[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 4 (Thursday, January 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E7]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING GUSTAVO HEREDIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 27, 2000

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize 
a man that has gone to great lengths to provide service to his 
community.
  Mr. Gustavo Heredia has created a program, ``How to Live in 
America,'' that teaches Spanish speaking people basic rules and customs 
practiced in the United States. Classes offered by the program include: 
the rights and responsibilities of owning a car; domestic violence 
prevention; and privileges and responsibilities as immigrants.
  By helping to increase awareness of these customs and laws, the 
program helps the legal process by reducing repeat offenders. 
Oftentimes, people that are not originally from the United States, or 
those who do not speak English, break the law unintentionally because 
they do not understand the laws. Gustavo's program has been included as 
part of sentencing in several counties across Colorado. Gustavo 
stresses that the purpose of the class is to inform, rather than 
lecture, people on how to live their lives. There has been zero repeat 
offenses committed by program participants.
  Gustavo, who recently became a United States citizen, also serves as 
a court interpreter for Pitkin and Eagle Counties and various law 
firms.
  It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I would like to commend Gustavo 
for all of his hard work and his commitment to making Colorado a better 
and safer place to live.

                          ____________________