[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO SYLVIA PORTILLO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2003

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an 
incredible woman from my district who recently received a Robert Wood 
Johnson Community Health Leadership Program award. Sylvia Portillo 
earned this prestigious award through her hard work in expanding health 
care for the Latino community of northern Virginia.
  Sylvia Portillo overcame adversity as a Spanish-speaking immigrant 
and low-wage worker to become a major health leader in her community. 
Her career in health care began in El Salvador where she worked as a 
nurse. Upon fleeing war-torn El Salvador, Sylvia became a home health 
care companion in Arlington County, to support the three children she 
left with relatives back home as well as her new family in the United 
States.
  Ms. Portillo was inspired to become a health care advocate for 
Latinos and other underserved community residents after her experience 
and the roadblocks she encountered when she tried to get health care 
and insurance for her two youngest children. In 1996 she joined the 
Tenants' and Workers' Support Committee as a volunteer in the Women's 
Leadership Group. There she organized the Latino community's first 
health fair by bringing together neighbors, doctors, local groups and 
city officials. In its seventh year, the fair is the only source of 
health care for many residents. In 1997, Sylvia became lead organizer 
for the committee's Health Project with a goal of increasing health 
access for Alexandria's Latino community. Since then, she has recruited 
and trained more than 80 health promoters to educate the community 
about preventive health practices.
  Ms. Portillo has also led a campaign that won $300,000 in medical 
debt relief from the leading area health system and persuaded local 
hospitals to hire bilingual staff. The project also has completed three 
landmark studies documenting conditions of Latino immigrants, including 
occupational health problems and the consequences of medical debt.
  One of the most impressive testimonies about the work Sylvia has 
accomplished came from a woman who sought her help with a medical debt 
she could not pay since she was unable to work. Sylvia helped her 
understand our health system, despite her inability to read. ``By 
working with Silvia, I am no longer afraid,'' the woman said.
  Sylvia and the Health Project have helped countless people throughout 
my congressional district and northern Virginia. I am proud to have 
Sylvia in my district, and I look forward to seeing what else she can 
accomplish in ensuring that her friends and neighbors receive the 
health care they deserve.

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