[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 138 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H9659-H9664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO HONORABLE ESTEBAN TORRES ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 7, 1997, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Sanchez) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority 
leader.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to host a special 
order this evening in honor of my friend and colleague Congressman 
Esteban E. Torres. Esteban has served the people of the 34th 
Congressional District of California for 16 years. Those were years in 
which our country lived through the administrations of President 
Reagan, President Bush and President Clinton. During this time, the 
world witnessed the fall of communism in the Soviet Union, the rise of 
democracy in Latin America, and the end of billion-dollar U.S. budget 
deficits. Through it all, Esteban has been a part of that history, not 
only by serving here as a Member but by being an active participant in 
these events. He has traveled throughout the world and met with the 
leaders of every superpower. In these journeys he has not only learned 
about the problems facing other countries but he has conveyed the 
meaning of freedom and the significance of democratic institutions that 
value the integrity of individual choice. I can think of no one person 
whose life better illustrates the American dream than Esteban Torres. 
Well, maybe my mom and dad, Esteban. But here is a man who truly pulled 
himself up by his bootstraps.
  He is the son of immigrants who came to this country seeking a better 
way of life. How often have we heard that? He struggled as a young man 
to overcome some tough times, growing up in the barrio of east Los 
Angeles. He is a veteran of the Korean Conflict and rose through the 
union ranks to the international of the United Autoworkers. From there 
he went on to serve the Carter administration in the White House and 
then he ran for his seat in this House. Through it all, he and his wife 
Arcy raised their daughters Carmen, Rena, Selina, Camille and their son 
Steve, and they have been blessed with 11 grandchildren. I know that 
his family is as proud of what he has accomplished as the people who 
are privileged to call him their friend. He has distinguished himself 
as a subcommittee chairman and as a member of the Banking Committee and 
Appropriations Committee.
  No one will ever forget the leadership, Esteban, that you showed 
during the passage of NAFTA and the establishment of the North American 
Development Bank. Throughout your career, you have been more than a 
friend. You have been a role model and you have been a mentor. There 
are many of us serving in government and business who claim and can 
claim that they got their start and their learning by following the 
example of Esteban Torres. I can say that he not only enthusiastically 
supported me when I first ran for office but was always there to give 
me advice and support during some very difficult and dark days. For 
your courage and your willingness to stand by me, I want you to know, 
Esteban, that I am eternally grateful.
  Esteban, you will be remembered in this House not for cutting things 
and stopping projects but for building, for building opportunities for 
people and confidence in people and yes, for the hope that people carry 
in their hearts because of your example and what you have done. While I 
for one will miss your advice and counsel, I am happy that you are 
moving on to do other things that interest you and that will help our 
community in the long run. I know you will not be idle but very active 
in pursuing these other concerns. I know you will not be a stranger to 
this institution. I look forward to seeking your guidance. On behalf of 
all the people whose lives you have touched in so many different ways, 
you have really made an impact. I know when I see young children, and 
they have your name on their lips, of mentor and role model.
  Thank you for the service you have given to this House and thank you 
for the service that you have given to our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. SOLOMON. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I also thank the 
gentleman from California. Unfortunately I have some meetings going on 
upstairs in the Rules office. I wanted to go back up, but before 
anything else, I wanted to be on this floor to, Mr. Speaker, pay 
tribute to a really great American, and when I say that, I say that 
from my heart.
  There was a time back in 1950 when communism was on a roll. It looked 
like that atheistic philosophy was going to take over the world. The 
United States Government with a President named Harry Truman, and I was 
a Democrat back in those days, Esteban, when Harry Truman saw fit to 
send American troops to Korea, and that is where we stopped communism 
dead in its tracks. If it were not for that, who knows what the world 
would be like today.
  I never had the privilege to serve in combat in Korea and, Esteban, 
you did. You and I went there last August, as a matter of fact. We went 
up to the 38th parallel to the DMZ. On our way, we stopped and we saw 
the terrible flood damage that was done by the floods that took place 
there which destroyed $300 million worth of American equipment and 
living quarters for our soldiers. As we stood on that 38th parallel, 
you could see that Esteban Torres was overcome, having been there at 
the time. I just wanted to stand up here and tell you, Esteban, that 
you are a great American. You have been a great Congressman. We are 
going to sorely miss you. I will not be here to miss you, but you and I 
are going to keep an eye, you from California and me from the 
Adirondack Mountains, we are going to keep an eye on these other two 
Californians here and make sure that things are going right. I am sure 
they will.
  I just want to wish you and Arcy, you have a wonderful wife, I wish 
the two of you the best and hope we continue to see each other. I 
salute you, sir.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. I thank the gentleman from New York. I yield to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier).
  Mr. DREIER. I thank my friend for yielding. I would like to begin by 
thanking her for taking this time for a very important special order.
  Mr. Speaker, there are a few things that every Member hopes to hear 
upon retirement from this institution. We want others to say that we 
have been effective, that we worked hard to represent the interests of 
our districts, and that we will be missed by our colleagues. As one who 
represents a neighboring district, who worked with Esteban Torres on 
both the Banking and the Small Business committees and who because of 
redistricting has had the opportunity to represent many of the same 
communities and the same people, I can say all of those fine things 
about my colleague from West Covina. I am saying that he is from West 
Covina by letting a secret out that he actually is a constituent of 
mine and I am very proud of the fact that when I got West Covina back 
in that reapportionment process that he chose to stay in West Covina 
with me as his representative.
  His work was critical to the passage of the North American Free Trade 
Agreement which I truly believe is one of the greatest bipartisan 
achievements of this decade. When the House debated the NAFTA, he 
worked with the Clinton administration and those of us on both sides of 
the aisle to create the North American Development Bank which built 
support for the agreement and secured important votes for its passage.

