- Record: House Floor
- Section type: Floor speeches
- Chamber: House
- Date: May 13, 2026
- Congress: 119th Congress
- Why this source matters: This section came from the House floor portion of the record.
Ms. De La Cruz of Texas was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Ms. De La CRUZ. Mr. Speaker, in honor of National Police Week, I rise to recognize two exceptional officers from Texas' 15th Congressional District, Trooper Juan Zuniga and Trooper Roman Gonzalez.
the citizens of our State. Since graduating from the Department of Public Safety Academy in 2013, he has served as a mentor and a highly skilled expert in crash reconstruction and drug recognition.
sacrifice. Before his 17-year career as a trooper, Roman served as a U.S. marine in Iraq where he earned the Combat Action Ribbon for his courage on the front lines.
elite Texas DPS Honor Guard. They ensure that our fallen heroes are laid to rest with dignity, precision, and respect.
- Troopers Zuniga and Gonzalez represent the very best of south Texas.
- I thank them for their service.
Police Chief Jaime Ayala
Ms. De La CRUZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Police Chief Jaime Ayala of the Edinburg Police Department who was recently awarded the Mike Gentry Executive Leadership Award by the Texas Police Chiefs Association. This award is reserved for those who embody exceptional leadership in law enforcement.
department's focus from simply responding to crime to actively preventing it. By building a proactive agency and deploying drones for real-time emergency responses, he has ensured that Edinburg remains at the cutting edge of public safety innovation.
Rio Grande Valley's Favorite Law Enforcement Agency for the third year in a row.
- connecting with our beautiful community.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Chief Ayala on this incredible achievement.
Honoring Sergeant Joshua Roque
Ms. De La CRUZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Alice native Sergeant Joshua Roque for his outstanding service and leadership at the Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office.
demonstrated exceptional work ethic and leadership. Moving from his role as a correctional officer to patrol sergeant, he has distinguished himself not only as a deputy but also as a resilient member of the SWAT team.
positive attitude that he brings to every shift. Whether he is supervising his squad or making critical decisions under pressure, he leads with integrity.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Sergeant Roque for his dedication to public safety and unwavering commitment to the mission of the Jim Wells County Sheriff's Department.