IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 222 
Recognizing 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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 15, 2009 
Mr. ORTIZ submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on 
Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the leadership and historical contributions of 
Dr. Hector Garcia to the Hispanic community and his 
remarkable efforts to combat racial and ethnic discrimi-
nation in the United States of America. 
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; 
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•HCON 222 IH 
Whereas Dr. Hector Garcia fought in World War II, specifi-
cally 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 in-
fant 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 ad-
vance 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 Mu-
tual 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 Na-
tions where he gave the first speech by an American be-
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•HCON 222 IH 
fore 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 Pontif-
ical 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 sec-
ondary schools to launch educational campaigns 
to inform students about the lifetime of accom-
plishments by Dr. Hector Garcia; and 
(B) all people of the United States to edu-
cate themselves about the legacy of Dr. Hector 
Garcia; and 
(2) recognizes the leadership and historical con-
tributions of Dr. Hector Garcia to the Hispanic 
community and his remarkable efforts to combat ra-
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•HCON 222 IH 
cial and ethnic discrimination in the United States 
of America. 
Æ 
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