[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 156 (Sunday, September 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              ON THE PASSING OF COMMISSIONER CARLOS MARIN

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                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 27, 2008

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today with great sorrow. The 
United States-Mexico border community lost a great champion earlier 
this month. Carlos Marin, was the Commissioner of the United States 
section of the International Boundary and Water Commission. This agency 
is charged with maintaining dams, levees and other infrastructure on 
the border as well as implementing water and boundary treaties with 
Mexico. Commissioner Marin tragically died when the plane he was on 
crashed while on its way to inspect severe flood damage in Presidio, 
TX.
  He was a leader who dedicated his life to the betterment of the 
border. He, himself was from the border and was a proud graduate of the 
University of Texas--EI Paso. He was extremely well-liked and his 
upbeat, positive, and down-to-earth demeanor was unlike any others.
  Commissioner Marin was a licensed professional engineer who had 
worked for the USIBWC for 27 years. He was sworn in as Commissioner on 
December 20, 2006. He previously served as Deputy Commissioner from 
January 2002-November 2004. Prior to being named Deputy Commissioner, 
he was the Principal Engineer of the Operations Department, serving as 
a key technical and policy advisor to the U.S. Commissioner regarding 
USIBWC field office operations and implementation of United States-
Mexico boundary and water treaties.
  To us on the border, the Rio Grande is part of our way of life. 
Commissioner Marin understood that. My congressional district 
encompasses 785 miles of the Rio Grande from EI Paso County to Maverick 
County. He will truly be missed throughout our community, and his 
successor will have some mighty large boots to fill.
  My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Rosa, and his many family 
and friends.

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