Rep. Peña: Remembering 2009

Wishing You An Enjoyable Christmas

Enjoy the Holidays and be Safe

My Cowboy Hat is in the Ring

"My hat's in the ring. The fight is on and I'm stripped to the buff." - Teddy Roosevelt, 1912

To throw my hat in the ring is an American phrase which means to enter a competition, especially to announce your representation for a political post. The phrase originated way back in the early 19th century. The 'ring' pertains to the 'boxing ring. This was probably necessitated by the crowds and noise at such events; you'd be missed if you simply tried to shout out a challenge or push your way through the crowd and into the ring.

"Throwing your hat in the ring" is a way of announcing that you are ready to take on anybody from the crowd. The first use of the phrase was reportedly in the year 1912, when Theodore Roosevelt declared his intent to confront William Howard Taft for the battle of the US presidency. Since then, the phrase "throw my hat in the ring" has caught on.

Well on Friday we made it official by filing. We made our official announcement at "The Boxing Gym" in the Hidalgo County Square in Edinburg, Texas.

The gym is just down the street from our office and we thought it would be fitting to highlight an Edinburg business while at the same time having a little fun with President Theodore Roosevelt's famous quote. It of course comes out of boxing history so the location seemed appropriate.

My thanks to Victor Garza who sent me this photo.

If ...

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream — and not make dreams your master;
If you can think — and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings — nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And which is more; you'll be a Man, my son!

- Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Reception Honoring Rep. Peña October 27

Finishing the Veterans' March to San Antonio

The Texas House stands adjourned until 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 23rd, 2009 so I am off to join those hardcore veterans from the Valley on their 250 mile march to San Antonio.

The good news from the capitol is that I believe we are making good progress in moving the medical school legislation that may serve to compliment the Veterans' Hospital in the Valley. Today I joined other key members in the House to refine our strategy to get the bill moving. I am expecting our legislation to be moving out of committee soon.

As to our loyal group of dedicated veteran marchers, they are at last word on the edges of San Antonio hoping to have their final trek to the VA Hospital in San Antonio sometime tomorrow.

I will be marching with our comrades in action tomorrow as they reach this final part of this journey. Hopefully our ultimate goal will not be as treacherous.

Here are photos from today.