[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 4, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ADAMANTIA KLOTSA

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 4, 2017

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Florida's Consul 
General of the Hellenic Republic, Ms. Adamantia Klotsa, a model foreign 
representative and distinguished member of the Greek community in my 
district.
  Ms. Klotsa was recently honored by the Federation of Hellenic 
American Educators for her ``continuous effort to execute professional 
and outstanding duties towards the language, the culture and services 
for the Greek community of Florida.''
  Before her diplomatic mission in Tampa, Ms. Adamantia Klotsa was born 
in Athens. She holds B.A.s in both Archeology and Law as well as an 
M.A. in Prehistoric Archeology from the University of Athens. Ms. 
Klotsa entered the Diplomatic Service of the Hellenic Republic in 1998. 
In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, she served 
in the Office of the Secretary General, the NATO Department, and the 
Personnel Department. As the co-Chair of the Hellenic Caucus and the 
Congressional Hellenic-Israeli Alliance and a former member of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee, I deeply appreciate the hard work and 
consummate professionalism displayed daily by our foreign diplomats, 
especially Ms. Klotsa.
  As a proud Greek-American, I am thankful that Ms. Klotsa in her 
official capacity has encouraged Greek-Americans fully appreciate the 
diversity of their heritage. As a young boy, my grandparents, parents, 
aunts and uncles instilled in me an appreciation for our beautiful 
culture, which focuses on family, community, and faith, and it is with 
great pride, that I continue to uphold these values today.
  Ms. Klotsa's current diplomatic mission in Tampa has also served to 
reinforce Florida's possession of remarkable Greek cultural treasures 
like Tarpon Springs in my district, home to the largest Epiphany 
celebration in the Western Hemisphere and world renowned Sponge Docks, 
and St. Augustine which boasts the earliest colonization of Greeks in 
the New World. Additionally, she recently introduced the application of 
a Sisters City relationship with the city of St. Augustine and Koroni, 
Greece. Initiatives like these will continue to contribute to the rich 
cultural and economic success in Florida's Twelfth Congressional 
District for years to come.
  I commend the Federation of Hellenic American Educators for 
recognizing the contributions of Ms. Klotsa, and I hope every foreign 
diplomat can learn from and emulate the dedication of this Greek public 
servant to peace and prosperity between our nations.

                          ____________________