[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 132 (Tuesday, August 1, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING MS. ANDREA GUTIERREZ-CORTEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 1, 2023

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Andrea 
Gutierrez-Cortez for her service to my office and to thank her for her 
dedication to the people of California's 22nd Congressional District.
  Born in 1998, Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez has spent most of her life in the 
Central Valley. Growing up in Tulare, she attended Mission Oak High 
School and graduated in 2016. She would go on to attend the University 
of California, San Diego, where she became a sister of the Phi Sigma 
Rho Sorority and was a student-athlete on the club lacrosse team. In 
2020, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology. Ms. 
Gutierrez-Cortez has been a member of my team since 2020, first as a 
volunteer on my campaign and then as a Constituent Services 
Representative in my Hanford office.
  In her role, she has been critical in helping my constituents 
navigate complex federal agencies. She has assisted over 500 
constituents in resolving problems with federal agencies including the 
Department of State, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 
Internal Revenue Service, and Social Security Administration. 
Throughout her time in my office, Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez has completed an 
impressive 810 cases--helping to return nearly $5 million in tax 
refunds, Small Business Administration loans, farm loans, and federal 
grants to constituents of California's 22 Congressional District.
  Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez's extensive knowledge of the complex immigration 
system has made her an invaluable member of my team. She has managed 
all immigration cases that have come into my office over the past two 
and a half years. Her dedication to solving these difficult cases is a 
true testament to her compassion and character, and she has been vital 
in securing nearly 100 immigrant visas for families across the Central 
Valley.
  As the only member of my district team who is fluent in Spanish, Ms. 
Gutierrez-Cortez has also been essential in helping Spanish-speaking 
constituents in my district feel welcomed and heard. I have entrusted 
Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez with some of my office's most challenging and 
complicated cases. No matter how difficult the case, her 
professionalism, determination, and genuine compassion never wavered. 
Not only is she an incredible worker, but she has also become a beloved 
colleague in both my DC and District offices, earning the title 
``Commander'' and even being recognized as the official office holiday 
decorator.
  This July, Ms. Gutierrez-Cortez's time in my office came to an end, 
as she will begin pursuing a Juris Doctorate at the University of 
Tennessee College of Law this fall. She intends to begin practicing law 
after graduation, focusing on constitutional law and pro-bono 
immigration work. While I am excited for her to begin this new chapter 
of her life, her compassion for others, work ethic, and dedication to 
my constituents will be greatly missed. I am confident that Andrea has 
many accomplishments still ahead of her and will continue having a 
positive impact on everyone she meets.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives to join me in commending Andrea Gutierrez-Cortez for 
her service to the people of the Central Valley and wishing her the 
very best in this next chapter of her life.

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