[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23426]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO IRENE P. DELOS SANTOS GONZALEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 20, 2005

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a true 
American patriot: Irene De Los Santos from Brownsville, Texas. On 
October 22, 2005, Ms. De Los Santos will be 99 years young. She has 
seen the greater part of the 20th century and has been at the forefront 
of numerous historical events while serving as an outstanding example 
for her community.
  Since she had a profound understanding of what the early 20th Century 
was like, before women were finally given citizenship in this great 
Nation, and allowed to vote. As. De Los Santos cherishes this precious 
right and never lets an election pass her by.
  She has voted in every Brownsville election since 1929 and remembers 
her $1.75 poll tax vividly. What is most amazing and admirable is the 
fact that Ms. De Los Santos is still an active member of the community 
and encourages everyone to participate fully in our democracy by both 
voting and working at the polls. Her daughter remembers riding along in 
the back of the car as they went from house to house encouraging 
members of the community to vote when she was only 8 years old.
  Ms. De Los Santos is a powerhouse of politics in the South Texas 
community, and her support for various candidates is sought and 
cherished. I am so proud that she has been one of my strongest 
supporters throughout my 23 years in Congress.
  Irene has lived a long and rewarding life, and watched our most 
important national events unfold: the passage of the 19th Amendment, 
the rise and fall of dictators around the world, the passage of the 
Civil Rights Act, and countless other memorable events in our Nation's 
history. Through it all, Ms. De Los Santos says she has enjoyed her 
life and would not change anything.
  Her extended family includes three sons and two daughters, 16 
grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren, 
and 10 great-great-great grandchildren. Everyone, that totals to 71 
potential votes, and we all know that elections have been won or lost 
by fewer votes. Even now, Ms. De Los Santos encourages her entire 
family to vote and continues to look on as her fellow voters come in 
and out of the polls.
  Today I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this 
extraordinary woman for her contributions to her community and our 
Nation, and for her active participation our Nation's history. May the 
next century be as wonderful for her as the past 99 years.

                          ____________________