H.R. No. 1551

	R E S O L U T I O N
	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.
	Muñoz, Jr.
	Martinez
	Guerra
	Canales
	Straus Goldman Oliverson
	Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
	Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
	Alvarado Gooden Parker
	Anchia Guerra Paul
	Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
	Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
	Arévalo Hefner Phillips
	Ashby Hernandez Pickett
	Bailes Herrero Price
	Bell Hinojosa Raney
	Bernal Holland Raymond
	Biedermann Howard Reynolds
	Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
	Bohac Hunter Roberts
	Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
	Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
	Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
	Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
	Burrows Kacal Sanford
	Button Keough Schaefer
	Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
	Canales King of Parker Schubert
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
	Clardy Klick Sheffield
	Coleman Koop Shine
	Collier Krause Simmons
	Cook Kuempel Smithee
	Cortez Lambert Springer
	Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
	Craddick Lang Stickland
	Cyrier Larson Stucky
	Dale Laubenberg Swanson
	Darby Leach Thierry
	Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
	Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
	Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
	Deshotel Martinez Turner
	Dukes Metcalf Uresti
	Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
	Elkins Miller Villalba
	Faircloth Minjarez Vo
	Fallon Moody Walle
	Farrar Morrison White
	Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
	Frank Murphy Workman
	Frullo Murr Wray
	Geren Neave Wu
	Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
	Giddings Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 1551 was unanimously adopted by a rising
	vote of the House on April 28, 2017.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House