[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 25 (Thursday, February 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             MR. AMIGO 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 11, 1999

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the 1998 ``Mr. 
Amigo,'' Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo, chosen recently by the Mr. Amigo 
Association of Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in 
Mexico. Each year the Mr. Amigo Association honors a Mexican citizen 
with the title of ``Mr. Amigo,'' and that person acts as a goodwill 
ambassador between our two countries.
  Brownsville and Matamoros hold an annual Charro Days Festival, a pre-
Lenten festival, much like Marti Gras in New Orleans. Charro Days 
festivities will last for several days; this year they will be February 
25-28. There will be parades and appearances by Ortiz, who, incidently, 
is not related to me, and who is an international actor, producer and 
director. Charro Days is an opportunity to enjoy the unique border 
culture of the Rio Grande Valley area.
  During Charro Days, South Texas celebrate the food, music, dances and 
traditions of both the United States and Mexico. The U.S.-Mexican 
border has a unique, blended history of cowboys, bandits, farmers, 
fishermen, oil riggers, soldiers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and 
teachers.
  The border has its own language and customs. On both sides of the 
border, there is a deep sense of history, much of which the border has 
seen from the front row. We have seen war and peace, we have known 
prosperity and bad times. Charro Days is a time for all of us to 
reflect on our rich history, to remember our past and to celebrate our 
future.
  Ortiz, the 1998 Mr. Amigo, is widely known in Mexican-Latin American 
entertainment circles. He has performed in 75 theater productions, 23 
feature films, 24 soap operas, nine comedies, and a host of other 
theater events and productions. He has directed hundreds of productions 
for Televista and produced over 35 theater events.
  The Mr. Amigo Award was conceived in 1964 as a annual tribute to an 
outstanding Mexican citizen. Each year, the Mr. Amigo selection 
highlights a man or woman who has made a lasting contribution to 
international solidarity and goodwill.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in commending Jorge Ortiz de Pinedo, 
the 1998 Mr. Amigo, as well as the cities of Brownsville and Matamoros, 
for their dedication to international goodwill between the United 
States and Mexico.

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