September 29, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 169 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session
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HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH--IN HONOR OF AMILCAR CORDOVA; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 169
(House of Representatives - September 29, 2020)
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[Pages H5038-H5041] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH--IN HONOR OF AMILCAR CORDOVA The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Haaland). Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2019, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I honor Amilcar Cordova. Mr. Amilcar Cordova hails from Carolina, Puerto Rico. After high school, he moved to Pennsylvania, where he began his career in the health insurance industry. In 1994, he relocated to Orlando, Florida, with his family while he studied business administration at Florida Metropolitan University, and later, business management at the University of Phoenix. In 2003, he began working in the advertising industry with the largest newspaper in Puerto Rico, El Nuevo Dia, which just recently expanded to Central Florida. He later cofounded and served on the board of directors of Amigos Profesionales Business Network, an organization whose purpose was to help connect Hispanic professionals and business owners in Central Florida. In 2010, he founded Cordova Marketing Solutions, a firm that specialized in the development of small businesses by providing consulting, marketing, and advertising services. During this time, he joined the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida as its executive director, and in 2013, was elected as their President until the end of his term in 2016. He would resume his role as President in 2019. Mr. Cordova is proud of his upbringing in Puerto Rico and is very grateful for the opportunities the U.S. has blessed him with. He tries to give back to his community through volunteer work, including riding his bicycle for different charities. One especially close to his heart is the Young Survival Coalition, an organization dedicated to providing essential services for breast cancer survivors under the age of 40. Mr. Cordova shares his life with his best friend, Ms. Milly Colon. He has two sons, four grandchildren, and is blessed to still have both his parents alive and well. For that, Mr. Cordova, we honor you. In Honor of Cecilia Figueroa Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor Cecilia Figueroa. Cecilia Figueroa is an Ecuadorian-American journalist and media strategist. She graduated as a journalist in her native city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. She learned about faith, perseverance, and serving others from her parents, Isaac Alvia and Olimpia Ordonez. A woman pioneer in the print Hispanic media, her first job was at El Nuevo Dia an Orlando newspaper. Passionate about her work, she seeks stories promoting community outreach, education and knowledge about immigration policies that are affecting the Latino community. Cecilia enjoys highlighting profiles of Hispanic entrepreneurs, organizations, and faith-based communities, among others. She was the producer of the radio show, Hispanos Al Dia, and was cohost in various other radio programs. She has provided professional services to EFE News Service, El Sentinel de Orlando newspaper, and many others. In 2018, she cofounded Conexion Hispana USA, where she was a journalist and social media manager for the platform. [[Page H5039]] In her free time, she loves to read and empower Hispanic women to reach their dreams. Cecilia enjoys sharing her knowledge in educational workshops and conferences. She was the vice president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists in Central Florida and a founding member of Mujer Emprende Latina Orlando. She is an active member of the Hispanic American Professional and Business Women's Association of Florida. Cecilia has been recognized by various organizations for her involvement and contributions to community causes, including Women's Day by the city of Kissimmee, the Puerto Rican Day Parade of Osceola, Nuevo Sendero, Tertulia Cuatro Gatos, Unidos Por Ecuador of Central Florida, Ecuadorian Civic Committee of Central Florida, Voices of Silence, Evangelical Fellowship of Councils of Florida, and more. For that, Ms. Cecilia Figueroa, we honor you. In Honor of Gaby Ortigoni Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize Gaby Ortigoni. Gaby Ortigoni is the president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, which is responsible for promoting the economic development of the Hispanic community of over 1 million people. Some of the signature events and programs they have created to promote development in the community include the Hispanic Business Conference, the Hispanic Economic Growth Summit, the Don Quijote Awards, among others. Prior to this, she served as the regional vice president for Central Florida at Prospera, a nonprofit organization that provides free, bilingual technical assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who are establishing or expanding their businesses. Under her leadership, the region achieved a 23 percent increase in clients who received individual consulting services. Gaby has also served her community in other roles, including being the manager of community relations at Orlando Utilities Commission, director of Hispanic Crime Prevention Program for FIU's Center for the Administration of Justice, senior community officer for the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, and being a legislative assistant in the Florida House of Representatives. She currently serves as a board