[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             MR. AMIGO 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 9, 2007

  Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I wish today to commend the 2006 ``Mr. 
Amigo,'' Lucero Hoganza Leon, chosen recently by the Mr. Amigo 
Association of Brownsville, TX, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in Mexico. 
Like Cher, Ms. Leon is popularly known only as ``Lucero'' among her 
many fans in the U.S. and 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 Lucero. Charro Days is 
an opportunity to enjoy the unique border culture of the Rio Grande 
Valley area.
  As Mr. Amigo 2005, Lucero 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.
  Lucero was chosen for this honor based on her accomplishments as an 
entertainer and her efforts for people with disabilities. Her 
philanthropic career started in December 1997 when she hosted 27 
uninterrupted hours of a telethon to raise money for a rehabilitation 
center for the handicapped.
  While Lucero has won many awards as an entertainer, she has also been 
named the recipient of the 2002 Double Eagle Leadership Award. She has 
recorded 20 albums, including ``Ocho Quince,'' and starred in 6 
telenovelas in her career. Currently, she stars in the acclaimed 
telenovela ``Alborada.'' She co-hosted the seventh annual Latin Grammy 
Awards in early 2006.
  During difficult times in our world, the Mr. Amigo concept unites 
sister cities on both sides of the border and sends a message that we 
are neighbors, and mends that trust, understand, and respect each 
other. We share a language, customs and during Charro Days, we take 
time to celebrate our distinctive culture.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in commending Lucero, the 2006 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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