[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 13, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 13, 2012

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I rise 
today to recognize women leaders and their many contributions to our 
community.
  Recently, we celebrated the significant advancement in girls' 
participation in sports as we commemorated the 25th annual National 
Girls and Women in Sports Day and the 40th anniversary of Title IX. 
Today, I want to recognize the incredible accomplishments of the 
University of Texas at El Paso's (UTEP) women's basketball team for 
winning the 2012 Conference USA Championship, and the 2012 Conference 
USA Regular Season Title for the second time in the past five years. 
These talented young women serve as positive role models for the El 
Paso community.
  I want to congratulate Keitha Adams for being named Conference USA 
Coach of the Year. This is the second time Coach Adams has been honored 
with this title, and her leadership helped the UTEP program win two 
Conference USA regular season titles in the last five years. I also 
want to congratulate Gloria Brown for winning Conference USA Sixth 
Player of the Year for a second-consecutive season, and El Paso's own 
Kayla Thornton, an Irvin High School graduate, was recognized as an 
All-Conference USA performer.
  These remarkable women not only strengthen themselves, their families 
and the El Paso community, but they serve as an inspiration to 
encourage schools and the El Paso community to increase opportunities 
for girls and women in sports.
  El Paso, Texas, has a rich history and is home to strong and 
passionate women who have played critical roles in making higher 
education a reality, promoting our small businesses, serving El Paso as 
public servants, safeguarding our community, and ensuring access to 
health care for children, families and seniors.
  Leaders like Dr. Diana Natalicio of the University of Texas at El 
Paso; Cindy Ramos-Davidson of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; 
Belen Robles, the first female president of the League of United Latin 
American Citizens (LULAC); Dr. Blanca Enriquez, life-long educator and 
Associate Executive Director for Head Start; Rosa Guerrero, a pioneer 
educator, artist, renowned dancer, and humanitarian; and Suzie Azar, El 
Paso's first and only woman Mayor. These remarkable women, and many 
others, have made history in the border region, and we are blessed that 
they call El Paso home.
  Mr. Speaker, while women have achieved great success, we recognize 
women still face many challenges and there is still much work to be 
done. This month, I reaffirm my commitment to policies and initiatives 
that support more and better opportunities for women and girls.

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