[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3444]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF GILBERT RIVERA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 7, 2007

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ Madam Speaker, I rise today on the floor of the U.S. 
House of Representatives to recognize the life and contributions of a 
tremendous community advocate, businessman, and cherished friend, 
Gilbert Rivera.
  In 1957, Gilbert Rivera migrated from Puerto Rico with his mother, 
father and twelve brothers and sisters to Bedford Stuyvesant with 
little money, and a dream to one day own his own business.
  After graduating from Automotive High School and serving in the U.S. 
army, Gil started a small construction firm. But with his drive and 
determination, the company did not stay small for long and overtime 
grew to become one of the largest Hispanic owned contracting and 
building supply businesses in New York City. AM&G's diverse portfolio 
of projects includes landmarks admired by preservationists, such as 
Carnegie Hall, Erasmus Hall HS, and Columbia University as well as 
residential buildings on Fifth Avenue.
  But despite his good fortune, Gil never forgot his roots. He stayed 
in Brooklyn, placing a premium on working to better neighborhoods and 
communities, and continuing to create jobs for young people.
  One of the many things that made Gilbert Rivera unique was that he 
used his success to improve the lives of everyone he touched. He was a 
socially conscious, philanthropic man who was a loyal and generous 
supporter of the causes he believed in. He founded the Hispanic 
Business Group to advocate for greater business opportunities for 
Hispanic owned businesses with corporate America and was actively 
involved with numerous community organizations, including the Brooklyn 
Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 
and the scholarship fund for young Latinos.
  During his time with us, he walked upon this earth and used the power 
of his beliefs and determination to instill hope and inspiration, not 
only to his family but in all who knew him. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I 
rise with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to honor the 
life and contributions of Gilbert Rivera--a true American success 
story.

                          ____________________