[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25311]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 24, 2007

  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate, along 
with my remarkably diverse constituents, Hispanic Heritage Month. I am 
grateful that September 15th through October 15th has been set aside to 
commemorate the unique cultural legacy and the significant 
contributions that the diverse people of Hispanic descent have made to 
the United States of America.
  Madam Speaker, this heritage is part and parcel of our shared 
American birthright. It is only fitting that we celebrate the 
extraordinary accomplishments of the 43 million Hispanic Americans in 
this country, people who are making their mark in popular culture, 
business, athletics and politics. Theirs is the American Dream--a deep-
seated belief that hard work can bring a better life and a brighter 
future for our children.
  I wish to take this opportunity to honor some outstanding individuals 
living and working in the San Francisco Bay area. KQED, a nationally 
recognized public broadcaster, has named the following six outstanding 
individuals 2007 Latino Heritage Local Heroes. These hardworking 
citizens represent the best of both worlds--preserving their personal 
and family heritage while contributing great things to the community we 
all share.
  Cio Hernandez has brought her language and leadership skills to the 
youth of Marin County. As the Bilingual Adolescent Mental Health 
Practitioner for Teen Clinic of Marin County Department of Health and 
Human Services, Cio is a youth group leader who inspires and motivates 
adolescents who want to make a difference in their community.
  Martin Mora is a professional firefighter in the city of San Jose. In 
his 12 years with the San Jose Fire Department, he has promoted safety 
and awareness throughout the community. Additionally, Martin continues 
his family's legacy of dedicated volunteering by assisting children, 
women, and families in the Bay Area and Nicaragua.
  Guillermo ``Memo'' Morantes is a longtime community volunteer in San 
Mateo County, with a special passion for education. As a member of the 
San Mateo County Board of Education, he continues the fight he has long 
been waging to provide all our children with the kind of quality 
education they deserve.
  A Health and Nutrition teacher at Dover Elementary School in West 
Contra Costa County, Tony Ramirez imparts invaluable wisdom about 
healthy living and environmental preservation to our next generation of 
leaders. Tony has incorporated outdoors hands-on education into the 
curriculum, instilling the value of preserving natural habitats such as 
the local watershed, Wildcat Creek, and teaching students of their 
responsibility to maintain a healthy creek.
  Mary Helen Rocha is another tireless advocate for children and 
families in our community. From bus monitor to den mother and Girl 
Scout leader, she has done it all, and currently works as Program 
Director for The Perinatal Council and coordinates the Antioch First 5 
Center permanent facility, which serves families with children under 5 
years of age.
  As a master of the art of capoeira, a Brazilian martial arts and 
dance hybrid, Marcia Treidler, known to the arts community as Mestranda 
Marcia Cigarra, is working to spread hope and opportunity through the 
art form she loves. Marcia is the founder and Artistic Director of 
ABADA-Capoeira San Francisco (ACSF), which is dedicated to using 
capoeira as a vehicle to improve and enrich disadvantaged communities 
and the lives of people from all backgrounds.
  Madam Speaker, it is not enough to celebrate this community one month 
out of every year. All of our Hispanic American friends and neighbors 
deserve the opportunity to build a better life for themselves and their 
children. They are the driving force behind the efforts of this 
Democratic Congress to bring a new direction to America--the real 
people who benefit from progressive legislation like increases to the 
minimum wage and programs that make college more affordable.
  Hispanic Heritage month is more than a cultural celebration, Madam 
Speaker, as vibrant and fascinating as that culture may be. It is an 
opportunity to see the children for whom we have just increased funding 
for math and science education, funding that will give all Americans a 
chance to compete in the global economy. It shines a spotlight on the 
citizens who lack adequate health care, despite working full time. 
Hispanic Heritage month is certainly about the past, Madam Speaker, and 
it is an honorable past worth remembering. Yet this month, let us also 
look toward the future, and work toward building a better tomorrow for 
all American families.

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