[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21762]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE OF THE HONORABLE JOHN MORENO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 15, 1999

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, as a former Member of the California 
Legislature, it is with particular sadness that I offer this Memorial 
Tribute to a pioneering colleague, the Honorable John Moreno, late a 
retired Member of the Assembly, 51st District from 1962-1964.
  Assemblyman John Moreno was one of the first Latinos elected to the 
California Legislature in the 20th Century. A native son of Los 
Angeles, California, he won election in 1962 from what was then the 
51st Assembly District, encompassing parts of East Los Angeles, Santa 
Fe Springs, Pico Rivera and Montebello. These same communities that I 
now proudly represent in my 34th Congressional District, were very 
honorably and well represented by my distinguished predecessor during a 
time of historic growth and achievement in the State of California.
  One of Assemblyman Moreno's major accomplishments in office was 
winning passage of a bond issue to build Rio Hondo Community College in 
the 1960's after three earlier bond measures had failed. He also helped 
the college district avert bankruptcy through legislation that allowed 
it to prolong a tax override and complete construction of the campus in 
1966.
  Assemblyman Moreno demonstrated leadership on a host of important 
legislation including civil rights, aid to the aged and support for 
farm workers. He served on the state Compensatory Education Commission 
and co-authored a bill that funded special programs for disadvantaged 
students, including youths from migrant families and those who were 
learning English.
  John Moreno began his political career as a member of the first City 
Council of the City of Santa Fe Springs, California. He was a driving 
force behind city incorporation in 1957 and later served as Mayor. 
Before entering the Assembly, he taught elementary and high school for 
11 years in Pico Rivera, Whittier and Los Angeles. He served in the 
Navy during the closing months of World War II, then attended the 
University of Southern California, earning a Bachelors degree in 1951. 
After leaving the Legislature, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he 
taught school and opened a home improvement business. He later moved to 
New York City and ran his business there until retirement in 1992.
  The Honorable John Moreno was one of just a few remarkable minority 
candidates to break through the heavy obstacles of institutional racism 
during an era when legislative districts were routinely gerrymandered 
to prevent Mexican-Americans and other minorities from holding elective 
office. He and his few Latino colleagues paved the way for future 
generations of Latino elected leaders, including myself, where today 
the Latino Legislative Caucus in the California Legislature numbers 7 
state Senators and sixteen Members of the Assembly, including the past 
two consecutive Speakers of the Assembly.
  John Moreno passed away August 19, 1999 at Mount Sinai Hospital in 
New York. He was 72 years of age. He is survived by his wife of 18 
years, Judith Anderson, four daughters and two sons from a previous 
marriage, and two sisters.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with his many friends and admirers, former 
constituents and the cities and communities of his Southeast Los 
Angeles County district in mourning his loss and paying tribute to his 
many outstanding accomplishments and dedicated service to others.

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