Darren Soto

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, over 250,000 of my fellow Puerto Ricans have arrived in Florida since Hurricane Maria. The tax bill on top of that absolutely is going to decimate the manufacturing sector there, which is going to only hasten further of my brothers and sisters to my home State, the great State of Florida. We have done our best as a host State to ease school enrollment for our young people, to have instate tuition for our college students coming here from the island. Our hospitals are doing their best to meet the challenge, and many are getting jobs, although not as high paying as we would like. We also are putting bills forward to speed up Medicaid qualification and expand Section 8 housing. But, most critically, Florida faces a housing crisis of epic proportions. On January 15, the FEMA hotel vouchers expire. This must be extended for another 6 months. In addition, we are leading a bipartisan effort in Florida to directly seek approval of FEMA direct lease vouchers so that people can have a place to stay. I am appointing a bipartisan Federal task force on Puerto Rican arrivals in central Florida to help in this very good work.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bill, H.R. 4042. I would like to thank the gentleman from Montana and my colleague, the gentlewoman from Orlando, Florida, for their kind and historic words. This bill would name the United States Post Office at 1415 West Oak Street in Kissimmee, Florida, after the 65th Infantry, also known as the Borinqueneers, named after the indigenous Taino word for Puerto Rico, ``Borinquen,'' which means, ``the land of the brave Lord,'' where the name of the Borinqueneers was derived from. This was a segregated unit, one of only a few that we have in history, much like the heralded Tuskegee Airmen, and they fought for our country bravely even while facing discrimination and segregation. They quickly gained a well-deserved reputation as one of the 3rd Infantry's most reliable units. Their bravery inspired General Douglas MacArthur, then the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, to write: ``The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry give daily proof on the battlefields of Korea of their courage, determination and resolute will to victory, their invincible loyalty to the United States and their fervent devotion to those immutable principles of human relations which the Americans of the continent and Puerto Rico have in common. They are writing a brilliant record of heroism in battle, and I am indeed proud to have to have them under my command. I wish that we could count on many more like them.'' I had the opportunity a couple of months ago to go to the demilitarized zone in Korea, and I thought, as I saw those hills and those mountains that were filled with trees and with forests again, about the stark difference that some of my constituents, whom I have gotten to speak with personally, saw there in Korea. There was nothing left but muddy, cold hills, freezing temperatures. These folks, who lived their whole lives on an island in the Caribbean, were surrounded by both the Chinese and Korean Armies. And to talk with some of our local veterans like Luis Pastrana and Lou Boria--who actually lives in Congresswoman Demings' district in Apopka--about how different what they faced that day is compared to the semi-serene DMZ now. Obviously, we face other threats there. It reminded me of just how far they had gone and what they did, literally crossing the globe to make sure that our country was safe. As the gentleman from Montana and the gentlewoman from Florida mentioned, we ultimately recognized that valor and the fact that they fought so bravely, even in the face of discrimination, on June 10, 2014--the Congressional Gold Medal, becoming the second Hispanic set of Americans here after Roberto Clemente received this award. Many folks who were born and raised on th island and served in Korea, in World War II, and ultimately in Vietnam after the unit was desegregated, now live in Kissimmee, Florida, and in central Florida, and are represented by many of us, including Congresswoman Demings. This is a very important place to recognize a group of heroes who defied expectations and really cemented a legacy of heroism that all Americans can be proud of. I want to thank the members of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for passing this bill favorably with unanimous consent, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to provide every American with a plot summary of the GOP tax scam. Step one: cut taxes for powerful billionaires and millionaires. Step two: grow a giant, $2.5 trillion debt. Part of that is to also grow the deficit so we can get to step three: use that to justify cuts to Medicare and Social Security for our seniors. Our ability to protect our environment for the future, education, infrastructure, research and development, homeland security, and our military all will see cuts if this goes through. If you are worried about income inequality, this puts that disparity on steroids by charging the credit card and getting rid of popular deductions to boot, and it will ship jobs overseas by lowering the abroad tax rate. But don't take my word for it. While Main Street continues to suffer, Wall Street is throwing a party with record stock increases today. It is time to take a stand against the GOP tax scam.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in 2010, Tea Party Republicans were swept into office on a passionate plea to eliminate the deficit, to reduce the national debt, and to not pass on a great fiscal burden to our children. Upon election, they boldly formed the Freedom Caucus, the fiscal watchdogs of the House. At the time, the national debt, in 2010, was $13 trillion, and many were deeply concerned about our Nation's fiscal situation, and they made a promise to do everything in their power to rein in wasteful spending and to get government's fiscal House in order. Now here we are in 2017, after nearly 7 years of a Republican- controlled Congress, and the debt is over $20 trillion. That is 7 years of a Republican-controlled Congress and $7 trillion in additional debt. Now we have a tax giveaway of an additional $2.5 trillion to pass on to our children. I ask all the so-called fiscal conservatives in this Chamber, all the so-called Freedom Caucus members, where is your big talk about the debt now? Is your desire to claim a victory worth betraying your deepest principles forever?

