- Record: House Floor
- Section type: Recognition
- Chamber: House
- Date: July 21, 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, today I rise to honor former mayor, Dolly Perez, on her retirement after nearly four decades of service to the city of Premont.
- by her father who served on the city council over 70 years ago.
secretary, Dolly answered the call to leadership, successfully running for mayor to finish community projects, balancing the city budget, and building a brighter future for the town she loves.
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- incredible mark on the community.
- service and congratulate her on her well-deserved retirement.
Honoring Retired Air Force Major Homer Gallegos
Ms. De La Cruz. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of an American hero and a pillar of the McAllen community, retired United States Air Force Major Homer Gallegos.
in 1968, enlisting in the Air Force and serving a tour of duty in south Vietnam. He dedicated 30 years to the Air Force Reserves, ultimately retiring at the rank of major.
His service to our Nation did not end when he took off the uniform. For over two decades, Major Gallegos worked as a licensed professional counselor at the McAllen Vet Center, helping his fellow veterans heal from the invisible wounds of war.
where he stood in the honor guard to provide final military honors to Rio Grande Valley veterans.
Award from the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs. His legacy will forever be defined by his faith, devotion to his family, and his servant's heart.
100th Anniversary of Falfurrias Volunteer Fire Department
Ms. De La Cruz. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the incredible men and women of the Falfurrias Volunteer Fire Department for 100 years of service to south Texas.
- formed a bucket brigade to fight a fire breaking out in Falfurrias.
members officially established the department. From its earliest days, operating with an old Jeep carrying a single barrel of water, the department has grown into a modern emergency response powerhouse with a fleet of over 15 trucks, covering more than 500 square miles across Brooks County.
For 100 years, their mission has remained unchanged: to serve with honor and with bravery.
- keeping Brooks County safe.
Recognizing Special Interns
Ms. De La Cruz. Mr. Speaker, I would like to quickly recognize that we have special interns from the district that are celebrating their birthday today. I would like to wish a happy birthday to David Rodriguez and Joseph Uribe. We wish them many blessings, today and always. God bless them.