[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25802]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MARGARET ATENCIO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a leader in 
Colorado's Hispanic community, Ms. Margaret Atencio. Margaret's 
tireless efforts in the competitive arena of Colorado politics has 
spanned many years. She is a beloved person in the Colorado Democratic 
Party, and well respected by all, including many Republican friends, 
for her dedication to Hispanic youth and increasing the participation 
and clout of the Latino vote. Her contributions are an inspiration to 
anyone interested in public service.
  Margaret Atencio has had a distinguished career which began with her 
work at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Equal Opportunity 
Employment Commission. Governor Roy Romer appointed her to the Second 
Judicial Performance Committee Commission. She serves as the chair of 
the Downtown Democratic Forum, the Democratic Outreach Commission, and 
was a founder of the Democratic Latino Initiative.
  Margaret has shown boundless energy and commitment to political 
causes in Colorado. She is currently the vice chair of the 1st 
Congressional District, the captain and precinct committeeperson of 
House District IB, the 2nd Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, 
and the president of the Denver Jane Jeffersons. She has been a 
delegate to many National Democratic Party Conventions and State Party 
Conventions.
  As influential as she has been in politics, it is not her partisan 
affiliation that strikes me as most worthy of recognition, but rather 
her commitment to projects that strengthen her community. She is a 
member of a grassroots group in Denver, ``Finding Common Ground'' and 
she serves on the Board of Brothers Redevelopment, Incorporated, which 
is a non-profit group that sponsors programs to help low-income, 
elderly and disabled persons find affordable housing and support 
services.
  Margaret does not hold public office, nor has she been a candidate 
for office, but she is, nevertheless, the kind of person who makes a 
difference. She is one of those persons who has helped others get 
elected, and to make sure that her candidates keep their promises.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in expressing our 
gratitude to Margaret Atencio for her continuing commitment to honest 
politics in Colorado. In a time when voter turnout is sometimes 
disappointingly low and faith in government has fallen, it is 
heartening to know that there are people like Margaret who find time to 
volunteer, engage others and who are devoted to bettering the political 
process, increasing political participation and strengthening our 
communities in the process. I'm proud to know Margaret Atencio, to 
count her as a friend and advocate of people whose voices are not 
always heard, but need to be heard.

                          ____________________