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor William Diaz, Spanish radio host. Identified as a consistent community leader and insightful journalist, William Diaz's passion to help fellow citizens in life's struggles has been evidenced in the last 28 years of his residency in central Florida. William's activism in favor of Latin-American political development has granted him daily recognition with most of the Latin-American community in central Florida who listen to him and read his articles. A native of Cumana, and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, he developed a natural way to start friendships and show loyalty and support for all humanitarian causes. William was the recipient of a scholarship that brought him to the United States to obtain his postgraduate diploma. In 1976, the University of Texas at Austin gave him a master's degree in mass communications. William served as a Venezuelan diplomatic official in Europe, when he was designated as general coordinator of the GMA Foundation and the educational attache to the Venezuelan Embassy in Paris, France. Founder and president of several community organizations in his native Venezuela, in 1989, William brought all of his experience to the U.S. Since then, he has been very active within the Latino community, specifically advising and counseling new nonprofit organizations. At this time, William is full-time with his radio show, ``Cara a Cara con William Diaz,'' which broadcasts in 18 different counties, founder of Casa de Venezuela, 15 years ago, which gathered most of the Venezuelans in central Florida, and founder of Made in Venezuela Business Club, dedicated to developing networking and promotions of products and services for Venezuelan businessmen and professionals, and current executive secretary of MUD Central Florida, the political organization that hosts and coordinates most of Venezuela's opposition political parties. Honoring Zoraida Rios-Andino

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Zoraida Rios- Andino, president of Mission Boricua. Zoraida Rios-Andino has been a resident of Orlando, Florida, for 17 years. She has been very active in promoting cultural, social, and historic events in the Puerto Rican community. Zoraida is currently president and founder of Mission Boricua, an organization dedicated to history and civic engagement of the Puerto Rican community. Zoraida supervised the creation and promotion of Mission Boricua's outreach efforts. Zoraida has been part of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Orlando chapter; United Front 436, National Boricua Human Rights Network, Orlando chapter; and Asociacion Borinquena. She is currently a board member for Speak Up Florida, and a member and cofounder of The Justice Project Coalition of Central Florida. In addition, she was an English as a second language instructor, and worked as a personnel administrator for many years. Zoraida was also program coordinator for ALSE, where she assisted hundreds of high school students pursuing postsecondary education. Zoraida has also led the movement to have the Florida Legislature pass a law in 2014, to put a honorary plaque along Semoran Boulevard in recognition of Rico Piccard, the late civil rights hero in central Florida. Zoraida has received numerous awards for her community service, like the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women; Roberto Clemente Community Service Award; Latino History Society President's Award; Outstanding Membership Award from the Asociacion Borinquena; Community Service Award from the office of Congressman Alan Grayson; 2014 Florida State Proclamation recipient from State Representative Victor Torres; Coqui de Oro Award from La Casa de Puerto Rico; the Rico Piccard Award from the Orange County Democratic Party, and more. Mr. Speaker, I thank Zoraida for her contributions to central Florida. I am excited to be able to have this opportunity to talk about these heroes--so many who are symbolic of the hardworking Hispanic Americans in central Florida who help out with everyone from our poor, to our civil rights, to education, to the news, to politics, to our environment, to families, to so many important issues that matter to Hispanics across central Florida and across our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Tirso Moreno. Tirso was born in Mexico and came to this country in 1971, with his family to do farm work. He is currently the director of the Farmworker Association of Florida. In 1982, he became the lead organizer for the Farmworker Project of the Office for Farm Ministry, during which time he and several other farmworkers initiated the Farmworker Association. Under his leadership as general coordinator, the association has grown from a local to statewide organization with over 10,000 members. Tirso is a cofounder and board member of the Farmworker Health and Safety Institute and serves on the boards of Southern Partners Fund, Domestic Fair Trade Association, National Immigrant Farming Initiative, and the Rural Coalition. He also advocates for farmworkers' and immigrants' rights in national and international meetings. The Farmworker Association of Florida currently has five offices throughout central and south Florida. The mission of FWAF is to build power among farmworker and rural, low-income communities to respond to and gain control over the social, political, economic, workplace, health, and environmental justice issues that impact their lives. FWAF's core strategy is to help farmworkers realize their power to be effective agents of social change and personal change by: validating and strengthening the experience and understanding of farmworkers; building farmworkers' capacity to participate in decisionmaking processes that affect their lives; and raising consciousness about and advocating for farmworkers' and immigrants' rights. Mr. Speaker, I thank Tirso for his contributions. Honoring William Diaz

