[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING PATRICIA ANDRADE IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 7, 2017

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History 
Month, I rise today to honor Patricia Andrade, an activist and advocate 
for victims of Venezuela's oppressive regime.
   Ms. Andrade has been recognized as a tireless advocate for 
Venezuelan exiles arriving in South Florida. After witnessing waves of 
Venezuelans fleeing persecution, Ms. Andrade founded the non-profit 
organization Venezuela Awareness. This organization has identified the 
needs of families fleeing persecution and worked to address them. This 
includes finding living arrangements, arranging for daily needs, and 
securing legal assistance.
   One of the initiatives of Venezuela Awareness is called Raices 
Venezolanas, Venezuelan Roots. This program gives donated goods to 
displaced Venezuelan families. By involving other families, whether of 
Venezuelan origin or not, this initiative creates a sense of community 
involvement in these families' lives.
   Currently, Ms. Andrade serves as Human Rights Director for Venezuela 
Awareness and issues annual reports detailing the human rights 
violations of the Venezuelan government. Her work on human rights 
abuses in Venezuela has been used by the Department of State, and her 
advocacy has allowed some cases to be presented to the Inter-American 
Commission for Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human 
Rights in Costa Rica. My office trusts her information and relies on 
her to keep us abreast of grave human rights violations under the 
Chavez and Maduro regimes.
   Mr. Speaker, I am honored to know Ms. Andrade and to recognize her 
remarkable work for Venezuelan exiles and for the State of Florida. Her 
tireless advocacy on behalf of those without many resources is 
admirable and has made a real impact on many. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing this remarkable woman.

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