[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 207 (Friday, December 15, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1238-E1239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF NORMA TORRES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2023

  Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
commemorate the retirement of Norma Torres. Ms. Torres will retire 
today, on December 15, 2023, after three decades of service to the 
Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway (BRG). She was the 
first and only Hispanic female president of a short line railroad in 
Texas history.
  Norma joined the Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway as 
a Customer Service Agent in 1989, rose through the ranks becoming 
President in 2001. During her tenure as president, BRG's carload grew 
exponentially from moving 10,000 cars per year to more than 52,000 cars 
today.
  Norma recently stated, ``When I started 20 years ago, I was the only 
woman in many rail industry meetings. And for me, coming from being the 
one woman in the meeting, it's always a proud moment to see all the 
women contributing to the rail industry today with high leadership 
positions.''
  Mr. Speaker, Norma Torres is a trailblazer and a leader. Her 
contributions to the Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway 
and the Rio Grande Valley are invaluable, and I congratulate her on her 
retirement.

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