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Roxy Santiago, board of directors for the LGBT Center of Central Florida and board of the Pulse Foundation. Roxy Santiago was born in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has lived in Orlando for over 30 years. Roxy has worked for over 12 years at Walt Disney World in numerous management roles and had the privilege of being a personal tour guide for former Presidents and other high- profile individuals. She was a partner with Phish Phest Entertainment for 10 years. The organization held dozens of events, raising more than $150,000 for charity over the past decade. Roxy was Tri-Chair Federal Club Steering Committee member for Human Rights Campaign, in 2006 through 2009; and in 2014 to present, she is currently serving on the Web Communications Steering Committee and Community Engagement. In 2014, she was honored with being selected among 50 distinguished local LGBT leaders by entering her biography and accomplishments in the U.S. Congressional Record; and here it is happening again In 2015, she became a member of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Central Florida and assists in their web communications. In 2015, Roxy also became a volunteer at the American Red Cross of Central Florida. In the aftermath of Pulse, she was hired by the Red Cross in the position of community partnership. In 2016, she was selected by the National Human Rights Campaign, with 19 other women around the U.S., to attend a workshop for Women and Leadership: Equality for the 21st Century. In 2016, Roxy became a board member for the LGBT Center of Central Orlando and serves as their secretary on the board. Mr. Speaker, I thank Roxy for her contributions. Honoring Tirso Moreno

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Orlando Rolon. Orlando Rolon was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and has lived in central Florida since 1977. After high school, he served in the United States Marines Reserves for 4 years. In 1992, Orlando Rolon was hired by the Orlando Police Department. In 1997, Officer Rolon was promoted to sergeant, and, in 1999, he was selected as the first full-time bilingual public information officer in the history of the Orlando Police Department. In 2003, Sergeant Rolon was promoted to lieutenant. He served as the liaison to the mayor and, during that time, was named adviser for Hispanic Affairs for the City of Orlando. In 2010, he was selected as the special operations traffic enforcement section commander. In 2013, Lieutenant Rolon was promoted to the rank of captain. He served as a patrol division commander and the crisis negotiation team commander. Prior to his appointment as deputy chief, he was serving as the professional standards division commander, which included internal affairs, planning, fiscal, and training under his command. In 2013, he was named as one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics in central Florida. In 2014, Mayor Buddy Dyer appointed Captain Orlando Rolon to the rank of deputy chief. In 2016, Deputy Chief Rolon was then assigned to patrol services bureau commander, with nearly 400 of the department's sworn staff officers under his command. Deputy Chief Rolon is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute Command Officers Development Course, the FBI National Academy Session 263, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association Police Executive Leadership Institute IV session. Deputy Chief Orlando Rolon is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates, Florida Police Chiefs Association, International Association of chiefs of Police, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chief Rolon for his contributions. Honoring Roxy Santiago

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Nancy Alvarez. Nancy was part of the first Hispanic anchor team on an English language TV station in central Florida. Along with Jorge Estevez, her coanchor, she brought the 10 o'clock news on Channel 27 TV to number one for the first time in more than 10 years. Alvarez joined the team at the ABC affiliate in May 2010 and currently coanchors Eyewitness News This Morning, alongside Jamie Homes. She is the daughter of Cuban immigrants and was born and raised in south Florida, although she considers Orlando a second home. Alvarez has spent most of her journalism career in central Florida, where she has been front and center for every major news event in the last 15- plus years. She spent years covering the space program at Kennedy Space Center, and was also in central Florida for Hurricanes Charlie, Frances, and Jean, reporting nonstop during the now-infamous 2004 hurricane season. In recent years, Alvarez was a central part of her station's coverage of the Pulse Nightclub shooting tragedy and covered various stories during the community's journey toward healing. She was also on the air for continuous coverage of Hurricane Irma and traveled to Puerto Rico to report on the devastating impacts of Hurricane Maria. Alvarez is also a graduate of Florida's Atlantic University, with degrees in communications and history. She has dedicated her career to giving a voice to people in need and using honest journalism as a tool for community service. Alvarez, a mother of two who is married to a news photographer, has dedicated her life to honoring the sacrifices made by her parents when they came to the U.S. from Cuba. It is her hope that her life, career, and impact have made the hardships they have endured worth it. Honoring Orlando Rolon

