E414 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 10, 2013 Ollie’s husband, Dr. Mayer, preceded her in The dedication demonstrated by Jazmin ment. These exceptional women have worked death. She was the loving mother of Judy and Montoya is exemplary of the type of achieve- diligently to recruit citizens and involve them in Robert, and the devoted grandmother of four. ment that can be attained with hard work and the political process, and promote the under- She leaves behind countless friends, and I perseverance. It is essential students at all standing of the conservative philosophy. feel privileged to count myself among that levels strive to make the most of their edu- It is encouraging to see these leaders from group. I ask my colleagues to join me in ex- cation and develop a work ethic which will Texas’s Twenty-Fourth District do such great tending our condolences to her family and her guide them for the rest of their lives. things. I continue to applaud them for their ac- friends who mourn the passing of this great I extend my deepest congratulations to complishments over the last 60 years in rais- and good woman who did so much to Jazmin Montoya for winning the Arvada Wheat ing awareness of their values, promoting the strengthen our democracy and protect our en- Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. voice of women in North Dallas and being a vironment, and lived a life that stands as an I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedi- guard for conservative beliefs. eloquent statement for the ages. cation and character in all of her future ac- Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to honor complishments. f the members of the Preston West Republican THE INTRODUCTION OF THE f Women for their 60 years of achievement and SIMON WIESENTHAL HOLOCAUST SRIRAM HATHWAR CLINCHES unwavering resolution in building this organi- EDUCATION ACT SPOT FOR HIS FOURTH TRIP TO zation for the conservative women of North THE NATIONAL SCRIPPS SPELL- Dallas. I join their family, friends, and col- HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY ING BEE IN WASHINGTON, DC leagues in congratulating them and wishing OF NEW YORK them continued growth and success. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. TOM REED f Wednesday, April 10, 2013 OF NEW YORK Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN OBSERVANCE OF HOLOCAUST Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate Holocaust Wednesday, April 10, 2013 REMEMBRANCE DAY Remembrance Week, I am pleased to reintro- Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to rec- duce the bipartisan Simon Wiesenthal Holo- ognize Sriram Hathwar who, this May, will HON. GENE GREEN caust Education Act, along with Representa- compete in the National Scripps Spelling Bee tives RANGEL, WAXMAN, PIERLUISI, and GRIMM. for the fourth time in his scholastic career. OF TEXAS Named for the honored Holocaust survivor During his first attendance in 2008, Hathwar IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Simon Wiesenthal, who spent his life working notably became the youngest speller in the for justice for those murdered by the Nazis history of the event but was eliminated in the Wednesday, April 10, 2013 and to hunt down those who perpetrated such preliminaries. He performed increasingly better Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, atrocities, this legislation would provide federal in 2009 and 2011, finishing sixth in 2011. grants to educational organizations to teach I rise in observance of the six million Jewish Sriram, a 12-year-old from Painted Post, victims and millions of other victims who per- students about the Holocaust. Through grants New York, attends Corning’s Alternative from the Department of Education, Holocaust ished during the Shoah on Holocaust Remem- School for Math and Science. This year marks brance Day. organization programs would be able to apply his sixth time contending in the Regional As we commit ourselves to the memories of for funds to improve the awareness and un- Spelling Bee, but it came with a new chal- those lost, we must also remember the heroes derstanding of the Holocaust through classes, lenge: his younger brother. Out of 40 contest- and survivors of the Holocaust, whose seminars, conferences, educational materials, ants, Sriram came head to head with his 10- strength and perseverance continue to inspire and teacher training. year-old brother, Jairam Hathwar, in the final We must ensure that we learn from the leg- us to this day. round. The last two standing flawlessly spelled acy of previous generations of Holocaust sur- out words such as ‘‘liquesce’’ and ‘‘flexuosity’’ Our nation and the international community vivors. Over 11 million people, including 6 mil- for three rounds, until Jairam stumbled on must never forget what took place throughout lion European Jews as well as gypsies, the ‘‘jicama.’’ Sriram then clinched the regional Europe during the Second World War at the disabled and mentally ill, homosexuals, and title with the word ‘‘mobiliary.’’ hands of the murderous Nazis. Nor can we others, were systematically and brutally mur- The National Scripps Spelling Bee, run on a forget the government-sponsored discrimina- dered in the Holocaust as the Nazis swept not-for-profit basis by the E.W. Scripps Com- tion, repression, and persecution that took across Europe, destroying entire villages and pany and local spelling bee sponsors across place before the beginning of the war. communities. the country, is the longest-running and largest More than half a century later, persecution Throughout our country, Americans can ob- educational promotion in the United States. and murder on the basis of religion, ethnicity, serve the Holocaust at local community Sriram will compete live on ESPN in the and sexuality continue across the globe. We events, military bases, workplaces, schools, 88th National Scripps Spelling Bee from May need programs in our schools that allow stu- churches, synagogues, and museums. The 28th–30th in our nation’s capital. I wish him dents to learn about the consequences of in- U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Wash- the best of luck in May. tolerance and hate, so that we can truly say, ington, DC, has designated ‘‘Never Again: ‘‘never again.’’ f Heeding the Warning Signs’’ as the theme for the 2013 observance. The Simon Wiesenthal Holocaust Education CELEBRATING THE 60TH ANNIVER- Assistance Act is a positive step toward that SARY OF THE PRESTON WEST In my hometown of Houston, Texas, the end. I urge my colleagues to support this leg- REPUBLICAN WOMEN Holocaust Museum Houston is observing Hol- islation. ocaust Remembrance Day with testimonials f from survivors and for concerned Houstonians HON. KENNY MARCHANT to share their views about genocide and see JAZMIN MONTOYA OF TEXAS what can be done to end genocide in the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES present day. HON. ED PERLMUTTER Wednesday, April 10, 2013 In Israel, Yom Hashoah is remembered an- OF COLORADO Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today nually with a two minute siren where the coun- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the try comes to a standstill to pay tribute to the Wednesday, April 10, 2013 Preston West Republican Women. This group dead. Flags are flown at half mast and cere- Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise organized in 1953 and has continued its mis- monies and services are locally held through- today to recognize and applaud Jazmin Mon- sion to represent and strengthen the voice of out the country. toya for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge women in northern-most developmental areas Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by Service Ambassadors for Youth award. of Dallas. asking our fellow citizens to take a moment Jazmin Montoya is a 12th grader at Jefferson This organization’s leadership has provided this week to remember the memories of those High School and received this award because their community and their neighbors with the who did not survive the Holocaust and to re- her determination and hard work have allowed opportunity to meet and know their represent- flect on what we can do, as Americans, to pre- her to overcome adversities. atives in local, state and the federal govern- vent such a tragedy from happening again.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:50 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP8.017 E10APPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E415 JOHN JONES It is with heartfelt appreciation that I recog- Mr. Aguilar holds an associate degree in ac- nize their legacy. Please join me in honoring counting from the Laredo Community College, HON. ED PERLMUTTER the Florida Highwaymen for their contributions and attended Laredo State University and Uni- OF COLORADO to the world of art. versity of Texas at Arlington. He is a Senior Executive Fellow of the John F. Kennedy IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f School of Government at Harvard University. Wednesday, April 10, 2013 RECOGNIZING DAVID V. AGUILAR Mr. Aguilar is the recipient of the 2005 Presi- Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise dent’s Meritorious Excellence Award and in today to recognize and applaud John Jones HON. HENRY CUELLAR 2008 was a recipient of the Presidential Rank for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service OF TEXAS Award. Ambassadors for Youth award. John Jones is IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Speaker, I am honored and privileged to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. a 12th grader at Arvada High School and re- Wednesday, April 10, 2013 ceived this award because his determination Aguilar for his outstanding service in pro- and hard work have allowed him to overcome Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tecting our communities and his extraordinary adversities. recognize Mr. David V. Aguilar for his retire- commitment to our country. He has truly con- The dedication demonstrated by John Jones ment from his position as Deputy Commis- tributed to this nation in his efforts to protect is exemplary of the type of achievement that sioner with the U.S. Customs and Border Pro- our borders. can be attained with hard work and persever- tection. Mr. Aguilar has dedicated his service f ance. It is essential students at all levels strive leading the agency in protecting our nation’s HONORING CALIFORNIA STATE to make the most of their education and de- borders and its communities. SENATOR NICHOLAS PETRIS velop a work ethic which will guide them for Mr. Aguilar joined the Border Patrol in June the rest of their lives. 1978 at Laredo, Texas, where he held posi- HON. BARBARA LEE I extend my deepest congratulations to John tions of Assistant Patrol Agent in Charge and Patrol Agent in Charge. OF CALIFORNIA Jones for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have From 1988 to August 1996, Mr. Aguilar no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication served as Patrol Agent in Charge of three Bor- Wednesday, April 10, 2013 and character in all of his future accomplish- der Patrol Stations in Texas (Dallas, Rio Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise ments. Grande Valley and Brownsville). Under his today to honor the exceptional life of California f command, the Dallas and Brownsville stations State Senator Nicholas Petris. Known through- were awarded the Commissioner’s Award for out California politics as a brilliant democratic HONORING THE FLORIDA Group Achievement. lawmaker with visionary foresight, Nicholas HIGHWAYMEN From August 1996 to November 1999, Mr. Petris