[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11927]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              CELEBRATING THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF LA LUZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2007

  Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor La Luz, a weekly bilingual 
newspaper that serves the English- and Spanish-speaking communities of 
Lake County, Illinois. This Wednesday, May 9, La Luz will celebrate its 
fifth anniversary.
  The newspaper and its editor, Mr. Ryan Pagelow, provide an invaluable 
public service to the Latino community of northern Illinois. I have had 
the pleasure of working with Mr. Pagelow and La Luz since the 
newspaper's inception on a variety of issues, and I know firsthand the 
professionalism that the staff displays on a daily basis.
  One issue in particular that deserves special recognition is La Luz's 
coverage of my office's Abuelitas program. Through this initiative, we 
work with local community members and our embassy in Mexico to bring 
grandparents of 10th Congressional District residents to the United 
States. Many of these families have not seen each other for more than 
20 years. The Mexican visitors spend 1 month with their loved ones, 
reconnecting and catching up on years of missed memories.
  I credit La Luz with spreading the word about this heart-warming 
program. By publicizing the issue, we have expanded the Abuelitas 
program to multiple visits each year. In groups of 20 to 30 people at a 
time, we are bringing families together.
  It is focusing on this and many other issues of importance to Lake 
County that makes La Luz an indispensable part of the 10th 
Congressional District. I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating 
their fifth anniversary, in hopes of many more years of continued 
success.

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