[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 130 (Thursday, July 23, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H3700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING JOSE ORNELAS

  (Mr. COX of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COX of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Jose 
Ornelas, who passed away on July 19. Jose was a friend and a dedicated 
public servant, serving as a council member in San Joaquin, California.
  The son of farmworkers, Mr. Ornelas earned many academic degrees and 
was a successful small business owner.
  But his passion was community service, public service. Always a 
fierce advocate for rural communities, Jose believed deeply in the 
attainability of the American Dream for all Central Valley families.
  He spearheaded the group Nueva Ali-anza, an organization composed of 
farmworker families dedicated to fighting for workers' rights and 
environmental justice.
  He was also a founding member of the influential Central Valley 
Leadership Roundtable that advocates for expanded opportunity in rural 
communities throughout the Valley.
  As a mentor to many young people, Jose was a youth soccer coach. He 
promoted civic engagement and tirelessly worked to expand access to 
clean drinking water for our families.
  He is survived by his parents, siblings, his lovely wife, Nadia, and 
their six children: Jose Jr., Gustavo, Angel, Oscar, Giselle, and 
Shayla. He will always be remembered for his generous spirit and always 
as a steadfast champion for rural farmworker families.

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