Darren Soto

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida. In 2016, Olyn Itriago escaped the evil Maduro tyranny in Venezuela. She received death threats, including a failed attempt on her life. Her brother, however, was captured and tortured by the Venezuelan National Guard. The crime? Supporting the opposition party. Olyn is now one of my constituents in Orlando, with her daughters and her husband. She is active with our local groups, advocating for freedom in Venezuela. She holds on to hope of returning home one day soon. Another one of my newest constituents, Selene Vargas, was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Due to the shortages of medicine, food, and lack of functioning quality hospitals in Venezuela, all caused by Nicolas Maduro's destruction of the economy, she moved to Orlando to continue her cancer treatment. Selene hopes to beat cancer, return to Venezuela, and see her family again. Like Olyn and Selene, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans in the United States fear for their lives. They ask for our compassion until the horror ends. Our bipartisan Venezuela TPS Act would protect all eligible Venezuelan nationals from deportation. It allows them to contribute to our American economy, all while they continue to work to fix Venezuela. The world is now witness to the ruthless oppression, starvation, and human rights abuses of Maduro's rule. The administration has been a loud voice condemning Maduro. Vice President Mike Pence said, during a visit to Florida recently, that the White House is discussing TPS. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also mentioned TPS protections could be decided ``in the near future.'' Today, the House has a chance to fulfill those promises. Senators Marco Rubio and Bob Menendez are leading this bipartisan effort in the Senate as well. Granting Venezuelans TPS is one of the most bipartisan immigration acts each of us as a Member of Congress can take right now. I plead with Members on both sides of the aisle to take this opportunity to come together to do the right thing. It is our moral responsibility to support these brave Venezuelans and their families who are already citizens here in the United States. This is the next step to helping the people and to restoring freedom and the rule of law in Venezuela. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues in the House to vote for the bill. ``For a free Venezuela,'' ``Por una Venezuela libre.''

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, tonight, I would like to honor Gary John Aleknavich and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement. Gary John Aleknavich is a U.S. Navy veteran, labor leader, maintenance foreman, journeyman mechanic, and certified welder by trade. He has received a certificate of achievement for completing courses at the Florida International University Center for Labor Research and Studies. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1976 to 1979, Gary was hired by Florida Power and Light, and then went on to become an apprenticeship mechanic at the Florida Port Everglades Power Plant. In 1984, he became a journeyman mechanic at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant, and later became a mechanical certified welder and a nuclear maintenance foreman. He has held various positions within his local union of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, including treasurer, executive board member, job steward, System Council U-4 delegate, and national convention committee delegate, and served as the Florida Electrical Worker Association's vice president and executive board member. Gary has been a member of IBEW since 1980 and even started the process to establish and train IBEW officers and members in the IBEW Code of Excellence training program. He soon became System Council U-4, assistant business manager of IBEW System Council U-4, and was later elected to serve as business manager in 2005, where he ran unopposed for four additional 3-year terms and will retire next month. There is no question that Gary John Aleknavich has been a leader in his community and a public servant, and one of labor's strongest members. Madam Speaker, for that, we thank him.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I retract the Congressional recognition of Ms. Catherine Elizabeth McCarthy. Congressional recognition of one's accomplishments is a solemn honor and privilege conferred to people that have earned it through their service to their community. Catherine Elizabeth McCarthy is wholly undeserving of this honor, as she deceived the community about her medical credentials and did not perform any of the actions described in the recognition. While I understand that I cannot make a retraction of my March 11, 2019 remarks made in the Congressional Record, I formally submit this statement as a substitute for my earlier comments

