[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 87 (Wednesday, June 26, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3931-H3932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE STEP AHEAD TO SUCCESS FARMWORKER YOUTH PROGRAM

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the Step Ahead to Success 
Farmworker Youth Program and congratulate the program's 2002 graduates. 
I want to especially commend the program's director, Maria Garza, and 
Miami-Dade County Manager Steve Shiver, whose tireless efforts have 
made this program a great success.
  Since its inception in late 2000, the program has provided 275 at-
risk young

[[Page H3932]]

people from farmworker families with services to help develop their 
academic, social, and safety skills. In Miami-Dade, 50 young people 
have received leadership training and FCAT tutoring and have 
participated in several community service activities.
  One amazing young man, Jose Rodriguez, came to the program with a 1.2 
grade point average and was behind credits for graduation. But the 
program helped Jose to improve his grades, receive a stipend for 
financial help, graduate on time; and he will soon begin to serve our 
country upon finishing the Marine Corps basic training on July 27.
  I want to thank all of the dedicated workers of the Farmworker Youth 
Program for their unending devotion to these children.

                          ____________________