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Luis Pastrana, attorney, activist, and professional at Ana G. Mendez University. Luis Pastrana was born in Puerto Rico. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, while simultaneously being commissioned from the Army ROTC as a second lieutenant in the artillery branch. He taught at the Puerto Rico Junior College of Dona Ana G. Mendez, and many years later came full circle and is now a distinguished professor at the Orlando campus of the Ana G. Mendez University system. Luis served in the Army for 20 years. He was with the Vietnamese irregular forces as an adviser for 2 years in the mountains of Vietnam, as well as an adviser to the Spanish Army for a couple of years in Spain and in many other parts of the globe. After retirement, he began to pursue law at the University of Puerto Rico. He has worked in banking as vice president for investments of the Cooperative Bank, as a general manager for a newspaper in San Juan; he was a candidate for Mayor of Guaynabo, director of finances for the Popular Democratic Party, trial attorney and senior partner of the law firm Pastrana, Perez, Martinez and Quevedo, executive director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration for the Southeast of the United States, and now professor of law of the bachelor's degree in criminal justice for the Orlando campus of the Ana G. Mendez University. He published five books, all honoring his Puerto Rican roots. Mr. Speaker, I thank Luis for his contributions. Honoring Nancy Alvarez

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Josephine Balzac, Esquire, attorney, writer, and professor at Rollins College, specializing in environmental law. Josephine M. Balzac is currently a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Business, teaching in the social entrepreneurship major. She has had the honor of being part of Rollins College since 2014. Her greatest honor is receiving two teaching awards from the students: a student government association's Outstanding Faculty Award, and the Walter E. Barden Distinguished Teaching Award. Throughout each of her classes, she makes sure to engage with the local community by bringing her legal professionals and organizations as guest speakers. Professor Balzac is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in Florida and the U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida. In May of 2017, the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, FAMU, College of Law presented her law office with the Distinguished Alumni Award and Professional Excellence Award, Solo Practitioner. She is also a community rights staff attorney for the Center for Earth Jurisprudence. During the summer, she is an adjunct law professor at Barry University School of Law, teaching sustainability in business. Professor Balzac previously worked as an associate attorney at an AV- rated trial litigation firm and worked for a food safety regulatory consulting group. Ms. Balzac is actively involved in the local community, frequently educating and advocating as an avid speaker on environmental justice, sustainable development, climate change, human rights, food, and social justice issues. Thank you, Josephine, for your contributions. Honoring Luis Pastrana

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Jorge Estevez, WFTV news anchor and journalist in Orlando. Jorge Estevez is an anchor for the evening newscast of Eyewitness News at 10 p.m. on WRDQ TV 27. He also anchors and reports newscasts on WFTV Channel 9. Jorge first came to WFTV in 2001 and covered the attacks of 9/11 and how they impacted central Florida's tourism industry. During the next 5 years as an anchor and reporter for WFTV and WRDQ, Jorge worked on major news affecting the various counties that make up our central Florida community. Jorge anchored several major local stories, including the severe hurricane season of 2004, during which several storms impacted the Orlando area. Since his return to central Florida, Jorge has been sent to cover major stories. His most recent trip was to Atlanta, where he interviewed Ronny Ahmed, one of three students injured when a shooter stormed the campus of Florida State University in 2014 and started firing at random. The son of Cuban immigrants, Jorge is from West New York, New Jersey, where he graduated from Rutgers University, like myself, with a dual degree in journalism and communication. Now he is glad to be back in central Florida, where he enjoys the change of seasons each year. He enjoys the warm weather because it gives him a chance to leave the gym to take his 5-mile runs outdoors, where he can really break a sweat. Thank you, Jorge, for your contributions. Honoring Josephine Balzac, Esquire

