[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 127 (Friday, July 29, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING RODRIGO ``ROD'' GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2022

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and celebrate the life of 
Rod Garcia, a respected visionary, leader, and advocate in Southern 
California. Rod dedicated his life to empowering the Latino community 
in educational excellence, economic opportunity, and social equity 
through the science, technology, engineering, and math fields. He was a 
trailblazer for Latinos in STEM, and his work to continue diversifying 
this essential workforce lives on.
  Rod graduated from California State University in Los Angeles with a 
Bachelor's Degree of Science in Engineering. During the tech boom in 
California in 1973, Rod became one of the few Hispanic engineers to be 
a leader in the STEM field.
  Seeing the lack of Latino representation in STEM, Rod founded the 
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). He sought to 
diversify the field by offering networking and educational 
opportunities for Hispanic students and professionals in the Southern 
California region.
  Rod had the unique ability to unite community partners and leaders 
around the country in the commitment to closing the STEM gap among 
Latinos.
  Over the course of five decades, Rod propelled the Society of 
Hispanic Professional Engineers to reach 13,000 members and 286 
chapters nationwide.
  Today, Latinos continue to experience some of the most noticeable 
disparities in representation within the STEM field.
  But Rod's legacy will live on through his devotion and work to close 
that gap. His work will continue to help future generations of Latinos 
realize their fullest potential to positively impact the world.

                          ____________________