[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5260]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          COMMUNITIES ORGANIZED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE (C.O.P.S.)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOAQUIN CASTRO

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 27, 2016

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 
Communities Organized for Public Service (C.O.P.S.) and the Metro 
Alliance as they celebrate over 40 years of organizing in San Antonio. 
COPS/Metro are a coalition of congregations, schools, and unions coming 
together with the goal of making San Antonio a better place for 
families.
  COPS/Metro are part of the Texas Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) 
Network, which traces its roots back to San Antonio. The Industrial 
Areas Foundation is the oldest and largest organizing and leadership 
development network in the United States, and includes COPS/Metro in 
San Antonio, TMO in Houston, Valley Interfaith in the Rio Grande 
Valley, EPISO & Border Interfaith in El Paso, Austin Interfaith, ACT in 
Fort Worth, Dallas Area Interfaith, the West Texas Organizing Strategy, 
and The Border Organization in Del Rio and Eagle Pass.
  This non-partisan network of community organizations trains leaders 
to organize a powerful constituency to improve their quality of life 
and teach ordinary people to do extraordinary work for the common good. 
The Texas IAF Network has created nationally recognized workforce 
development, job training, living wage and other economic development 
strategies. Thanks to the network's efforts over the decades, Texas 
communities have benefitted from successful educational initiatives and 
significant investments in colonias, parks, libraries, after school 
programs, sidewalks and innumerable other local and statewide efforts.
  I commend COPS/Metro and the Network of Texas Industrial Areas 
Foundation Organizations on their commitment to helping families, 
developing leadership of Texas residents, and promoting civic 
engagement in the public life of our communities and state. On the 
occasion of this anniversary, I extend to its members best wishes for a 
memorable celebration of over 40 years of organizing.

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