Albert Bustamante
Encyclopedia
Albert Garza Bustamante (born April 8, 1935) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives
from Texas. A Democrat
, he was a prominent Hispanic member of the House.
Bustamante was born and raised in Asherton, Texas
, to a family of Mexican
migrant worker
s. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army
, serving for two years as a paratrooper. In 1958, he enrolled in San Antonio College
, earning an associate's degree. Bustamante then went on to major in education at Sul Ross State College. After earning his degree, he was hired as a teacher at San Antonio's Cooper Jr. High School.
In 1968, Bustamante took a job as an aide to Congressman Henry Gonzalez. In his first run for elective office in 1972, Bustamante was elected as a Bexar County, Texas
, Commissioner. He then was elected as a county judge in 1978 and served on the state's Jail Standard Commission.
Bustamante burst into the national spotlight in 1984, when he was elected to Congress, surprising nine-term incumbent Chick Kazen
in the Democratic primary for the 23rd District. He was unopposed in November, and was reelected three times. While in Congress, he served on the Armed Services Committee
and helped to keep open several Texan military bases. He served on the Procurement and Military Nuclear Systems Subcommittee, the Subcommittee on Energy, and the Natural Resources Subcommittee. In 1987 and 1988 he supported nuclear test ban amendments, and he voiced concern for environmental and safety problems in the nation's nuclear production plants. He played an important role in delaying funding for a Special Isotope Separation project in Idaho.
In 1985 Bustamante was elected president of his Democratic freshman class in the U.S. House of Representatives and was assigned to the Committees on Armed Services and Government Operations.
Bustamante changed his support of the administration's policy toward Nicaragua. In 1986 he voted to authorize an aid package for the Contras, but in the following two years he voted against Contra aid.
In the 100th Congress, Bustamante was assigned to the Select Committee on Hunger. He worked to increase nutrition funding for Hispanics, and brought attention to the "colonias," or rural slums, where many Hispanic immigrants live in deplorable conditions.
In December 1990 Bustamante became a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. That same year he voted to approve a civil rights bill and pass a family and medical leave bill over President Bush's veto.
He was also a member of the House Task Force on Drugs and Crime, in which he used his power to push for tighter border controls to keep out illegal drugs from Mexico
. Bustamante called for deficit reduction, but also believed that more money should be spent on education and health care.
In 1992, Bustamante was investigated for fraud and racketeering, which ruined his reputation. He was not helped by the 1990s round of redistricting, which carved the 28th district out of most of Bustamante's territory and left a heavily Republican
section of San Antonio in the 23rd. Bustamante's Republican opponent, popular newscaster Henry Bonilla
, hammered Bustamante for neglecting the needs of his constituents and excessive junketeering. Although Bill Clinton
carried the district, Bustamante lost to Bonilla by a 21-point margin — the largest margin of defeat for an incumbent that year.
Bustamante was convicted of accepting bribes and racketeering in 1993 and was sentenced to 42 months in prison. Since his release, Bustamante has faded from politics. He currently lives in San Antonio with his wife, Rebecca, and owns a local shopping center.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Texas. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he was a prominent Hispanic member of the House.
Bustamante was born and raised in Asherton, Texas
Asherton, Texas
Asherton is a city in Dimmit County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,342 at the 2000 census. U.S. Highway 83 runs through Asherton....
, to a family of Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
migrant worker
Migrant worker
The term migrant worker has different official meanings and connotations in different parts of the world. The United Nations' definition is broad, including any people working outside of their home country...
s. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving for two years as a paratrooper. In 1958, he enrolled in San Antonio College
San Antonio College
San Antonio College is a community college that is a part of the Alamo Community College District. It is located on San Pedro Avenue, across from San Pedro Park, near downtown San Antonio. SAC is the oldest public two-year college in Texas...
, earning an associate's degree. Bustamante then went on to major in education at Sul Ross State College. After earning his degree, he was hired as a teacher at San Antonio's Cooper Jr. High School.
In 1968, Bustamante took a job as an aide to Congressman Henry Gonzalez. In his first run for elective office in 1972, Bustamante was elected as a Bexar County, Texas
Bexar County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
, Commissioner. He then was elected as a county judge in 1978 and served on the state's Jail Standard Commission.
Bustamante burst into the national spotlight in 1984, when he was elected to Congress, surprising nine-term incumbent Chick Kazen
Abraham Kazen
Abraham Kazen, Jr., usually known as Chick Kazen was a U.S. Representative from Texas from 1967 to 1985.- Education :...
in the Democratic primary for the 23rd District. He was unopposed in November, and was reelected three times. While in Congress, he served on the Armed Services Committee
United States House Committee on Armed Services
thumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
and helped to keep open several Texan military bases. He served on the Procurement and Military Nuclear Systems Subcommittee, the Subcommittee on Energy, and the Natural Resources Subcommittee. In 1987 and 1988 he supported nuclear test ban amendments, and he voiced concern for environmental and safety problems in the nation's nuclear production plants. He played an important role in delaying funding for a Special Isotope Separation project in Idaho.
In 1985 Bustamante was elected president of his Democratic freshman class in the U.S. House of Representatives and was assigned to the Committees on Armed Services and Government Operations.
Bustamante changed his support of the administration's policy toward Nicaragua. In 1986 he voted to authorize an aid package for the Contras, but in the following two years he voted against Contra aid.
In the 100th Congress, Bustamante was assigned to the Select Committee on Hunger. He worked to increase nutrition funding for Hispanics, and brought attention to the "colonias," or rural slums, where many Hispanic immigrants live in deplorable conditions.
In December 1990 Bustamante became a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. That same year he voted to approve a civil rights bill and pass a family and medical leave bill over President Bush's veto.
He was also a member of the House Task Force on Drugs and Crime, in which he used his power to push for tighter border controls to keep out illegal drugs from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Bustamante called for deficit reduction, but also believed that more money should be spent on education and health care.
In 1992, Bustamante was investigated for fraud and racketeering, which ruined his reputation. He was not helped by the 1990s round of redistricting, which carved the 28th district out of most of Bustamante's territory and left a heavily Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
section of San Antonio in the 23rd. Bustamante's Republican opponent, popular newscaster Henry Bonilla
Henry Bonilla
Henry Bonilla is a former congressman who represented Texas's 23rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He was defeated in his bid for re-election by Ciro Davis Rodriguez, a former Democratic member of Congress, in a special election runoff held on December 12, 2006...
, hammered Bustamante for neglecting the needs of his constituents and excessive junketeering. Although Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
carried the district, Bustamante lost to Bonilla by a 21-point margin — the largest margin of defeat for an incumbent that year.
Bustamante was convicted of accepting bribes and racketeering in 1993 and was sentenced to 42 months in prison. Since his release, Bustamante has faded from politics. He currently lives in San Antonio with his wife, Rebecca, and owns a local shopping center.