April 6, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E471 I ask all Members to join me in honoring an felt by generations to come. As he and his we pay special tribute to the contributions and exceptional woman of California’s 28th Con- wife Denise embark on a new chapter in their sacrifices made by our nation’s women. It is gressional District, Camille Lombardo. life, I wish them all my best. an honor to pay homage to outstanding f f women who are making a difference in my congressional district. I would like to recognize RECOGNIZING THE CAREER OF DR. PERSONAL EXPLANATION a remarkable woman, Noemi Torres of West WATTS Hollywood, California. HON. RON KIND Noemi Torres immigrated to the United HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY OF WISCONSIN States from Guadalajara, Mexico at the age of OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 13. After some time in Seattle, Washington, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Thursday, April 6, 2017 she came to Los Angeles and now calls West Thursday, April 6, 2017 Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to Hollywood home. Ms. Torres came to Cali- Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to have my votes recorded on the House Floor fornia, as many do, to pursue her dreams. recognize Dr. W. David Watts on his distin- on Monday, April 3, 2017. Weather across the While she has a passion for photography and guished tenure at the University of Texas of Midwest delayed my flight to Washington, D.C. acting, she found herself working with a suc- the Permian Basin. until after votes had been called. Had I been cessful startup telecommunications company, For the past fifteen years, Dr. Watts has present, I would have voted in favor of H. Res. and it was while at that company, that she served as the President of UTPB. Under his 92 and H.R. 479. was exposed to the real estate industry. Now leadership, UTPB has seen an unprecedented f Noemi is on the Modern Living LA team of the growth and the university’s reputation has John Aaroe Group Sunset, where she uses grown exponentially. Since 2001, the univer- INTRODUCTION OF BIPARTISAN her considerable talents to help her clients sity enrollment increased from 2,200 to 6,315 RESOLUTION EXPRESSING with their real estate needs. students and the availability of student hous- STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE Along with her incredible professional ac- ing has increased from just six buildings with COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EU- complishments, Ms. Torres has also shown 96 beds to 37 buildings with 1,197. These ad- ROPE AND THE NORTH ATLAN- herself to be an astoundingly capable commu- ditions have significantly impacted the local TIC TREATY ORGANIZATION nity leader. She volunteers for Project Angel economy and transformed UTPB to an estab- Food, AIDS Walk Los Angeles, the Revlon lished university community. HON. STEVE COHEN Run/Walk, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Early into his presidency, Dr. Watts made a OF TENNESSEE Heal the Bay, and the Downtown Women’s commitment to expand educational opportuni- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Center. Noemi especially shines in her advo- ties by investing in online programs to allow Thursday, April 6, 2017 cacy in her two terms on the City of West Hol- students to earn a degree from a distance and Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support lywood Women’s Advisory Board, which she allow for the development of career opportuni- of a bipartisan resolution I introduced earlier currently chairs. ties throughout the region. These efforts have today with my colleague JOHN SHIMKUS ex- I ask all Members to join me in honoring an led UTPB to be recognized by numerous out- pressing strong support for the North Atlantic exceptional woman of California’s 28th Con- lets, such as BestColleges.com and U.S. Treaty Organization (NATO). This resolution gressional District, Noemi Torres. News and World Report, as one of the most reaffirms the importance of harmony and sta- f affordable online programs in the nation. In bility rather than war and conflict and acknowl- addition, Dr. Watts’ vision of expanding access RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS edges the NATO’s pivotal role in achieving OF GUS MACHADO to quality education has also led to the cre- such goals. ation of Texas’ first entirely virtual Early Col- NATO remains the most important and crit- lege High School network. This network allows ical security link between the United States HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART universities and colleges to partner with local and Europe. OF FLORIDA school districts to offer at risk high school stu- The incorporation of Eastern European IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES dents to earn a high school diploma and up to countries into NATO has contributed towards Thursday, April 6, 2017 sixty college credits at no cost. These acceler- a vision of a stable and united Europe. NATO ated courses reduce the barriers to college ac- allies and partners in both Central and Eastern Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise to cess and increased college readiness with Europe have stood alongside the United recognize Mr. Gus Machado and celebrate his these students. This program has allowed States in joint peace operations in the West- career. thousands of students to set out on their path ern Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. Gus moved to the United States from Cuba to achieve their professional goals. Our resolution emphasizes the United with his family in 1949, and has become a Dr. Watts’ commitment to quality education States’ strong commitment to the independ- symbol of the American dream for many. has allowed UTPB to be the first school in ence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Through hard work and determination, Gus Texas to offer a $10,000 bachelor’s degree in democratic development of the countries that has built several successful car dealerships. select majors and is recognized as the least have emerged from the former Soviet Union, He has managed to stay in business through expensive Texas public, four-year institution. including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Geor- a recession that had a significant impact on Under his leadership, UTPB has received na- gia, Ukraine, and Moldova. During the past car sales, and worked diligently to avoid tional accreditation in Art, Business, Edu- three decades, many of these countries have downsizing his workforce and keep others em- cation, Mechanical Engineering and Petroleum undertaken considerable political and eco- ployed. Throughout his career in car sales, Engineering, Social Work, Music, Nursing, and nomic reforms necessary to achieve aspira- Gus has acted as an honorable man with the Athletic Training Education. These initiatives tions for European integration and Euro-Atlan- best interests of the community at heart. have allowed UTPB to leave its imprint on the tic cooperation. For the past seven years, Gus Machado’s workforce, and it could not have been accom- I want to thank Congressman SHIMKUS for businesses have received the Blue Oval Cer- plished without Dr. Watt’s leadership. his partnership on this resolution and urge my tification status from Ford Motor Company. Over the last few years, Dr. Watts spear- colleagues to pass it swiftly to reaffirm the Additionally, in 2013, one dealership received headed efforts to write a new chapter in United States’ commitment to our NATO allies. Ford Motor Company’s highest honor, the UTPB’s history by bringing college football to f President’s Award. the university. Prior to this, UTPB was the only TRIBUTE TO NOEMI TORRES—28TH Gus has proved himself to be dedicated to public university west of I–35 that did not par- CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT improving his community. In 2008, he founded ticipate in football. Now UTPB is in a more WOMAN OF THE YEAR the Gus Machado Family Foundation, which competitive position to attract new students to provides children with backpacks full of school the Permian Basin. Last year, the Falcons HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF supplies. The Foundation also works to keep kicked off the inaugural season and set the children healthy by providing them with immu- OF CALIFORNIA foundation for the program. The team looks to nizations. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES build off of that progress as they begin to pre- Gus is deeply involved with the U.S.-Cuba pare for next season. Thursday, April 6, 2017 Democracy PAC, an organization dedicated to Dr. Watts’ contributions to UTPB will always Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in promoting freedom and democratic ideals in be remembered and his impact will surely be honor of Women’s History Month. Each year, the communist country of Cuba. Although he VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:49 Apr 07, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K06AP8.003 E06APPT1 lotter on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with REMARKS E472 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 6, 2017 has lived in Florida for most of his life, Gus re- IN RECOGNITION OF THE 38TH AN- School, running school book fairs, fundraising members his native Cuba and has not lost NIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RE- and participating in the parent support organi- sight of the importance of allowing the Cuban LATIONS ACT zation. She is a graduate of the Leadership people the same basic rights and freedoms Burbank program, where she assisted with we take for granted in the United States that HON. DONALD M. PAYNE, JR. fundraising for Monterey High School in Bur- are stifled under the Castro regime. OF NEW JERSEY bank, and was active in the John Burroughs For his successful businesses, involvement IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES High School Boosters, where she raised in the community, and unfailingly optimistic money for the water polo team.