[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E22]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              COMMENDING ``MR. AMIGO,'' BERTHA NOEGGERATH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 21, 2004

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to commend the 2003 ``Mr. 
Amigo,'' Bertha Noeggerath, better known as ``Dulce,'' chosen recently 
by the Mr. Amigo Association of Brownsville, TX, and Matamoros, 
Tamaulipas, in Mexico. Each year the Mr. Amigo Association honors a 
Mexican citizen with the title of ``Mr. Amigo,'' and that person acts 
as a goodwill ambassador between our two countries.
  The Mr. Amigo Award began in 1964 as an annual tribute to an 
outstanding Mexican citizen who has made a lasting contribution during 
the previous year to international solidarity and goodwill. ``Mr. 
Amigo''' presides over the annual Charro Days Festival.
  The Charro Days Festival is a pre-Lenten event, much like Mardi Gras 
in New Orleans, held in Brownsville and Matamoros. Charro Days 
festivities last for several days; this year they will be February 25-
28 and will include parades and appearances by Dulce. Charro Days is an 
opportunity to enjoy the unique border culture of the Rio Grande Valley 
area.
  As Mr. Amigo 2003, Dulce will head the international parade of 
Brownsville Charro Days and Matamoros Fiestas Mexicanas festivities.
  During Charro Days, South Texans celebrate the food, music, dances, 
and traditions of both the United States and Mexico. The United States-
Mexican border has a unique, blended history of cowboys, bandits, 
lawmen, farmers, fishermen, oil riggers, soldiers, scientists, 
entrepreneurs, and teachers.
  The border has its own language and customs. On both sides of the 
border, there is a deep sense of history, much of which the border has 
seen from the front row. We have seen war and peace; we have known 
prosperity and bad times. Charro Days is a time for all of us to 
reflect on our rich history, to remember our past and to celebrate our 
future.
  The 2003 Mr. Amigo, Dulce is a musician and actress who continues to 
have a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. She is 
originally from Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Her music career began while 
singing in small nightclubs in her hometown in the early 1990's, before 
joining the group ``Toby y sus Amigos.'' Her 27-year career includes 
not only Gold Records and several Spanish-language hits, but numerous 
television appearances and work in Mexican telenovelas, including 
``Sonadoras'' and ``Mujeres Enganadas,'' with Andres Garcia, Laura 
Leon, Kuno Becker and Susana Gonzalez. This year she joins the cast of 
``Las Vias del Amor.''
  The Mr. Amigo Committee selected Dulce because ``she is a good role 
model for local youths interested in the arts,'' and because ``through 
her acting and her music she represents the Mexican culture.''
  I urge my colleagues to join me in commending Dulce Noeggerath, the 
2003 Mr. Amigo, as well as the cities of Brownsville and Matamoros, for 
their dedication to international goodwill between the United States 
and Mexico.

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