                              {time}  1800

  I have also had the opportunity to work with my neighbor on important 
local issues such as clean up of ground water in the San Gabriel Basin 
where Esteban led the effort to authorize the San Gabriel Basin 
demonstration project. This demonstration project along with the San 
Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority has enabled residents and 
businesses in the San Gabriel Valley to pursue a locally led response 
to the problem of ground water

[[Page H9660]]

pollution. The goal has been to give all stakeholders an interest in a 
successful clean up and to avoid the litigation nightmare that has 
characterized the Superfund program.
  And I should also add that I worked with him on dealing with the 
closure of a large, what was a toxic chemical dump in west West Covina, 
and he was key in that, and I found working with him on that to be 
very, very important because we were able to work on it in a bipartisan 
way.
  Besides the important environmental initiatives, he and I have worked 
together to support another issue that has been very key for the San 
Gabriel Valley, local transportation and getting funding for the 
Foothill Transit Authority. He was very, very key. He and I regularly 
testified before his appropriations committee in behalf of this. This 
is a local bus project which has repeatedly been cited by national 
officials as a great model of both the public and private partnership 
in dealing with the transit needs that exist.
  I should also say, Mr. Speaker, that not everyone knows that Esteban 
Torres is a very accomplished artist. He often has the chance to sit 
down and very quickly is able to do these great drawings of people and 
of places and things, and it is a talent that very few of us have, and 
I am glad that Esteban Torres has been able to regularly utilize that 
when he served here in the Congress. I have seen some of the great 
caricatures that he has done.
  Mr. Speaker, I often comment on what a pleasure it is to work on 
bipartisan initiatives that benefit both the American people and the 
constituents whom I am proud to represent in the San Gabriel Valley, 
and I am very pleased to say that I have such a relationship with 
Esteban Torres. He has created a very impressive legacy of service that 
is equal to that of many of our more senior colleagues. I have truly 
enjoyed working with Esteban, and I wish him, Arcy and their wonderful 
family all the best as they pursue together what I am sure will be many 
rewarding endeavors in the future.
  And I thank my friend for very generously yielding me this time, and 
I look forward to the other remarks, and I see my very good friend, Mr. 
Ortiz, who I am sure will offer some great brilliance about our 
colleague, Mr. Torres.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield to Mr. Ortiz from Texas.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, Esteban Torres is not the sort of man we can 
say goodbye to as he retires from this body. He is really family, and 
we know we will see him again and again and again. Also, like family, 
he is hard to describe in simple terms.
  You are complex, my friend. You, as my good friend, David Dreier 
said, are an artist, a statesman, a friend of labor, an inspiration to 
young people, and an example of how far one can go in life and a role 
model to many of us.
  Esteban's father was sent back to Mexico when he was a very young man 
in Arizona. He has been through much in his life, and he has 
accomplished much in his life. Under his direction, the East Los 
Angeles Community Union grew into one of the largest anti-poverty 
agencies in the country. In 1976 President Carter appointed him 
Ambassador to the United Nations education, scientific and cultural 
organization, UNESCO, and later a Special Assistant to the President 
for Hispanic Affairs.
  Esteban and I came to Congress together as classmates in 1983, a few 
years back. As my colleagues know, we have watched the good and bad 
associated with this institution during our tenure. They have been 
decidedly that we have had some low moments, and there has been some 
moments of majesty that impressed the world. Together we have seen it 
all, and now Esteban has decided that he has simply seen enough.
  There are a host of stories about Esteban that I would love to share 
with all of you, but they are probably best remembered privately 
between us in the cloakroom. But one of my fondest memories is to see 
you on the floor, in the hallway or in the cloakroom with your scratch 
pad and a pencil drawing the things you saw on the front row of 
history. I still have one of your sketches, and I will treasure it for 
the rest of my life.
  In the first really big floor fight of my tenure I took to the floor 
in opposition to the use of turtle extruder devices, TEDS, in 
commercial shrimping. Esteban knew it was an important moment for me, 
and he sketched the action of what was happening on the floor. 
Especially for me he sketched it, and I think you remember that, 
Esteban.
  And I remember walking into the cloakroom in 1997 while the Iran-
Contra hearings were going on. Democratic members were being accused of 
not paying appropriate attention to the daily testimony before the 
committee. So you sketched a view of many democratic members watching 
the testimony on our closed-circuit TV in the cloakroom.
  Thank you for capturing the moments of our lives of our service here 
on Capitol Hill. Your friendship is a friendship I will miss and I will 
always cherish since you are family, and we will not say goodbye. I 
will say good luck to you and Arcy, and I hope you will come back and 
continue to talk to us and make us laugh and continue to draw those 
beautiful sketches with stories about life, about those of us who serve 
in Congress.
  May God bless you, and I know that whatever you do, Esteban, God will 
bless you, and you will prosper and do well not only for you and your 
family but for your neighbors and your community. Godspeed and God 
bless you.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Thank you, Mr. Ortiz.
  You know, one of the great things about Esteban, and I do not know if 
you know this, Esteban, is that you are from, grown up in, I think in 
Arizona, from a small mining town, and the next mining town over, 
Kearny, is where much of my family comes from. So you are heralded not 
only in California where you have represented the 34th so well, but you 
are also known very well in Arizona, and of course we know you in 
California. I know you because of my family in Pico Rivera who support 
you and understand the important issues that you have brought forward 
for the people of that district; for example, when we have been taking 
a look at transit in Los Angeles and ensuring that our transit system, 
whether it be buses or a fixed rail, would come to the communities of 
East Los Angeles, and you have been there fighting consistently for 
that. I recall just this past year right before we approved the 
transportation bill the fact that you were out in Los Angeles fighting 
to ensure that moneys would be devoted for the transit for those of 
working class and lower income families.

