[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 46 (Thursday, March 16, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF CARMEN DELGADO VOTAW

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JAMIE RASKIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 2017

  Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate the 
remarkable life of Carmen Delgado Votaw, one of my constituents who 
passed away on February 18, 2017 at the age of 82. Ms. Votaw was a 
civil and human rights giant and passionate participant in the global 
women's rights activist community.
   Ms. Votaw, who was born in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, spent her career 
acting upon a vision of empowerment and inclusion for all women, 
especially in Latin America. She was a born community organizer, using 
immense tact, intellect, and grace to educate and enlighten others in 
order to open up cultural and political avenues for the advancement of 
women. Due to her years of work and advocacy in Latin America, she is 
credited with an increase in the number of countries that have signed 
the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; 
a greater number of women in political and appointed offices; improved 
access to technology for rural women; and a higher literacy rate among 
women and girls.
   Ms. Votaw received on multiple occasions presidential appointments 
in recognition of her outstanding abilities, including being appointed 
as Deputy Chair to the National Advisory Committee for Women. She 
served as Chief of Staff to Jaime Fuster of Puerto Rico in the House of 
Representatives, marking the first time a Hispanic woman had held that 
title. She was a founding member and President of the National 
Conference of Puerto Rican Women and a board member of the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Ms. Votaw traveled around the 
globe to promote her agenda of civil and human rights. She visited 70 
countries to participate in and speak at women's rights forums, 
including five United Nations World Conferences on Women. She is a 
published author, most notably having written the biographies of other 
distinguished Puerto Rican woman.
   Among the organizations that have honored Ms. Votaw for her 
contributions to women's rights are the U.S. Marshals Service, the 
Instituto de Puerto Rico of New York, the National Institute for Women 
of Color, Hispanic USA Magazine, Federally Employed Women (FEW), and 
the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women. She has received the 
Hispanic Heritage Award for Education, a Civil Rights Award from NASA, 
MANA's Las Primeras Award, the National Cuban American Women's 
Association Award, and the National Council of Hispanic Women's 
Outstanding Achievement Award. She was inducted into the Maryland 
Women's Hall of Fame.
   Even with her chock-full schedule of global engagement and 
leadership, Ms. Votaw was deeply devoted to her family and to her role 
as a grandmother. Please join me in extending condolences to her family 
and expressing gratitude for her life of dedication to helping all 
people find their voices. She made tangible contributions to the civil 
and human rights movements, the effects of which will be felt for 
generations to come.

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