[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6168]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING RICHARD BLANCO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE GARCIA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 3, 2013

  Mr. GARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary 
person who has made incomparable use of poetry as a canvass for 
activism and exaltation, and remains a mantel of inspiration for the 
innumerable people who encounter his work.
  Known for his poetic ingenuity and having served as the inaugural 
poet at the 57th Presidential Inauguration, Richard Blanco joins the 
ranks of venerated artists and activists as Maya Angelou and Robert 
Frost. As the first immigrant, first Latino, and first openly gay 
person to serve in said role, Richard remains a beacon of hope for 
increasingly diverse individuals in our community and beyond. Further, 
as an alumnus of Christopher Columbus High School and Florida 
International University, Richard serves as a special source of 
delectation for the millions of people who call South Florida home--
many of whom I represent.
  Richard Blanco continues to grace the world with his unparalleled 
artistic vision, poetic genius, and social consciousness, and has 
undoubtedly earned our profound respect and admiration.

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