[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MS. IRIS FERNANDEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 9, 2004

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
during this month of March, which has been designated Women's History 
Month, to pay tribute to Ms. Iris Fernandez, a phenomenal woman who has 
devoted her life to enhancing the lives of others.
  Iris, a native of Puerto Rico moved to New York at the age of 18. 
While attending college in New York she began serving her community as 
a youth advocate by helping children with their schoolwork. Later, as a 
parent, Iris continued advocating for children's education as a school 
board member. She chaired the District 7 School Boards Facilities where 
she brought together the Parks Department, the Department of Education 
Facilities and CPB No. 1 to build speed bumps around the school where 
speeding cars were a concern. In addition she orchestrated the building 
of a fence around P.S. 49 which potentially saved the lives of many 
children as it once prevented a man with a gun from entering the school 
premises.
  Mr. Speaker, Iris has a long history of service to her community. She 
is the President and Founder of the Community Enhancement Organization 
which serves to create new initiatives to help families move from 
welfare to work and serves to help community residents find decent 
apartments or become home owners. If that is not enough, she also 
created the Youth Advisory Council to address the issues that the youth 
in her organization face on a daily basis. Ms. Fernandez has also 
demonstrated that she is a capable business woman. In 1989 she became a 
financial officer for a home care agency named P.R.H.A.S., Inc. During 
her fourteen years of service she was instrumental in moving their 
revenue from $7 million to an impressive $14 million. The works of this 
young woman has not gone unnoticed. In 2002, her community elected her 
to serve as Assembly Female District Leader for the 84th district.
  Mr. Speaker, for her willingness to go beyond the call of duty in 
service to her community, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring 
this remarkable woman.

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