  And so we really appreciate that from you, Esteban.
  I yield to my colleague from Texas, Mr. Ortiz.
  Mr. ORTIZ. You know, Esteban, even though I am from Texas, he is no 
stranger to my State. In fact, his daughter married a young man or two 
daughters from Texas, and he spent a lot of time in my State, and he 
has got a lot of friends not only in our great State of Texas, but in 
our small communities. He was there when our people were harvesting 
watermelons or corn or grain, and we spent a lot of time together. In 
fact he was my guest on several radio shows and television shows.
  And as I was coming here, some of the people found out some way, 
somehow that you were retiring, Esteban, and they wanted me to relate 
to you that Texas is still, I guess, your second home, and they would 
like for you to come back and visit with us. So you will be welcome any 
time.
  And I know that we travel to many places together as Members of 
Congress. Esteban was somebody that was always focused on the issues, 
and he was able to talk to dignitaries from other countries, and since 
he was an ambassador we felt that he was the only guy that was able to 
make sense on all the stuff that we are talking about.
  So, Esteban, I just wanted to let you know that my friends and your 
friends from South Texas relay a message to you:
  Come back to South Texas and visit with us soon.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would agree with the fact that Esteban 
has always been a big asset in any travel that we have done. In fact, 
he not only knows the English and Spanish, but of course is very fluent 
in French and has just been an asset whenever we have traveled. So it 
is all of these assets that compose this that we know that it

[[Page H9661]]

has been such a privilege to have you here in the House.
  Our colleague from California.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman yielding, and 
I simply wanted to add my voice of high esteem to our good friend and 
colleague, Esteban, on his graduation from this particular institution 
and very best wishes for the future. I particularly want to draw 
attention to the compassion of the man.
  I have worked with him over the last year and a half, almost 2 years 
now, on ending a policy that is harmful to the people of Cuba, that is 
harmful to the compassion and sense of foreign policy which motivates 
so many Americans, and Esteban has been the leader in this issue, that 
we recognize the Cold War is over, that it is time to trade, to have 
normal relations with the people of Cuba. And this is not still the 
most popular position to take on either side of the aisle, but it is 
the right position. It reflects a sense of where America is today and 
reflects a sense of caring for those persons who are most damaged by 
the system that we presently follow. And Esteban Torres has led this 
battle. It has been his leadership, it has been his dream. I regret 
that it has not yet been accomplished before you leave this 
institution, before Mr. Torres leaves this institution. But I believe 
it will be and soon, and when it does happen, it is my belief that it 
will be because of the leadership of Esteban Torres and will be 
remembered in his honor.
  I also note that Esteban served our country in the Diplomatic Corps, 
and his service to our country in that capacity was prologue to his 
service here in the House and showed an awareness of a world community 
in which we participate and which is too often lost sight of.
  So, Mr. Speaker, upon the departure of our good friend, Esteban 
Torres, I add my voice from the opposite side of the aisle but from the 
same great State of California to a humanitarian, to a Californian, to 
an American and to a citizen of the world and wish him our very best 
for all the years ahead.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Thank you, Mr. Campbell, and next I have the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, today it gives me great pleasure to rise in 
honor of one of our colleagues, a true visionary and a pioneer and a 
fellow Californian, the honorable Esteban Torres.
  Although I am really saddened by his departure from the halls of 
Congress and what it means in terms of his loss to the people of 
California, I am truly inspired by the legacy which he has left and the 
way in which his actions have touched and changed the lives of so many 
people. Congressman Torres, knowing you and your background, knowing 
that you were the son of a Mexican born miner, you know firsthand what 
social justice is all about.
  Since you were first elected to Congress in November of 1982 as a 
representative of the 34th Congressional District, Congressman Torres 
has worked hard to pass legislation addressing the needs of all of our 
communities. Throughout his almost two decades of dedicated service in 
this House he has been able to contribute his exceptional and unique 
knowledge of politics and his extraordinary life experiences to make 
the legislative process work for those with no voice.

