[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17750]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING CONSUL GENERAL AT THE UNITED STATES CONSULATE GENERAL IN 
        MATAMOROS, MEXICO, MRS. CECILIA BRIDGET ELIZONDO HERRERA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 2009

  Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication of 
Consul General at the United States Consulate General in Matamoros, 
Mexico, Mrs. Cecilia Bridget Elizondo Herrera, who leaves her post on 
the U.S-Mexico border for a new task in Caracas, Venezuela.
  Mrs. Elizondo Herrera is a native of San Antonio, Texas, and 
graduated from Incarnate Word High School in 1973. She went on to 
graduate from Our Lady of the Lake University where she received her 
bachelor of arts degree in English and political science in 1977. Mrs. 
Elizondo Herrera went on to complete post-graduate work at St. Mary's 
University in 1978 and in 2006 earned a master of science degree in 
national security strategy from the National War College at Ft. McNair 
in Washington, D.C.
  At a young age, Mrs. Elizondo Herrera began her public service to 
this country when she worked for the Alamo Area Council of Governments, 
a regional planning agency in San Antonio, and in 1987 joined the 
Foreign Service as a junior officer in the Administrative Zone. She has 
served as a Vice Consul in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Administrative 
Officer and Post Security Officer in Melbourne, Australia. She was then 
stationed in Washington, D.C., where she served as an Area Manager for 
the Office of Foreign Buildings with oversight for near East Asia; as a 
Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Administration, with a 
portfolio of Overseas Buildings Operations and as a Post Management 
Officer for the European Bureau with responsibility for the Russian 
Federation and Finland.
  Mrs. Elizondo Herrera has traveled throughout Russia, North Africa 
and the Arabian Gulf while stationed in Washington. She has served as 
the Deputy Supervisory GSO at the U.S. Embassy in Rome and 
Administrative Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
  She is a four time recipient of the Department of State Superior 
Honor Award, and is the recipient of a Meritorious Honor Award in 
recognition of Non-Immigrant Visa work in Guadalajara.
  Mrs. Elizondo Herrera is a member of Executive Women in Government, 
the National Association of Female Executives and an honorary member of 
the American Association for Justice Women's Auxiliary. She is the 
daughter of John P. and Beatrice B. Elizondo of San Antonio, Texas, and 
is married to San Antonio attorney, Frank Herrera, Jr. They have two 
sons, Jorge and Javier.
  Today, I ask that my colleagues join me in commemorating the 
dedication of Mrs. Cecilia Bridget Elizondo Herrera, who has served 
this nation with dignity, honor, respect and admiration.

                          ____________________