[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15980]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           CARLOS BETANCOURT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2014

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 
Hispanic Heritage Month and to recognize the incredible accomplishments 
of Mr. Carlos Betancourt. Mr. Betancourt's tireless, selfless service 
to the community has been a remarkable asset to the Tampa Bay area.
  Mr. Betancourt is a skilled immigration paralegal who is certified by 
the Immigration Review Board and is accredited by the Board of 
Immigration Appeals to handle cases in Tampa.
  Mr. Betancourt's remarkable career began with the Bay Area Legal 
Services in 1978. He later worked at Gulf Coast Legal Service, a 
partner agency at the Family Justice Center, as a paralegal in 2003. 
Due to his talent and passion, he quickly rose to Office Manager at its 
Tampa location. While there, Mr. Betancourt helped provide free legal 
aid to immigrant victims of domestic violence and crimes. His work on 
these important issues continues today as Mr. Betancourt works with the 
Hispanic Services Council that advocates for immigrant children and 
battered women.
  Mr. Betancourt's leadership and determination to serve others is part 
of every aspect of his life. He occasionally volunteers at the Hispanic 
Outreach Program and is an engaged participant in my roundtable 
discussions on comprehensive immigration reform. His efforts earned him 
recognition from the Hillsborough County Domestic Violence Task Force 
who honored him with the ``Achievements Against Domestic Violence 
Award'' in 2012.
  Mr. Betancourt is committed to educating and assisting our most 
vulnerable neighbors--one family at a time--to live safe, productive 
lives through compassionate legal aid. His integrity and passion for 
service sets an example that we should all aspire to. Mr. Speaker, I 
join the Tampa Bay community in thanking Mr. Carlos Betancourt for his 
outstanding service, not only to our district, but to the State of 
Florida.

                          ____________________