[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 91 (Friday, July 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TWO PUERTO RICAN WOMEN NOMINATED FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 30, 2005

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am speaking today in strong support of 
the two Nobel Peace Prize candidates from Vieques, Puerto Rico. Nilda 
Medina Diaz and Maria Reinat Pumajero are members of the Woman's 
Alliance of Vieques, an organization committed to the fight against 
poverty, human rights violations, and international injustices that 
occur in over 150 countries around the world.
  I would like to acknowledge Nilda Medina Diaz for her successful 
efforts for the demilitarization of Vieques. Nilda has also co-founded 
the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, which later 
led to the ending of the weapons training and military exercises that 
occurred on this U.S. Marine base prior to 2003, after 60 years of 
military usage. She also continues to play a large role in Puerto 
Rico's environmental clean up effort as a member of Restoration 
Advisory Board of Vieques.
  In addition, I would also like to recognize Maria Reinat-Pumarejo. 
She also played a large role in the closing of Vieques as a military 
base. In addition, her grassroots organizing of working class women 
against racism and sexism has led her to co-found the Institute for 
Latino Empowerment. As Maria saw the need to expand her efforts across 
a larger base, she collaborated with the People's Institute for 
Survival and Beyond, an organization that serves Caucasians and also 
people of color. In addition, Maria works closely with the East Asia-
U.S.-Puerto Rico Women's Network against Militarism, in which she is 
both furthering her efforts to alleviate racial tensions, and uniting 
against a common cause in the United States and abroad.
  I have had the opportunity to visit the Island of Vieques twice and 
have seen both the damage that multiple years of bombing have done to 
that island and the tremendous recreation and economic possibilities 
that lie ahead for the people of Vieques. As the original author of the 
base legislation, which led to the withdrawal of the U.S. Navy presence 
from Vieques, I know how important the advocacy of the Puerto Rican 
Community in Puerto Rico, on Vieques and on the mainland of the U.S.A. 
and in these Halls of Congress was to achieving our successful shared 
goal. Ms. Diaz and Ms. Pumarejo are just two of the hundreds of 
committed community advocates, elected officials, and friends from 
throughout the world who worked hard and dedicated themselves to 
improving the future of Vieques and the Puerto Rican people.
  The women mentioned above are two of 1,000 women nominated this year 
for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize that have been engaged in 
creating better communities, alleviating poverty, and working for a 
common goal. Their efforts have reflected upon many of the Puerto Rican 
and Latino communities in my district as a source of power and 
hopefulness for the future.
  I commend these women for their Nobel Peace Prize nominations, their 
commitment to empowering women across borders, and for their dedication 
to the closing of the Vieques Marine Base.

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