[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 23 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H717-H718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING DEREK PARRA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for 
cooperating with me in pressing calendar circumstances.
  I have come to the floor because I will be inserting in the Record 
some detailed information about a young man from my hometown, San 
Bernardino, California, by the name of Derek Parra who won, among other 
things, a gold and a silver medal at the Winter Olympic Games, a 
fabulous young person who is an inspiration to our entire community. 
Not only has he made a difference to our community, he is impacting 
young people across the country.
  It is my pleasure to mention, among other things, as I have done some 
homework on him, he is an employee of Home Depot. I have learned that 
Home Depot is doing a fantastic job of helping the Olympics by having 
employees who work for them have a good deal of flexibility in terms of 
their schedule and the way their jobs are funded, et cetera.

                              {time}  1500

  They have, in a very substantial way, demonstrated what the private 
sector can do to improve our ability to effectively impact a wonderful 
event such as the Winter Olympic games.
  So my hat is off to Home Depot, and I hope all my colleagues will 
recognize these good works and encourage them across the country.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of my hometown, San Bernardino, were 
specially thrilled by the Olympic heroism of Derek Parra, who became 
the first Mexican-American to win a medal at the Winter games when he 
took both a gold and silver medal in speed-skating. His story is one of 
making sacrifice and working tirelessly to achieve his life's dream of 
winning at the Olympics.
  Derek Parra twice left family and home behind to pursue his dream--
once moving to Florida to become an international star at in-line 
skating races, and then again heading to Utah to train for speed-
skating, a sport he had never tried as a child in sunny Southern 
California. Those who know San Bernardino recognize that hard-working 
spirit, and our hometown celebrated with daylong events that included a 
spirited parade and packed awards dinner.
  While it is clear that Derek Parra meant to reach for his Olympic 
dream in any way he could, his time in Utah was made easier by The Home 
Depot, the national hardware chain that is known for its orange aprons. 
When he arrived in Salt Lake City, Parra landed a job in floors and 
walls at the West Valley Home Depot, which helped him provide for 
himself and his family during the year leading up to the Olympics.

[[Page H718]]

  The Home Depot company is justly proud that it has contributed to 
Parra's success, as well as that of fellow employee Tristan Gale, who 
won a gold medal in the women's skeleton event. In fact, the company 
has hired and given job flexibility to 140 Olympics and Paralympics 
hopefuls throughout the country in a display of corporate patriotism 
and civic involvement. Twenty of those hopefuls were in Salt Lake City.
  The company's Olympic Job Opportunity Program offers full-time pay 
and benefits to athletes for a 20-hour week during competition and 
training seasons. Not surprisingly, Home Depot managers have found 
these dedicated athletes are also among their most hard-working 
employees and in most cases would be delighted to have them back after 
the competition has ended.
  Home Depot has joined many other U.S. companies in sponsorships that 
have helped show the world that it is possible to stage a successful 
Olympics without losses to public coffers or excessive 
commercialization. But The Home Depot has taken this civic spirit to 
the next level, supporting those dedicated athletes who are the 
centerpiece of the Olympic Games.
  Mr. Speaker, I would ask you and my colleagues to please join me in 
praising the American spirit of determination that led Derek Parra to 
shock the world and win gold and silver medals in record-breaking times 
at speedskating. And also in praising The Home Depot for showing the 
world that American business can join with athletes like Derek to bring 
success and pride to them both.

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