[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 222 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.222
                                        Agreed to April 21, 2010        

                      One Hundred Eleventh Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
             the fifth day of January, two thousand and ten


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia changed the lives of Americans from all walks 
  of life;

Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia was born in Mexico on January 17, 1914, and 
  immigrated to Mercedes, Texas, in 1918;

Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia is an honored alumnus of the School of 
  Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Class of 1940;

Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia fought in World War II, specifically in North 
  Africa and Italy, attained the rank of Major, and was awarded the 
  Bronze Star with six battle stars;

Whereas once the Army discovered he was a physician, Dr. Hector Garcia 
  was asked to practice his profession by treating his fellow soldiers;

Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, after the 
  war, and opened a medical practice; rarely charged his indigent 
  patients, and was recognized as a passionate and dedicated physician;

Whereas he first became known in south Texas for his public health 
  messages on the radio with topics ranging from infant diarrhea to 
  tuberculosis;

Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia continued his public service and advocacy and 
  became founder of the American G.I. Forum, a Mexican-American 
  veterans association, which initiated countless efforts on behalf of 
  Americans to advance opportunities in health care, veterans benefits, 
  and civil rights equality;

Whereas his civil rights movement would then grow to also combat 
  discrimination in housing, jobs, education, and voting rights;

Whereas President Kennedy appointed Dr. Hector Garcia a member of the 
  American Treaty Delegation for the Mutual Defense Agreement between 
  the United States and the Federation of the West Indies;

Whereas in 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Dr. Hector Garcia 
  as alternate ambassador to the United Nations where he gave the first 
  speech by an American before the United Nations in a language other 
  than English;

Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia was named member of the Texas Advisory 
  Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights;

Whereas President Reagan presented Dr. Hector Garcia the Nation's 
  highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom, in 1984 for meritorious 
  service to his country, the first Mexican-American to receive this 
  recognition; and

Whereas Pope John Paul II recognized him with the Pontifical Equestrian 
  Order of Pope Gregory the Great: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
        (1) encourages--
            (A) teachers of primary schools and secondary schools to 
        launch educational campaigns to inform students about the 
        lifetime of accomplishments by Dr. Hector Garcia; and
            (B) all people of the United States to educate themselves 
        about the legacy of Dr. Hector Garcia; and
        (2) recognizes the leadership and historical contributions of 
    Dr. Hector Garcia to the Hispanic community and his remarkable 
    efforts to combat racial and ethnic discrimination in the United 
    States of America.
Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.