[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 172 (Thursday, December 5, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING RAFAEL PINEDA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 5, 2013

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and admiration 
that I stand before you today to honor Mr. Rafael Pineda, who will 
retire as the lead news anchor for Univision 41 on December 20th. For 
42 years Mr. Pineda has been a key voice in providing the Latino 
community in the New York area with unparalleled news coverage.
  Since his 1972 undertaking as the lead news anchor at WXTV Univision 
41, Mr. Pineda has consistently demonstrated a zest for journalism that 
is balanced, and offers fair, universal access to all audiences. In 
1988 he became host of, ``Punto y Aparte,'' the first Spanish language 
first local interview program in the tri-state area. Over the last 
several years he has consistently guided Noticias 41 to first place in 
New York's Spanish language newscasts.
  Rafael Pineda has served as an ongoing inspiration for all Latinos by 
building one of the most distinguished careers in television. Mr. 
Pineda was the first local news anchor to interview major political 
figures like President Clinton, and influential celebrities like the 
late Desi Arnaz. In the year 2000, he was the first Latino to be 
honored in the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Silver 
Circle, and over the years he has won several awards, including an 
Emmy. Most recently, Mr. Pineda was inducted into The New York 
Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Pineda has developed a career that has paralleled my own in 
regard to public service, and as a colleague, I have been consistently 
inspired by both his integrity and his unwavering sense of dedication 
to his audience and to the news. Over the years, I have appeared on his 
program many times, both in interviews with Mr. Pineda and in news 
stories concerning legislative issues. I always found that Mr. Pineda 
was tough but fair in the questions he asked and the issues considered. 
Regardless of the subject, or his own personal views, he always had the 
best interests of his audience in mind. After 42 years of service Mr. 
Pineda has grown to embody all of the best characteristics of the New 
York area, and I am proud to call him a colleague and a friend. He is 
an invaluable member of the community whose dedication to the people 
can be seen in all his work throughout the years, and whose on-air 
presence will certainly be missed.
  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask that you and my other distinguished 
colleagues join me in honoring Rafael Pineda as an Emmy award winner, 
as New York's longest-serving news anchor in history, and most 
importantly, as an outstanding example of how one person's lifelong 
work can leave such a permanent mark in the hearts and minds of many.

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