[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 234]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING LUCY BILLINGSLEY AND THE CHIAPAS PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 19, 2010

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize Lucy Billingsley who founded the Chiapas Project, a non-
profit organization that is dedicated to lifting women out of poverty 
in Latin America.
  The Chiapas Project was founded in 2003 when Ms. Billingsley, a 
Dallas real estate developer, traveled to Chiapas, Mexico with thirty 
other women to see firsthand how microfinance and microloans 
effectively helped some of the most disadvantaged women in Mexico's 
poorest state. The group returned to North Texas with vigorous 
determination and raised $790,000 to fund the expansion of a 
microfinance institution called Alternative Solidaria in Chiapas. This 
money ultimately lifted roughly 4,000 women out of poverty. Today, the 
Chiapas Project has set new goals and is working toward raising more 
money for microfinance initiatives across Latin America.
  Recently Ms. Billingsley was honored at the Dallas Regional Chamber's 
14th Annual International Business Achievement Awards luncheon where 
she received the Individual Award. Additionally, the Chiapas Project 
was commended for raising the global awareness of North Texas as an 
international business center in Latin America and across the world.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my fellow colleagues to join me in 
recognizing both Lucy Billingsley and the Chiapas Project for the great 
work they have done to help disadvantaged women and families in Latin 
America.

                          ____________________