[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 156 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1210-E1211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LUCY McBATH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2019

  Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic 
Heritage Month. Celebrated from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic 
Heritage Month is designed to celebrate the history and culture of 
Americans who have ancestors from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and 
Central and South America. This observation was first established as 
Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 and was 
expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to a full monthlong 
celebration. Within the thirty-day period are many celebrations of 
independence for Latin American countries. September 15 is the 
anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, and Nicaragua. Furthermore, Mexico and Chile also celebrate 
their independence days on September 16 and September 18.
  Whether they came here as immigrants or their family has been here 
for generations, Hispanic Americans are woven into the fabric of this 
great nation. No matter when they arrived, these men and women came to 
America in search of a better life for themselves and their families. 
Guided by the promise of freedom and the chance to participate in the 
unique American experiment in democracy, some of these individuals 
arrived with nothing but the clothes on their back and the hope of a 
better tomorrow. Motivated by their own goals and aspirations, Hispanic 
Americans have made their mark in American history, whether it be in 
sports, fine arts, sciences, or politics. Today, I am pleased to 
recognize their many contributions to our country's story. Every day, I 
witness the critical role that these men and women bring to Georgia's 
Sixth Congressional District. I continue to be impressed with 
organizations such as the Hispanic Business Center, Candid South, and 
the Latin American Association. The hard work of these organizations is 
truly making a difference in our community and improving the lives of 
all my constituents.
  The Hispanic community in Georgia is vibrant and continues to grow 
significantly. During Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to focus on what 
that means for our country. Despite the many contributions to our 
society, millions of proud immigrants have suffered discrimination at 
the hands of the Trump administration. I stand alongside Hispanic 
Americans in rejecting such rhetoric and discrimination. I am proud to 
stand up and fight for the men and women who have contributed so much 
to our communities each day in Washington. Hispanic Americans help 
contribute to what makes this nation remarkable, and I am honored to 
lift up the voices of those who have selflessly dedicated their lives 
to building up themselves, their community, and this country.
  Hispanic Americans represent a diversity of experiences and 
professions--they are farmers, construction workers, teachers, doctors, 
entrepreneurs, elected officials, and servicemembers in our armed 
forces. I am struck by the common desire among Hispanic Americans in my 
district to give back to their own communities. Not only have these men 
and women earned incredible success for themselves, they also 
demonstrate an impressive commitment to improving their community and 
the entire state of Georgia. Their love of this district, this state, 
and this country is worth recognizing every day, but particularly 
during Hispanic Heritage Month. Therefore, I am honored to highlight 
three constituents who deserve special recognition this month: Gabriel 
Vaca, Maria Azuri, and Aixa Pascual.
  Gabriel Vaca is the Executive Director of the Hispanic Business 
Center. In 2018, Gabriel received special recognition at a celebration 
of the 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia. Just this year, he was 
inducted into the inaugural class of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of 
Commerce Hall of Fame. Gabriel served UPS International for 24 years as 
a consultant in logistics and the global supply chain. During his time 
with the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, he has served as 
Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Hispanic Business Center, and a 
member of the Senior Executive Corporate Advisory Board of the U.S. 
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. Born in Mexico City 
and raised in Washington, D.C., Gabriel currently resides in Roswell, 
Georgia with his two children.
  Maria Azuri is the Director of Candid-South, an organization that 
focuses on philanthropic efforts for immigrant communities across the 
southeast. Maria came to this country as an undocumented immigrant when 
she was a child which fuels her passion and commitment. As an Hispanic 
American citizen and leader she engages frequently with her communities 
around issues of mental and public health, criminal justice, 
immigration, and entrepreneurship. Prior to her work at Candid-South, 
Maria worked in the Mayor's Office of immigrant Affairs as its first 
Director of Programming. There, she successfully created numerous 
programs to strengthen immigrant communities through community 
engagement. Maria has taught at Georgia State University's School of 
Social Work and designed a program that trains community health 
providers to offer health information from culturally and 
linguistically sensitive perspectives-the first of its kind in the 
south. Her work has been recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors 
and the White House under President Barack Obama. Maria lives in 
Atlanta with her three boys.
  Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aixa Pascual is a champion for 
Hispanic communities in Georgia's Sixth Congressional District. For the 
past seven years, she has worked at the Latin American Association in 
Atlanta, where she serves as the managing director of advocacy, civic 
outreach, and cultural engagement. Aixa is the child of two Puerto 
Rican parents, and she spent her life traveling between Puerto Rico and 
the mainland United States. She is a graduate of Princeton and Columbia 
University, and has worked previously as a journalist for Business 
Week, Time and People magazines, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and 
Puerto Rico's El Nuevo Dia. Aixa's childhood in Puerto Rico gave her a 
strong sense of her cultural and linguistic identity which she 
cherishes to this day. Her work with the Latin American Association has 
allowed her to engage closely with Georgia's

[[Page E1211]]

Latino population, which she says enables her to understand the 
struggles of immigrant families and their desire to make sacrifices to 
give their children better opportunities.
  It is my distinct honor and privilege to recognize three of the many 
Hispanic Americans in Georgia's Sixth Congressional District who are 
working hard every day to make a difference in their communities. As we 
continue to celebrate the observation of Hispanic Heritage Month, may 
we recommit to the spirit of service demonstrated by these individuals 
and the many others whose stories have yet to be told. On behalf of 
myself, the Sixth Congressional District of Georgia, and the United 
States House of Representatives, I am proud to join in the celebration 
of Hispanic Heritage Month. In telling the stories of constituents like 
Gabriel, Maria, and Aixa, we celebrate the power of our Hispanic 
community in Georgia. As their representative, I will continue to 
champion their values of strength, service, and patriotism every day.

                          ____________________