[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 11, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H7970-H7973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1900
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 3, 2017, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Soto) for 30 minutes.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, it is Hispanic Heritage Month, and I want to
take this time to honor some great heroes in my district of Hispanic
descent, who range from reporters to civil rights heroes, to community
organizers, to businessmen and women, and I am just proud to be here
tonight to be able to do that.
Honoring Daniel Barajas
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, the first gentleman I want to talk about is
Daniel Barajas, the executive director of the Young American Dreamers.
Daniel Barajas was born in Winter Haven, Florida, to a family of
migrant workers. Growing up, he worked in the orange groves of Florida.
There, he witnessed firsthand how farmworkers were exposed to dangerous
pesticides while working for poverty wages. He also learned about the
long-term effects of failed immigration policies, seeing his own father
be deported during a local operation.
As a teenager, Daniel saw his friends join gangs to survive poverty
and defend themselves against deeply rooted racism within their
communities. He joined this path but was dubbed ``Lucky'' because he
survived.
Barajas dropped out of school in the ninth grade but earned his GED
in 2001. During an incarceration in 2009, he noticed that inmates had
no access to books or to reading glasses. It was then that Daniel
founded the Library of Hope to collect books and reading glasses to
donate to inmates.
Daniel's younger sister, Maria Isabel, founded the Young American
Dreamers, YAD, in 2010 to help local immigrant youth. Maria Isabel
passed away in a car accident, tragically, in 2012, and to honor her
legacy, Daniel joined YAD and was voted executive director in 2013.
Barajas also continues to fundraise for annual scholarships to local
students and participates in philanthropic events in the community.
Daniel now speaks at high schools across Polk County, talks to
students about his life, and shows them that one is not defined by
their past, and that breaking down barriers is possible.
He also closely works with the Polk County Supervisor of Elections
Office to help register voters, increase voter turnout, and distribute
clemency applications to help felons restore their civil rights.
Daniel is an example of one who could turn their life around and
benefit the community as a whole, and he works with the Mexican
Consulate in Orlando to do community workshops to teach immigrant
families of their constitutional rights.
Thank you, Daniel, for your contributions.
Honoring Ericka Gomez-Tejeda
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next is Ericka Gomez-Tejeda with Vamos4PR,
Florida chapter. She is the civic engagement coordinator at 32BJ SEIU.
Ericka Gomez-Tejeda came from Colombia to the United States with her
mom when she was 8 years old. Moved by her lifelong commitment to her
birth country, Ericka moved to Medellin, Colombia, in 2009 and began a
master's in theology.
Upon her return to the U.S. 2 years later, she moved to Florida and
was elected vice president of SEIU Local 1199 United Health Care
Workers East for the Florida nursing home division, representing 11,000
nursing home workers in the State.
In 2014, under the leadership of 32BJ President Hector Figueroa,
Ericka returned to the Local 32BJ as deputy director of the 12,000-
member New York
[[Page H7971]]
City security division, leading the field of operation for the
division's first citywide contracts.
In 2016, Ericka moved back to Florida and became the 32BJ civic
engagement coordinator and organizer of Vamos4PR, Florida division.
With 40 percent of the Orange County Public Schools community speaking
primarily Spanish, Vamos4PR parents, teachers, students, and
organizations successfully worked with the Orange County Public Schools
to ensure English-learning parents get information, orientations, and
translation.
The coalition is currently focusing on offering immediate lifesaving
resources to Puerto Rico and the cancellation of crippling debt, while
working locally to open doors for the newly arrived Puerto Ricans to
our region so they can use their knowledge and skills to integrate and
contribute to the local economy and society from the day they arrive.
Honoring Esteban Garces
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to highlight Esteban Garces,
Florida State director of Mi Familia Vota.
Esteban directs the Florida operation of Mi Familia Vota, managing
strategy, operations, local policy development, campaigns, civic
engagement, organizing efforts, and nonpartisan electoral work.
Esteban's career was set in motion at an early age as a victim of
landlord abuse. Continued exposure to immigration, education, and
racial injustices spurred his interest in social justice. He began his
career in social justice organizing, and then electoral organizing.
He joined Mi Familia Vota in 2015 to continue working to create
positive change. He was previously the immigration campaign director
for SEIU Local 615.
Honoring Frank Lopez
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Frank Lopez of the
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida.
