[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 85 (Thursday, May 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H3283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN CELEBRATION OF THE SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Santa 
Fe International Literary Festival. Humans have painted stories on 
cavern walls, etched them into clay tablets, and recounted them around 
the dinner table. Puebloans in New Mexico celebrate their storytellers 
in beautiful sculptures.
  The invention of the printing press in 1440 allowed readers across 
the world to access literature and begin to understand cultures and 
lives different from their own.
  Sadly, some fearful politicians want to limit our curiosity and 
knowledge. They are now banning books.
  In contrast, the Santa Fe International Literary Festival brings 
together the best literary minds from across the world to move us 
forward. Every participating author is exceptional and has included 
powerful authors whose award-winning books have been banned, like N. 
Scott Momaday, Margaret Atwood, and Julia Alvarez.
  At the festival, writers will take us around the world and back 
through history, like Doug Preston, Hampton Sides, and Diana Gabaldon, 
who will share their vision and their craft.

  Memorialists like Javier Zamora will take us on a 9-year-old's 
perilous journey of migration to the United States, hopefully 
increasing our empathy along the way.
  I congratulate to the festival on another year of spreading the joy 
of stories. Felicidades to the authors.


                          National Police Week

  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, this National Police Week, I rise 
to give thanks to the officers who keep us safe every day everywhere. 
Police have families who love them and miss them when long hours keep 
them on the road and on duty. My gratitude extends to their families, 
as well.
  My gratitude must include getting them the Federal resources to do 
their job to solve crimes and to keep us safe. My community projects 
have funded mobile command units in rural counties, virtual training 
gear so they are prepared before they face the worst, and squad cars to 
get them to where they need to go.
  In my district, we have many small rural police forces who are 
grateful for the FBI help with forensics and Federal COPS and Byrne JAG 
grants, which help their police officers do their jobs.
  Federal law enforcement investigates and prevents crime in Indian 
Country.
  Sadly, Republican bills and proposals seek to cut these important 
Federal funds and defund the FBI. This year alone, Democrats have sent 
almost double the amount of funding than Republicans to local law 
enforcement.
  I will fight to keep these Federal funds flowing so my rural and 
Tribal police forces have access to these important Federal grants and 
to an FBI that can be their partner when the worst happens.


        Recognizing New Mexico State Representative Jim Trujillo

  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the loss 
of one of New Mexico's most accomplished and best-loved public 
servants, former New Mexico State Representative Jim Trujillo. He 
demonstrated what it means to answer the call to public service and 
that public service is an act of love.
  I am grateful for the love Representative Trujillo gave to the people 
of his district and our State.
  His legacy now lives on in countless lives he touched in our 
beautiful State through both his important career as a financial 
professional and his broad public service in the New Mexico Human 
Services Department, 6 years in the New Mexico National Guard, and his 
outstanding 17 years in the New Mexico legislature.
  I met with Representative Trujillo numerous times when I was working 
on voting rights and Tribal intergovernmental matters. He always 
listened with deep attention and gave clear direction and support.
  He was a man of his word. His tireless dedication to the people of 
New Mexico proved how much we can accomplish when we work together for 
our beloved communities.
  I carry his inspiration with me as I continue my own service in the 
beautifully diverse Third District of New Mexico.
  Mr. Speaker, I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, Virginia, 
their children, and the entire extended Trujillo family.

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