[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 155 (Friday, November 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO AMBASSADOR VICTOR MARRERO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 4, 1999

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ambassador Victor 
Marrero, an outstanding individual who on October 1 was unanimously 
confirmed by the Senate to fill a vacancy on the federal bench in New 
York's Southern District.
  Ambassador Marrero was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New York City 
with his parents when he was 10. He graduated from New York University 
(B.A. cum laude, with Honors in History, Phi Beta Kappa). He received 
his law degree from the Yale Law School, where he was elected Editor of 
the Yale Law Journal. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of 
Sheffield (U.K.) School of Law and has taught as a Visiting Lecturer in 
Law at Yale and Columbia Law Schools.
  Mr. Speaker, before his confirmation to the bench, Ambassador Marrero 
served as the Permanent Representative of the United States to the 
Organization of American States. His achievements during his tenure at 
the OAS are impressive. Among his proposals that have been adopted are 
the restructuring of the General Assembly in order to streamline the 
number of days and make it more efficient and effective, reform to 
eliminate duplication and waste through a new Inter-American Agency for 
Cooperation and Development, and creation of the Center for the Study 
of Justice in the Americas. Through Attorney General Janet Reno he has 
pledged $1,000,000 for the Center, to promote research on legal 
matters, train personnel, exchange information, and provide technical 
support on the reform processes of judicial systems in the Americas.
  Mr. Speaker, before this posting, Ambassador Marrero served since 
1993 as the United States Representative on the Economic and Social 
Council of the United Nations. He brought to his diplomatic posts 
extensive experience in private law practice and business in New York 
as well as public service in federal, state and city government.
  Prior to his service at the United Nations, Ambassador Marrero 
practiced law in New York City. As a partner in the Manhattan law firm 
of Brown and Wood, he specialized in real estate, land use, development 
and environmental law.
  During the Carter Administration, Ambassador Marrero was Under 
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 
Previously he had been Commissioner of the New York State Division of 
Housing and Community Renewal and the Vice Chairman of the New York 
State Housing Finance Agency. Before joining state government, he 
served as Chairman of the City Planning Commission of New York City.
  Mr. Speaker, Ambassador Marrero has served as Director or Trustee for 
numerous civic education, charitable and professional organizations, as 
well as the Mayor of New York's Management Advisory Committee and 
Commission on the homeless, and the Yale University Urban Advisory 
Committee.
  Ambassador Marrero is married to Veronica M. White. They have two 
children, Andrew and Robert.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Ambassador Victor Marrero for his accomplishments as the Permanent 
Representative of the United States to the Organization of American 
States and in wishing him success as a Federal Judge in Manhattan.

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