E1420 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 7, 2000 10, 2000, Art and Ida will be honored for their TRIBUTE TO POLLY BACA daily basis that continually enhances our lives exemplary and dedicated service to Northwest and builds a better future for all Americans. Indiana and to the State of Israel. Their HON. DIANA DeGETTE Her life serves as an example to which we praiseworthy efforts will be recognized at the OF COLORADO should all aspire. annual Northwest Indiana-Israel Dinner of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f State, as they receive the Jerusalem-City of Thursday, September 7, 2000 Peace Award. The State of Israel Bond pre- HONORING BISHOP RICARDO sents the City of Peace Award to worthy re- Ms. DEGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to HENRY cipients who demonstrate their dedication and recognize the splendid efforts and notable ac- outstanding service to Israel and their commu- complishments of an extraordinary woman in HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS the 1st Congressional District of Colorado. It is nity. OF NEW YORK both fitting and proper that we recognize this This year's recipients, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ander Friedman, are two of the most caring, community leader for her exceptional record of Thursday, September 7, 2000 dedicated, and selfless citizens of Indiana's civic leadership and invaluable service. It is to First Congressional District. Art and Ida hail commend this outstanding citizen that I rise to Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to from Hammond, Indiana and Davenport, Iowa, honor Polly Baca. honor Bishop Ricardo Henry, Pastor of the Polly Baca has amassed a distinguished respectively. Art is a World War II Veteran, True Vine Glorious Church of God in Christ. I record of leadership in our community and and proudly served under General Patton in honor Bishop Henry today to celebrate with service to our nation. Ms. Baca grew up in the European Theater. He is actively involved him his 67th birthday, which occurred last Greeley Colorado and where she attended week, on September 2, 2000. Mr. Speaker, in several organizations, including B'nai B'rith, high school. After graduating from Colorado his Synagogue's Men's Club, and the Marcus- Bishop Henry is deserving of our praise on his State University with a degree in political birthday because he has served as a pillar of Wallack Heart Fund. Ida shares Art's dedica- science, she began her professional career as tion to Northwest Indiana and the Jewish com- our community, having devoted his life to serv- an editorial assistant for a labor union in ing the needs of others. munity there, and invests extraordinary time Washington, DC. During the Johnson Adminis- and energy in important community and na- Born on September 2, 1933 on the island of tration, she served as a Public Information Of- Old Providence, Colombia, Bishop Henry was tional groups. She has been active in Jewish ficer for a key White House Agency and after blessed with excellence, greatness, the favor Women International, the Synagogue's Sister- serving on the campaign staff for the late Sen- of God, love and honor, the law of kindness in hood, Hadassah, and the Marcus-Wallack ator Robert F. Kennedy, she served as the Di- tongue, morality and character. All of these Heart Fund. rector of Research and Information for the Na- amazing attributes are the result of a God- While serving the greater community has al- tional Council of La Raza. ways been an extremely important part of the Poly Baca has always been a trailblazer and centered life. Friedmans' lives, their dedication to their fam- upon returning to Colorado, she was elected At the age of 7 months, he migrated to the ily is unparalleled. Art and Ida have three won- to the Colorado House of Representatives and Republic of Panama, where he received his derful, grown children, Gary, Richard, and Ste- was the first woman elected to chair the elementary education at the Escuela Pablo ven. Their four grandchildren are constant House Democratic Caucus. She was subse- Arosemena. He obtained his high school edu- sources of pride and happiness. quently elected to the Colorado Senate and cation at Colegio Abel Bravo and, upon grad- The special guest at this gala event will be became the first minority woman and the first uation, he pursued his formal Christian training Mr. Morton Klein. Mr. Klein is the National and only Hispanic woman to serve in this body at Bible School in Panama from 1957 to 1958. President of the Zionist Organization of Amer- and the first Hispanic woman to serve in lead- In 1963, he immigrated to the United States ica. He is a strong defender of Israel and a re- ership in a State Senate in the U.S. and became a member of the Evergreen Bap- spected leader in the American Jewish com- Prior to joining the Clinton Administration, tist Church. In 1965, he moved his member- munity. Ms. Baca was the Executive Director of the ship to the Sacred Heart Christian Church, Mr. Speaker., I ask you and my other distin- Colorado Hispanic Institute, a non-profit entity where he was ordained as a minister of the guished colleagues to join me in commending dedicated to developing cultural competence gospel by Bishop Roden James. He was later Art and Ida Friedman for their lifetime of serv- and multicultural leadership. She went on to consecrated as a Bishop by Bishop Charles ice, success, and dedication to Indiana's First serve as the Director of the U.S. Office of DeGilio and Bishop Trevlen Williams. In 1986 Congressional District and the State of Israel. Consumer Affairs and in that capacity, she he became a member of the Glorious Church f chaired the Consumer Affairs Council and the of God in Christ, and served as an Associate U.S. delegation to the Organization for Eco- Minister to Bishop Perry Lindsay, Sr. Ap- HONORING COSME SANCHEZ JR. nomic Cooperation and Development's Com- pointed by Bishop Perry Lindsay, Sr., in 1997 mittee on Consumer Policy. Subsequently, Ms. he became Pastor of the True Vine Glorious HON. SCOTT McINNIS Baca was appointed Regional Administrator of Church of God in Christ. OF COLORADO the General Services Administration in the six- Mr. Speaker, Bishop Ricardo Henry is more IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES state Rocky Mountain Region and is the first than worthy of receiving our birthday wishes, and I hope that all of my colleagues will join Thursday, September 7, 2000 minority woman and the first Hispanic woman to be appointed to this position. me today in honoring this truly remarkable Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to Ms. Baca is nationally known for her leader- man. commend the Honorable Cosme Sanchez, Jr. ship skill and has extensive experience in for- f on his outstanding commitment to public serv- eign affairs and is a noted international speak- ice. Mr. Sanchez has spent over three dec- er as well. She has lectured in Japan and the HONORING CLEO DAY ades serving his community, most recently as Philippines on the American political system Costilla County Treasurer. Mr. Sanchez has and the role of racial and ethnic Americans HON. SCOTT McINNIS also served as County Appraiser and Town and women in the American socio-political and OF COLORADO Clerk and Municipal Judge for the town of San economic systems. Currently, Ms. Baca is the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Luis. CEO of Sierra Baca Services which is a firm Thursday, September 7, 2000 The Honorable Mr. Sanchez has served the specializing in multicultural leadership devel- citizens of Costilla County exceptionally well in opment and diversity training. Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to his roles as a public servant. Citizens such as Her commitment and service has earned take this moment to commend the Honorable Mr. Sanchez, that are willing to spend so her several awards including being inducted Cleo Day on her distinguished service as Cus- much of their lives serving the public, are the into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame and ter County Commissioner in Colorado. Serving reason that the state of Colorado is the great into the National Hispanic Hall of Fame as an as County Commissioner since 1992, Ms. Day state that it is. Costilla County is privileged to original member. She received the Small Busi- has focused on a whole array of important have had such an upstanding public servant ness Administrator's Advocate of the Year issues, including efforts to protect property as Mr. Sanchez. Award for Colorado and the Leadership Award rights and helping improve the Emergency 911 I would like to congratulate Mr. Sanchez on from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Com- service in Custer County. his commitment to bettering his community merce. Before becoming County Commissioner, through public service. I wish him the best in Please join me in commending Polly Baca. Ms. Day ran a number of small grocery stores his future endeavors. It is the strong leadership she exhibits on a throughout Colorado that were committed to