[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H7250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF LARRY N. OLINGER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Ruiz) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Larry N. Olinger, Vice 
Chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, a dedicated, 
inspiring leader who passed away July 15, 2019, at the age of 80.
  Vice Chairman Olinger grew up in Palm Springs and, later, in Orange 
County, where he spent many years breeding and racing horses.
  From a young age, Vice Chairman Olinger was drawn to enacting 
positive change in his community through public service.
  Vice Chairman Olinger was first elected to Tribal Council in 1961, 
where he began his 60-year career. He went on to serve in every 
position on Tribal Council, including secretary, treasurer, chairman, 
and eventually vice chairman in 2012.
  As the first chairman of the Agua Caliente Development Authority, 
Olinger championed gaming as a Tribal business enterprise, stimulating 
economic growth and strengthening Tribal sovereignty.
  His leadership also spanned from the Native American Rights Fund to 
the State of California and the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, 
where he advocated for the protection of our communities' natural and 
cultural resources.
  Our communities have lost a great man and generational leader in Vice 
Chairman Olinger's passing. His passion, class, and concern for the 
well-being of others, including his Tribe and our surrounding 
communities, was admirable.
  I have always admired Chairman Olinger's strong character and 
lifelong commitment to learning; and I will deeply miss his caring 
nature and dry sense of humor.
  Vice Chairman Olinger often called his ``proudest achievement'' his 
marriage to his wife, Susan.
  Susan, my heart goes out to you and the entire Olinger family.
  I also send my heartfelt condolences to the Agua Caliente Band of 
Cahuilla Indians.
  We will miss Vice Chairman Olinger deeply; but we can honor his 
legacy by loving our neighbors, caring for the Earth, and protecting 
and respecting the rich culture and sovereignty of Tribal communities.

                              {time}  1030


                      Honoring Jesus Rivera Osuna

  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jesus Rivera Osuna, a 
soft-spoken, true family man, who passed away on June 28, 2019, at the 
age of 74.
  Mr. Osuna is the father of my childhood best friend, Oscar Osuna. I 
spent so much time at the Osuna home that they became my second family, 
and Mr. Osuna always made me feel welcome and part of the family.
  I remember his patience, humility, and loving and calming nature. He 
was also a kind, stable, and secure male role model in our rough-and-
tumble impoverished community.
  Mr. Osuna was a hardworking man and ran his own business for 50 
years, toiling in the hot desert Sun to repair air-conditioning units 
in the Coachella Valley community.
  He was also a great guitar player. I would listen in amazement to Mr. 
Osuna play classical guitar alone in his room after a long day at work. 
He was always so humble. He would stop playing if he noticed anybody 
nearby, so I would quietly listen from Oscar's room in awe of his 
talent.
  Mr. Osuna married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lou, at 24 years 
old, and together they raised four children, my second family brothers 
and sisters--Elvia, Sergio, Oscar, and Lila--three nephews, and 
supported Mr. Osuna's mother. Mr. and Mrs. Osuna's family has grown to 
include four grandchildren.
  Even in his final days, Mr. Osuna refused to be a burden to his 
family as he battled the illness that ultimately took his life.
  To the Osuna family, I love you, and your dad's story is engraved in 
my heart and now recorded in our Nation's history.

                          ____________________