[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14286]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               IN RECOGNITION OF BARCELONETA, PUERTO RICO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2012

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Barceloneta, 
Puerto Rico on its recognition at the Puerto Rican Heritage Statewide 
Parade of New Jersey's 51st Annual Banquet Gala and Puerto Rican 
Ilustres. Please join me in welcoming the representatives of 
Barceloneta to the State of New Jersey.
  Founded in 1881, Barceloneta is named for its founder Bonocio Llenza 
Feliu's hometown of Barcelona, Spain. Due to the vast pineapple 
plantations across much of the town, it acquired the nickname of La 
Ciudad de las Pinas, or pineapple city. Barceloneta is located at the 
northern end of Puerto Rico, along the Atlantic Ocean and is traversed 
by the Grande de Manati River.
  Today, Barceloneta is known as the Industrial City as it once served 
as the largest pharmaceutical complex in the world with 14 industries 
present. It is an ideal location for the facilities because it has 
underground water reservoirs and the purity of Barceloneta's water 
requires little treatment to produce their products. Many manufacturers 
remain today, including Merck Sharp and Dohme; Pfizer; and Abbott 
Laboratories. Barceloneta is a unique commercial area with the first 
and one of the largest outlet malls in Puerto Rico, which also serves 
as a travel destination. Its tourism is also bolstered by its famous 
black sand beaches, most popular among them Playa La Palmita, Playa 
Puerto de las Vacas and Playa Las Criollas.
  Many notable individuals hail from Barceloneta, including Sixto 
Escobar, Puerto Rico's first boxing world champion. The Honorable Wanda 
J. Rosario Soler was elected as Barceloneta's first female mayor in 
2012. Mayor Rosario Soler is focused on economic development and 
tourism to ensure the continued success of Barceloneta.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in celebrating Barceloneta, 
Puerto Rico and thanking the Puerto Rican Heritage Statewide Parade of 
New Jersey for honoring the town at its 51st Annual Banquet Gala and 
Puerto Rican Ilustres.

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