member of many local organizations, including the Orlando Economic Partnership, the Heart of Florida United Way, the Association of Latino Professionals for America, and the National Latino Peace Officer Association, among many others. Her work ethic and commitment to her community has been recognized with numerous awards and recognitions, including Orlando Business Journal's 40 under 40, Women Who Mean Business Awards, Telemundo's Triunfadores, La Prensa's Hispanic Women Who Make a Difference Award, Orange County Sheriff's Community Service Award, Orlando Police Department's Good Citizenship, and she was named one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics by HCCMO's Vision Magazine. For that, Ms. Gaby Ortigoni, we honor you. In Honor of Iluminada Aponte Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I recognize Iluminada Aponte. Iluminada Aponte was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and has called the United States home for over six decades. Iluminada is a self-taught folk artist whose career has taken her first to Puerto Rico and then Florida. Iluminada's career first started with folk dance--Baile Folklorico. She performs both Puerto Rican and Dominican folk dance. From Puerto Rican bomba to Dominican bachata, Iluminada has not only been a performer, but also a dance teacher. Her passion for teaching folk dance inspires people of all ages, and she has made it her responsibility to advocate for and help educate various Hispanic groups through dance and cultural exhibitions. Iluminada's career has been one of strengthening communities through cultural celebrations. She considers herself a cultural ambassador, not only for her native Dominican Republic, but also for the entire Hispanic community. Her early experience as a missionary across Latin America has inspired her to connect people to each other by celebrating cultural diversity. Iluminada's commitment to promoting culture and the arts is not only seen in the diversity of her works but also in her leadership within the community. Iluminada is the founder of Alianza Dominicana of Central Florida, where she organizes and directs various cultural exhibitions highlighting Dominican and Hispanic culture to various groups within Central Florida. She has been recognized with awards from the Orange County government, the City of Orlando government, the Counsel General of the Dominican Republic in Miami, and more. For that, Ms. Iluminada Aponte, we honor you. In Honor of Father Jose Rodriguez Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I recognize Father Jose Rodriguez. Father Jose Rodriguez is a vicar of the Iglesia Episcopal Jesus de Nazaret in Orange County, Florida. Originally from Puerto Rico, he arrived with his family to Azalea Park in 1987 and has been part of that community now for over three decades. He learned from his parents the importance of service and advocating for others. His father was a soldier, and his mother, a shop steward for UNITE HERE Local 737 at Walt Disney World. He was the first in his family to go to college. He graduated from Rollins College with a BA and the University of Central Florida with an MBA. For many years, he served as the Episcopal chaplain to the University of Central Florida, where he and his wife served local students and young adults for nearly a decade. In 2017, he was assigned to Iglesia Episcopal Jesus de Nazaret, just months before Hurricanes Irma and Maria. For both storms, the local church mobilized to meet the people's needs. Their work is far from over. Welcoming newcomers has been a hallmark of the local Episcopal Church along the Semoran Corridor in Orlando and Kissimmee, including feeding programs, advocacy for those in need as well. Father Jose and the local church empower people to accomplish their goals by working with civic and elected leaders to promote and remove barriers to equal access to opportunity. As a priest, Father Jose understands the unique role that religious communities can play in the development of the greater community. Preserving and upholding human dignity is at the heart of Father Jose and the local church's work. His desire is to build up a resilient community where families have access to safe communities, a living wage, affordable housing, and healthcare. For that, Father Jose Rodriguez, we honor you. {time} 2030 In Honor of Marcos Vilar Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to recognize Marcos Vilar. Marcos Vilar was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and moved to the United States mainland at the age of 14. He currently resides in Orlando, Florida. Marcos holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in education from the University of Illinois. Marcos has worked in Chicago; Washington, D.C.; and several cities in Florida; as well as in Puerto Rico, where he has designed and implemented innovative and successful programs and campaigns in government, labor, and nonprofit settings. He has worked on civic engagement campaigns in Florida since 2011, focusing on the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities. Marcos worked as a teacher in Chicago in the 1990s. During his tenure at Roberto Community Academy, he was best known for working with at- risk youth and integrating arts and cultural programming into afterschool programs. He also was adviser for the student body government and a leader of the local reform movement at the school. In January of 2002, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he held several national leadership posts, including national field director for Que Nada Nos Detenga, executive director for Americas Families United, national political director for the Service Employees International Union, and national field director for Mi Familia Vota Education