{"database": "openregs", "table": "congressional_record", "rows": [["CREC-2026-02-23-pt1-PgE154-2", "2026-02-23", 119, 2, null, null, "HONORING THE 37TH ANNUAL HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER CEREMONY", "HOUSE", "EXTENSIONS", "HONORING", "E154", "E154", "[{\"name\": \"Vicente Gonzalez\", \"role\": \"speaking\"}]", null, "172 Cong. Rec. E154", "Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)\n\n[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)]\n[Extensions of Remarks]\n[Page E154]\nFrom the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]\n\n       HONORING THE 37TH ANNUAL HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER CEREMONY\n\n                                  _____\n\n                         HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ\n\n                                of texas\n\n                    in the house of representatives\n\n                       Monday, February 23, 2026\n\n  Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the\n37th annual Hands Across the Border ceremony, a cherished tradition\nthat honors the deep friendship and shared cultural heritage between\nBrownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico.\n  Each year, community leaders from both cities gather at the Gateway\nInternational Bridge, transforming a point of separation into a\npowerful symbol of unity. The ceremony includes the release of doves,\nthe exchange of gifts between children, and the recognition of\ndistinguished members of the community. This event coincides with\nBrownsville's Charro Days Fiesta, Sombrero Festival, and Fiestas\nMexicanas, which commemorate our community's ties to Mexican culture.\n  These cultural festivals were established by the Brownsville Chamber\nof Commerce in 1964 to strengthen cross-border relations. This shortly\nfollowed the creation of the Mr. Amigo Association to honor\ndistinguished Mexican citizens who foster goodwill and friendship with\nthe United States.\n  Since 1969, when Lic. Jorge Perez y Bouras was recognized as the\nfirst Mr. Amigo honoree, many notable individuals, including Juan\nGabriel, Vicente Fernandez, and Lola Beltran, have been celebrated for\ntheir cultural diplomacy and binational goodwill. These events are\nintegral to the continuity of the relationship between Matamoros and\nBrownsville.\n  Mr. Speaker, the Hands Across the Border celebration stands as an\nenduring symbols of unity, heritage, and cooperation between\nBrownsville and Matamoros. These events are integral to preserving the\nstrong cultural and economic bonds that define the Rio Grande Valley\nand our relationship with Mexico.\n\n                          ____________________"]], "columns": ["granule_id", "date", "congress", "session", "volume", "issue", "title", "chamber", "granule_class", "sub_granule_class", "page_start", "page_end", "speakers", "bills", "citation", "full_text"], "primary_keys": ["granule_id"], "primary_key_values": ["CREC-2026-02-23-pt1-PgE154-2"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 12.392062926664948, "source": "Federal Register API & Regulations.gov API", "source_url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/developers/api/v1", "license": "Public Domain (U.S. Government data)", "license_url": "https://www.regulations.gov/faq"}