[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 29, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     A TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE CRUZ M. BUSTAMANTE, SPEAKER OF THE 
                       CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 1997

  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend and 
speaker of the California State Assembly, the Honorable Cruz M. 
Bustamante, of Fresno, CA. On Friday, April 25, 1997, Speaker 
Bustamante was honored at a reception hosted by the Hispanic Outreach 
Taskforce of Whittier, CA.
  Cruz, first elected to the assembly in 1993, represents the people of 
the 31st Assembly District. During his tenure in the assembly, Cruz has 
served as a member of the Committee on Appropriations, Budget, and 
Higher Education. Also, Cruz has served on the Resources Subcommittee 
on the Assembly Budget Committee, the Joint Legislative Budget 
Committee, the Select Committee on California-Mexico Affairs, 
California Wine Production and Economy, and International Trade.
  Now serving his third term, Cruz was elected speaker of the 
California State Assembly on December 2, 1996. This is a historical 
benchmark in California's rich history. Cruz, as speaker, is the first 
Latino to hold this office.
  Cruz has worked diligently to serve the residents of the 31st 
Assembly District and, as speaker, the people of California. He 
recently navigated legislation through the assembly that will hold the 
tobacco industry accountable to the California State attorney general 
for State costs for treating tobacco-related illnesses. He is working 
on legislation to reform California's juvenile justice system and 
provide grants for the successful juvenile boot camp model. During his 
career, he has been a champion of farm worker housing and continues an 
aggressive push for the siting of a University of California campus in 
Merced County. As a strong advocate for our youth and education, 
Speaker Bustamante tours the State encouraging children to stay in 
school and shares his experience that led to his own success through 
his ``You can Too'' Program.
  The oldest of six children, Cruz was born in Dinuba, CA. His parents, 
Dominga and Cruz Bustamante, Jr., a retired barber, raised their family 
in the rural communities of Tulare and Fresno Counties.
  In 1970, he graduated from Tranquility High School and pursued a 
college degree at Fresno City College and the California State 
University, Fresno [CSUF], where he studied Public Administration. 
Following a summer internship in Washington, DC, with Congressman B.F. 
Sisk, Cruz developed a keen interest in public service. He served on 
both the student senate and the board of the Fresno State College 
Association at CSUF.
  In 1977, Cruz began his career in public service at the Fresno 
Employment and Training Commission. He soon became program director for 
the Summer Youth Employment Training Program, which employed over 3,000 
Central valley teenagers each summer. Later, he joined the staff of 
Congressman Richard Lehman of Fresno, CA. From 1988 until January 1993, 
Cruz served as district administrative assistant to former Assemblyman 
Bruce Bronzan.
  A strong believer in community service, Cruz has served on numerous 
local boards and commissions, including Fresno United Way Allocation 
Committee, Burroughs Elementary School Site Committee, City of Fresno 
Citizens Advisory Committee, and the Roosevelt Plan Implementation 
Committee.
  He is married to the former Arcelia De La Pena. They have three 
daughters, Leticia, Sonia, and Marisa, a grandson, David, and a 
granddaughter, Lauren.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I ask my colleagues to join me and 
the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce in recognizing the Honorable Cruz M. 
Bustamante for his outstanding and invaluable service to people of the 
State of California.

                          ____________________