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Jimmy Torres, community organizer and activist, and also a major member of the SEIU union. Jimmy Torres Velez grew up in Puerto Rico, where he went to public school. After he finished his bachelor's degree in labor relations at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, he went to work with migrant families in southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Since then, he has worked for various unions in many States and in Puerto Rico. In those years he has held various positions, including trustee, secretary-treasurer, organizing director, and AFL-CIO State director. As part of his work, he has created and developed relationships with various Puerto Rican communities. After years organizing public and private sector employees, Jimmy organized and managed the State legislative office for SEIU in Puerto Rico and cooperated with the establishment of the legislative coordinating body for the AARP as well. After moving to Florida to help with retired members of the Service Employees International Union, he became an activist of the Puerto Rican community and Latino community overall. To improve the Latino representation in our area, he organized and coordinated the Boricua Vota movement. This movement is a nonpartisan educational and mobilization tool to improve activism and civic engagement and participation of Puerto Ricans in the political process. Jimmy also organized and became president of the Puerto Rico Action Initiative. To respond to Hurricane Irma, Jimmy has helped to organize a coordinated group called Aid, Support, and Help Coordinating Group, otherwise known as CASA. When Maria devastated the island, CASA galvanized enthusiasm and desire of the Puerto Rican community in central Florida to help their fellow compatriots--my fellow compatriots--on the island and has collected and has sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in goods and merchandise to Puerto Rico. Honoring Jorge Estevez

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Ingrid Morfa, immigrant, attorney, and activist, a leader in immigration law in central Florida. Ingrid Morfa is an attorney and first-generation American. Her parents migrated from the Dominican Republic in the 1970s. As a mother of four, she is a firm believer that educating our community and helping those in need will make the United States a better place for her children and grandchildren for years to come. Her studies at Harvard University, Barry University School of Law, Cambridge College in the U.K., Kaplan University, and the New York City of Technology College have equipped Ingrid Morfa to help those around her. As a member of the National Caribbean Leadership Team and the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, an advocate for domestic violence prevention with Nuevo Sendero, and an attorney who assisted more than 2,000 naturalization applicants and dozens of green card applicants who are victims of domestic violence and crime at no cost, she has shown a devotion to the community that is only surpassed by her love that she has for her family. Honoring Jimmy Torres

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to honor Frank Lopez of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida. Frank Lopez is the president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando. Lopez is passionate about what he does, and nothing is more fulfilling to him than being part of a team with similar interests of an organization that is philanthropic and mission driven, and that values and pays tribute to those communities he serves. Lopez has been successful in creating substantive underwriting support to develop and sustain innovative youth learning and entrepreneurship services. These programs have produced an impressive array of community-building benefits, such as workforce readiness and leadership development, youth entrepreneurship experimental training camps, mentoring and coaching programs, community-based technology, and wealth-building programs. Lopez served as a member of the U.S. Hispanic Council on Federal Employment that advises the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management on strategies for improving access of Latinos to the Federal workforce. Lopez has also served as a founding member of the National Hispanic Outreach Advisory Council, established by Intuit Corporation, focusing on diversity and inclusion, and expanding penetration of equitable tax filing practices within growing Latino communities across the country. Lopez is also a former president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, developing strategic services to Latino entrepreneurs from across the Nation. Throughout his career, Frank has served several philanthropic and social service governing boards, most recently with SourceAmerica, an organization created by Congress that manages over $2.5 billion in Federal employment-producing contracts administered locally by affiliated nonprofit agencies across the United States and Puerto Rico. Honoring Ingrid Morfa

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next I would like to highlight Esteban Garces, Florida State director of Mi Familia Vota. Esteban directs the Florida operation of Mi Familia Vota, managing strategy, operations, local policy development, campaigns, civic engagement, organizing efforts, and nonpartisan electoral work. Esteban's career was set in motion at an early age as a victim of landlord abuse. Continued exposure to immigration, education, and racial injustices spurred his interest in social justice. He began his career in social justice organizing, and then electoral organizing. He joined Mi Familia Vota in 2015 to continue working to create positive change. He was previously the immigration campaign director for SEIU Local 615. Honoring Frank Lopez

