(This event is tonight for those in Austin interested in attending. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Former State Rep Juan Garcia (D-Corpus Christi), now serving as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, will be in Austin this week to host "Navy Week." Along w/ an op-ed board visit to the Statesman, speeches at the Headliners and UT Clubs, and an appearance at the House of Representatives, Garcia will give a presentation open and free to the public Tuesday at 5:00 - 6:30 PM at the UT Quadrangle Room.
The event is sponsored by the UT Austin International Speakers Association. Against the backdrop of Navy relief efforts in Japan, serious implications for the Fifth Fleet due to the unrest in Bahrain, and the enforcement of a No-Fly Zone in Libya, Garcia will likely discuss his role in the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and the recent historic return of naval ROTC to Harvard (his law school alma mater) for the first time in 40 years.
Given all that is going on in the world involving our armed forces, it should prove to be an interesting discussion. It's great to see a good Texan involved in some the most important policy decisions being made today.
Mynor Rodriguez sent an e-mail out today updating Juan Garcia's supporters and friends about the confirmation process and is nomination as Assistant secretary of the Navy.
With so many from around the country inquiring,
Juan and Denise asked me to send out a note with an update on his nomination. After his July 30 hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, his nomination was reported out of the Committee favorably.
However, just before he was voted on by the full Senate, and just prior to the congressional summer recess, two Senators put a hold on Defense and Justice nominees due to an unrelated issue involving the Guantanamo detainees (see story link below). We anticipate a full vote when the Senate reconvenes after the Labor Day weekend.
Thanks for your support, and enjoy the final days of summer.
Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, both Republicans are blocking Juan Garcia's nomination for political reasons.
At the heart of the Republican opposition is what will happen to Guantanamo Bay detainees and their possible relocation to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.
The two senators want a briefing from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Attorney General Eric Holder. They want to know the feasibility of holding the detainees at Leavenworth and the impact it would have on current operations and community safety.
Administration officials said Fort Leavenworth is under consideration because it already is a hardened high-security facility that could be further protected by the surrounding military base, according to the AP.
The confirmation process was going smoothly because of Garcia's bipartisan support. Both Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Senate leader John Cornyn, both Republicans, said publicly that Garcia he is a great fit for the appointment.
Further proof Cornyn can't lead his own caucus.
Brownback has gone on the record saying, "If we're not going to get any cooperation, we're not going to give any cooperation. We're going to hold these up until we get the answers that we need."
The Party of no continues to stop, block, and prevent legislation and appointments in Washington.
Kansas' two Republican Senators are holding up several nominations including Juan Garica's over placement of Gitmo prisoners:
Other nominations being blocked include Joseph Westphal, who is up for undersecretary of the Army, and former Texas State Rep. Juan Garcia as assistant secretary of the Navy.
Juan Garcia has taken a big step towards being confirmed as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He has been confirmed by the Senate Armed Service Committee and waits a vote by the Senate.
Garica served in the Texas House in 2007 and lost a narrow, expensive election in 2008. Garcia was one of the first elected officials to endorse President Barrack Obama in Texas and is a decorated member of the armed services.
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie had released this statement today:
We congratulate Juan Garcia on his confirmation as Assistant Secretary of the Navy by the Senate Armed Services Committee. When the United States Senate takes its official floor vote on the nomination, we are confident they will vote to confirm this highly qualified nominee with overwhelming support.
"As a former State Representative for House District 32, Juan Garcia proudly served his constituents. Now Texans across our state can be proud that our fellow Texan, who has also served his country abroad as a U.S. Naval Aviator, will have this opportunity to use his considerable talents to serve all Americans. The Texas Democratic Party proudly supports President Obama's nominee for Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Juan Garcia."
Juan Garcia received his "Wings of Gold" from the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. He has served as a top aide to the deputy Commander in Chief of the U.S. Navy in Europe and also served in Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia. He has been awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Naval Commendation Medal, and the Naval Achievement Medal.
We are excited to see this confirmation moving forward and congratulate the Garcia family.
Live video will stream this Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 8:30 AM CST from the Armed Services Committee website and the C-SPAN viewing schedule will be announced later this week.
For BOR readers in the D.C. area who would like to attend, the hearing is open to the public, and will take place in Room SD-106, Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Former State Representative Juan Garcia just moved forward with the next big step of his confirmation to be the next Assistant Secretary of the Navy (ASN) for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. The Corpus Christi Caller Times is reporting that The White House has just officially sent his name to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.
As was notedearlier, there will now be a hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
CCCT: Twenty-six senators, including ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., make up the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by Carl Levin, D-Mich. A confirmation hearing has not been scheduled.
If the committee votes in favor of Garcia, the full Senate votes on the matter. A majority vote by the Senate would confirm his appointment.
Given the importance of that position in the Dept. of Defense (DoD), I expect the hearing to happen sooner rather than later.
As KT noted earlier, former State Representative and Commander in U.S. Navy Juan Garcia has been tapped by President Barack Obama to become the next Assistant Secretary of the Navy (ASN) for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
Since Garcia will be the second Texan to be nominated for a Senate confirmable position (Ron Kirk was the first), there should some dissemination what this position involves, and how Garcia fits.
