[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 82 (Thursday, May 16, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF MAURICE A. FERRE

  (Mr. SOTO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the life of a 
hero of mine, Maurice A. Ferre. He is a Puerto Rican-born public 
servant who is a former six-term mayor of the city of Miami and the 
first Hispanic mayor of any major American city, serving from 1973 to 
1985.
  He has served as the chair of the Miami-Dade County Expressway 
Authority and served for 8 years on the Florida Transportation 
Commission.
  As mayor, Ferre provided leadership and vision when Miami took its 
place as one of the world's most vibrant cities, eclectic and diverse 
and international in nature.
  Throughout his years in office, he focused on economic development, 
job creation, and a visionary approach to improving south Florida's 
transportation and public infrastructure, as well as transforming the 
area into a center of inter-American trade, banking, and commerce.
  He remains active in business, commentary on current events, 
teaching, and public service.
  In 2006, he explored issues concerning Puerto Rico in a book on 
political status, ``Where is Puerto Rico Headed?''--``Hacia Donde Va 
Puerto Rico?''
  His career has been marked by a style of public service that 
encourages people from widely different views and philosophies to work 
together in the name of common good and progress.
  Ferre embarked on that journey early on as a Florida House member, 
then a commissioner, later the mayor of the city of Miami, and as vice 
chairman of the Dade County Board of Commissioners.
  Ferre has served on numerous boards, as well as on President Ford's 
commission on immigration and President Carter's ambassadorial 
nominating commission.
  Ferre credits his wife of 64 years, Mercedes Malaussena Ferre, as his 
north star, and his loving family, including 6 children and 13 
grandchildren, as his anchor.

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