was also renowned for his profes- Aguilar served as Assistant Regional Director sionalism, speaking prowess, and tireless ad- HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON for the Border Patrol in the central region of vocacy for the underserved. With his passing, OF FLORIDA the former Immigration and Naturalization we look to Senator Petris’ political legacy and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Service. As such, Mr. Aguilar was the principal the outstanding quality of his life’s work. advisor to the Regional Director, where he Over a career that spanned four decades, Wednesday, April 10, 2013 managed, directed and guided the regional Senator Petris was a hero to many—pio- Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is program. neering initiatives far ahead of their time in with great pride that I rise to honor the Florida Mr. Aguilar was subsequently appointed as areas like environmental protection, mental Highwaymen, a group of twenty-six landscape Chief Patrol Agent of the Tucson Sector. As health rights, and low-income housing. A child artists who have been called ‘‘The Last Great Tucson Sector Chief, he had more than 2,000 of Greek immigrants, Nicholas Petris was born American Art Movement of the 20th century.’’ agents and 200 support personnel under his in Oakland and educated in the Bay Area, Against tremendous odds and severe racial command. Mr. Aguilar had oversight of eight graduating from the University of California, discrimination, these African American artists geographically dispersed Border Patrol sta- Berkeley and Stanford University Law School. were able to define themselves as artistic tions along 261 miles of the Arizona/Mexico He served in the Office of Strategic Service innovators, producing more than 200,000 cele- border. In 2003, the Tucson sector earned the during World War II and practiced law for brated paintings. CBP Commissioner’s anti-terrorism award for about a decade before being elected to the The works of the Florida Highwaymen are achievements under Operation Desert Safe- California Assembly in 1959. In 1965, as an assemblyman, he famously unique. They developed their own individual guard, an operation planned, designed and collaborated with State Senator Eugene techniques and captured waterscapes, implemented in the high-risk areas of the Tuc- McAteer to write the bill that created the San backcountry marshes, and inlets before resi- son sector. Francisco Bay Conservation and Development dential and industrial development. Their In March 2004, the Department of Home- Commission, laying the foundation for the non- work—which is now proudly displayed in the land Security designated Mr. Aguilar as the profit Save The Bay to protect the resource Florida Capitol and the United States Sen- Border and Transportation Security Integrator from harmful development. He also worked to ate—marks the beginning of Florida’s contem- for the execution of the Arizona Border Control direct crucial resources to expand the Univer- porary art tradition and the ‘‘Indian River Initiative. In 2004, Mr. Aguilar was also elected sity of California system. School’’ art movement. as the President of the Southern Arizona Fed- Upon being elected to the State Senate in Painting in the era of Jim Crow, the High- eral Executive Association. 1967, he immediately worked to pass the waymen could not sell their paintings through In July 2004, Mr. Aguilar was named Na- Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, which prohibited traditional channels. Galleries and art festivals tional Chief of the Border Patrol, assuming the involuntary commitment and made quality would not accept their works. The Highway- position as the nation’s highest-ranking Border mental health services more accessible. Fur- men were forced to sell their artwork along Patrol agent. With expertise and knowledge thermore, he continued the decade fearlessly roadsides in towns and cities throughout the gained from more than 31 years of service taking on controversial battles: challenging the eastern coastal roads of Florida. From the with the Border Patrol, Mr. Aguilar directed the internal-combustion engine and emission prac- 1950s to the 1980s, the Highwaymen pressed enforcement efforts of more than 20,000 tices of the auto industry and writing laws to forward, offering their works at bargain prices agents nationwide. ban smoking on airplanes and public transpor- to the public. Until recently, countless Ameri- In April 2010, Mr. Aguilar was appointed tation. These efforts eventually helped to cans appreciated their artistry without knowing Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and usher in an era of air quality and clean-fuel their identities. Border Protection. From December 2011 to regulation in California that was often stricter The twenty-six members of the original August 2012, Mr. Aguilar served as acting than the national standard. He also introduced Highwaymen are still alive. These men and Commissioner, CBP’s highest-ranking official, bills to ban DDT and control ballooning vehicle women have earned their place in history. On leading the agency in border security, while numbers, which, although unsuccessful, dem- Saturday, March 30, 2013, in the City of Pem- fostering our Nation’s economic security onstrated remarkable prescience in the face of broke Pines at the South West Focal Point through lawful international trade and travel. today’s environmental challenges. Community Center their unique depictions of Mr. Aguilar led a workforce of 60,000, includ- As a passionate advocate for the poor, Sen- artwork will be displayed for the community to ing 43,000 uniformed law enforcement offi- ator Petris passed legislation that required re- appreciate and view. cers. development agencies to build housing for

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