                              {time}  1815

  And long before coming to Congress, the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Torres) was already a well-respected leader who worked on the 
assembly line as part of the automotive work force. What a history. He 
was a stand-out leader in the labor movement, traveling all over the 
Americas to help emerging democracies.
  Congressman Torres has been instrumental in providing humanitarian 
services and help to the people of Cuba. It is because of his 
leadership that the pastors for peace and the United States Department 
of Treasury have reached an accord to allow medical computers to be 
delivered to Cuban health care facilities where this equipment is 
desperately needed.
  But the gentleman's commitment to the people of Cuba and to the rest 
of our Latin American neighbors goes far beyond humanitarian actions. 
Congressman Torres has also raised his voice in the fight to close the 
School of the Americas, which has trained military dictators, in an 
effort to end this horrendous chapter in our history. I thank 
Congressman Esteban Torres for that and for taking lead on that. He has 
truly been a pioneer.
  The list of your accomplishments, Esteban, really inspires, not only 
Latinos and other people of color, but the working men and women 
everywhere. Congressman Torres is a man of honor and an effective 
communicator and an extraordinary coalition builder which is so 
important for us in this day and time.
  L. J. Cardinal once said, ``Happy are those who dream dreams and are 
ready to pay the price to make them come true.'' Congressman Torres is 
a living example of what can be done through hard work and dedication. 
So as we honor Congressman Torres, we need to really recommit ourselves 
to work on behalf of those with no voice.
  Congressman Torres, as one of the newest Members of Congress, I 
promise that we are going to work to ensure that your legacy is 
preserved. So I just want to thank you so much for your commitment and 
your work on behalf of the working men and women of America. Your work 
and your deeds really do speak for themselves. You will be deeply 
missed. I wish you and your family Godspeed as you enter this next 
phase of your life.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. 
Underwood).
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I just want to take a couple of minutes 
to express my admiration for the work of my very good friend Esteban 
Torres. Esteban Torres actually represents the district in which my 
mother-in-law and my wife are from, so I have a very strong connection 
to Esteban. He has a very excellent reputation in the district for his 
constituent service and for his attention to the lives of the people 
that he represents.
  But more than that, I have been here 6 years. When I first came, 
there were a number of people that I, through my membership in the 
Hispanic caucus, worked with, Esteban and also Kika de la Garza who 
were a couple of people that we always look to for a little bit of 
extra guidance.
  All those times that we have had many discussions, I remember several 
times in my first term that I came down to the floor and asked Esteban 
for his help in understanding the procedures, and he graciously gave me 
the time and provided me that kind of extra insight into the workings 
of the institution.
  But more than that, in almost every issue that I have seen come 
before the caucus or come before this body, Esteban demonstrated a 
level of dignity and grace that befits him, his personality, his 
background, and also speaks to the kinds of conditions that made 
Esteban Torres possible in this world.
  He has a very interesting personal life story. He has overcome many 
trials and tribulations in his life. He has been able to turn those 
experiences into positives, into activities that have been good for all 
the people who may have not had the opportunities that many of us have 
in life, who did not have the same kind of background and education, 
and especially with specific attention to the workings of the Latino 
community and in his help and his assistance in being an inspiration to 
that community.
  So I just wanted to take the time to salute you, Esteban, for your 
work in civil rights, for your work in the labor movement, for being an 
inspiration to the people in your district, whom I know many, and also 
for helping me during my first couple of years here in Congress. I know 
we are going to be seeing much more of you. This is just the end of one 
of many chapters to go.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Becerra).
  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by first thanking the 
gentlewoman from California, my colleague from California for yielding 
to me and also for scheduling this time for us to have an opportunity 
to say a few good words about a close friend and someone who we respect 
dearly.
  Congressman Esteban Torres is perhaps for me best described as the 
person who helped me learn the ropes here in Washington, D.C. This is 
my third term. I can recall the first time I had a chance to really 
come to Washington, D.C., it was because Congressman

