[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO LOUISE PEREZ

                                 ______


                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 7, 1995

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give recognition to an individual 
that has demonstrated strong commitment to the improvement of education 
in California. In December, Ms. Louise Perez will be completing a year 
as president of the California School Boards Association [CSBA], after 
several years in leadership positions with that organization. She is 
the first Hispanic woman to serve as the CSBA president. I know that 
through her work with CSBA, Ms. Perez has had a very positive impact on 
California's education system.
  In addition to this statewide leadership role, Ms. Perez has been a 
trustee of the Sacramento City Unified School District since 1982. She 
is also the executive director of Sacramento's Community Resource 
Project, Inc., a nonprofit organization involved in housing and 
education issues. Previously, she worked as a program developer for the 
California Department of Aging and as a work experience coordinator for 
the Washington Unified School District in Yolo County, CA. She has also 
served on the State House Conference on Aging and the State House 
Conference on Children and Youth.
  Although these professional roles represent a very significant 
contribution to the community, Ms. Perez has not been satisfied with 
this work alone. She has taken on a variety of other community service 
projects including involvement with the Education Committee of the Cal-
Neva Community Action Association, the Private Industry Council, the 
Sacramento County Affirmative Action Committee, the Junior Women's 
League, the Child Abuse Task Force of Sacramento County, the Mayor's 
Committee on Hispanic Affairs, and the Mayor's Committee on Child Care.
  Ms. Perez' achievements have been recognized by a variety of 
organizations. She has been honored as the Sacramento YWCA's Woman of 
the Year and Mujer Inc.'s Hispanic Woman of the Year. She has also 
received the Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Education Award 
from the California Department of Justice, the Community Service Award 
from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Outstanding Contribution 
to Head Start from Sacramento Employment and Training.
  As we approach the 21st century, California and the Nation face 
serious challenges in the area of education. The dedication of 
individuals like Louise Perez will be absolutely essential if we are to 
achieve our goals in this area, which is so vital to our future well-
being. In her role as CSBA president, she has called on all of us to 
recommit ourselves and take responsibility for the education of all of 
our Nation's children. I thank Ms. Perez for her efforts in delivering 
this vitally important message and deeply hope that her call will be 
answered.

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