[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1794-E1795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING KMEX-TV CHANNEL 34 ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 34TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 1996

  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Univision and KMEX-
TV, Channel

[[Page E1795]]

34. On October 3, 1996, KMEX will celebrate its 34th year as one of our 
Nation's premier Spanish-language television stations.
  Founded on September 29, 1962, KMEX has been a pioneer in Los Angeles 
broadcasting history. The station was the first to change successfully 
from film to videotape, and use satellite transmission in the news 
market. KMEX also was the first station nationally to create a Spanish-
language morning talk show. Now in its eighth year, the program is the 
only locally produced morning program in the Los Angeles market, in 
either English or Spanish. Today, KMEX remains one of the Southland's 
most innovative stations.
  For the past three decades, KMEX-TV has served the Latino community 
with programs that inform Spanish-speaking viewers on local and world 
events. The station's programming is broad-based and family-oriented, 
and aims to educate and entertain. KMEX's news department has received 
many journalistic awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award. This 
year, ``Noticias 34'' received six Golden Mike Awards and is the 
national recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award, proclaiming it 
``America's Best Newscast.''
  KMEX also maintains a record of public service to our community. 
Recently, the station joined forces with Cities In Schools, a national 
nonprofit organization aimed at reducing the high school drop out rate. 
By serving as mentors, KMEX volunteers give Latino students guidance 
and emphasize the importance of a high school and college education.
  KMEX is also active with the Junior Achievement of Southern 
California Program. Together they established the Junior Achievement 
Hispanic Program with the goal of recruiting Latino volunteers from 
local businesses and communities into inner-city schools to provide 
guidance to students. Over the years, KMEX has also raised millions of 
dollars to assist the victims of such disasters as the earthquakes in 
Northridge, Mexico City, and El Salvador, as well as other 
international natural disasters.
  KMEX has also been involved with numerous community organizations 
such as the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Puente 
Learning Center, MALDEF, CARECEN, Southwest Voter Registration and 
Education Project, NALEO, Hollenbeck Boys and Girls Club, LA Works, the 
Century Council, and numerous others.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Univision 
Television Group Inc., headed by chairman and chief executive officer 
A. Jerrold Perenchio, and executive vice president and chief financial 
officer George Blank. Under their leadership, Augustine Martinez, 
KMEX's general manager, and Tom Amost, station manager, have worked to 
establish KMEX's tradition of excellence in programming and commitment 
to community involvement. On October 3, 1996, they will join with their 
dedicated employees and volunteers to celebrate 34 years of innovative 
programming and service to our community.

                          ____________________