[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16083-16085]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 22, 2013

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following.


                Recognizing the Career of Maritza Reyes

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize the accomplishments and career of Maritza Reyes. Mrs. Reyes 
has done invaluable work as a legal professional and a Latina leader in 
Central Florida.
  Mrs. Reyes is currently an Associate Professor of Law at Florida A&M 
University College of Law. Mrs. Reyes grew up in Florida. She earned a 
B.S. in Accounting magna cum laude from Florida Atlantic University, a 
J.D. summa cum laude from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad 
Law Center, and an LL.M. from the Harvard Law School. She currently 
serves on the Board of Advisors of the Harvard Latino Law Review. 
Professor Reyes teaches Civil Procedure, Evidence, Immigration Law, 
Advanced Topics in Immigration Law, Latinos and the Law, and 
Professional Responsibility. She also serves as faculty advisor to the 
Hispanic American Law Students Association. Her areas of research and 
writing include immigration law and policy, ethics, evidence, federal 
courts, and Latinos and the law. Professor Reyes is admitted to 
practice in Florida, as well as before the Supreme Court of the United 
States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 
and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle 
Districts of Florida.
  Prior to joining academia, Mrs. Reyes worked in the commercial and 
international litigation groups of Holland & Knight LLP, was employed 
as a career law clerk and staff attorney in the federal courts, and 
served as a certified legal intern in the United States Attorneys' 
Office where she prepared briefs that were filed in the U.S. Court of 
Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. She has provided pro bono and 
volunteer services individually and through the Florida Immigrant 
Advocacy Center, Lawyers for Children America, the Florida Democratic 
Lawyers Council and Children First. Prior to attending law school, 
Professor Reyes worked for Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies as 
well as small businesses.
  Mrs. Reyes believes in the importance of education as a means to 
improve individual lives and society in general. At Harvard, Mrs. Reyes 
served as General Editor of the Harvard Latino Law Review and as 
External Affairs Coordinator of La Alianza. She held a Harvard Law 
School Post-Graduate Research Fellowship from 2008 to 2011 and was 
awarded a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Graduate Scholarship. 
Mrs. Reyes attended Nova law school on a full-tuition merit scholarship 
as a Goodwin Scholar, served as Articles Editor of the Nova Law Review, 
won a Best Brief Award in the Moot Court First Year Appellate Writing 
Competition and earned membership in the Moot Court Honor Society. She 
received a Public Interest Pro Bono Award, the Student Bar Association 
Academic Achievement Award, the National Association of Women Lawyers 
Outstanding Law Student Award and recognition in Who's Who: American 
Law Students (2000 ed.). During her undergraduate accounting studies, 
she was inducted into the Beta Alpha Psi, Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma 
Sigma Honor Societies.
  I am happy to honor Maritza Reyes, during Hispanic Heritage Month, 
for her accomplishments and commitment to education, public service, 
and equality for all Hispanics in Central Florida and nationwide.


   Recognizing the Career and Accomplishments of Magda Ivette Torres

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize the public service of Magda Ivette Torres within the Hispanic 
community in Central Florida. She currently serves as a.news analyst 
and journalist for both WPRD 1440 AM radio and En Agenda News Analysis 
Talk Show.
  Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Magda Ivette has more than 24 years of 
combined professional experience in journalism (print, radio, and 
television), public relations, law, government, teaching, and community 
affairs. Her work experience began after she graduated from the 
University of Texas at Arlington and she obtained her law degree from 
the Catholic University Law School in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Magda Ivette 
has worked for WOLE-TV, WLEO-AM, WISO-AM, WEUC-FM, the City of Ponce, 
La Perla del Sur Newspaper, EFE News Agency, Inter American University, 
legal aide at the Senate of Puerto Rico, Browning Ferris Industries, 
and Intel Puerto Rico. She also worked as a communication consultant 
for The Puerto Rico Bar Association
  Magda has worked within the Central Florida community to ensure that 
Hispanic voters are informed and exercise their ability to vote. Since 
2003, she has hosted the ``En Agenda'' talk show, a daily news analysis 
program. Magda has dedicated the majority of her show to analyzing 
state, local, national, and international news. Magda Ivette 
collaborates with different organizations and public service 
institutions to inform her audience about their services and provide 
solutions to community problems. She regularly writes and assists 
Hispanics in communicating with courts and government entities. She 
also assists those with special needs so that they receive appropriate 
medical care, food, and shelter.

[[Page 16084]]

  I am happy to honor Magda Ivette Torres, during Hispanic Heritage 
Month, for her dedication to civic engagement and service to the 
Hispanic community.