Frank Lopez is the president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of
Metro Orlando. Lopez is passionate about what he does, and nothing is
more fulfilling to him than being part of a team with similar interests
of an organization that is philanthropic and mission driven, and that
values and pays tribute to those communities he serves.
Lopez has been successful in creating substantive underwriting
support to develop and sustain innovative youth learning and
entrepreneurship services. These programs have produced an impressive
array of community-building benefits, such as workforce readiness and
leadership development, youth entrepreneurship experimental training
camps, mentoring and coaching programs, community-based technology, and
wealth-building programs.
Lopez served as a member of the U.S. Hispanic Council on Federal
Employment that advises the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel
Management on strategies for improving access of Latinos to the Federal
workforce.
Lopez has also served as a founding member of the National Hispanic
Outreach Advisory Council, established by Intuit Corporation, focusing
on diversity and inclusion, and expanding penetration of equitable tax
filing practices within growing Latino communities across the country.
Lopez is also a former president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce Foundation, developing strategic services to Latino
entrepreneurs from across the Nation.
Throughout his career, Frank has served several philanthropic and
social service governing boards, most recently with SourceAmerica, an
organization created by Congress that manages over $2.5 billion in
Federal employment-producing contracts administered locally by
affiliated nonprofit agencies across the United States and Puerto Rico.
Honoring Ingrid Morfa
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Ingrid Morfa,
immigrant, attorney, and activist, a leader in immigration law in
central Florida.
Ingrid Morfa is an attorney and first-generation American. Her
parents migrated from the Dominican Republic in the 1970s.
As a mother of four, she is a firm believer that educating our
community and helping those in need will make the United States a
better place for her children and grandchildren for years to come.
Her studies at Harvard University, Barry University School of Law,
Cambridge College in the U.K., Kaplan University, and the New York City
of Technology College have equipped Ingrid Morfa to help those around
her.
As a member of the National Caribbean Leadership Team and the
Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, an advocate for domestic
violence prevention with Nuevo Sendero, and an attorney who assisted
more than 2,000 naturalization applicants and dozens of green card
applicants who are victims of domestic violence and crime at no cost,
she has shown a devotion to the community that is only surpassed by her
love that she has for her family.
Honoring Jimmy Torres
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Jimmy Torres,
community organizer and activist, and also a major member of the SEIU
union.
Jimmy Torres Velez grew up in Puerto Rico, where he went to public
school. After he finished his bachelor's degree in labor relations at
the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, he went to work with
migrant families in southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Since then, he has worked for various unions in many States and in
Puerto Rico. In those years he has held various positions, including
trustee, secretary-treasurer, organizing director, and AFL-CIO State
director.
As part of his work, he has created and developed relationships with
various Puerto Rican communities. After years organizing public and
private sector employees, Jimmy organized and managed the State
legislative office for SEIU in Puerto Rico and cooperated with the
establishment of the legislative coordinating body for the AARP as
well.
After moving to Florida to help with retired members of the Service
Employees International Union, he became an activist of the Puerto
Rican community and Latino community overall.
To improve the Latino representation in our area, he organized and
coordinated the Boricua Vota movement. This movement is a nonpartisan
educational and mobilization tool to improve activism and civic
engagement and participation of Puerto Ricans in the political process.
Jimmy also organized and became president of the Puerto Rico Action
Initiative.
To respond to Hurricane Irma, Jimmy has helped to organize a
coordinated group called Aid, Support, and Help Coordinating Group,
otherwise known as CASA. When Maria devastated the island, CASA
galvanized enthusiasm and desire of the Puerto Rican community in
central Florida to help their fellow compatriots--my fellow
compatriots--on the island and has collected and has sent hundreds of
thousands of dollars in goods and merchandise to Puerto Rico.
Honoring Jorge Estevez
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Jorge Estevez, WFTV
news anchor and journalist in Orlando.
Jorge Estevez is an anchor for the evening newscast of Eyewitness
News at 10 p.m. on WRDQ TV 27. He also anchors and reports newscasts on
WFTV Channel 9.
Jorge first came to WFTV in 2001 and covered the attacks of 9/11 and
how they impacted central Florida's tourism industry.
