After 30 years in Congress, Rep. Kika de la Garza is calling it quits.
The conservative Democrat known for his staunch support of farm programs and NAFTA said Monday he decided not to seek re-election next year because "it was just time."De la Garza has represented the rural, impoverished Rio Grande Valley in south Texas since 1965.
De la Garza's announcement made him the 30th House member to retire or seek higher office in 1996. Twenty-one are Democrats and nine are Republicans. Eight Democrats and four Republicans in the Senate also are retiring.
He said he will spend his remaining time in Washington working on how to balance the federal budget within seven years. The first bill de la Garza introduced upon arriving in Washington three decades ago was a balanced-budget amendment. Since then, he has introduced similar legislation on the first day of every legislative session.
"We're on the threshold of getting there," he said Monday.
De la Garza, 68, was a staunch defender of farm programs during his 14 years as head of the Agriculture Committee. He lost his post when Republicans gained control of Congress last year.