[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     GOOD NEIGHBOR SETTLEMENT HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very special 
organization in Brownsville, Texas: Good Neighbor Settlement House, a 
non-profit related to the Global Ministries of the United Methodist 
Church.
  They have been serving the needy people in the Brownsville-South 
Texas area for 50 years, and I commend them for their longevity in 
doing the most important work neighbors can do: taking care of each 
other. December 11 marks their 50th anniversary, and their work will be 
celebrated in Cameron County.
  Just last year, Good Neighbor Settlement House served meals to 57,000 
men, women and children in our community. They provided a variety of 
services to over 100,000 people--including rental assistance, clothing, 
food, after-school programs, children's summer programs, and referrals 
to other social service agencies.
  In 1953, with the guiding principle ``Helping People Help 
Themselves,'' Good Neighbor Settlement House launched themselves into 
the business of their mission: to provide the basic necessities of life 
such as food, clothing, meals, housing assistance and educational 
programs to the needy.
  Just a few examples of their unique offering to the low-income 
families in Brownsville: the Mother's Club, a gathering of women who 
quilt to help supplement their income; family budgeting classes (with 
American Express) to help families maximize their resources and be 
self-sufficient; and Las Culturas (with Cameron Works/United Way) 
offers music and dance classes for young children.
  In today's economy, our need for the Good Neighbor Settlement House 
is every bit as urgent as it was 50 years ago. Because of our 
government's reductions in social programs to help the needy--in favor 
of tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans--the less fortunate are facing 
ever more serious economic hardships.
  Today we celebrate both Good Neighbor Settlement House's dedication 
to the less fortunate on this anniversary . . . and their commitment to 
the principle of giving people what they need to fend for themselves: 
if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day--if you teach a man to 
fish, you feed him for a lifetime.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this 50th anniversary 
of Good Neighbor Settlement House's work in South Texas.

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