[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 119 (Monday, August 3, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8677-S8678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        COMMENDING NEVADA ASSOCIATION FOR LATIN AMERICANS, INC.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise to call the attention of the Senate 
to the 40th anniversary of the Nevada Association for Latin Americans, 
Inc. NALA is a Las Vegas-based organization that strives to provide low 
to moderate income families educational and social services to enhance 
their quality of life. NALA aids the people in the Silver State with 
exceptional services in education, language immersion, health 
prevention and immigration.
  NALA was established as a nonprofit organization in 1969. As a 
Hispanic social-service organization, NALA acquired a small daycare 
center in 1978. At the time it was serving mainly African-American 
families, but now the center serves all low-income members of the 
community. The Social Services that NALA offers include emergency 
rental, utility assistance, food vouchers, and food pantry assistance 
to individuals who qualify for assistance. During these difficult 
economic times where many families are in dire need, we are grateful 
for NALA's excellent services and resources.
  The association's affordable preschool/childcare program benefits 
more than 400 children annually. The preschool program includes an 
exceptional ESL program and meals for the children. Many of these 
children become so well versed in English, that most become teachers to 
their limited-English speaking parents. NALA offers HIV prevention 
services and outreach to those living with AIDS through counseling, 
health care, and job training. In addition to their educational and 
health outreach, NALA offers immigration services through their 
targeted program that assists with application processing, 
naturalization preparation and employment referrals.
  I praise the Nevada Association for Latin Americans, Inc. for their 
40 years of support to the low-income community of Nevada. It is 
through the hard work of organizations like NALA that low-income 
families across Nevada and the United States will be able to overcome 
the challenges of our current economy.

[[Page S8678]]



                          ____________________