Fund. [[Page H5040]] Today, Marcos serves as president and executive director of Alianza for Progress, Alianza Center, United for Progress PAC, and Vilar Strategies, LLC. He is also the founder of two prominent statewide Latino coalitions: Respeta Mi Gente and La Mesa Boricua. For that, Mr. Marcos Vilar, we honor you. In Honor of Julio Zayas Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to recognize Julio Zayas. Julio Zayas was born in Salinas, Puerto Rico, in 1948. He moved to New York City in 1968, where he and his wife established their family in the Bronx. He has four wonderful children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Julio studied at Hostos Community College and attended Cambridge University's New York chapter, where he developed his skills as a radio announcer and in advertisements. He was a member of several civic and cultural organizations in the Bronx, including the Puerto Rican Development Project, Alianza Civica Bayamonesa, the Salinas Club, and the Puerto Rican Veterans Association of Seneca. Julio became vice president of the Bronx Puerto Rican Parade and was the founder and president of the Puerto Rican Bronx Fair and Puerto Rican Week Festival. He worked as a consultant for the Bronx Coalition for a Better Bronx and the Soundview Community in Action as the outreach coordinator and publisher. A successful small business owner, Julio was also a poll inspector for the Bronx Board of Election. In 2012, Julio retired to Orlando, Florida. He continued his community involvement as a volunteer with several Puerto Rican activist organizations, including: Frente 436, Iniciativa Accion Puertorriquena, Coordinadora Ayuda Solidaridad y Apoyo, Vamos por Puerto Rico, and is the founder and president of Comite Preservacion Cultura Puertorriquena. Currently, he is the producer of his own radio show, Con Sabor Boricua Proyecto Radial. Julio is looking forward to other projects in the future to empower the Puerto Rican community in central Florida. For that, Mr. Julio Zayas, we honor you. In Honor of Wanda Ramos Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to recognize Ms. Wanda Ramos. Ms. Wanda Ramos was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She moved to Orlando, Florida, in 1999 and became involved in fighting for workers' rights, empowering new voters, and creating awareness about the importance of parental involvement in education. Wanda has been a board member of various organizations, such as: Jobs with Justice, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, and the Legal Advocacy Center of Central Florida. While working as a retailer, Wanda organized workers to achieve better working conditions and better pay. She was a founding member of Vamos4PR Florida and Pa'lante Por Mas. Recently, she became a statewide board member of Organize Florida. As a founding member of Vamos Por Puerto Rico, she helped to spearhead the campaign Se Habla Espanol to petition the Orange County Public Schools to provide language access to non-English-speaking parents and students. She also advocated for the families arriving from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria to better understand and properly enroll their kids in school. Wanda was recognized as Citizen of the Year in 2015 for Orange County District 3 after organizing neighbors in their efforts to improve their community. Wanda continues to support our community through radio shows as well as her online program ``Wanda Contigo,'' bringing awareness about community issues. For that, Ms. Wanda Ramos, we honor you. In Honor of Jose Rodriguez Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to recognize Jose Rodriguez. Jose Rodriguez arrived in Palmetto, Florida, at the age of 12 from El Salvador. While attending school, he recalls being pulled out of regular class for 2 hours a day to practice English. During his first 5 years in the United States, Mr. Rodriguez and his family were migrant farmworkers, living 9 months in Florida and 3 months up north, following the crops with the help of the Summer Migrant Institute held in Tampa at the University of South Florida. Mr. Rodriguez graduated early from high school, in the top 10 percent of his class. He was the first Hispanic person in Manatee County to be accepted into a 4-year university, where he earned his associate's degree. Mr. Rodriguez has worked as a general manager and on-air personality for La Que Buena, a regional Mexican radio station in Orlando. As part of his work, he makes sure to give airtime to nonprofit organizations and elected officials that support the immigrant community. While sharing his passion for music with his listeners, Mr. Rodriguez always keeps central Floridians informed on community resources like food drives, housing assistance, COVID-19 testing sites, and much more. Mr. Rodriguez also serves on the leadership committee of the Farmworkers Association of Florida. He draws his inspiration from his community, his two beautiful daughters, and his late wife. For that, Mr. Jose Rodriguez, we honor you. In Honor of Dr. Antonio Crespo Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to recognize Dr. Antonio Crespo. Dr. Antonio Crespo is an infectious disease specialist in central Florida with over 18 years of experience in his field. In May of 2014, he led the team that cared for the second case of Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, MERS, in the United States. Currently, he is part of the team that has prepared and managed the COVID-19 pandemic, helping many in the Orlando community. He first earned his medical degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela and later moved to the United States to continue his education. He completed his residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center