This is a position rich in history. Previous individuals who have served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy include Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and more recently the current U.S. Senator for Virginia, James Webb. On a bit of side note, famous Texans who have held Presidential Pentagon appointments include former governors John Connally, who served as Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), and Bill Clements, who served as US Deputy Secretary of Defense.
Pres. Obama has 487 Senate approved positions to fill. So far, the average age of Obama’s appointees is 52. Garcia is only 42 years old. The Washington Post has a great appointees tracking page. Juan is a graduate of UCLA, Harvard Law School (where he met Barack Obama), John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and served as a White House Fellow. Garcia has accomplished a lot in his young life and I know we expect a great deal more from this rising Texas star.
The Navy Department has approximately 330,000 naval personnel, 202,000 Marines, and a civilian workforce as well. If confirmed, Garcia will oversee the office responsible for recruiting, developing, and retaining Navy and Marine Corps personnel to ensure that the country has a naval force capable of supporting the U.S.'s overall military global operations.
There had been rumorsthat Garcia was going to be selected for SECNAV (former Mississippi Governor and Clinton Ambassador Ray Mabus has been nominated) but federal law prevents an appointment to Secretary of the Navy for any one who has been off active duty less than five years. Garcia left the active-duty Navy in October of 2004 and continues to fly as an instructor pilot in the Naval Reserve. He is currently the Commanding Officer of Naval Reserve Training Squadron 28 at NAS Corpus Christi. His father, Captain Juan Garcia, a native of Robstown, Texas, is a retired naval aviator, and his younger brother, Lieutenant Junior Grade Mike Garcia, is a naval aviator currently serving oversea.
This a gross oversimplification of the process but these are the following hoops you have to jump through be confirmed: initial vetting by the White House, POTUS announces an intent to nominate, the U.S. Senate receives an official communication from the White House of the nomination, the U.S. Senate conducts confirmation hearings and approves the nomination and then the nominee gets sworn in. For this position, Garcia’s appointment goes before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee chaired by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), with ranking members Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA).
I think this is great for Texas. I am happy to see one our best and brightest nominated to serve in Obama’s administration. I look forward to watching his career in Washington D.C. but I know his home is always going to be here in Texas.
Karen Brooks is reporting, State Rep. Juan Garcia, the out going Democrat in House District 32 and Harvard friend of President-elect Obama, is being pushed for consideration for Secretary of the Navy.
The letter is signed by all 12 Congressional Democrats, including Waco Congressman Chet Edwards, who turned down a position as VA secretary.
Juan Garcia is a commanding officer in the reserve squadron at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, and has served his country admirably abroad as a U.S. naval aviator.
According to Brooks, "The Navy Secretary is only one of seven in the Dept. of the Navy that must be confirmed by the Senate (there are 45 total in the Dept. of Defense)."
Juan Garcia won a tough race in 2006 and lost re-election this November in a close election.
The more I find out about Juan Garcia, the more I don't believe him. If I don't believe a man, then I certainly vote won't for him."
That's how Todd Hunter's ad closes as he attacks House District 32 incumbent Juan Garcia.
Interesting since Todd Hunter's desperate ad deceives voters. Hunter must know what he's doing since he won't even step up to the plate and approve the message or be in the ad.
At one point in the new Hunter ad, he refers to the Republican led revolt against Tom "I am the decider" Craddick. Saying, ""When he didn't get his way in the Legislature, he walked off the floor of the Texas House."
We all know the reality of that claim. The uprising was started by then Representatives Republican Pat Haggerty of El Paso and Republican Mike Krusee of Round Rock.
The poignant moment was when Haggerty forced a roll call vote the only way he knew how. He took a list of names from his pocket and began asking every member of the Texas House if they still supported Tom Craddick. After reading a modest amount of names and getting some answers, Haggerty was gaveled to be quiet. A motion to vacate the horrid speaker Haggerty led the charge and asked every member, regardless of party, to join him and breaking quorum.
Todd Hunter clearly doesn't get it. He is so out of touch. In fact, he had to hire an actor to attack Rep. Garcia because he couldn't find a voter to do his bidding.
That's why the Garcia campaign is asking an important question about Hunter's deception.
We want Todd Hunter to tell us, who is his new-found friend with the backwards cowboy hat and store-bought clean gloves. What kind of cattle does he run, if any at all? Does this "around here" rancher have a ranch around here?
These are the tactics of a desperate campaign. Hunter is a horrid candidate. He is bad on policy and he is bad on the campaign trail. His latest attack ad proves the point.
Maybe the cowboy actor will honor his pledge. Voters can't believe anything Todd Hunter says, and they certainly shouldn't vote for him.
There are few times a video moves you in politics. Sharon Cave's story is a tragic one. Cave describe how a families worst nightmare led to reforms that help prevent similar tragedies.
In addition to sitting down with Rep. Garcia, Cave also wrote about her experience.
A magnet on my refrigerator reminds me every day, "Be the change you want to see in the world." I went to Juan Garcia for help making the change that was needed in Texas Law- and he delivered. This is the story of a battle that was won by a freshman legislator and a grieving mother.
As a lifelong Republican, I am proud to have Juan Garcia representing our Coastal Bend Area. I hope you will join me in supporting him as our state representative.
This is a hard video to watch, especially if you have been faced with a similar tragedy before, but it shows the kind of person Juan Garcia is.
