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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life dedicated to his state and nation drew to a |
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close with the death of former United States congressman Eligio de |
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la Garza of Mission on March 13, 2017, at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Dario and Elisa de la Garza in Mercedes on |
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September 22, 1927, "Kika" de la Garza grew up in Mission; he left |
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high school to enlist in the United States Navy in the final months |
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of World War II, and after attending Edinburg Junior College and |
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St. Mary's University, he served his country again during the |
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Korean War as an artillery officer in the army; he completed his law |
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degree at St. Mary's University and in 1952, at the age of 24, he |
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won election to the Texas House of Representatives; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. de la Garza won reelection five times, and |
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during his tenure, he authored legislation to protect the |
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environment and promote early childhood education; in 1965, he |
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became only the second Hispanic elected to the U.S. Congress from |
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Texas; he was immediately assigned to the Agriculture Committee, |
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and he shepherded major farm bills to passage and served as |
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committee chair for 14 years; moreover, he was a driving force in |
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the development of the nation's first state-run system of |
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English-language instruction for preschool children, and as a |
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steadfast champion of civil rights, he worked tirelessly to broaden |
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access to educational opportunities; he also fought for better |
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living conditions and health care for the most vulnerable, |
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including veterans and the elderly; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of 32 years in office, Mr. de la |
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Garza enhanced the lives of his constituents in myriad ways; he |
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played a vital role in the El Morillo Drain project that improved |
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water quality for the entire Rio Grande Valley, and he contributed |
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to economic development through his involvement in the construction |
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of the Falcon and Anzalduas Dams, the Amistad Reservoir, and the |
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Pharr-Reynosa and McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridges; |
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in addition, as an influential proponent of free trade, he helped |
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secure the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement and |
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the expansion of the International General Agreement on Tariffs and |
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Trade; and |
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WHEREAS, A leading expert on U.S.-Mexican relations, Mr. de |
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la Garza was instrumental in building stronger bonds between the |
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nations, and he was the first member of Congress to receive the |
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Order of the Aztec Eagle award, Mexico's highest honor for |
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noncitizens; he was also a founding member and longtime chair of the |
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Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and he earned wide admiration for |
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his ability to work across the aisle to achieve meaningful change; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to his community, Mr. de la Garza |
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was a member of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, the Rio Grande |
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Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Museum of South Texas |
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History, the Mission Historical Museum, the Order of the Alhambra |
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Mosara 260, and the Knights of Columbus Council 8298, as well as |
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Catholic War Veterans Post 1065 and American Legion Post 101; |
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numerous streets and public facilities in the Rio Grande Valley and |
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beyond were named in his honor, and he was the recipient of a host of |
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accolades; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all, Mr. de la Garza was devoted to his large |
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extended family; he shared a rewarding marriage of 63 years with his |
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wife, Lucille, and took great pride in their children, Jorge, |
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Michael, and Angela, their grandchildren, Christina, Jorge, Laura, |
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Mariel, Michael, Michelle, Jennifer, and Philip, and their |
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great-grandchild, Jaxon; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his vision, leadership, and dedication to |
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social justice, Kika de la Garza made a tremendous positive impact |
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on the state and nation, and he leaves behind a legacy that will |
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resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Eligio "Kika" de la |
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Garza and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and many friends; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Kika de la |
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Garza. |