[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E94]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MARIA CHRISTINA ROSA, A DEDICATED COMMUNITY LEADER

                                 ______


                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 25, 1996

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Maria Christina 
Rosa, who is retiring as the president of the Puerto Rican Society of 
Elizabeth. An event will be held in her honor on Saturday in Union, NJ.
  Ms. Rosa came to the United States from her native hometown of Tao 
Alto, Puerto Rico, in 1956. As a graduate of the University of Puerto 
Rico, Ms. Rosa attended Edison State College and worked at John E. 
Runnell's Hospital in Union as a patient services coordinator for 20 
years. In 1979, she began working with the U.S. Equal Employment 
Opportunity Commission and for 16 years she has devoted herself to 
helping individuals fight for their civil rights.
  Despite her very busy work load, Ms. Rosa is very active within the 
community. She has dedicated her time and efforts to improving our 
educational system by serving as a member or delegate in numerous city 
and statewide committees related to education. She served as secretary 
for the Advisory Committee for Bilingual Education in Elizabeth and 
until recently was one of the members of the Elizabeth Educational 
Foundation.
  As president, for the past 6 years, of the Puerto Rican Society of 
Elizabeth, Inc., Ms. Rosa has been able to raise funds for educational 
scholarships. The various ethnic, historical, and cultural celebrations 
hosted by the Puerto Rican Society of Elizabeth have given the 
community an opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of 
Puerto Rico. She has also volunteered her time for a variety of social 
and community organizations such as the Puerto Rican State Wide Parade 
of New Jersey, the Puerto Rican Association of Professional Women, the 
Puerto Rican Congress of New Jersey, and the Elizabeth Borinquen Lions 
Club.
  Her service and outstanding dedication to her work and to the 
citizenry have merited her appointments as commissioner of the 
Elizabeth Welfare Board, commissioner of the Union County Advisory 
Commission on the Status of Women, and commissioner of New Jersey State 
Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Commission.
  I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Maria Christina Rosa, an 
outstanding community leader and role model. I wish her the best of 
luck on her retirement, may she always maintain that spirit of 
generosity and love that she has given to the public.

                          ____________________