        Honoring the Life and Service of Rosinin Rodriguez Perez

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize Rosinin Rodriguez Perez for her outstanding service to the 
community.
  Rosinin was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico on October 18th, 1937. Her 
parents were Heriberto Rodriguez and Isabel Perez. Rosinin Rodriguez is 
currently the Spiritual Leader and Vice-President of Congregacion Mita 
Inc., the only church founded in Puerto Rico that has expanded 
nationally to 11 states and internationally to 10 countries in Latin 
America and Europe.
  Rosinin holds a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences with a 
concentration in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Puerto 
Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, where she also completed graduate courses in 
Counseling and Education. Upon graduation, Rosinin worked as a middle 
school teacher in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, where she taught Spanish and 
Social Studies. She later worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation 
Counselor helping students finish their vocational education. She also 
worked for the Social Security Administration in the division of 
disability determination and later joined the Puerto Rico Department of 
Education's Youth Opportunity Center. From 1965 to 1971 she worked as a 
Career Counselor for the Puerto Rico Department of Labor.
  Rosinin joined the Congregacion Mita Church in 1962 and lived in the 
Pastoral House with Juanita Garcia Peraza ``Mita,'' founder of the 
church. After Juanita Garcia Peraza passed away, Rosinin continued 
working alongside Teofilo Vargas Sein ``Aaron,'' current President of 
the church and Spiritual Leader. She was a key contributor to the 
expansion of the church in Puerto Rico and the United States. In 
Florida, the church has congregations in Orlando, Ocala, Miami, and 
Tampa.
  Rosinin has distinguished herself by her great moral and spiritual 
values, hard work, and commitment to the service of others. Rosinin has 
been the founding member of several church institutions. Among them 
are: Colegio Congregacion Mita, a school in Puerto Rico, where Rosinin 
served as its first administrator; El Paraiso Nursing Home, an 
institution that cares for seniors who are unable to care for 
themselves due to their physical and/or emotional conditions; and the 
Office for Counseling and Social Work. This institution provides 
professional services by certified social workers, psychologists, 
gerontologists, in matters such as drug addiction, alcoholism, domestic 
violence, family and marriage relations, physical and/or mental health 
problems, employment, and housing. These services are available free of 
charge to members and non-members of the church in all the states and 
countries where the church has been established, including Orlando, FL.
  I am happy to honor Rosinin Rodriguez Perez, during Hispanic Heritage 
Month, for her extraordinary contributions to the Congregacion Mita 
Church and the communities the church serves in the United States and 
around the World.


        Recognizing the Community Service of Romuald Jose Leydon

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize the career of Romuald Jose Leydon.
  Mr. Leydon was born in New York City on August 9, 1965 to Puerto 
Rican parents. At his third birthday, he was officially adopted by his 
Irish stepfather and received his last name Leydon. He moved to Puerto 
Rico in 1973, when he was eight years old. Raised in both the Puerto 
Rican and Irish cultures, Leydon committed himself to working for his 
community and helping it grow.
  Mr. Leydon graduated from Margarita Janer Palacios High School in 
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico where he completed a course of Marketing and 
Distribution in 1984. He joined the Seminary Bethsaida Inc. in 
Worcester, Massachusetts in 1990 where he studied Leadership and 
Theology. He finished his bachelor's and master's degree in 2010 and 
his doctoral degree in 2012.
  Mr. Leydon worked from 1995 to 2000 as a Church Administrator at 
Bethsaida Inc. He moved to Osceola County, Florida in 2003 where he 
worked as a Chief Financial Officer at Tones Distribution Group for 
five years. From 2009 to 2010 he was the President of Operations in 
Ameriwalk Inc., where he organized various events for non-profit 
organizations. He is currently the Dean and Professor of Theology at 
the Christian School Renewal.
  Mr. Leydon is involved with the Christian community and strongly 
supports the Food Pantry ``Pan de Vida'' at the Renewal Church in the 
Buenaventura Lakes community in Kissimmee, FL. Mr. Leydon has been 
married to his wife, Ivette Reyes, for over 25 years and enjoys 
spending time with his son and three grandchildren.
  I am happy to honor Romuald Jose Leydon, during Hispanic Heritage 
Month, for his selfless service to the community in Florida's Ninth 
Congressional District.


