[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6168-6169]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRATULATING DONNA EISENMAN ON HER RETIREMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Donna Eisenman, who 
recently retired after 40 years in working for American Airlines' 
Washington desk.
  Donna Eisenman began her career as a flight attendant with Trans 
World Airlines in 1969. A year later, she transitioned to American 
Airlines for a position as a reservations agent in Philadelphia. In a 
time before computers, Donna effortlessly sold airline tickets and 
helped customers with travel arrangements.
  In 1972, Donna moved to Washington, D.C., to start the next phase of 
her career. Donna spent the next 10 years working at the City Ticket 
Office and at the ticket counter at Reagan National Airport. In 1982, 
she transitioned to the Schedule Airline Ticket Office, which served 
DOD customers in northern Virginia.
  Donna's efforts were so successful that she was asked to open a 
different satellite office to assist Fort Belvoir travelers. Later, 
Donna was asked to reestablish a long-abandoned desk specifically 
designed to help government travelers. Donna accepted this challenge, 
and the American Airlines Washington desk was reborn.
  For the next 28 years, Donna's unyielding commitment to customer 
service and her natural sales ability provided government and frequent 
travelers with the best experience in the industry. On March 25, Donna 
retired from American Airlines, and she is now spending time with her 
lovely family and is volunteering for the wildlife rescue causes that 
she champions.
  I thank Donna for her service and dedication.
  Congratulations, Donna. I wish you all the best in your much-deserved 
retirement.


                        Honoring Lourdes Sovedia

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 
recognize the outstanding career of Lourdes Sovedia. After 40 years of 
teaching, Lourdes will be retiring at the end of this school year.
  Like me, Lourdes' family fled the oppressive Castro regime when she 
was just a young girl in order to seek freedom and refuge in this 
wonderful Nation, the United States. She worked hard at learning the 
language and the culture, and with inspiration from her mom, she 
dedicated her life to pursuing a career in education. After working her 
way through college, Lourdes made her American Dream a reality when she 
became a full-time teacher at Gesu Catholic School in downtown Miami. 
Throughout the years, Lourdes has taught at multiple schools and has 
earned many awards and deserved recognition.
  As a former Florida certified teacher, I recognize Lourdes' 
dedication, and I thank her for all that she has done for the students 
in south Florida throughout her impressive career.
  Congratulations to Lourdes.


 Recognizing Joshua Williams and Joshua's Heart Foundation's Decade of 
                                Service

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize teen 
philanthropist Joshua Williams of south Florida and

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the foundation that wears his heart on its sleeve--Joshua's Heart 
Foundation.
  In 10 years of service to underserved communities in south Florida, 
Jamaica, Africa, and India, Joshua's Heart Foundation has activated 
over 7,000 youths to collect and distribute food and personal items 
that have helped 600,000 families in need. With the help of his 
supportive mom, Claudia, Joshua began laying the foundation for 
Joshua's Heart's success when he was only 4\1/2\ years of age.
  New JHF chapters are springing up all over the country, and I 
encourage everyone to check out the amazing work that Joshua's Heart 
Foundation is doing every day and to get involved in a charity or with 
a volunteer organization that represents your own vision for the world 
in which you would like to live.
  Congratulations to Joshua's Heart Foundation for a decade of service.


        Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Air Traffic Control

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 75th 
anniversary of the air traffic control at Miami International Airport, 
which is an area that I am so proud to represent.
  This upcoming Thursday, May 19, the Federal Aviation Administration 
and the Miami-Dade Aviation Department will celebrate this 
accomplishment and honor the men and women who keep our skies and our 
airports safe.
  Working around the clock, the air traffic controllers direct aircraft 
and minimize potential troubles in the sky, like the ones that come 
from severe weather patterns. I am very proud to know so many of these 
diligent workers--individuals like Mitch Herrick, Jim Marinitti, Bill 
Kisseadoo, and many others--who, in their professionalism, keep order 
in the airspace and protect our public.
  Mr. Speaker, rerouting aircraft to avoid congestion and minimize 
delays is not an easy task, especially at one of our Nation's busiest 
airports; but it is because of the controllers' dedication and 
commitment that we can feel safe in arriving at our destinations.
  Congratulations to my friends--all of the air traffic controllers at 
Miami International Airport.

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