. Mary's University, he served his country again during the | ||
Korean War as an artillery officer in the army; he completed his law | ||
degree at St. Mary's University and in 1952, at the age of 24, he | ||
won election to the Texas House of Representatives; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. de la Garza won reelection five times, and | ||
during his tenure, he authored legislation to protect the | ||
environment and promote early childhood education; in 1965, he | ||
became only the second Hispanic elected to the U.S. Congress from | ||
Texas; he was immediately assigned to the Agriculture Committee, | ||
and he shepherded major farm bills to passage and served as | ||
committee chair for 14 years; moreover, he was a driving force in | ||
the development of the nation's first state-run system of | ||
English-language instruction for preschool children, and as a | ||
steadfast champion of civil rights, he worked tirelessly to broaden | ||
access to educational opportunities; he also fought for better | ||
living conditions and health care for the most vulnerable, | ||
including veterans and the elderly; and | ||
WHEREAS, Over the course of 32 years in office, Mr. de la | ||
Garza enhanced the lives of his constituents in myriad ways; he | ||
played a vital role in the El Morillo Drain project that improved | ||
water quality for the entire Rio Grande Valley, and he contributed | ||
to economic development through his involvement in the construction | ||
of the Falcon and Anzalduas Dams, the Amistad Reservoir, and the | ||
Pharr-Reynosa and McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridges; | ||
in addition, as an influential proponent of free trade, he helped | ||
secure the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement and | ||
the expansion of the International General Agreement on Tariffs and | ||
Trade; and | ||
WHEREAS, A leading expert on U.S.-Mexican relations, Mr. de | ||
la Garza was instrumental in building stronger bonds between the | ||
nations, and he was the first member of Congress to receive the | ||
Order of the Aztec Eagle award, Mexico's highest honor for | ||
noncitizens; he was also a founding member and longtime chair of the | ||
Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and he earned wide admiration for | ||
his ability to work across the aisle to achieve meaningful change; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, Deeply committed to his community, Mr. de la Garza | ||
was a member of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the Rio Grande | ||
Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Museum of South Texas | ||
History, the Mission Historical Museum, the Order of the Alhambra | ||
Mosara 260, and the Knights of Columbus Council 8298, as well as | ||
Catholic War Veterans Post 1065 and American Legion Post 101; | ||
numerous streets and public facilities in the Rio Grande Valley and | ||
beyond were named in his honor, and he was the recipient of a host of | ||
accolades; and | ||
WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. de la Garza was devoted to his large | ||
extended family; he shared a rewarding marriage of 63 years with his | ||
wife, Lucille, and took great pride in their children, Jorge, | ||
Michael, and Angela, their grandchildren, Christina, Jorge, Laura, | ||
Mariel, Michael, Michelle, Jennifer, and Philip, and their | ||
great-grandchild, Jaxon; and | ||
WHEREAS, Through his vision, leadership, and dedication to | ||
social justice, Kika de la Garza made a tremendous positive impact | ||
on the state and nation, and he leaves behind a legacy that will | ||
resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Eligio "Kika" de la | ||
Garza and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and many friends; | ||
and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of | ||
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Kika de la | ||
Garza. |