[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21395-21396]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TULSA HISPANIC COMMISSION 25TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, the Greater Tulsa Area Hispanic 
Affairs Commission was established in 1979 by law by the city of Tulsa 
and Tulsa County. The commission was established due to the leadership 
and commitment of its founding members who

[[Page 21396]]

include Mrs. Aurora Ramierez Helton, Mr. Jack Helton, Rev. Victor Orta, 
Dr. Luis Reinoso, Dr. Chris Romero, Mr. Joe Rodriguez and Mr. Carlos 
Vargas. The commission also was established thanks to the unconditional 
support of the then mayor of the city of Tulsa, James M. Inhofe, his 
chief of staff, Richard Soudriette, and the members of the Tulsa County 
Commission.
  This year the Greater Tulsa Hispanic Affairs Commission celebrates 
its 25th anniversary. On this occasion it is important to recognize the 
accomplishments of the commission such as it was only the second 
commission of its type to be established in the U.S.A. The commission 
has helped countless people in the Hispanic community in Tulsa to find 
help in the areas of health, education and economic development. Also, 
the commission has played a fundamental role in promoting the values 
and cultural richness of the Hispanic community in Tulsa. The 
commission has organized numerous community festivals and cultural 
programs and has actively promoted teaching of Spanish, as well as 
English. Finally, the commission aided in the establishment of the 
sister city program between Tulsa, OK, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico, 
that to this day promotes friendship and understanding between the 
people of the United States of America and Mexico.
  Today, I, James M. Inhofe, United States Senator (R-OK) on behalf of 
my colleagues, do hereby congratulate the members of the Greater Tulsa 
Hispanic Affairs Commission on the occasion of their 25th anniversary. 
Also, I wish the commission well in its important work to promote 
greater understanding and appreciation of Hispanic heritage. 
Furthermore, I want to recognize the work of the commission to promote 
the cultural diversity of our Hispanic community, which plays such a 
vital part of the history of the city of Tulsa, the State of Oklahoma, 
and the United States of America.

                          ____________________