[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 142 (Friday, October 11, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1493-E1494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING JOSEPH ACABA FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 11, 2013

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage 
Month, to recognize Joseph Acaba's inspiring career as an astronaut, 
hydrogeologist, serviceman, and an educator.
  Mr. Acaba received his Bachelor's degree in Geology from the 
University of California, Santa Barbara and his Master's degree in 
Geology from the University of Arizona. Mr. Acaba was a Sergeant in the 
United States Marine Corps Reserves where he served for six years. He 
also worked as a hydrogeologist in Los Angeles, California.
  Mr. Acaba spent two years in the United States Peace Corps and 
trained over 300 teachers in the Dominican Republic in modern teaching 
methodologies. He then served as Island Manager of the Caribbean Marine 
Research at Lee Stocking Island in The Exumas, Bahamas. Upon his return 
to the United States, Mr. Acaba moved to Florida where he became the 
Shoreline Revegetation Coordinator for Vero Beach. He also taught 
science and math at Melbourne High School and taught for four years at 
Dunnellon Middle School.
  On May 6, 2004, Joseph Acaba became the first person of Puerto Rican 
heritage to be selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA. After 
completing training, Mr. Acaba was selected as an Educator Mission 
Specialist and assigned to the crew of space shuttle Discovery's 
mission which launched on March 15, 2009. Mr. Acaba, carried a Puerto 
Rican flag with him and requested that the crew be awakened on March 19 
to the Puerto Rico folklore song ``Que Bonita Bandera.'' During his 
mission, Mr. Acaba performed a spacewalk that successfully unfurled the 
final ``wings'' of the solar array that will augment power to the 
International Space Station.
  Mr. Acaba was also a crewmember aboard the Soyuz spacecraft which 
launched from Kazakhstan and docked with the International Space 
station in May of 2012. He and the crew spent 30 days at the 
International Space Station before returning to Earth on September 17, 
2012.
  Mr. Acaba has received numerous awards recognizing his 
accomplishments including the Ana G. Mendez University System 
Presidential Medal, an honorary Doctorate from the Polytechnic 
University of Puerto Rico, and recognition from the Senate of Puerto 
Rico.
  I am happy to honor Joseph Acaba, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for 
his contributions to the Hispanic community and his many achievements.


              Recognizing the Accomplishments of Leo Lamos

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize Leo Lamos for his service to Florida's Ninth Congressional 
District.
  Mr. Lamos is a tireless and devoted public servant who has 
continuously given back to his community. One of Central Florida's 
great music educators, Leo serves a crucial role in the south Orlando 
community as the Director of Bands at Cypress Creek High School. As a 
former student at Cypress Creek High School and later a student at the 
University of Central Florida, Leo has brought his talents and 
leadership to a community with which he is very familiar. Under his 
direction, Cypress Creek's band program has continued to uphold its 
tradition of excellence by bringing national attention to its 
burgeoning group of music students.
  In order for public school bands to travel, perform and compete on a 
national level, involvement and sponsorship from the community is 
crucial. Encouraging partnerships and sponsorships from locally owned 
businesses, Mr. Lamos has been tireless in his efforts to create an 
unparalleled musical experience for his over 100 students. Mr. Lamos's 
efforts in mentoring and educating his students have produced promising 
young musicians that have gone on to study at the prestigious Manhattan 
School of Music and several other universities.
  I am happy to honor Leo Lamos, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for 
his dedication and service to the students of Florida's Ninth 
Congressional District.


           Recognizing the Service of Elias ``Rico'' Piccard

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize Elias ``Rico'' Piccard for his service to our country and to 
my district.
  Rico Piccard, born Elias Piccard, was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto 
Rico in 1946. In 1966, he left the island and relocated to New York 
City. A year later was drafted by the U.S. Army to serve during the 
Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge, Piccard attended the Hostos 
Community College in the Bronx, NY, where he graduated with an 
Associates of Arts degree and completed his Bachelor's Degree in 
Liberal Arts. He later went on to attend Columbia University, where he 
completed a Master's Degree in Social Work.
  Piccard's career is characterized by his selfless dedication to help 
others. During his career he worked as a Social Worker for Volunteers 
of America and spent ten years working at the Montifiore Hospital in 
New York City's Rikers Island assisting inmates with mental health 
issues.
  In 1994, Piccard left his position at Montifiore Hospital and moved 
to Orlando, FL. In Orlando, he became a community leader and helped 
organize multiple rallies and marches in the Hispanic community. In 
2000, he started a new tourist transportation company called Rico 
Transportation.
  Piccard began writing a column called ``Rico Informa,'' Rico Informs, 
for Puerto Rico's El Nuevo Dia newspaper to describe issues affecting 
Puerto Ricans living in Central Florida. In 2009, Piccard helped create 
United Front 436, Frente Unido 436, a community organization formed by 
a group of neighbors concerned with the physical deterioration and lack 
of security in the east side of Orange County and Orlando.
  I am happy to honor Elias ``Rico'' Piccard, during Hispanic Heritage 
Month, for his tireless service to his community.