[[Page H9662]]

Torres was willing to take me around. He guided me through when I was 
first here, not yet quite a Member. He took me around and let me sit in 
the gallery. He explained to me what was going on, explained the 
process, pointed out colleagues, made it clear what the process was in 
preparation for the actual opportunity to serve.
  Now I have been here, this is my sixth year, and I have had an 
opportunity to see what it means to be a Member of Congress.
  I am going to miss the gentleman from California greatly. I see him 
as a mentor, but more than that, I see him as a very close friend. I 
use him as an example of the American dream so often. Too often we 
forget that great things sometimes come in small packages. Sometimes 
they come in quiet packages.
  In this case, they come in the package of a man who, at first blush, 
in his youth, probably was like many of our youth, not seen as someone 
who could achieve so many different things, yet this man is possessed 
with so many different talents.
  He could have probably been a very wealthy artist selling paintings 
and making a lucrative living out of his artistic abilities. If my 
colleagues have ever had a chance to watch the Congressman as he sits 
here and watches the debate unfold, he is able to capture the essence 
of our colleagues in just a matter of moments on any piece of paper it 
might be.
  He easily could have become an artist and had fame and fortune that 
way, but he chose to serve and serve in so many different capacities. 
But I look back at what he has done, and I remember that this is a 
gentleman who, like many Americans, probably was not singled out as the 
one who would lead in America.
  Yet, among those who do not get singled out, he showed us what it 
does to continue to fight, what it means to continue to fight, and what 
it does to us when we do fight. You get a place like this, a place 
that most people would ever believe that we would ever have a chance to 
step foot on.

  So here we are today. Congressman Torres has decided to move on. He 
is still in good health, good standing. I think that is a tribute to 
his remarkable success as well that, on a high note, he decides to 
leave, when many, whether it is from sports or in other careers, decide 
to leave when they are already on the decline.
  This is a gentleman who certainly has many good years in front of him 
and certainly all his colleagues believe could have many more years 
here in Congress; everyone would desire that he to do it that way. But 
he has chosen to leave. For that, I think he deserves a great deal of 
respect because he has left the legacy.
  Let me return to what I said before. This is not someone who we were 
expecting to be here; someone who dropped out of school. Esteban, I say 
that with the utmost of respect, because I know you, and I have seen so 
many kids who have dropped out of school, in many cases perhaps within 
our own families. So see where you have gotten.
  I enjoy so much being able to point to you and say folks never 
believe that some of us would have a chance to get where we are. I am 
where I am because folks like you open doors. I am hoping that I can 
open doors for young children that I get to visit in the schools, in my 
district, and throughout this country.
  That is perhaps the most beautiful thing about being able to come up 
here and speak about you. You are going to walk out of here proud, 
tall, and still live a fruitful life for many, many years. You will be 
able to recount your tales. You are not going to leave here in a state 
where no one will be able to share the wisdom and the creative stories 
that have made your future.
  I am very pleased that I could come down here and speak for a few 
minutes. If I could just close on a couple of final notes because I 
know folks have said so many things about your distinguished career in 
UNESCO as Ambassador, when you served so ably as representative with 
the labor movement, with the United Auto Workers.
  If I can just mention one thing that I think is perhaps most beloved 
to you and cherished in making your life successful, and that is of 
course Arcy, your wife. I know from having had an opportunity with 
Carolina, my wife, to share some time with you and Arcy that what makes 
you tick is easily spelled by just spelling Arcy's name. I know what 
she means to you.
  I hope that a number of us have the opportunity, if we have a chance 
to serve the way you have, not just to emulate your political career, 
but also your family.
  I would like to be able to say to Arcy, although she is not sitting 
next to you, as often she is, I know the role she has played from 
helping you succeed. I know the love and the goodwill that you share as 
partners in life.
  I think perhaps, along with all the other attributes that makes you 
such a special person, special Member of Congress, is the fact that you 
have always shown Arcy how much you care about her. I think, these 
days, that is so very important because this is a very difficult life.
  Some folks do not understand it, but you have held up the highest 
standards, not just as a public official but certainly as a man, as a 
husband, as a father. Whether or not you have ever had this career, the 
best role model I can ever have is someone like you when it comes to 
family.
  So to a good friend, a mentor, and someone I hope to maintain close 
relationships with, I want to say to you, we will miss you. We look 
forward to many good years, your wisdom, your creativity. I look 
forward to continuing a friendship with you and Arcy that began many 
years ago and was very fruitful for me and has taken me a long way.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California that 
he made about how Esteban is one of those people that has always opened 
doors for people, and I know that my colleague believes that, and I do, 
too.
  I remember the first time I met you, Esteban, it was at an event for 
you; and I walked away saying this guy is talking about everything that 
I believe in, the opportunities for people to excel. It made me want to 
join you here in Congress and make changes. So I think that is 
prevalent to almost anybody who has run across the path of Esteban 
Torres.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest because we have a 
chance to come to know people on both sides of the aisle when we come 
here to the people's House. And the gentlewoman from California often 
talks about her kin folks in Kearny, Arizona, the area I am pleased and 
proud to represent.
  I am also proud of the fact that our friend who is preparing to leave 
the people's House, Congressman Torres, is from Miami, Arizona in the 
Cobra Valley. Now as we know, that area is rich in two ways, in copper, 
so vital to our Nation and the world, but the most precious resource in 
those areas famous for their wealth in the mines and from the precious 
metals, the most precious resource of course is the people who live 
there and who come from a place like the Cobra Valley and from Miami, 
Arizona.
  I guess we could say today, Mr. Speaker, that one of our famous 
exports from Arizona is our colleague, Congressman Torres. Let me also 
say that we champion our differences as well as those of a kindred 
philosophy in this House, in our constitutional republic. We should 
actually gain comfort from the multitude of voices and opinions and 
points of view.

