Vicente Gonzalez

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of prominent Rio Grande Valley businessman, Baldomero Vela Sr., who passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017. Baldomero, or ``Baldo,'' as he was known to friends and family, was born and raised in Hidalgo, Texas. After graduating from McAllen High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1944, serving in the 29th Infantry Division during World War II. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 1949 with a degree in pharmaceuticals. Following graduation, Baldo was a pharmacist for 50 years in the Rio Grande Valley. In 1957, Baldo opened the Professional Pharmacy in McAllen, Texas. In the 1970s, he purchased Lee's Pharmacy, which is now owned and operated by two of his five children. In addition to his role as a pharmacist, Baldo was deeply involved in a number of community organizations, including the Hidalgo Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, McAllen Public Utilities Board and McAllen Housing Services. Baldomero will be remembered as a kind and generous man, whose contributions to his community will not be easily forgotten. His generous spirit will live on in the Rio Grande Valley, leaving those he loved better for having known him. Mr. Speaker, South Texas lost a strong community member this month. He embodied the values of diligence, selflessness, and service. He will be sorely missed.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank Ranking Member Waters for yielding. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in opposition to H.R. 10. While this bill may contain some language that I would agree with and that is helpful to our community banks, as well as some of our credit unions, it would be very harmful to our seniors and the elderly. Additionally, the Financial CHOICE Act, as written, would be dead on arrival in the U.S. Senate and a monumental waste of time for this Chamber. As a public servant, we are called to serve the citizens of our great Nation, those who raised us; those who consistently told us, ``it is more important to have the will than to have mere ability,'' ``hace mas el que quiere que el que puede;'' those who forged a new path and a better way of life. One of the best measures of a nation is how it cares for its elderly. As a country, we made a promise to our elderly, to protect them and ensure that they would have reliable access to resources, and the support they need to live a dignified life in their later years. In my book, a promise made should be a promise kept. Today, my colleagues in support of the ``Wrong'' CHOICE Act seek to renege on this promise and leave millions of elderly Americans vulnerable to financial exploitation schemes. One in every five Americans have been victims of financial abuse, accounting for a cost of over $36 billion annually. We cannot abandon our elderly when their resources and, ultimately, their independence is threatened. We must stand with them and enable the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to continue to protect our elderly.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2213, the Anti-Border Corruption Reauthorization Act of 2017. This legislation aims to address a staffing issue that has plagued the United States Customs and Border Patrol for many years. H.R. 2213 would add the option to waive the polygraph test for a select few individuals who have already successfully taken and passed a similar polygraph test in the past. These individuals are veterans, members of our Armed Forces, or law enforcement officers with clean records and years of honorable service. A veteran with secret clearance and an honorable discharge, 3 years of service, and a tier 5 background check is someone I would hold in high regard and exempt from an unnecessary polygraph. I would not be in favor of this bill if it was exempting a polygraph test to the general public. This is a special group--our veterans and our law enforcement. This legislation would not change the United States Customs and Border Patrol requirements for background checks or interviews. Customs and Border Patrol would still have their candidates undergo the regular battery of tests and checks. Customs and Border Patrol would still ask a candidate who waived the polygraph under these proposed changes to take the examination. This bill will not lower the standards for entry. Rather, the flexibility it provides would prevent potential bottlenecks in the hiring pipelines and eliminate redundancy. Mr. Speaker, I would like to appease the concerns of several of my colleagues and say that this is not about building up a deportation force. Mr. Speaker, I would like to reaffirm that this legislation exclusively applies to Customs and Border Patrol, and it will not change the hiring procedures for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This bill is about ensuring the agency hires only the best and the most honorable candidates. This bill is about providing employment and advancement opportunities for our servicemembers and law enforcement and creating job opportunities for those living in our border communities and border States. Mr. Speaker, I also live in a border community, and I support this bill.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate A. Cynthia Leon on her reappointment as Chairman of the Texas Public Safety Commission. On March 8, 2017, Governor Greg Abbott reappointed Cynthia to the Texas Public Safety Commission. Originally appointed in 2011 by then Governor Rick Perry, Cynthia served as the Commission's chairman from April 2012 to March 2017. Prior to serving on the Texas Public Safety Commission, Cynthia served as regional director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Cynthia also served our country for 25 years in the U.S. Navy Reserves, retiring with the rank of captain. Outside of her work on the Texas Public Safety Commission, Cynthia is an active member of her community. She is a member of the International Women's Forum and Leadership Texas, previously chairing the Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio Federal Executive Boards. Cynthia is also a life member of the Naval Reserve Association, Navy League, U.S. Naval Institute and the Reserve Officers Association. Mr. Speaker, I again congratulate Cynthia on her well-deserved reappointment. I know that she will continue to lead the Texas Public Safety Commission in the right direction.