        Recognizing the Cultural Contributions of Palmira Ubinas

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month to 
recognize Palmira Ubinas. Mrs. Ubinas has made invaluable contributions 
to the arts and Puerto Rican culture.
  Mrs. Ubinas has mastered many art forms and uses them to represent 
her heritage and traditions as a Puerto Rican American. She currently 
serves as the President and Founder of the Hispanic Arts and Culture 
International Association (ALPEH), as well as the Co-Chair for the 
500th Florida Discovery Council Round Table.
  A native of Puerto Rico, Mrs. Ubinas received a Bachelor's Degree 
from the University of Puerto Rico in Psychology and Political Science. 
Later, she completed her post-graduate studies in Communications, 
Public Relations, and Hispanic Literature. Mrs. Ubinas has showcased 
the talents she obtained through her childhood in Puerto Rico and her 
university education in her various professional positions. As a 
journalist, event coordinator, editor, TV and radio host, Mrs. Ubinas 
has been able to represent her culture and heritage proudly. She has 
earned several awards and recognitions and served as the Educational 
Specialist and Commerce Development Officer for the Puerto Rico Federal 
Affairs Administration.
  I am happy to honor Palrnira Ubinas, during Hispanic Heritage Month, 
for her continuous service to the arts and commitment to the Hispanic 
community.


            Recognizing the accomplishments of Marytza Sanz

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize the accomplishments of one of Orlando's true leaders, Marytza 
Sanz.
  As founding President and CEO of Latino Leadership, Inc., Marytza 
Sanz has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life of families 
in Central Florida. Through Latino Leadership, Mrs. Sanz has 
implemented social enrichment programs that incorporate leadership 
development and empowerment, education advancement, and economic 
community development. Her contribution to our community has helped 
pave the way for young Hispanics to succeed and become leaders in their 
own right. Mrs. Sanz truly understands the need to invest in future 
generations.
  Mrs. Sanz lends her expertise to the University of Central Florida 
President's Minority Advisory Board, the Homeless Coalition Board of 
Directors, and Florida Devereux Board of Directors. Her work in voter 
engagement and health education has received national and statewide 
coverage from media outlets such as CNN, Univision, Telemundo, the St. 
Petersburg Times, NPR News and the San Juan Star. Mrs. Sanz can be 
heard on her radio program, Al Oido de la Comunidad.
  Mrs. Sanz is a leader and staunch supporter of minority 
representation. Her work to ensure fairly drawn electoral districts in 
Orange County has been celebrated in the Hispanic community. Ms. Sanz's 
work against voter suppression has helped protect the integrity of the 
democratic process in Central Florida and empower our citizens and 
families.
  Before founding Latino Leadership, Mrs. Sanz worked for the Census 
Bureau and

[[Page E1494]]

served as the Central Florida Hispanic Outreach Coordinator for the 
Gore/Lieberman campaign. More recently, Marytza Sanz was appointed by 
Governor Charlie Crist to serve on Florida's 2010 Statewide Complete 
Count Committee to ensure a comprehensive count of Florida's population 
during the 2010 Census.
  I am happy to honor Marytza Sanz, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for 
her accomplishments and service to the Central Florida Hispanic 
Community.


       Recognizing the Career and Accomplishments of Marissa Sala

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize Marissa Salas for her dedicated civic engagement. Marissa is 
a leader in Central Florida who believes in equality and advocating for 
the rights of the LGBT community. She currently serves as the GLBT 
Statewide Caucus Campaign Director and President of the Rainbow 
Democrats of Orange County, Florida.
  Marissa graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Social Science and 
her Master's Degree in Urban Planning from Florida State University. 
During her career, she has served as a GIS Test Manager and Analyst for 
Geonetics, Inc. in Boston, MA, and as a Senior Project Director for 
Lopez and Cheung, Inc. in Tampa, FL.
  Marissa has participated in several campaigns including as the 
Campaign and Political Director for John Alvarez in the 2012 Florida 
House of Representatives race in Brevard County. She is also 
the principle and owner of her own consulting firm, Marissa Salas 
Consulting. Her public policy research has been published by the New 
York Times, and used as reference material by the UCLA School of Law. 
Marissa has also received many awards, including the 2007 Civic Award 
from the Municipal League of King County.

  I am happy to honor Marissa Sala, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for 
being a champion of equality and an inspiration to the Central Florida 
community.


