[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16465]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       IN HONOR OF MR. TONY VENTO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 5, 2001

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a truly wonderful 
humanitarian, Mr. Tony Vento, on his retirement from the InterReligious 
Task Force on Central America.
  Mr. Tony Vento, Coordinator of the InterReligious Task Force on 
Central America, was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale but soon left 
for Philadelphia to study Urban Studies with a focus in Community 
Development Planning and Architectural History. After his undergraduate 
work, Mr. Vento decided to accept a position as campus minister of the 
University of Pennsylvania and centered his work on peace, justice, and 
community service.
  Mr. Vento's theological career led him down many winding paths, 
including trips to Italy, Peru, and the University of Toronto's St. 
Michael's College. His dedication to the furthering of democracy 
eventually brought him to the InterReligious Task Force on Central 
America, where he was hired as the Director in the fall of 1992. The 
task force uses education human rights work, and advocacy of peaceful 
policies to build bridges of hope and solidarity with the most 
consistently martyred region in our hemisphere.
  Mr. Vento has been a true jewel for the InterReligious Task Force on 
Central America, and he will be greatly missed. His dedication and love 
for the people of Central America is extremely evident in the fine work 
he does. He will be soon joining Pax Christi USA to be their National 
Program Director.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in humbled recognition and celebration of 
Mr. Tony Vento. He has, and will continue to, inspire many not only in 
his local community, but across the globe.

                          ____________________