[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 131 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                      February 7, 2007.
Whereas a native of Santiago de Cuba, Rafael Jos Diaz-Balart completed his 
        studies at the University of Havana with a law degree in 1919;
Whereas soon after joining the Bar, he became a municipal judge in the city of 
        Palma Soriano, where he served with distinction for four years until, by 
        civil service examination, he obtained the post of civil law notary in 
        the town of Banes in eastern Cuba;
Whereas, while maintaining his law practice, Rafael Jos Diaz-Balart was elected 
        City Council President and Mayor of Banes;
Whereas he was later elected Congressman and transferred his law practice to the 
        city of Holgun and subsequently to Havana, where he founded the law firm 
        of Diaz-Balart, Diaz-Balart and Amador, with his son, Rafael Lincoln, 
        and Rolando Amador;
Whereas, years later, also by examination, Rafael Jos Diaz-Balart assumed the 
        post of Land Registrar, a prominent achievement for lawyers in many 
        civil law countries, including Cuba;
Whereas Rafael Jos Diaz-Balart lived in exile after 1959, and became a proud 
        citizen of the United States;
Whereas along with his son, Rafael Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Rafael Jos Diaz-Balart 
        commenced law school at the University of Madrid, Spain, and in 1965, at 
        age 66, earned a second Law Degree;
Whereas Rafael Jos Diaz-Balart died in Miami, Florida in 1985;
Whereas Rafael Jos Diaz-Balart instilled not only in his son, but in his four 
        grandsons a sense honor and service, which led them to become prominent 
        members of American society;
Whereas his son, Rafael Lincoln, was a prominent member of the Cuban House of 
        Representatives, and his grandsons, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-
        Balart were elected to the United States House of Representatives in 
        1992 and 2002, respectively, Jose Diaz Balart became a prominent 
        journalist as the Washington bureau chief for Telemundo Network and was 
        the first United States journalist to host daily Spanish and English 
        language newscasts, and Rafael Diaz Balart became a prominent Miami 
        investment banker;
Whereas, on February 10, 2007, Florida International University will dedicate 
        the Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall as the new home of the College of Law;
Whereas Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall will provide a state-of-the-art facility for 
        teaching, research, and study, as well as scholarly and social 
        interaction; and
Whereas the Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall was designed by the internationally renowned 
        architect Robert A. M. Stern, Dean of the School of Architecture at Yale 
        University: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives honors the lifetime 
accomplishments and legacy of Rafael Jos Diaz-Balart for his numerous 
contributions to democracy, and recognizes the Florida International University 
dedication of the Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall at the College of Law as an 
appropriate tribute in his memory.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.