                              {time}  1830

  I am so pleased that Congressman Torres really embodies the notion 
that I think General Eisenhower left for us when he talked about public 
life and public discourse and issues that come before us. He said, I 
always assume of those who oppose you politically that they want what 
is best for the country as well. They may have a different approach to 
get it done, but they, too, have something to bring to the table. And 
there may not always be unanimity, although I would note, I say to my 
colleagues, on this floor at this hour there is complete unanimity in 
celebrating the achievements and the congressional career of our 
colleague.
  My friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra), just 
mentioned a few minutes ago the artistic excellence which typifies 
Congressman Torres. I

[[Page H9663]]

have been after him, and I guess for purposes of full disclosure, Mr. 
Speaker, I should point out that I have been after him for a long time 
to favor us with a work of art to hang in the office that belongs to 
the people of the Sixth Congressional District of Arizona, because, 
again, he is from that district. I would hope that now, as he prepares 
to leave this institution, that he might take some time and on canvas 
convey the nature not only of his experience here in the Congress of 
the United States, but the proud heritage he brought from Miami, 
Arizona.
  And to my colleagues here, and, Mr. Speaker, to those who watch us 
coast to coast and around the world via C-SPAN where we often see 
heated arguments, where the punditocracy would tell us how savage and 
how difficult these days are, let us say that together with one voice 
we celebrate many different opinions, many different routes to this 
chamber, and one exceptional life and person in Congressman Torres.
  My friend, thank you for your service.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona. I yield 
to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald).
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my dear 
friend and colleague from California (Ms. Sanchez) for convening such 
an important night as this. While the previous speaker just spoke about 
the fact that this great, distinguished man was born in Arizona, we 
claim him in California. He has given 16 years of distinguished service 
in this House. He hails from California, representing the people of his 
district, and has done that with nobility, with conviction, with 
integrity, with character.
  I tell my colleagues, I knew about Esteban Torres before I knew 
Esteban Torres, because he is a man of great a sense of character of 
people. He knew what he came here for, and he did the work of the 
people whom he was voted into office by.
  Esteban walks very softly. He seems to be a mild-mannered man, and 
yet he has carried a big stick, a big stick for justice, for 
opportunity, for the people of California, for jobs. Everyone knew that 
before he came here, he was part of a union organization where he 
served very well there, but he came here knowing that his job was to 
ensure that job opportunities were for the working-class citizens, and 
he has done that. He has done that with conviction, with every sense of 
caring and compassion.
  Esteban knew that when civil rights became a great issue that he was 
right there in the forefront on the civil rights issues. It is no 
wonder that people of all nationalities are coming to this well tonight 
from both sides of the aisle talking about this distinguished man, this 
man who has served Californians so well. He is one of our finest who is 
leaving, but he leaves a record, a record that is impeccable, a record 
that we must all try to emulate, a record that suggests to us that one 
comes to this House to do the people's business. One does not come here 
for shenanigans, one does not come here for partisan bickering, but one 
comes here with a purpose, and his purpose was to ensure that 
California was well represented. He is the highest ranking Hispanic 
Member from California who sits on the Committee on Appropriations.
  I am pleased to stand before my colleagues to tell them that Esteban 
made sure that California got its fair share of any appropriations bill 
that came out. California is very proud of that, I say to the 
gentleman, because we knew that the gentleman was behind us every step 
of the way. When the gentleman brought forth his crime bill knowing 
about the gangs in Los Angeles, east side, south central, throughout 
the State whereby the FBI will be working with the local police 
departments to ensure that we crack down on gangs, it became a very 
noted piece of legislation, not only in this House, but across this 
Nation.
  The gentleman stands tall. The gentleman stands tall for the American 
people as well as Californians, irrespective of Latinos, African-
Americans, Anglos or what have you. And to me, that is a man of 
courage. That is a statesman when one can stand in this well and say, 
thank you, thank you for the nobility that you have brought to this 
House, thank you for the statesmanlike position that you have brought.
  I say to the gentleman, with both of us having five children, we have 
something in common, but enjoy your retirement, enjoy now your family 
that has sacrificed so much for you to be a part of this House, and 
above all, enjoy just some solace and silence for Esteban Torres. We 
congratulate you, the great Representative of California.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. 
Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Sanchez), and I thank her very much for having the 
wisdom to gather us together to be able to honor a man with great 
honor, Esteban Torres.
  I am from Texas, and there has been Arizona talk on the floor today, 
and there has been California talk on the floor today, but let me say 
to my colleagues that with the enormous diverse population of the State 
of Texas, the gentleman has a great fan club. For people recognize 
merit and quality and excellence, no matter where one comes from.
  I have had the pleasure and honor, albeit I might be in my sophomore 
years, if you will, I have had the pleasure and honor of being able to 
watch a genteel giant, someone who, along with his love of family and 
Nation, understands people.
  So I came to the floor because I did not want this tribute to end 
without being able to acknowledge how those who may not have shared 
your committee assignments have watched your quiet and deliberative 
actions and your ability to capture the essence of issues on the floor 
of the House and be able to focus in: How can we help the working man 
and woman in America? How can we ensure that whether or not one came to 
this Nation in the bottom of the belly of a slave boat or one walked 
across our borders, or possibly one was born and then worked on various 
farms across this Nation, how can one stand underneath the flag and 
claim one's birthright, the equality for all men and women and children 
in this Nation?

