[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 2 (Thursday, January 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CRUZ BUSTAMANTE

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I 
rise today to pay tribute to Cruz Bustamante, the newly elected speaker 
of the California Assembly.
  Speaker Bustamante is a native Californian, born in Dinuba and raised 
in the great Central Valley, where he still lives and represents the 
31st District. He graduated from Tranquility High School and attended 
Fresno City College and California State University at Fresno. He has 
had a career marked by community service, having worked in various 
employment and training programs.
  He understands his community well, having served on numerous boards 
and commissions including the Fresno United Way Allocation Committee, 
Burroughs Elementary School Site Committee, City of Fresno Citizens 
Advisory Committee and the Roosevelt Plan Implementation Committee.
  In addition to his extensive experience in state and local government 
and organizations, he also has a firm understanding of the workings of 
Congress and the Federal Government. Early in his career, he served as 
a summer intern in former Congressman B. F. Sisk's office. He later 
worked as district representative for former Congressman Richard 
Lehman.
  Cruz Bustamante is California's first Assembly Speaker of Latino 
heritage. He is a modern day pioneer. California is home to millions of 
Latinos and others of various ethnic backgrounds. Mr. Bustamante's 
speakership heralds new horizons for every Californian concerned with 
the future of our ever changing State.
  So today, I ask my colleagues in the United States Senate to join me 
and Speaker Bustamante's wife Arcelia, their daughters and 
grandchildren, his colleagues, constituents and numerous other 
supporters in wishing him every success as he meets this challenge.
  Cruz Bustamante has been described by Republicans and Democrats alike 
as an intelligent and able leader. He has said that his tenure as 
Speaker will focus on the needs of the people of California. I look 
forward to working with him on behalf of all Californians, and I look 
forward to a continuing story of success for California's new Assembly 
Speaker, Cruz Bustamente.

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