[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 17436-17437]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        TRIBUTE TO WANDA PADILLA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2000

  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the splendid 
efforts and notable accomplishments of an extraordinary woman in the 
1st Congressional District of Colorado. It is both fitting and proper 
that we recognize this community leader for her exceptional record of 
civic leadership and invaluable service. It is to commend this 
outstanding citizen that I rise to honor Wanda Padilla.
  Wanda Padilla has best been described as a ``dynamo'' and she has had 
a tremendous impact on our community. Ms. Padilla is the woman behind 
the scenes at La Voz de Colorado, one of our state's most influential 
Hispanic bilingual newspapers. Known as the Hispanic Voice of Colorado, 
this Spanish-English newspaper has been published continuously since 
1974, and under her leadership, it has matured into a solid weekly 
newspaper in the Denver area.
  Ms. Padilla, who is an Illinois native and graduate of Northwestern 
University, has been a trailblazer and has built this newspaper 
business from the ground up. In the beginning, she sold ads, wrote 
copy, did layouts and billing and distributed the newspaper, all while 
raising her son Ramon.

[[Page 17437]]

  La Voz de Colorado fills a real need and it has given the Hispanic 
Community in the 1st Congressional District a strong political and 
economic voice. Under Ms. Padilla's leadership as Publisher, the 
newspaper has experienced tremendous growth and she intends to further 
expand the newspaper to meet the needs of the growing Hispanic 
marketplace. The tradition excellence and solid commitment to speaking 
for Colorado's Hispanics has made La Voz de Colorado a standard bearer 
for journalistic excellence in the Denver Metro area.
  In addition to her work at La Voz de Colorado, Wanda Padilla is 
active in the oldest Catholic congregation in Denver, Sacred Heart 
Church. Ms Padilla also serves as a foster mom for her godchild and his 
sister. While she admits these duties interrupt her tough schedule, her 
work with children is a labor ``from the heart.''
  Please join me in commending Wanda Padilla. It is the strong 
leadership that she exhibits on a daily basis that continually enhances 
our lives and builds a better future for all Americans. Her life serves 
as an example to which we should all aspire.

                          ____________________