[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MRS. PATRICIA ANDRADE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History 
month, I rise today to honor Patricia Andrade, a remarkable leader in 
the South Florida community.
  Mrs. Andrade was born in Venezuela and has been living in the United 
States for more than 20 years. She holds both a law degree from 
Universidad Santa Maria and an International Diploma in Human Rights 
from the United Nations Association in Venezuela. These academic 
achievements have directly contributed to her campaign against human 
rights abuses by Hugo Chavez, following his rise to power.
  In 2004, Mrs. Andrade founded the Venezuela Awareness Foundation, an 
organization whose focus is denouncing and defending human rights in 
Venezuela. Her commitment to democracy and respect for human rights 
around the world is a daily battle, yet she perseveres and finds 
motivation in all the Venezuelans living under oppression today. Mrs. 
Andrade works to keep close contact with political prisoners' family 
members and goes to great lengths to alleviate their economic 
hardships. Once a year, she works to promote education in Venezuela by 
providing political prisoners' children with school supplies including 
uniforms, books, and registration expenses.
  Mrs. Andrade is also a weekly columnist in Miami's newspaper El Nuevo 
Herald, along with other Venezuelan online news sites. To further 
promote awareness of Venezuela's current situation and the abuse of 
human rights, she participates in different forums and conferences 
throughout South Florida and Germany.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Mrs. Patricia Andrade for 
her continued service to the South Florida community and to all 
Venezuelans who continue to be oppressed daily by Chavez' fist. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable individual and 
wish her continued success.

                          ____________________