[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11073]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         THANK YOU, JUAN LUCERO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Otter). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I want to take time today to 
recognize and express my deep appreciation to a gentleman who has 
worked for me since I came to Congress.
  Professional staff, for the most part, work in the back stage of 
history, but their work is fundamental to our duties as representatives 
of the people. They are dedicated and professional public servants, and 
I commend them for their service to their country and their 
contributions to the House of Representatives.
  Juan Lucero, who serves as my casework manager in my Santa Fe office, 
is retiring this year at the age of 63 after a remarkable career. He 
spent over 3 decades of his life serving the people of New Mexico in 
some capacity. I stand here today not only to recognize him but to also 
thank him on behalf of thousands of people that he has helped over the 
years.
  Juan has had jobs ranging from being a fruit picker in California to 
being a DJ at a Spanish radio station in Albuquerque and in serving in 
the Nation's military as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. This diversity 
has given him a unique perspective on people and their personal 
situations.
  His career as a civil servant in New Mexico began in 1969, when he 
worked at the State Welfare Department. For 10 years, Juan worked 
tirelessly to help people with their claims for food stamps and 
Medicaid. From 1979 to 1983, he worked for Lieutenant Governor Roberto 
Mondragon. He remembers many successes as a caseworker in this 
progression, for example, helping clear up a $10,000 hospital bill for 
a destitute woman.
  Juan stayed in this position from 1983 to 1987, while working for the 
next Lieutenant Governor, Mike Rybbeks. Juan then found himself working 
for the New Mexico State Senate Chief Clerk's Office, where he worked 
on cases on behalf of State senators.
  Juan continued his governmental service when he came to work for my 
Democratic predecessor in 1991, Congressman Bill Richardson. It was in 
this position where Juan began helping his fellow New Mexicans resolve 
their problems with the Federal Government. He had his first 
experiences with Social Security, the Veterans Administration, the 
Internal Revenue Service, and other agencies that make our government 
work. At any given time, he handled over 250 cases. He stayed in this 
position until Bill Richardson left the Congress in 1997.
  Before he came to my office in 1999, Juan worked for the Social 
Security Administration Teleservice Center in Albuquerque. He assisted 
hundreds of callers each day, often utilizing his outstanding Spanish 
skills, taking calls from Puerto Rico and all over the country. He also 
worked as a prison chaplain at the Estancia jail in New Mexico.
  Juan has a natural gift for helping people during hard times. Our 
constituents that come to our offices for help are usually at the end 
of their rope and frustrated by miles of red tape and bureaucracy that 
they have had to endure. Wherever Juan absorbed his passion for 
service, it has been a fulfilling aspect of his life. As he once 
explained: ``This is one place where you can really help people, and 
the most desperate person can come here and at the very least they can 
find an ear to let out their frustrations. To be able to make someone's 
life more meaningful is a special privilege. People come to their 
Congressman with life-changing events. Their problems are serious. To 
me, all cases are important because they mean so much to the 
individual. The reward in this type of work is so much greater than 
money.''
  For about 15 years, Juan has been commuting to Santa Fe from his home 
in Torreon, 4 hours round trip. Neither rain nor snow nor hail nor heat 
nor the gloom of night has kept him from faithfully doing his job.
  I cannot begin to describe the casework successes that we have shared 
together. Juan has also earned several letters to the editor in various 
newspapers in New Mexico thanking him for his diligent work. Those 
examples speak volumes about Juan's work ethic.
  Juan is a veteran, a husband of 40 years, a father to 13 children, 
and a grandfather to 26. I know that more than anything he ever did in 
his professional career he is most proud of his loving family. He has a 
true passion for his Spanish heritage.
  He enjoys explaining to those of different backgrounds the traditions 
and the history of his people. He has helped me in my quest to provide 
justice to Hispanic land grant heirs of the Southwest.
  He is a talented musician and takes great pride in performing with 
his family throughout New Mexico. He loves music and has written many 
corridos, Mexican ballads, during his life. Some of these songs are 
archived at the University of New Mexico Department of Music.
  I applaud Juan for his great public service.

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