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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING SPC. VANESSA GUILLEN
______
HON. SYLVIA R. GARCIA
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 14, 2020
Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my
constituent, Specialist (Spc.) Vanessa Guillen--a daughter, a sister,
and a beloved member of the Southeast Houston community. She was a
beautiful, talented, and intelligent 20-year old Latina soldier who
tragically went missing on April 22, 2020 after she was brutally
murdered by another soldier at Fort Hood.
Spc. Vanessa Guillen was born on September 30, 1999 to her loving
parents Rogelio and Gloria Guillen, and was one of six brothers and
sisters. Her father Rogelio likes to recount the story of how Vanessa
dreamed of joining the U.S. Army since she was 12 years old. She would
often tell him, ``Papa yo me quiero inscribir en el Army. I want to
enlist in the Army.'' She felt a deep sense of love for America and the
Army represented an opportunity for a better life--her shot at
achieving the American Dream. She worked really hard towards this goal
and in 2018 she graduated in the top 15 percent of her class from Cesar
E. Chavez High School where she loved playing soccer. Shortly after her
graduation, Vanessa fulfilled her dream to serve our country by
enlisting in the Army where she was trained as a 91F, small arms/
artillery repairer.
Unfortunately, her dream turned into a true nightmare. Before her
murder and disappearance, Vanessa confided in her family that she felt
unsafe at Fort Hood due to experiences with sexual harassment. She did
not file a report out of fear of retaliation. The Army failed her and
the Guillen family, and all those responsible for this failure must be
held responsible.
Vanessa did not deserve to die the way she did, and her story has hit
so many of us in our hearts, especially in the Latino community of
Houston. We mourn with the Guillen family because Vanessa was one of
us. So many of us have sisters, daughters, nieces, cousins, and friends
who could have easily been Vanessa because so many Latinas have
answered the call to serve our country.
Unfortunately, Vanessa's story is not unique. In response to this
case, current and former Latina servicemembers have demonstrated
incredible bravery in sharing their experiences with sexual harassment
and assault in the military. Their stories reinforce the troubling
reality that too often female servicemembers do not report their sexual
trauma because they fear how their chain of command will respond. This
is not only wrong, but Vanessa's story has galvanized efforts across
the country to put an end to a culture that perpetuates sexual assault
and harassment in the military. We must seize this opportunity to
ensure this never happens again to another soldier or their family.
Madam Speaker, the Guillen family, current and former female
servicemembers, and everyone in the Houston region, myself included,
ask that we make sure that what happened to Vanessa Guillen never
happens again, so not one more family has to suffer like the Guillens
have.
We want justice for Vanessa Guillen. Nosotros queremos justicia para
Vanessa Guillen.
____________________