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, next is Ericka Gomez-Tejeda with Vamos4PR, Florida chapter. She is the civic engagement coordinator at 32BJ SEIU. Ericka Gomez-Tejeda came from Colombia to the United States with her mom when she was 8 years old. Moved by her lifelong commitment to her birth country, Ericka moved to Medellin, Colombia, in 2009 and began a master's in theology. Upon her return to the U.S. 2 years later, she moved to Florida and was elected vice president of SEIU Local 1199 United Health Care Workers East for the Florida nursing home division, representing 11,000 nursing home workers in the State. In 2014, under the leadership of 32BJ President Hector Figueroa, Ericka returned to the Local 32BJ as deputy director of the 12,000- member New York City security division, leading the field of operation for the division's first citywide contracts. In 2016, Ericka moved back to Florida and became the 32BJ civic engagement coordinator and organizer of Vamos4PR, Florida division. With 40 percent of the Orange County Public Schools community speaking primarily Spanish, Vamos4PR parents, teachers, students, and organizations successfully worked with the Orange County Public Schools to ensure English-learning parents get information, orientations, and translation. The coalition is currently focusing on offering immediate lifesaving resources to Puerto Rico and the cancellation of crippling debt, while working locally to open doors for the newly arrived Puerto Ricans to our region so they can use their knowledge and skills to integrate and contribute to the local economy and society from the day they arrive. Honoring Esteban Garces

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, the first gentleman I want to talk about is Daniel Barajas, the executive director of the Young American Dreamers. Daniel Barajas was born in Winter Haven, Florida, to a family of migrant workers. Growing up, he worked in the orange groves of Florida. There, he witnessed firsthand how farmworkers were exposed to dangerous pesticides while working for poverty wages. He also learned about the long-term effects of failed immigration policies, seeing his own father be deported during a local operation. As a teenager, Daniel saw his friends join gangs to survive poverty and defend themselves against deeply rooted racism within their communities. He joined this path but was dubbed ``Lucky'' because he survived. Barajas dropped out of school in the ninth grade but earned his GED in 2001. During an incarceration in 2009, he noticed that inmates had no access to books or to reading glasses. It was then that Daniel founded the Library of Hope to collect books and reading glasses to donate to inmates. Daniel's younger sister, Maria Isabel, founded the Young American Dreamers, YAD, in 2010 to help local immigrant youth. Maria Isabel passed away in a car accident, tragically, in 2012, and to honor her legacy, Daniel joined YAD and was voted executive director in 2013. Barajas also continues to fundraise for annual scholarships to local students and participates in philanthropic events in the community. Daniel now speaks at high schools across Polk County, talks to students about his life, and shows them that one is not defined by their past, and that breaking down barriers is possible. He also closely works with the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Office to help register voters, increase voter turnout, and distribute clemency applications to help felons restore their civil rights. Daniel is an example of one who could turn their life around and benefit the community as a whole, and he works with the Mexican Consulate in Orlando to do community workshops to teach immigrant families of their constitutional rights. Thank you, Daniel, for your contributions. Honoring Ericka Gomez-Tejeda

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, it is Hispanic Heritage Month, and I want to take this time to honor some great heroes in my district of Hispanic descent, who range from reporters to civil rights heroes, to community organizers, to businessmen and women, and I am just proud to be here tonight to be able to do that. Honoring Daniel Barajas

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Soto amendment, Soto number 48 to Division A, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018, put the House on record of supporting a final funding amount of $27,191,000 for the National Estuary Program and Coastal Waterways. It does so by removing and then reapplying $468,000 within the $2.3 billion appropriation for the Environmental Programs and Management account within the Environmental Protection Agency. I support increased funding for the National Estuary Program and Coastal Waterways and thank Chairman Calvert and my colleagues for their support of my amendment.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Soto amendment, Soto number 49 to Division A, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018, moved $500,000 from the United States Fish and Wildlife general administration account to the National Wildlife Refuge System program, specifically for the Wildlife and Habitat Management of invasive species, I support increased funding for the Wildlife and Habitat Management efforts to combat invasive species and thank Chairman Calvert and my colleagues for their support of my amendment.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Soto amendment, Soto number 23 to Division B, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018, moved $500,000 from the Office of the Secretary account to the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program. I support increased funding for the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program and thank Chairman Aderholt and my colleagues for their support of my amendment.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Soto amendment, Soto number 24 to Division B, the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018, moved $1,000,000 from the Office of the Economist account to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Specialty Crop Pest Program, specifically the Huanglongbing Multi- Agency Coordination Efforts. I support increased funding for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Specialty Crop Pest Program's Huanglongbing Multi- Agency Coordination Efforts and thank Chairman Aderholt and my colleagues for their support of my amendment.