[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 127 (Thursday, September 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2234-E2235]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 10, 2009

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it is with great respect that I rise to 
celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and its 2009 theme--
Embracing the Fierce Urgency of Now! From September 15, 2009, through 
October 15, 2009, the people of the United States will once again 
celebrate the histories, cultures, and traditions of our Hispanic 
American brothers and sisters. Since its inception as National Hispanic 
Heritage Week in 1968, which later became National Hispanic Heritage 
Month in 1988, Americans have taken this time to not only honor the 
rich culture and traditions of Hispanic Americans, but also to reflect 
on the countless contributions they have made that have led to 
improvements in their communities, and in turn, a better America.
   As we reflect on the importance of the contributions that have been 
made by Hispanic Americans, I would like to take this opportunity to 
pay tribute to one individual in particular from the First 
Congressional District who has represented the epitome of leadership 
and civil service within Northwest Indiana, the Honorable Lorenzo 
Arredondo, Lake County Circuit Court Judge. For over three decades, 
Judge Arredondo has presided over his courtroom, making him the longest 
serving elected State trial judge in the United States.
   Raised in East Chicago, Indiana, Judge Arredondo has brought a very 
unique perspective to the courtroom. As a child in East Chicago, he 
grew up in a very diverse community, influenced by many ethnic groups, 
all living and working together. In East Chicago, a city centered 
around its steel mills, Judge Arredondo also learned the value of hard 
work, and of teamwork. This, no doubt, served him well in his later 
pursuits and has been a cornerstone of his remarkable career.
   While serving on the bench for more than three decades is a truly 
amazing feat, it is Judge Arredondo's passion for and service to 
improving the justice system that makes his

[[Page E2235]]

tenure so impressive. His distinguished career includes service on the 
faculty of the National Judicial College and the Indiana Trial Advocacy 
College, on the board and executive committee of the American 
Judicature Society, as president of the Hispanic National Bar 
Association, and on the boards of the Indiana Judges Association and 
Judicial Conference. Not one to rest on his laurels, Judge Arredondo is 
currently vice-chair of the Indiana Supreme Court's Commission on Race 
and Gender Fairness, and he serves on the board of the Legacy 
Foundation. At home in Lake County, understanding the important role 
families play, Judge Arredondo has made great strides in improving 
opportunities for families, including the creation of the Family 
Division of the Lake County Court and the Domestic Relations Counseling 
Bureau, as well as the ``Children's Room,'' which aims to reduce stress 
on children whose parents are attending court.
   While his knowledge and experience have crossed all cultural and 
racial divides, Judge Arredondo's contributions to issues vital to the 
Hispanic population are unmatched. It is for this reason that he has 
been summoned on numerous occasions to the White House to share his 
experience and his knowledge. For his contributions, Judge Arredondo is 
one of only five individuals in the thirty-nine year history of the 
National Hispanic Bar Association to receive the prestigious Lincoln-
Juarez Award. Additionally, Judge Arredondo has been awarded the 
Indiana Judges Association Award for excellence in public information, 
the Indiana State Bar Association's prestigious Rabb Emison Award, and 
the Sherman Minton Award for Judicial Excellence.
   Madam Speaker, as we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, let 
us pay tribute to leaders such as Judge Lorenzo Arredondo, who have 
contributed so much to the improvement of our communities and our 
nation. I respectfully ask that you and my other colleagues join me in 
commending Judge Arredondo for his lifetime of service to the First 
Congressional District. I am proud to serve as his representative in 
Washington, DC.

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