    Recognizing the Accomplishments of Maria Isabel Barajas-Martinez

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize an amazing young woman named Maria Isabel Barajas-Martinez.
  Maria was an active leader in the immigration reform movement since 
she was in high school. She graduated from Lake Region High School with 
high honors in 2009, where she was also the president of the National 
Spanish Honor Society. She went on to pursue her education at Polk 
State College and aspired to become a pediatrician. While attending 
Polk State College, Maria joined the local chapter of Students Working 
for Equal Rights. In May 2010 she founded a youth organization 
dedicated to community service called the Young American Dreamers.
  With the help of her organization, Maria focused on raising funds to 
provide scholarships for high school students seeking a higher 
education. Maria and the Young American Dreamers committed themselves 
to helping their community. The Young American Dreamers adopted Lake 
Blue Park where they planted flowers and trees during its construction 
and participated in the yearly Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Winter 
Haven.
  Maria was also a volunteer at Angels Care and at the Lakeland 
Regional Medical Center. Every year, she organized her friends and 
family to participate in the National Kidney Foundation ``Kidney Walk'' 
around Lake Hollingsworth. She was a mentor and tutor at Snively 
Elementary School and an active member of her church, Our Lady of 
Guadalupe Catholic Mission, where she was a member of the Youth Choir 
and Youth Group.
  Although she was a U.S. Citizen by birth, Maria sympathized with the 
struggles of undocumented immigrants and dedicated her life to 
improving the lives of others. Until her untimely death in June of 
2012, this outstanding young woman helped countless others through 
community service and activism.
  I am happy to honor Maria Isabel Barajas-Martinez, during Hispanic 
Heritage Month, for her selfless dedication to her community and her 
many accomplishments.


      Recognizing the Career and Accomplishments of Maria Padilla

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize Maria Padilla, a champion of diversity within the Central 
Florida community Maria is a well-respected journalist and currently 
serves as the editor of Orlando's oldest Spanish-language weekly 
newspaper, La Prensa.
  Maria graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in English from Rutgers 
University. She also has a certificate in Hispanic Marketing 
Communications from Florida State University and graduated from the 
Leadership Orlando class in Fall of 2013. Maria broke new ground as a 
senior reporter covering diversity in Central Florida for the Orlando 
Sentinel in 1997. She later launched and headed El Sentinel, a new 
Spanish-language weekly newspaper and website. Maria also created 
Viviendo, a bilingual quarterly magazine. Her blog, Orlando Latino, was 
nominated best Latino blog in Central Florida by LATISM (Latinos in 
Social Media).
  Maria has received numerous awards and acknowledgements for her 
contributions as a successful journalist. She received the National 
Association of Hispanic Publications award for a Multiple Series 
Article, was recognized multiple times for her work with the Orlando 
Sentinel, and was a finalist in the Knight-Wallace journalism awards. 
Maria is also a founding member of the National Association of Hispanic 
Journalists and was elected twice to their national Board of Directors.
  I am happy to honor Maria Padilla, during Hispanic Heritage Month, 
for her contributions to journalism and dedication to informing the 
Hispanic community on issues impacting their daily lives.


       Recognizing the Career and Accomplishments of Leticia Diaz

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great leader in the Central 
Florida community.
  A native of New Jersey, Leticia Diaz is one of the founding faculty 
at Barry University's Andreas School of Law and currently serves as 
Dean there. Before joining the full-time faculty, Dean Diaz pursued a 
full-time law practice while teaching part-time at the school. She 
practiced in the areas of personal injury, toxic torts, and workplace 
chemical exposure.
  Dean Diaz attended law school at Rutgers University where she 
received the Merck Patent Scholarship and was recognized for academic 
achievement by the Association of Latin American Law Students. Before 
entering law school, she received her Ph.D. in organic chemistry from 
Rutgers University. She also spent two years as a post-doctoral 
research chemist at Hoffman-LaRoche, where she primarily worked on the 
synthesis of anti-HIV compounds.
  Dean Diaz teaches in the areas of torts, environmental law, toxic 
torts, and product liability. She is faculty advisor to the Hispanic 
Association of Law Students as well as the St. Thomas More Society. Her 
publications range from analysis of the FDA's role in consumer 
protection to environmental law and consumer health.
  Dean Diaz invites leaders from around the country to the Central 
Florida area to discuss the important issues of the day. She also 
convenes meetings and events that bring together varying perspectives 
on issues that affect the Central Florida community. Central Florida is 
a better place for the leadership that Dean Diaz has provided.
  I am happy to honor Leticia Diaz, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for 
her service and her work to educate, train, and inspire the leaders of 
tomorrow.

                          ____________________