The Greatest Thing ....

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is (just) to love and be loved in return".

- eden ahbez

Bringing Home the Bacon for the District

This is a celebratory photo that we took on the floor of the Texas House today. I was joined in the state capitol by the Elsa Mayor and the city council. A proud moment today as we succeeded in bringing more money back home to the district. More infrastructure dollars ($5.1 million dollars) to better serve our citizens.

I am shown here with City of Elsa officials: Mayor Senovio Castillo, Oscar Garcia, Jr., Cain Caceres and Robert Escobar. Also joining us is Elsa City Manager Maria Teresa Rodriguez.

The Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address and our Census

On November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War President Abraham Lincoln delivers one of the most memorable speeches in American history. In just 272 words, Lincoln brilliantly and movingly reminded a war-weary public why the Union had to fight, and win, the Civil War.

In the video of Lincoln's speech, is impersonator James Getty in probably the best version of Lincoln's speech that I have heard. When it comes to accent and the sound of his voice, this is what many believe Abraham Lincoln sounded like.

More importantly this is a speech about a war that redefined America. Abraham Lincoln's view of our Nation's purpose expounded in his speeches has been adopted by a clear majority of Americans.

Today, let us recommit ourselves to the perpetuation of a democracy in Lincoln's words "for the people, of the people, by the people".

In real specifics, at this moment in time, this means for me that we have a full and accurate census count so that we can- "Count Every Texan so that Every Texan Counts". Only then will we have adequate representation for communities like our own. Strengthen our democracy by encouraging your friends and neighbors to participate in our national census.

California Dreamin'

I was California Dreamin' and looking forward to a good national conference on health care and immigration policy but with the City of Elsa receiving critical Texas grants I've decided to cancel my flight today to the Los Angeles conference and am instead heading up to Austin with city leaders to close these deals with our state agency. These infrastructure dollars were critical to this small community and we aim to see that this arrangement is finalized. Hope to have some good news and pictures from Austin.

7-year-old El Paso Boy Killed in Juárez

The impact of an image or a message sometimes reverberates onward long past it's temporal origins. Burned onto our collective memories, powerful descriptions or photographs have the ability to encapsulate our deepest fears or ambitions.

Regardless of one's perspective the incident portrayed above of a father and son in the midst of a gun battle strikes a powerful instinctual cord that we all understand at a deep fundamental level. And so it is today as we learn the details of how a 7-year-old boy and his father were killed in the border city of Juárez on Friday.



Raul Xazziel Ramirez-Ramirez (Raulito, I'll call him), and his father were gunned down in Juárez. Young Raulito was a third-grade student at Glen Cove Elementary, an Ysleta Independent School District in El Paso, Texas. This was his first semester at Glen Cove Elementary. He is shown in the photograph above dressed as an angel.

The boy's father, Raul Ramirez Alvarado, 35, was found with multiple gunshot wounds on the drivers' side of his white car. Raulito witnessed his father's death and was attempting to run away when he was shot multiple times in the back. Eighteen casings from a 9 mm weapon were found at the scene.

This undoubtedly was done by the same cold-hearted butchers that have taken Ciuadad Juarez - "murder capitol of the world" - down the path of anarchy.

Although the city has had numerous killings, the murder of this little Texas angel, with all his promise before him, should strengthen the resolve of our two countries. It certainly has strengthened mine.

For the moment, let us all take a moment to pray for our little Raulito and all the other lives that have been destroyed by drugs.

Pleased to Announce $1.9 Million for Hometown Infrastructure

I have informed the city of Edinburg that they have been awarded a grant in the amount of $1,974,325.00. The grant will allow the city to purchase and install permanent generators and other equipment at the city's water and wastewater plants. The funds will also make improvements to the city's drainage system. The $1.9 million award has been secured from 2008 Supplemental Disaster Recovery Funds managed by the Texas Department of Rural Affairs, Disaster Recovery Addition.

We have a great opportunity to use this money to make Edinburg safer and better prepared for the next natural disaster. We need to keep up the good work in securing these state and federal resources for our community.

The $1,974,325.00 will be used to purchase and install two permanently affixed 800 kW generators for the wastewater plant on M Road and the water plant on 15th Avenue and East Stubbs. The city will also have the opportunity to purchase and install a chlorinator for the wastewater plant. Improvements to the drainage system will include installation of new lines at Jackson and Alberta roads. The work will also eliminate the existing pumping structures and levee system. A pond excavation will provide for drainage to be a gravity flow process. The improvements to the city's drainage system and equipment purchases are designed to mitigate failures caused by damage from Hurricane Dolly.

The funds have been made available to the city from 2008 Supplemental Community Development Block Grant funding associated with the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act appropriated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

High Flight

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor even eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Going Rogue

Be Still

"What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself."

-- Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)

What a beautiful day. Enjoy.