  The gentleman from California (Mr. Torres) showed us how to do that. 
The gentleman simply said that if this Congress is to be the Congress 
to fulfill the promise of the Constitution, then there should not be 
one person left out of the circle of empowerment.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to have been able to share that with the 
gentleman. I must say that not knowing all of the gentleman's 
legislative agenda or legislative initiatives, I certainly do believe 
that the gentleman has been one voice who has been able to stand up for 
those who certainly cannot speak for themselves.
  I do think that the gentleman's desire for humanitarian aid for Cuba 
should be recognized and appreciated, for we must understand that 
people are people everywhere. People need help everywhere. People who 
are voiceless need to have those who can speak for them.
  The gentleman has always mentioned to me his grandchildren. I know 
the gentleman has wonderful children, but I know the gentleman for his 
love of his grandchildren, but that is someone who loves people. For 
that, Esteban, if I can call you by your first name, I wish you 
greatness that you already have achieved. I know that California is 
most grateful that you will now come home to lead, maybe in the cards 
is the governorship or something else, and I see him waving his head, 
but there is much room for a man like him to be able to instruct.
  So thank you so very much for allowing this Texan to rise on the 
floor today, claim part of your legacy, but most of all, give thanks on 
behalf of the Members of the 18th Congressional District, my 
constituents, but as well, the citizens of Texas. You are a great 
American, a great hero.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Mexico 
(Mr. Redmond).
  Mr. REDMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to thank a 
good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Torres). Esteban is my 
neighbor in the Rayburn Building, our walls adjoin each other, and we 
have spent many hours talking to and from on the train and the 
elevator. When he told me he was retiring, I had a very

[[Page H9664]]