               Recognizing the Leadership of Tirso Moreno

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tirso Moreno, a leader and 
advocate of farmworkers and immigrants in the 9th Congressional 
District in the State of Florida. He has fought to provide farmworkers 
with a living wage, adequate housing, safe working conditions, and 
educational opportunities.
  Tirso was born in Tamaulipas, Mexico, near the Texas border. At a 
young age he learned to pick corn and cotton on the family's farm. In 
1971, at the age of 17, he emigrated to the United States with his 
family to do farm work. For 11 years, he and his wife worked as migrant 
workers, harvesting oranges, grapefruits, and lemons in Florida from 
November to May, and apples in Michigan from June to October.
  In 1976, Tirso joined the United Farm Workers (UFW) union and from 
1979 to 1982, he served on the negotiation committee for the collective 
bargaining agreement between the UFW and Coca Cola/Minute Maid. In 
1982, Tirso became the lead organizer for the Farmworker Project of the 
Office for Farmworker Ministry in Apopka, Florida.
  In 1983, Tirso and the Notre Dame Sisters founded the Farmworker 
Association of Florida of which Tirso is currently the General 
Coordinator. Under his leadership, the Association expanded in 1992 
from a small local group to a statewide organization with more than 
10,000 members. FWAF now has four offices throughout Florida, a staff 
of 25, and a membership of more than 4,000 Latino, Haitian, and 
African-American families. FWAF provides educational programs, legal 
assistance, a worker-owned credit union, and a food cooperative.
  Tirso is also a co-founder and board member of the Farmworker Health 
and Safety Institute, and serves on the boards of several other 
organizations such as the Southern Partners Fund, the Domestic Fair 
Trade Association, the National Immigrant Farming Initiative, and the 
Rural Coalition. He has worked to establish international cooperation 
with immigrants and farmworkers on both sides of the Mexico/United 
States border. Tirso advocated on farmworkers' behalf in national and 
international meetings such as the Via Campesina North America and 
International Gatherings, United States Social Forums, World Social 
Forums, and the United Nations World Conference Against Racism.
  I am happy to honor Tirso Moreno, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for 
his outstanding leadership on behalf of immigrants and farmworkers in 
my district and throughout the country.


            Honoring the Accomplishments of Sheyla Asencios

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to 
recognize the civic accomplishments of Sheyla Asencios within the 
Central Florida community. Ms. Asencios currently serves as the Florida 
Democratic Party Central Florida Hispanic Media and Outreach 
Coordinator.
  After immigrating to the United States from Peru at the age of three, 
Ms. Asencios was raised in Kissimmee, Florida. Early in her 
journalistic career, Ms. Asencios worked as a news reporter and 
magazine writer for the Valencia College weekly newspaper, The Valencia 
Source and college magazine, Caffeinated. She soon rose to the position 
of managing editor for The Source, while also working as an intern for 
Orlando's major newspaper, the Orlando Sentinel and the television news 
station NBC's Wesh 2 News. As a journalist, she sought to uncover the 
truth and report on under-represented groups, students, and the Latino 
community in Osceola and Orange Counties.
  Upon graduation from the University of Florida, Ms. Asencios began 
devoting much of her time to public service. She became a Juvenile Drug 
Court and Teen Court volunteer in Orange, Osceola, and Alachua counties 
and worked as a legal and development assistant at the Legal Aid 
Society of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA). Her ability to 
foster relationships and her background in public service led to her 
becoming the OCBA's youngest staff member when she was hired as 
Marketing Manager. She became the program manager of the bar 
association's community outreach program, Leadership Law. After only 
two years of managing the program, Leadership Law won the 2012 
LexisNexis Community and Educational Outreach Award, placing the OCBA 
in the national spotlight. By its second year, the program's financial 
sponsors nearly doubled, benefiting the OCBA and its sister affiliates.

[[Page 16085]]

  This past fall, Ms. Asencios took an active role in the 2012 
elections, working for State Senator Darren Soto's successful campaign 
in District 14. Sheyla also volunteers for the Legal Aid Society of the 
OCBA and is a freelance journalist for South Florida's major 
metropolitan newspaper, the Miami Herald.
  I am happy to honor Sheyla Asencios, during Hispanic Heritage Month, 
for her dedication to serving the Central Florida community.


   Recognizing the Service and Leadership of Viviana Margarita Janer

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Viviana Margarita Janer for 
her service and leadership within her community in Florida's Ninth 
District.
  Viviana was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and raised in New York 
City. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in 
Public Accounting and an MBA with academic honors. She currently serves 
as the Treasurer for the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida.
  Viviana has over 20 years of experience in the business world, and 
currently works as a Senior Manager of Internal Audit at a major 
Hospitality company. She was a volunteer for President Obama's 
reelection campaign and acted as a Neighborhood Team Leader holding 
weekly events within her community. Viviana also had the great honor of 
introducing President Obama in front of a crowd of 3,000 in her 
hometown of Kissimmee.
  Viviana has volunteered for organizations such as the Destiny 
Foundation, the Second Harvest Food Bank, Give the Kids the World, Pine 
Hills YMCA, and the Central Florida Breadbasket. She has also been an 
advocate for countless social issues and has campaigned for other 
candidates, including Senator Ed Markey. Vivian is a member of the 
Osceola County Commission Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, as 
well as an active member of the Progressive Democrats of America, the 
Democratic Executive Committee, and the Democrats of Celebration. She 
is also a founding member of Organizing for Action.
  I am happy to honor Viviana Margarita Janer, during Hispanic Heritage 
Month, for her outstanding public service to the Central Florida 
community.

                          ____________________