By Munoz H.R. No. 450 74R8509 PAN-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor 1-2 U.S. Customs Officer Stephen Jenkins, whose heroic actions on 1-3 November 4, 1994, saved the life of Amada Pena and the child she 1-4 has since delivered; and 1-5 WHEREAS, On that day, three vehicles were being boarded on 1-6 the Los Ebanos Ferry that would carry them across the Rio Grande to 1-7 Mexico; suddenly, the first vehicle, a truck carrying four 1-8 passengers, plunged off the front of the ferry into 11 feet of 1-9 water; and 1-10 WHEREAS, On hearing a commotion at the waterfront, Officer 1-11 Jenkins saw the submerged truck and immediately alerted the Hidalgo 1-12 County Sheriff's Department before rushing to the scene, where he 1-13 heard some bystanders say that a child was still trapped in the 1-14 truck; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Acting quickly, he jumped into the river, unaware 1-16 that there were actually two occupants left trapped in the 1-17 submerged vehicle; its driver, Isidro Pena Lara and his companion, 1-18 Maria de la Luz Lara, had already been pulled to safety on the 1-19 banks of the river; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Though unable to see clearly in the murky water, 1-21 Officer Jenkins realized the passenger side window of the truck was 1-22 open and went in looking for the boy; he surfaced for air and, 1-23 shortly thereafter, another man was able to open the driver's side 1-24 door of the truck, at which point Mrs. Pena and her son, Daniel, 2-1 began to rise to the surface; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Officer Jenkins grabbed Mrs. Pena, who was eight 2-3 months pregnant at the time, and pulled her up to the ferry where 2-4 she received cardiopulmonary resuscitation while another person 2-5 pulled her son from the water; Mrs. Pena was then rushed to Mission 2-6 Hospital, where she gave birth to a healthy baby boy by emergency 2-7 caesarean section; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Though the tragic accident claimed the life of 2-9 Daniel Pena, Officer Jenkins's prompt intervention undoubtedly 2-10 saved the life of Amada Pena and her unborn child; Officer Jenkins 2-11 has since been presented the U.S. Customs Service Meritorious Award 2-12 for Valor and the alert response and remarkable bravery exhibited 2-13 by this outstanding public servant indeed merit our very highest 2-14 praise and recognition as well; now, therefore, be it 2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-16 Legislature hereby commend U.S. Customs Officer Stephen Jenkins on 2-17 his exceptional act of heroism in an emergency; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for Officer Jenkins as an expression of highest regard by 2-20 the Texas House of Representatives.