CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE February 5
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H292 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE February 5, 1997 this House would stand in the way of when they are not safe. To me, school the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the our children's future. yards become the domain of gangs Commandant's Trophy, the Marine Mr. Speaker, last night the President when the bell rings at the end of the Corps Association Award, and many appealed for a new era of nonpartisan day. We have seen the epidemic of vio- others for his valor and for his soldier- cooperation. I ask my colleagues on lent, juvenile crime spread from the ing skills. Just recently, Mr. Speaker, the other side of the aisle to join with poorest inner cities to middle class he was posthumously awarded the Sil- Democrats in improving the quality of suburbs and small towns. ver Star. education for every single child in Mr. Speaker, I hope this Congress Mr. Speaker, I have a very extensive America. will join the President in his promise statement on the many achievements f to crack down on gangs. Too many de- of this fine American and of this man fenseless families are counting on us. whom we all knew and loved very deep- FOCUS ON EDUCATION IN THE 21ST ly, and I would like to enter that more f CENTURY full statement into the RECORD in its (Mr. WYNN asked and was given per- FRANK M. TEJEDA POST OFFICE entirety. mission to address the House for 1 BUILDING Frank Tejeda loved the Marine Corps; even minute and to revise and extend his re- as a Member of Congress, Frank continued to Mr. MCHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve. When at- marks.) suspend the rules and pass the bill tending officer candidate school, Frank main- Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, last night (H.R. 499) to designate the facility of tained a 99.6 academic average, the highest the President of the United States gave the U.S. Postal Service under construc- in the history of the Marine Corps. After leav- an excellent speech. He said the state tion at 7411 Barlite Boulevard in San ing the Corps, Frank earned his undergradu- of the Union is good, but it could be Antonio, TX, as the ``Frank M. Tejeda better. We have to defend America, but ate degree in government from St. Mary's Uni- Post Office Building.'' versity in San Antonio, a J.D. from the Univer- most importantly we have to build The Clerk read as follows: America. Our enemy, as he correctly sity of California, Berkeley in 1974, a master's pointed out, is inaction. H.R. 499 degree in public administration from Harvard He set forth a clear priority in terms Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- in 1980, and a master of law from Yale in of education, that our goal ought to be resentatives of the United States of America in 1989. Congress assembled, to assure that everyone in America has He served in the Texas House in Austin a good education. He talked a lot about SECTION 1. DESIGNATION. from 1977 until 1986 when he was elected to The facility of the United States Postal the Texas Senate where he remained until the new millennium. We are talking Service under construction at 7411 Barlite about an information age, a high-tech- 1992. He was the leader of the south side po- Boulevard in San Antonio, Texas, shall be litical coalition in San Antonio. Frank Tejeda nology age. In that age, we need to as- known and designated as the ``Frank M. sure that American citizens have the Tejeda Post Office Building''. left his imprint on workers' compensation re- best education. SEC. 2. REFERENCES. form, business initiatives for minorities and That means supporting the Presi- Any reference in a law, map, regulation, women, housing for veterans, protection of dent's request for $5 billion in school document, paper, or other record of the Unit- crime victims, and he promoted measures to construction funds so that we can build ed States to the facility referred to in sec- ensure voting rights for minorities. He became new schools and maintain the ones we tion 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to known for his investigation into the malfea- have. It means supporting the Presi- the ``Frank M. Tejeda Post Office Building''. sance of two members of the Texas Supreme dent's request for tax credits and tax The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Court, who were disciplined. The result of this exemptions so that people can afford to ant to the rule, the gentleman from investigation was the enmity of the State's trial send their children to college, to uni- New York [Mr. MCHUGH] and the gen- lawyers. Frank Tejeda was elected the first Rep- versities. We have the best in the tleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. resentative to Congress from the 28th District world, we need to make sure our people FATTAH] each will control 20 minutes. of Texas in 1992. He was known as a quiet, can take advantage of it. The Chair recognizes the gentleman dedicated, and independent-minded Rep- Critics say, well, this is small gov- from New York [Mr. MCHUGH]. resentative, voting his conscience and the ernment and small ideas. I say that Mr. MCHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield concerns of his constituency. He was a there is no greater goal for the new myself such time as I may consume. staunch defender of veterans, active duty per- millennium than to say every Amer- (Mr. MCHUGH asked and was given sonnel and military installations and he served ican can have a good education. permission to revise and extend his re- marks.) on the Committees on Veterans Affairs and f National Security. Mr. MCHUGH. Mr. Speaker, the legis- Coincidently, Mr. Speaker, toward the end TIME TO CRACK DOWN ON GANGS lation before us was introduced by the of the 104th Congress, on October 9, 1996, (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given gentleman from Texas [Mr. BONILLA] the President signed Public Law 104±255, the permission to address the House for 1 and supported by the Texas House Del- designation of the Amos F. Longoria Post Of- minute and to revise and extend his re- egation. fice Building in Elmendorf, TX, introduced by H.R. 499 designates the facility of the marks.) Frank Tejeda, honoring Elmendorf's native son U.S. Postal Service being constructed Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I stand who lost his life in service to his country dur- at 7411 Barlite Blvd., San Antonio, TX before the House for the first time ing World War II. It is fitting that this House today, and I must admit I feel much as the Frank M. Tejeda Post Office now remembers one of its own by designating like I did the first time that I stood be- Building. a new post office building in San Antonio as fore a classroom full of students at Mr. Speaker, this legislation honors the Frank M. Tejeda Post Office Building. Forest Park High School in Beaumont, our colleague Frank Tejeda, who died Mr. Speaker, I urge all our colleagues to TX: A little nervous and awed by the at the age of 51 at his home in San An- support the measure before us. responsibility. tonio, TX on January 31 after succumb- Mr. Speaker, at this time I would I recently received a letter from a ing to a 17-month battle with a malig- like to yield to other Members who grandmother in Port Arthur, TX. Her nant brain tumor. have gathered here in the House to pay 18-year-old grandson is making good Frank was born on October 2, 1945 in honor to this great American, and I re- grades and wants to graduate from San Antonio, TX and grew up in that serve the balance of my time. high school, but he is being harassed by city's south side. He did not finish high Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield a gang. In fact, this young man has school, having been told not to return myself such time as I may consume. been shot at recently. His grandmother after an incident with a school coun- Mr. Speaker, I rise also in support of tells me that the gang members con- selor. Frank then joined the U.S. Ma- House Resolution 499. This is a moment tinue to follow him and continue to rine Corps in 1963 during the Vietnam in which the House has an opportunity threaten his life. conflict, and 2 weeks before his sched- to show its respect for a fallen comrad. Last night the President was abso- uled return home from Vietnam in 1966, This is a gentleman whose work here in lutely correct when he recognized that he was ambushed and struck in his leg the Congress and his life sets an exam- we cannot expect our kids to learn by shrapnel. Frank Tejeda was awarded ple for us all. And it has been offered February 5, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE H293 by two of his colleagues from Texas, remembered for. He was a dedicated nio as the Frank M. Tejeda Post Office Build- both Congressman ORTIZ and Congress- public servant whose memory will con- ing after our friend and colleague. man BONILLA, and we want to on this tinue to serve as an ideal example for Many friends across the Nation as well as in side suggest that this is a truly biparti- many. Texas and the close-knit south Texas commu- san effort to recognize the accomplish- It is difficult to accept that someone nity have grieved mightily for our friend Frank ments of a great American.