During the next 5 years as an anchor and reporter for WFTV and WRDQ,
Jorge worked on major news affecting the various counties that make up
our central Florida community. Jorge anchored several major local
stories, including the severe hurricane season of 2004, during which
several storms impacted the Orlando area.
Since his return to central Florida, Jorge has been sent to cover
major stories. His most recent trip was to Atlanta, where he
interviewed Ronny Ahmed, one of three students injured when a shooter
stormed the campus of Florida State University in 2014 and started
firing at random.
The son of Cuban immigrants, Jorge is from West New York, New Jersey,
where he graduated from Rutgers University, like myself, with a dual
degree in journalism and communication. Now he is glad to be back in
central Florida, where he enjoys the change of seasons each year. He
enjoys the warm weather because it gives him a chance to leave
[[Page H7972]]
the gym to take his 5-mile runs outdoors, where he can really break a
sweat.
Thank you, Jorge, for your contributions.
Honoring Josephine Balzac, Esquire
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Josephine Balzac,
Esquire, attorney, writer, and professor at Rollins College,
specializing in environmental law.
Josephine M. Balzac is currently a visiting assistant professor in
the Department of Business, teaching in the social entrepreneurship
major. She has had the honor of being part of Rollins College since
2014.
Her greatest honor is receiving two teaching awards from the
students: a student government association's Outstanding Faculty Award,
and the Walter E. Barden Distinguished Teaching Award. Throughout each
of her classes, she makes sure to engage with the local community by
bringing her legal professionals and organizations as guest speakers.
Professor Balzac is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in
Florida and the U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida.
In May of 2017, the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University,
FAMU, College of Law presented her law office with the Distinguished
Alumni Award and Professional Excellence Award, Solo Practitioner.
She is also a community rights staff attorney for the Center for
Earth Jurisprudence.
During the summer, she is an adjunct law professor at Barry
University School of Law, teaching sustainability in business.
Professor Balzac previously worked as an associate attorney at an AV-
rated trial litigation firm and worked for a food safety regulatory
consulting group.
Ms. Balzac is actively involved in the local community, frequently
educating and advocating as an avid speaker on environmental justice,
sustainable development, climate change, human rights, food, and social
justice issues.
Thank you, Josephine, for your contributions.
Honoring Luis Pastrana
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Luis Pastrana,
attorney, activist, and professional at Ana G. Mendez University.
Luis Pastrana was born in Puerto Rico. He received his bachelor's
degree in business administration from the University of Puerto Rico,
Rio Piedras Campus, while simultaneously being commissioned from the
Army ROTC as a second lieutenant in the artillery branch.
He taught at the Puerto Rico Junior College of Dona Ana G. Mendez,
and many years later came full circle and is now a distinguished
professor at the Orlando campus of the Ana G. Mendez University system.
{time} 1915
Luis served in the Army for 20 years. He was with the Vietnamese
irregular forces as an adviser for 2 years in the mountains of Vietnam,
as well as an adviser to the Spanish Army for a couple of years in
Spain and in many other parts of the globe. After retirement, he began
to pursue law at the University of Puerto Rico.
He has worked in banking as vice president for investments of the
Cooperative Bank, as a general manager for a newspaper in San Juan; he
was a candidate for Mayor of Guaynabo, director of finances for the
Popular Democratic Party, trial attorney and senior partner of the law
firm Pastrana, Perez, Martinez and Quevedo, executive director of the
Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration for the Southeast of the
United States, and now professor of law of the bachelor's degree in
criminal justice for the Orlando campus of the Ana G. Mendez
University. He published five books, all honoring his Puerto Rican
roots.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Luis for his contributions.
Honoring Nancy Alvarez
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Nancy Alvarez.
Nancy was part of the first Hispanic anchor team on an English language
TV station in central Florida. Along with Jorge Estevez, her coanchor,
she brought the 10 o'clock news on Channel 27 TV to number one for the
first time in more than 10 years.
Alvarez joined the team at the ABC affiliate in May 2010 and
currently coanchors Eyewitness News This Morning, alongside Jamie
Homes. She is the daughter of Cuban immigrants and was born and raised
in south Florida, although she considers Orlando a second home. Alvarez
has spent most of her journalism career in central Florida, where she
has been front and center for every major news event in the last 15-
plus years.
She spent years covering the space program at Kennedy Space Center,
and was also in central Florida for Hurricanes Charlie, Frances, and
Jean, reporting nonstop during the now-infamous 2004 hurricane season.
