[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 168 (Wednesday, October 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H8396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING GEORGE RAMIREZ FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS

  (Mr. VELA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. VELA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. George Ramirez for 
his extraordinary contribution to the culture and arts in Brownsville, 
Texas.
  Mr. Ramirez was the longtime president of the Brownsville Society for 
the Performing Arts and founder of the Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival. 
He has been invaluable in bringing quality cultural entertainment to my 
community. Under Mr. Ramirez' leadership, the Brownsville Society for 
the Performing Arts has produced hundreds of shows, concerts, and 
cultural programs.
  He dedicated his life to making the arts accessible to the people of 
the Rio Grande Valley.
  In June 2017, Mr. Ramirez established his own low-powered radio 
station, which enabled him to bring music to everyone.
  Mr. Ramirez helped create a number of cultural events, including the 
Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Festival and Competition, the Brownsville 
International Flamenco Festival, and the Ancient Cultures Festival.
  He also spearheaded the efforts to bring Handel's ``Messiah'' 
concerts to Brownsville, Mozart's ``Requiem in D Minor,'' Bach's ``Mass 
in B Minor,'' and the annual children's ``Hansel and Gretel'' opera 
production.

  A group of students in the University of Texas opera program had 
never seen an opera, so he coordinated and funded a trip to take them 
to the Houston Grand Opera. He was very active in helping students gain 
exposure to the arts, offering several music scholarships.
  Mr. Ramirez' latest accomplishment was playing a vital role in the 
opening of the Brownsville Performing Arts Academy, a place that will 
carry on the tradition of Mr. Ramirez' work.

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