[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 196 (Wednesday, December 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H10157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING CONGRESSWOMAN ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

  (Mr. DIAZ-BALART asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mention a few words in 
honor of my dear friend and colleague Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the first 
Hispanic woman elected to the Florida House in 1982, the Florida Senate 
in 1986, and to this body in 1989.
  It has been a privilege working with her on issues that are important 
to our south Florida community and to our country, as well as on 
foreign policy issues, Mr. Speaker, where she fought on behalf of those 
struggling for democracy around the planet in places such as Communist 
China, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.
  She worked to combat anti-Semitism and protect the rights of 
Holocaust victims, while ensuring that those complicit were held 
accountable.
  I will miss her exuberant presence in this Chamber. There will never 
be another Member to serve with her joyful dedication, wit, and 
contagious enthusiasm.
  Chairwoman Emeritus Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and her husband, Dexter, have 
served our community and our country with honor and distinction. While 
we will miss her here in Congress, I am blessed to know that I will 
still always be able to rely on her counsel, her support, her love, and 
her friendship.
  (English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:)
       My legislative sister, lleana Ros-Lehtinen, thank you for 
     everything that you have done for our community, for our 
     country, and for our cause, lleana, we love you.

       Mi hermana legislativa, lleana Ros-Lehtinen, gracias por 
     todo que has hecho por nuestra comunidad, por nuestro pais, y 
     por nuestra causa. lleana, te queremos.

                          ____________________