In recent years, Alvarez was a central part of her station's coverage
of the Pulse Nightclub shooting tragedy and covered various stories
during the community's journey toward healing. She was also on the air
for continuous coverage of Hurricane Irma and traveled to Puerto Rico
to report on the devastating impacts of Hurricane Maria.
Alvarez is also a graduate of Florida's Atlantic University, with
degrees in communications and history. She has dedicated her career to
giving a voice to people in need and using honest journalism as a tool
for community service.
Alvarez, a mother of two who is married to a news photographer, has
dedicated her life to honoring the sacrifices made by her parents when
they came to the U.S. from Cuba. It is her hope that her life, career,
and impact have made the hardships they have endured worth it.
Honoring Orlando Rolon
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Orlando Rolon.
Orlando Rolon was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and has lived in
central Florida since 1977. After high school, he served in the United
States Marines Reserves for 4 years.
In 1992, Orlando Rolon was hired by the Orlando Police Department. In
1997, Officer Rolon was promoted to sergeant, and, in 1999, he was
selected as the first full-time bilingual public information officer in
the history of the Orlando Police Department.
In 2003, Sergeant Rolon was promoted to lieutenant. He served as the
liaison to the mayor and, during that time, was named adviser for
Hispanic Affairs for the City of Orlando. In 2010, he was selected as
the special operations traffic enforcement section commander.
In 2013, Lieutenant Rolon was promoted to the rank of captain. He
served as a patrol division commander and the crisis negotiation team
commander. Prior to his appointment as deputy chief, he was serving as
the professional standards division commander, which included internal
affairs, planning, fiscal, and training under his command. In 2013, he
was named as one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics in central
Florida.
In 2014, Mayor Buddy Dyer appointed Captain Orlando Rolon to the rank
of deputy chief.
In 2016, Deputy Chief Rolon was then assigned to patrol services
bureau commander, with nearly 400 of the department's sworn staff
officers under his command.
Deputy Chief Rolon is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute
Command Officers Development Course, the FBI National Academy Session
263, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association Police Executive
Leadership Institute IV session.
Deputy Chief Orlando Rolon is a member of the FBI National Academy
Associates, Florida Police Chiefs Association, International
Association of chiefs of Police, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and
the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chief Rolon for his contributions.
Honoring Roxy Santiago
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Roxy Santiago,
board of directors for the LGBT Center of Central Florida and board of
the Pulse Foundation.
Roxy Santiago was born in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has lived in
Orlando for over 30 years. Roxy has worked for over 12 years at Walt
Disney World in numerous management roles and had the privilege of
being a personal tour guide for former Presidents and other high-
profile individuals.
She was a partner with Phish Phest Entertainment for 10 years. The
organization held dozens of events, raising more than $150,000 for
charity over the past decade.
[[Page H7973]]
Roxy was Tri-Chair Federal Club Steering Committee member for Human
Rights Campaign, in 2006 through 2009; and in 2014 to present, she is
currently serving on the Web Communications Steering Committee and
Community Engagement.
In 2014, she was honored with being selected among 50 distinguished
local LGBT leaders by entering her biography and accomplishments in the
U.S. Congressional Record; and here it is happening again
In 2015, she became a member of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of
Central Florida and assists in their web communications. In 2015, Roxy
also became a volunteer at the American Red Cross of Central Florida.
In the aftermath of Pulse, she was hired by the Red Cross in the
position of community partnership.
In 2016, she was selected by the National Human Rights Campaign, with
19 other women around the U.S., to attend a workshop for Women and
Leadership: Equality for the 21st Century. In 2016, Roxy became a board
member for the LGBT Center of Central Orlando and serves as their
secretary on the board.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Roxy for her contributions.
Honoring Tirso Moreno
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Tirso Moreno. Tirso
was born in Mexico and came to this country in 1971, with his family to
do farm work. He is currently the director of the Farmworker
Association of Florida.
In 1982, he became the lead organizer for the Farmworker Project of
the Office for Farm Ministry, during which time he and several other
farmworkers initiated the Farmworker Association. Under his leadership
as general coordinator, the association has grown from a local to
statewide organization with over 10,000 members.
