[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 115 (Monday, July 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1444-E1445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         A NATIONAL LATINA ORGANIZATION HONORS RITA DI MARTINO

                                 ______


                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 17, 1995
  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Rita Di Martino, a 
national Latina leader who will be honored on July 27, 1995 by MANA: A 
National Latina Organization. On that evening the organization will 
announce the establishment of the Rita Di Martino Scholarship in 
Communications.
  MANA was founded over 20 years ago and through its programs has 
worked to achieve recognition for Latin American women throughout the 
United States. The Rita Di Martino Scholarship is the first of many 
scholarships that MANA will establish in the future to recognize the 
impressive accomplishments of Latin American women in this country. 
Latina leaders' achievements and service in the fields of business, 
education, politics, science, medicine, and the space industries will 
be honored in this way.
  Rita Di Martino is the first Latin American woman to be recognized by 
MANA for her outstanding contribution to both the Hispanic community 
and to our Nation as a whole. She is an esteemed spokesperson for the 
Hispanic community and a nationally recognized expert on Hispanic 
affairs.
  Ms. Di Martino is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations, the 
Ana Mendez University System, and Gems Television International. She 
serves on the Executive Committee of the National Council of La Raza, 
the National Hispanic Corporate Council, the Cuban American National 
Council, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed 
Officials, the U.S. Senate Republican Task Force, is the Vice-Chair of 
the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and is a Presidential 
appointee to the USO World Board of Governors.
  In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Ms. Di Martino as the U.S. 
Ambassador to the UNICEF Executive Board. Ms. Di Martino influenced 
policy regarding the relationship of the United States and UNICEF, 
achieved increases in UNICEF's financial support, and extended the 
scale of programs in the areas of child health, water quality and 
sanitation, nutrition, and education. Ms. Di Martino conducted 
oversight and program review visits in Central and South America, East 
and West Africa, Egypt, and Morocco.
  Ms. Di Martino is currently the Director of Federal Government 
Affairs for AT&T where she coordinates the company's relations with the 
administration, Congress, and various State governments. She enhanced 
the political standing of At&T by securing recognition of AT&T as a 
major corporate citizen by the current administration. As a leader in 
the Hispanic community, Ms. Di Martino provides information and 
guidance to the company's administration about this growing segment of 
the population and offers leadership and direction with respect to 
multicultural issues. She is frequently called upon to act as a 
spokesperson for AT&T in both Spanish and English publications, 
broadcasts, electronic media, and live events.
  Ms. Di Martino has been recognized by Who's Who in America, 100 
Hispanic 

[[Page E 1445]]
Influentials in America Today, and Cattell's Who's Who in American 
Politics. She has been widely honored and recognized for her efforts in 
the areas of public policy, communications, and public service by 
businesses and community organizations, colleges, universities, and 
various educational institutions, in addition to numerous publications 
and journals.
  Through MANA's scholarship program Ms. Di Martino and her 
achievements will continue to inspire and enable generations of young 
Hispanic women to strive to be the leaders of tomorrow.


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