[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E681-E682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING MR. PEDRO ``PETE'' MORALES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 2022

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life achievements 
of Mr. Pedro ``Pete'' Morales, in celebration of his 80th birthday. 
Born June 22, 1942, Mr. Morales has selflessly served his community in 
Red Hook, Brooklyn for over 73 years.
  When he was a boy, Pete Morales' family was one of the first from 
Puerto Rico to move into Red Hook public housing. Being a minority 
among Irish and Italian immigrants made them a target. Pete's father 
had to send his son back to Puerto Rico for a period after Pete's 
younger brother Nelson was badly beaten. Nevertheless, Pete returned to 
Red Hook to box every one of his brother's attackers and grew to get 
along with everybody regardless of nationality or ethnicity. Everyone 
grew to love Pete.
  As Commissioner of the Red Hook Youth baseball league, Pete Morales 
coached generations of kids growing up in his beloved community. Pete 
has also been a voice for tenant rights, affordable housing and served 
as an active member of Fifth Avenue Committee's advisory board for new 
affordable housing in the neighborhood. Pete has also been a tireless 
advocate for the environment and better neighborhood conditions through 
Red Hook Groups Against Garbage Sites (GAGS) which fought a massive 
trash incinerator and countless solid waste transfer stations seeking 
to cluster in the community which were successfully reversed. Mr. 
Morales has long served at Visitation Church as a Eucharistic Minister 
and continues to be a recognized elder.
  Mr. Morales remains a solid pillar of the community, well respected 
by generations of neighbors, leaders, and the local clergy from his 
decades of community service. Through his life-long dedication to his 
community, Pete Morales has made Red Hook a better place to live. I 
thank Mr. Pedro Morales for his public service and offer him best 
wishes for a well-deserved and happy 80th birthday.

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