[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E80]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CELEBRATING THE SERVICE OF SANDRA FERNIZA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUBEN GALLEGO

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 27, 2020

  Mr. GALLEGO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Sandra 
Ferniza's service to the community of Phoenix. After 5 years of working 
in my District Office as the Director of Intergovernmental Relations 
and Director of Constituent Services, Sandra is retiring. I am grateful 
for her many years of dedication to our state.
  Constituent casework provides Congressional offices with a unique and 
vital opportunity to engage with individuals in the moments that they 
need us most. From passport applications to grant proposals, Sandra has 
connected with constituents and guided them through problem-solving 
processes, many of which involve federal agencies. She has used her own 
wealth of experience and connections in all sectors of the Phoenix 
community to help our office and go above and beyond in helping our 
constituents, organizations and local government entities.
  In addition to her work in our office, Sandra has an illustrious 
legacy of breaking barriers for the Latino community. She has helped 
Latinos win groundbreaking elections at many levels of government, 
provided visibility as a Latina leader within the banking and 
investment world, and served as the CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber 
of Commerce. Throughout her long and varied career, two consistencies 
that stand out are service and leadership. Her professional commitment 
has been matched only by her dedication to her family and friends. She 
has selflessly cared for multiple ailing family members and serves as a 
model of a value-driven life for her extensive network of younger 
family and friends.
  I am grateful to have worked alongside Sandra for the entirety of my 
time in Congress. While I wish her only the best in her retirement, she 
will also be missed. She has been an asset and an advocate that I have 
been grateful to have on my team. Her selflessness, attention to 
detail, and determination are remarkable traits that have allowed her 
to advance good in Arizona over the entirety of her career.
  On behalf of myself, the countless constituents of Arizona's seventh 
district that she has helped, and the entire State of Arizona, I want 
to express my gratitude for the service of Sandra Ferniza. I have no 
doubt that she will continue to be a leader within the Phoenix 
community. We will thank her by continuing to dedicate ourselves to 
constituent services and the improvement of as many lives as possible.

                          ____________________