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the graduation of Ashlee Victoria Perez from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, with the Class of 2017. Marco Antonio Perez and Claudia Perez are very proud of their daughter, who graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise and Sports Science. Ashlee averaged an exceptional Grade-Point-Average of 3.7 during her time at St. Mary's, all while maintaining active membership in the national sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma, becoming the captain of the cheer squad, and earning the Academic Madeline Scholarship. Her achievements are a testament to her work ethic and perseverance. Mr. Speaker, I wish only the best for Ashlee in all her endeavors and know her future is filled with limitless possibilities.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of civil rights leader Antonio ``Tony'' Orendain, who passed away on April 12, 2016. Antonio was born on May 28, 1930, in Etzatlan, Mexico. At the age of 20, armed with little more than a sixth-grade education and an unwavering desire to succeed and sustain himself, he pursued a brighter future in the United States. Soon after arriving, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked in the fields of California and met Cesar Chavez. Inspired by the teachings of Chavez, Antonio became a lifelong activist, fighting to ensure that farm workers would one day be allowed to put a fair price on the sweat from their own brow. Antonio advocated for agricultural workers across the country, calling for higher wages and better working conditions. He later joined the Community Service Organization, a coalition dedicated to civil rights. In the summer of 1969, Antonio and his family moved to the Rio Grande Valley. In 1975 he established the Texas Farm Workers Union, an organization dedicated to shortening the 14-hour workday and increasing wages for farmworkers in South Texas. Antonio later led members of the local United Farm Workers Organizing Committee on a march to the middle of the Roma Bridge. The group straddled the international boundary chanting ``Nosotros Venceremos,'' We Shall Overcome, in support of their mission to improve the lives of agricultural laborers. In February 1977, Antonio led a group of 40 farmworkers on a march for basic human rights from San Juan, Texas, to Austin, Texas, where they met with then-Governor Dolph Briscoe. The group traveled further north to Washington, D.C., where the march ended. By the time they reached the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the group had grown to nearly 10,000 people. For decades, Antonio fought to ensure that farmworkers would have ``at least the basic necessities that the rest of society is used to.'' Antonio will long be remembered for his commitment to safeguarding farmworkers' rights and ending the exploitation of our nation's vulnerability. Mr. Speaker, today we honor a champion of civil rights and a defender of the vulnerable. While Antonio Orendain is no longer with us, his contributions and revolutionary ideals will continue to inspire us. It is a privilege to honor this South Texas champion of equality.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of beloved Rio Grande Valley radio and television host Rogelio Botello Rios, who passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. Rogelio began his broadcasting career in 1961 at the radio station X.E.Z.D. in Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Six years later he joined the staff at KGBT Radio in Harlingen, Texas, and in 1971 he was promoted to Program Director. He then served as Program Director for KIWW radio for eight years. South Texans remember him most for his local variety show ``Aqui Rogelio,'' which he hosted from 1968 to 2005. Over the course of his career, Rogelio received numerous awards and accolades for his prolific work and efforts to promote the genre. Radio and Music Magazine named him Program Director of the Year and Billboard Magazine nominated him for the same honor. Rogelio was also inducted into the Tejano Hall of Fame and the Conjunto Hall of Fame in 1999 and 2011 respectively. Rogelio will always be remembered for his loyalty to his family, work, and to the Rio Grande Valley. As a broadcaster, he dedicated much of his time promoting smaller, independent artists and helping them to gain more widespread recognition. Rogelio's colleagues held him in high regard as a consummate professional who valued high standards and punctuality. Mr. Speaker, South Texas lost a broadcasting pioneer and legend in Rogelio Botello Rios this month. He will be sincerely missed by his family, friends, and his many fans in South Texas and Northern Mexico.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Linda McGurk for her 25 years of service as principal of Ben Milam Elementary School in McAllen, Texas. Linda McGurk received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from The University of Texas Pan-American in 1964. That same year, she began teaching first grade. In 1968, while raising a family with her husband James McGurk, Linda McGurk served on the St. Joseph's School Board and volunteered with the Edinburg Parks and Recreation Department, the Edinburg Junior Service League. Linda McGurk became principal of St. Joseph Catholic School in 1984. Two years later, she earned her Master's in Educational Administration from The University of Texas Pan-American. In 1992, Linda McGurk was named principal of Ben Milam Elementary School, a position she still holds today. Over the course of her tenure at Ben Milam, she has helped thousands of children embark on an educational journey. In 2006, the University of Texas Pan-American recognized Linda McGurk for her leadership and countless contributions to elementary education in South Texas. And in 2012, the Texas Classroom Teachers Association named her Administrator of the Year. Most recently, the McAllen Education Foundation honored Linda McGurk for her commitment to student success, naming her an ``Outstanding Educator'' this past year. For more than 50 years, Linda McGurk has dedicated her life to expanding educational opportunities for all. She has been a champion of student success and her commitment to parents, teachers, and staff at Ben Milam Elementary School is admirable. As we recognize Linda McGurk's service to the McAllen Independent School District, we also celebrate Ben Milam Elementary School's 50th Anniversary. If walls could talk, the walls of Ben Milam Elementary School would tell an inspirational story spanning half a century. Milam Elementary School has molded numerous generations of McAllen's young minds and given them the tools they need to succeed. Mr. Speaker, this week South Texas honors a great educator. It is my privilege to recognize Mrs. Linda McGurk in the U.S. House of Representatives today.