Tirso is a cofounder and board member of the Farmworker Health and
Safety Institute and serves on the boards of Southern Partners Fund,
Domestic Fair Trade Association, National Immigrant Farming Initiative,
and the Rural Coalition. He also advocates for farmworkers' and
immigrants' rights in national and international meetings.
The Farmworker Association of Florida currently has five offices
throughout central and south Florida. The mission of FWAF is to build
power among farmworker and rural, low-income communities to respond to
and gain control over the social, political, economic, workplace,
health, and environmental justice issues that impact their lives.
FWAF's core strategy is to help farmworkers realize their power to be
effective agents of social change and personal change by: validating
and strengthening the experience and understanding of farmworkers;
building farmworkers' capacity to participate in decisionmaking
processes that affect their lives; and raising consciousness about and
advocating for farmworkers' and immigrants' rights.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Tirso for his contributions.
Honoring William Diaz
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor William Diaz, Spanish
radio host. Identified as a consistent community leader and insightful
journalist, William Diaz's passion to help fellow citizens in life's
struggles has been evidenced in the last 28 years of his residency in
central Florida.
William's activism in favor of Latin-American political development
has granted him daily recognition with most of the Latin-American
community in central Florida who listen to him and read his articles.
A native of Cumana, and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, he developed a
natural way to start friendships and show loyalty and support for all
humanitarian causes.
William was the recipient of a scholarship that brought him to the
United States to obtain his postgraduate diploma. In 1976, the
University of Texas at Austin gave him a master's degree in mass
communications.
William served as a Venezuelan diplomatic official in Europe, when he
was designated as general coordinator of the GMA Foundation and the
educational attache to the Venezuelan Embassy in Paris, France.
Founder and president of several community organizations in his
native Venezuela, in 1989, William brought all of his experience to the
U.S. Since then, he has been very active within the Latino community,
specifically advising and counseling new nonprofit organizations.
At this time, William is full-time with his radio show, ``Cara a Cara
con William Diaz,'' which broadcasts in 18 different counties, founder
of Casa de Venezuela, 15 years ago, which gathered most of the
Venezuelans in central Florida, and founder of Made in Venezuela
Business Club, dedicated to developing networking and promotions of
products and services for Venezuelan businessmen and professionals, and
current executive secretary of MUD Central Florida, the political
organization that hosts and coordinates most of Venezuela's opposition
political parties.
Honoring Zoraida Rios-Andino
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Zoraida Rios-
Andino, president of Mission Boricua.
Zoraida Rios-Andino has been a resident of Orlando, Florida, for 17
years. She has been very active in promoting cultural, social, and
historic events in the Puerto Rican community. Zoraida is currently
president and founder of Mission Boricua, an organization dedicated to
history and civic engagement of the Puerto Rican community. Zoraida
supervised the creation and promotion of Mission Boricua's outreach
efforts.
Zoraida has been part of the National Conference of Puerto Rican
Women, Orlando chapter; United Front 436, National Boricua Human Rights
Network, Orlando chapter; and Asociacion Borinquena. She is currently a
board member for Speak Up Florida, and a member and cofounder of The
Justice Project Coalition of Central Florida.
In addition, she was an English as a second language instructor, and
worked as a personnel administrator for many years. Zoraida was also
program coordinator for ALSE, where she assisted hundreds of high
school students pursuing postsecondary education.
Zoraida has also led the movement to have the Florida Legislature
pass a law in 2014, to put a honorary plaque along Semoran Boulevard in
recognition of Rico Piccard, the late civil rights hero in central
Florida.
Zoraida has received numerous awards for her community service, like
the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Conference of Puerto
Rican Women; Roberto Clemente Community Service Award; Latino History
Society President's Award; Outstanding Membership Award from the
Asociacion Borinquena; Community Service Award from the office of
Congressman Alan Grayson; 2014 Florida State Proclamation recipient
from State Representative Victor Torres; Coqui de Oro Award from La
Casa de Puerto Rico; the Rico Piccard Award from the Orange County
Democratic Party, and more.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Zoraida for her contributions to central
Florida.
I am excited to be able to have this opportunity to talk about these
heroes--so many who are symbolic of the hardworking Hispanic Americans
in central Florida who help out with everyone from our poor, to our
civil rights, to education, to the news, to politics, to our
environment, to families, to so many important issues that matter to
Hispanics across central Florida and across our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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