sad feeling in my heart, because he truly is a man of integrity and one 
from whom I have learned a great deal about in the Congress.
  As a good neighbor, I want to thank the gentleman. He is a man who 
keeps his word. I want to thank him especially for the support that he 
personally gave me in our land grant bill for the people of New Mexico. 
The people of New Mexico are deeply indebted to you for your support of 
that. At times it may have been a difficult thing to do, but you are a 
man of your word, and you kept your word.
  We wish you the best. We have talked a couple times about your 
grandchildren, and if they are like most grandchildren, I have seen the 
T-shirt that says, if I knew grandkids were so great, I would have had 
them first, and I think your grandkids, the way you talk about them and 
how proud you are, know that you feel that way.
  I am going to miss you in the 106th Congress, but I do want to thank 
you for the support and the encouragement that you have been to me. 
Again, you are a man of your word, a man of integrity, and it has been 
an honor to be a colleague of yours.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say to the gentleman that 
there were many of our colleagues who wanted to be here tonight to pay 
their respects and to let the gentleman know how important he has been 
to their lives, but unfortunately, because of schedules, were not able 
to attend. So from them I just convey the best of wishes, and I yield 
the rest of the time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Torres).
  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply moved by the gentlewoman's 
gesture tonight of ordering this Special Order on my behalf and calling 
forth so many of my colleagues to come here. The greatest honor there 
is is to serve in this Chamber, the House of Representatives, which, as 
everybody has just witnessed, brings together men and women of all 
walks of life in a common purpose here. I am so thankful, and I cannot 
find the words to tell my colleagues. I am so thankful that people in 
the 34th Congressional District of California sent me here 16 years ago 
and have reelected me ever since until now, in the 105th session. It is 
the highest tribute I dare say that can be paid to an individual when 
his constituency sends him here.
  But, Mr. Speaker, getting here is not my job alone. This took many 
people along the way to do that, the people that raised me, my mother, 
my grandmother, my teachers, the heroes that inspired me to seek higher 
office because they meant something to me. My wife, whom you have just 
heard about, who is my strongest partner, my working partner, a woman 
that has been by my side for some 44 years. I would not be here, so 
many of us would not be here, if it was not for our spouses. We are 
nothing really without them. And I would have been nothing without my 
Arcy.
  She stood by me, allowed me to give public service, sacrificed very 
hard, and I am so, I am so thankful that she has done this for me. Not 
to speak of my children who stood with me in the picket line when they 
were growing up and I was a member of the labor movement, who followed 
me in the campaigns with their bumper stickers and their posters, who 
even today, my oldest daughter Carmen is my campaign manager. These are 
the people around me that made me what I am.
  The working men and women of our country. The labor movement people, 
the people in my auto factory that enticed me early in the 1950s that I 
should seek elective office in the union by exposing me to that 
political process and electing me for the first time as a shop steward, 
a chief shop steward at the Chrysler Corporation in Los Angeles. That 
opened up tremendous windows of opportunity for me to seek in the 
future.
  Yes, I have a lot of mentors that have brought me to this moment here 
in the people's House.

                              {time}  1845

  I could name them, so many of them. My colleagues may not recognize 
all the names, but I have to call out to them. Frank Munoz, who was an 
early mentor; the Ruther brothers, Walter and Victor and Roy; Bobby 
Kennedy, Paul Schraeg, Reverend Andrew Young, Cesar Chavez, Tip 
O'Neill, Jim Wright, these are all people who really were my heroes.
  Early in my working years some 44 years ago, when I was in the auto 
plant, a rising star came forth in Los Angeles, a young city councilman 
who had finally captured the city councilmanship. He moved my spirit 
because he was like a hero to me. His name was Edward Roybal. I yearned 
to be like Ed Roybal. I wanted to be somebody like him. He was my role 
model. He went on to become a member of this very chamber and served 
with great distinction on the Committee on Appropriations. Twenty-nine 
years later, I joined him as I arrived here with the freshman class of 
1983. Would my colleagues believe that with the departure of Ed Roybal 
on his retirement that I would succeed him on the Committee on 
Appropriations? Well, I did.
  It was that dream I was having that I could be here and join people 
like him, but now it is my turn, it is my turn to leave, it is my turn 
to turn the page on this legislative chapter of my life, but it is a 
bittersweet time for me and my wife Arcy.
  We have enjoyed our 27 years in this area in the Nation's capital. It 
is difficult to leave. It is very difficult to leave tonight, to hear 
the adulations of all my colleagues here on both sides of the aisle. I 
know it is coming to an end. The other night, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Pelosi) hosted a dinner for the California delegation 
and at least 20 of my colleagues were there to do what I have heard 
here tonight. For 2 days I walked on air, and I know that tomorrow I 
will do the same, having heard all of these wonderful things about me.
  I think it just speaks to the kind of camaraderie, the kind of 
solidarity that we can have in this House chamber. We can have it. We 
have it on many occasions; but, yes, one must move on. There has to be 
change, and I want to make it possible to have that change.
  California beckons me to come back, and my family to come back, to be 
with our children and our grandchildren. It is really a new page in my 
life, for I am not retiring. I am going to stay active on international 
forums. I am going to stay active on human rights issues. I will teach. 
I will write. As some of my colleagues have said, for sure I am going 
to be doing a lot of drawing and a lot of painting, depicting in canvas 
or sketch paper those scenes that depict the life of this House of 
Representatives and for people in Congress.
  So I want to thank all of my colleagues for making this evening a 
momentous occasion for me and my family. I want to thank all the people 
in front of me here who over the 16 years have labored hard into the 
night, the pages, the clerks, the staffers, the policemen. Everybody 
has been a part of this life of mine, and I now leave and thank all the 
Members sincerely from the bottom of my heart for having made it 
possible for me.
  I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez), 
for allowing this to take place. Good evening and good night.
  Ms. SANCHEZ: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Torres). As we noted, he will be missed here but I know 
that he will keep in touch with us and we will seek his guidance.

                          ____________________