and infectious disease training at Temple University, both in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since 2002, he has been part of the infectious disease team at Orlando Health, where he now serves as the chief of staff and the medical director of infectious diseases at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital. He has received several Attending of the Year awards and frequently appears among Orlando's Best Doctors. In 2012, he received the Lifetime Exemplary Physician Colleague Award given by Orlando Health. Dr. Crespo also takes time to serve as a clinical instructor at the Florida State University College of Medicine and as the new program director of the Infectious Disease Fellowship at Orlando Health. His passion for teaching new generations has inspired many on the path of infectious diseases so that more doctors might continue the fight against these elusive enemies. For that, Dr. Antonio Crespo, we honor you. In Honor of Pamela and Estela Juarez Mr. SOTO. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to recognize Pamela and Estela Juarez. For nearly 20 years, Cuauhtemoc ``Temo'' Juarez and his wife, Alejandra Juarez, worked together to build and sustain their American Dream in Polk County, Florida. Mr. Juarez, a naturalized U.S. citizen, grew up in Osceola County and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps right after graduating from high school. He would later reenlist in the United States Army Reserve. After his honorable discharge from the Marines, he came home, started his own flooring business, and met and married Mrs. Alejandra Juarez. Together, they worked hard to make their business a success. They built a home, joined a church, volunteered to help the less fortunate, and had two beautiful daughters, Pamela and Estela. Two years ago, their dreams were shattered when Mrs. Juarez was deported under the current administration's zero-tolerance policy. Despite the roots she set up, despite her husband's brave and honorable service, despite the fact that her husband and two [[Page H5041]] daughters are U.S. citizens, she was forced to return to Mexico in August of 2018. Pamela is now 18. She recently graduated from high school with honors, has started online college classes, and plans to become a social worker. She has campaigned to build grassroots support for the families of military veterans who, like hers, have lost a family member to a cruel immigration policy. This November, she will vote for the first time. Estela, 11 years old, lived with her mom in Mexico but is now back in Florida, where she just started the sixth grade. She is following in the footsteps of civil rights leader John Lewis, whose book ``March'' inspired her. Estela is now working on a picture book about her struggle to reunite her family. Both young women have suffered enormously because of the trauma their family has endured. They and their family have been working hard to bring their mother home and will continue to do so until they are united again. For that, Pamela and Estela Juarez, we honor you. In Support of the Digital Taxonomy Act and the Blockchain Innovation Act Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, today, I am pleased that the House passed, as part of the Consumer Safety Inspection Enhancement Act, two pieces of legislation that we were able to offer in the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Digital Taxonomy Act, H.R. 2154, and the Blockchain Innovation Act, H.R. 8153. We were very pleased to work in a bipartisan fashion to secure the inclusion of these two bills. Both bills will study and highlight the consumer protection aspects of blockchain technology and digital assets. They are the first blockchain bills to pass the House. H.R. 8153, the Blockchain Innovation Act, directs the Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Federal Trade Commission, to conduct a study and submit to the Congress a report on the state of blockchain technology in commerce, including its use to reduce fraud and increase security. It is setting up a larger long-term goal that we have to establish a blockchain center of excellence within the Commerce Department. Blockchain has enormous potential for innovation and economic growth. I believe, as government officials, we need to support that growth and enable its appropriate use for government business and consumers. We will continue to push until we have these policy objectives put into law with proper regulations so we can best position ourselves to be leaders in this space, especially when we see rivals like China and Russia pushing in these technologies. The Digital Taxonomy Act requires the FCC to submit a report to Congress about recommendations on unfair and deceptive trade practices and other practices related to digital tokens. {time} 2045 Specifically, the report asked the FTC to make legislative recommendations for how to further protect consumers and promotion and innovation in the global digital token sector. I look forward to continuing to work with our colleagues, both in the Energy and Commerce Committee and throughout the Congress, to help make sure we keep a competitive edge in blockchain for both digital security and for cryptocurrency and to enhance the use of artificial intelligence in the future. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Pallone, Chairwoman Schakowsky, Representative McNerney, and the committee for allowing me to incorporate these two bills. We appreciate Representative Rodgers, Representative Guthrie, and Representative Matsui, as well as our original cosponsor, Representative Davidson, for all of their hard work. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. ____________________
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