Our Family Gathers

Today I paid my respects to families who lost their sons in the war in Iraq at a ceremony at the Rio Grande Valley Veterans Cemetary in Mission. Valley children who lost a parent in service to our country received special recognition. US Senator John Cornyn participated in awarding the Gold Medal of Remembrance.

Another $500,000.00 For Our Community's Infrastructure

I am pleased to announce that the City of Elsa is set to receive a $500,000.00 grant for drainage improvements and equipment purchases for the city's water plant. I informed the mayor of the award which is being made available from 2008 Supplemental Disaster Recovery Fund grants as a result of damage incurred by Hurricane Dolly. The Texas Department of Rural Affairs, Disaster Recovery Division is the administrator of the program.

Hurricane Dolly dealt our community a heavy blow. We are now starting to see the federal and state government step in and provide important funding for infrastructure improvements. The hurricane exposed some flaws in that infrastructure and I applaud the city of Elsa and its leaders for the work they have done to address some of those concerns.

The $500,000.00 grant will be used to purchase a permanent generator to be installed at the city's water plant. The generator will be used to address power failures at the water plant. Drainage improvements include the removal of brush, excess silt and trash for the ditches south of the Salinas Hinojosa Subdivision. Culverts will be replaced on Ciro Caceres Rd. and Mile 4 West and Mile 4 West and S. Hwy. 107. Work will also include drainage improvements to ditches north of Abel Subdivision and culvert work on Mile 6 West and Mile 17 North.

The grant award is made available from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding associated with the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act administered by the Unites States Department of Housing and Urban Affairs. This funding comes soon after the city of Elsa was awarded over $6.4 million in grants from the Texas Water Development Board for sewer improvements. The city has also submitted a proposal for a $5 million grant for water improvements.

I met with the Mayor of Elsa, Senovio Castillo, yesterday afternoon to share the good news. He was looking forward to moving forward on addressing their city's infrastructure issue.

Valley Resident Marcel Albert is French Medal of Honor Recipient

Today I met one of the greatest Flying Aces of World War II, Marcel Albert. Interestingly enough this veteran, decorated by at least three countries, lives here in the Rio Grande Valley. Today he received the French Medal of Honor delivered to him personally by the French Ambassador.

I greeted Ambassador Pierre Vimont as he entered the airplane hanger along with his country's dignitaries. Like many Europeans they were fluent in multiple languages and had a good grasp of our Hispanic names. Attending the event were local dignitaries such as Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, State Senator Eddie Lucio, State Representative Armando Martinez, Weslaco Mayor Buddy de la Rosa, Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell and the military leadership of our local veterans. We were also joined by high ranking officers of the French and American military.

Marcel Albert is 92 years old but you can tell the fire still burns within him. Having been born in Paris, France, when the medal was placed on his lapel the French Ambassador spoke to him in French. Because I stood near Mr. Albert I couldn't help but hear him initially respond in English. A habit I'm sure he picked up in the United States. When I personally congratulated him I noted that he thanked me with a, merci beaucoup. (thank you very much) I responded with a polite merci.

Here is a brief background of Mr. Albert:

Marcel Albert was born in Paris on the 25th November 1917. On leaving school he took as a metal worker with the Renault Company before joining the Armée de l'Air on the 7th December 1938. Qualifying as a fighter pilot Albert was posted to the 1/3 Groupe de Chasse-Escadrille in early 1940, although he did not see any combat until the German Invasion in May. On the 14th May Marcel achieved his first combat victory when, flying a Dewoitine D.520, he shot down a Dornier Do.17 north of Suippes. Later that day he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf.109 although this was not confirmed. On the 20th he accounted for a Heinkel He.111 near Ham, but as France fell to the Germans, he and a few comrades escaped by plane from Oran to Gibraltar, and from there to England to join 340 Squadron "Ile de France" of the Free French Air Force. with which he flew 47 missions.




In 1942 he volunteered to join the groupe de Chasse No.3 "Normandie" to serve in Russia flying YAK fighters. Over the next few months his score of victories gradually increased, including a Junkers Ju.88 and two Focke-Wulf Fw.190s on the 15th October. By the end of October, now as the Commanding Officer of No.4 Escadrille his score had reached 23 plus two probable.

Returning to France in 1945, Marcel was decorated by both the French and Russian Governments (including the Crois de Guerre, aves 15 palmes et trois etoiles de Vermeil, and the order of Lenin) . After the war he served as French Air attaché to Prague, and later emigrated to the United States where he became a successful businessman. Today he lives in Harlingen, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley.



Our Valley veterans were extremely proud to be in the presence of such a brave and highly decorated soldier. It was good to see them interacting with Mr. Albert. A touching moment arose when an American World War II flyer who served on the American forces introduced himself to his French comrade. It was a great day.



The Rio Grande Guardian and The Monitor newspaper were there.