Mr. GONZALEZ

Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Congressman Eligio ``Kika'' de la Garza, who passed away this Monday, March 13, 2017. De la Garza served as the federal representative for the 15th District of Texas from 1965 to 1997. During his Congressional service, he was Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture from 1981 to 1994 and Ranking Member of the Committee from 1995 to 1997. De la Garza was a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. At the age of 17, de la Garza joined the United States Navy and served for two years, including the final months of World War II. Upon returning home, he completed his high school education before attending Edinburg Junior College and St. Mary's University in San Antonio. While at St. Mary's, de la Garza was again deployed, this time to the Korean War where he was an artillery officer in the United States Army. He then earned his Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University in San Antonio. De la Garza was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1951, at the young age of 24, serving six terms before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. During his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, de la Garza endeavored to improve the lives of rural Texans, working to expand and improve federal support for farmers and ranchers. He also stood up for the disenfranchised, supporting landmark civil rights legislation that led to important progress for our society. Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, de la Garza understood the importance of maintaining strong international relations and was a staunch supporter of the U.S.- Mexico relationship. He was the first Member of Congress to receive Mexico's Order of the Aztec Eagle Award and Israel's Vulcan Center's Lifetime Achievement Award--both awards recognized his efforts to cultivate stronger, more constructive ties between the United States and its allies. As a founding member and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the first Hispanic to chair a standing committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, he is an inspiration for the next generation of Latino leaders. Mr. Speaker, this week our country lost a statesman, public servant, husband, father, grandfather, and friend, but his legacy will live on. It is a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Eligio ``Kika'' de la Garza, who was genuinely committed to empowering rural areas and the Hispanic community.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas

Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I support the regular review of regulations to ensure that they are still relevant to our ever-changing economy. Unfortunately, the retrospective review requirement in H.R. 78 is counterproductive and places heavy administrative burdens on the Securities and Exchange Commission, an already overburdened and underfunded regulator. Specifically, it required the Commission to review all of its rules within 1 year of an enactment, and to constantly review its rules every 5 years thereafter, regardless of whether there is any cause for concern with a particular regulation. I find this appalling. That means the Commission will have to go back to 1934 and review every single rule, even ones industry likes and rules that have made our capital markets the envy of the world. Today the SEC has a number of formal and informal processes for intelligently identifying rules for review. For example, the Regulatory Flexibility Act requires the SEC to conduct a 10-year retrospective rule review, and the Paperwork Reduction Act requires periodic reviews of information collection burdens. Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the SEC publishes a plan to look at rules that have a significant economic impact on smaller businesses, inviting public comment on the rules, including how it could be amended to reduce the impact of many small businesses within my district and certainly around the country. In addition, the SEC has been conducting several broad-based reviews of rules on its own accord related to issuer disclosure, equity market structure, and even the definition of what an accredited investor is. As an already cash-strapped agency, the SEC, tasked with such an onerous retrospective rule review required by H.R. 78, would be forced to divert already scarce resources from other important tasks, including policing the markets for fraud and stopping bad actors before they can drain the life savings of investors and many retirees in my district and around the country. This is our seniors we are talking about. Looking at the bill as a whole, it appears that this is the point of the legislation: rather than have the SEC focus on its mission to protect investors and support many small businesses, H.R. 78 focuses on the burdens of the financial industry and repealing those rules. I oppose this bill.