[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 106 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H5110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING LINDA LOPEZ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 5, 2011, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember a great 
American, Ms. Linda Lopez, a treasured member of my staff, who passed 
away over the Fourth of July weekend. It is somewhat appropriate that 
that was the weekend that she passed away since she was such an 
honorable and patriotic lady. Her services will be held today and in 
our hometown that we shared.
  Linda was not only a dedicated constituent services representative; 
she was a tireless advocate and community leader in Merced, California. 
Born in New Mexico, Linda moved to California's Central Valley in 1955 
where she attended public school in Madera and then later attended 
Stanford University. For the past 40 years, she was involved in civil 
rights and social justice work, and was considered one of the most 
influential Latina Americans in the Central Valley.
  Linda's community leadership included serving on the City of Merced's 
Redevelopment Agency Gateway Projects Citizens' Advisory Committee, the 
City of Merced's Planning Commission, and several City of Merced ad hoc 
committees. She also served on the San Joaquin Valley Partnership 
Telecommunications Committee and the California State Advisory Board 
for Transportation Planning and Environmental Justice.
  Linda Lopez was also an alumnae of the Great Valley Center's IDEAL 
inaugural class, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, and 
Leadership Merced. Not surprising, given her devotion to her community, 
Linda was named the 1998-99 Hispanic Woman of the Year by the Hispanic 
Chamber of Commerce.

                              {time}  1320

  Linda joined my Merced district staff in 2006 as a constituent 
services representative, acting as my eyes and ears in the community. 
She worked on thousands of cases and helped thousands of people. She 
never let go of a case she believed needed work, and was meritorious. 
Linda prided herself on giving 100 percent to everyone who walked in 
the office regardless of their political party, the color of their 
skin, what they believed or didn't believe. She believed everybody 
deserved to be treated well. It was not unusual for Linda to work late 
nights and weekends, to make home visits to elderly constituents 
needing assistance, or to follow up with a phone call long after she 
had done her best to resolve a case.
  The hallmark of Linda's work was her unbelievable compassion; and she 
was appreciated not just by the people she helped, but by her community 
as a whole. Linda's passion for making a difference set her apart from 
many others. She offered a kind smile and a compassionate ear to 
everyone she came in contact with. Often Linda's relationship with 
other community members evolved into a mentorship program, and as her 
legacy, she asked that there be established a leadership scholarship in 
her name. Linda guided many other aspiring community activists in her 
passion and her efforts to serve others.
  In addition to her role as a public servant, Linda was a wife and 
mother, and her beautiful family will miss her dearly. Linda Lopez made 
Merced, California, a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud today to call her a member of Team 
Cardoza, and even more proud to call her a friend.
  Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to honor this great 
American, Linda Lopez, for her work, for her tireless efforts on behalf 
of our community, and for her work on behalf of our country.
  I would now like to yield to my good friend, the gentleman from 
Florida, for the remainder of my hour.

                          ____________________