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Good Samaritan Society Veterans Association. The Good Samaritan Society has served the Kissimmee community with a continuum of senior care, from independent living to long-term skilled nursing care. Since 1979, the Kissimmee Village has continued to offer quality housing and healthcare options for seniors at all stages of aging. Its facilities have been a fixture in our community and critical residence for numerous retirees in Central Florida. This year, the Good Samaritan Society Veterans Association is celebrating 102 of their veterans who have been nominated for the Florida State Service Medal and are to be inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. The Association now comprises 122 veterans in the Central Florida area, including 26 from World War II, 18 from the Korean War, 32 from the Vietnam War, 24 from Operation Enduring Freedom, and five from Operation Desert Storm. Central Florida's veterans are essential and valued members of our community. The services, programming, and support offered by the Good Samaritan Veterans Association continues to uplift our veterans in numerous ways.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Chair, I would like to acknowledge that my amendment, floor amendment number 357, rules amendment number 117, included in en bloc package number 14, increases funding for the Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology program by $5 million for anti- tamper heterogeneous integrated microelectronics. Microelectronics support nearly all Department of Defense activities, enabling capabilities such as the global position system, radar, command and control, and communications. Ensuring secure access to leading-edge microelectronics, however, is a challenge. The changing global semiconductor industry and the sophistication of U.S. adversaries, who might target military electronic components, require us to update our domestic microelectronics security framework. Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology is an investment mechanism that allows the Department of Defense to advance state-of- the-art, defense-essential, manufacturing capabilities through the development of technologies and processes necessary to produce defense systems. This amendment would provide additional funding resources, through the use of a public-private-partnership structured microelectronics cybersecurity center, to support anti-tamper devices, hardware security, and other evolving new concept technologies that support trusted and assured manufacturing, combined with advanced system integration and packaging technologies. I support the rapid modernization of domestic state-of-the-art foundry operations that produce trusted microelectronics and thank the Chairman and the Committee for all their work on this amendment.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. There is no question; those tents would be at great risk if a 3, 4, or Level 5 hurricane hit South Florida. And they are at the very end of it in Homestead, which is even south of Miami. I want to talk a little bit about the root causes of it. We go back to the Triangle and what is happening. You know, these families are fleeing as an act of love because if their kids stay, they could be brought into these cartel drug wars and may not even survive to be 18 years of age, let alone go on to live productive lives. So one of the root causes of this is that the funding, the foreign aid funding down in the Triangle hasn't been where it was under the Obama administration. And of course, then, this idea that we have to detain all of these kids, which has really helped manufacture this border crisis. It could be easily resolved by getting them to families in the United States. I have been briefed that many of them are here to visit families, and we could have ways to track everybody; everything as tough as an ankle bracelet to having a case worker and having something less draconian. But they chose not to do that. They chose to hold these kids back because they don't want them to go out into the general population of the United States. So, if we just did things the way the last two t three Presidents did, Obama, Bush and Clinton, we wouldn't be in this situation right now, this deliberate holding of kids, as well as asylum seekers, in general, at the border that doesn't need to happen here in the United States. And with asylum seekers, it violates many treaties that we are a part of.

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership as our chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and that is why we are here tonight, for those injustices. I am proud to be joined by my good friend, Congressman Jimmy Gomez, of Southern California, of L.A., who has been a champion of issues related to immigrants and related to Hispanics across the Nation. Jimmy, thanks for being here.

Mr. SOTO. Sure. No speaking to the kids there; no photos. And then we were given kind of a song and dance about how well everybody was treated. These young people hailed from Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, countries that we hear over and over because of the strife from drug cartels down there that are warring. I saw six to eight beds per room, sometimes more, in rooms that couldn't be any bigger than 10 to 15 by 15, with shared showers between two of those rooms. And then I saw classrooms and recreation facilities in giant makeshift tents, these big, kind of puffy ones that were clearly not permanent facilities.

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas, Congressman Castro, for putting together this Special Order hour. And it is timely, to say the least. There are many borders that our Nation has. We have a lot of focus on the southwestern borders, such as in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California. But there are also borders like what we have in Florida, with the Caribbean surrounding us, and a short, either plane ride or longer sea voyage to our peninsula. We have immigrants from Venezuela coming in, fleeing tyranny. We had for generations Cuban-Americans escaping the issues down there. We have folks of Mexican descent who are farm workers in Polk County, and in other areas, that are now second and third generation. And, yes, we have many refugees, particularly children, who have left the Triangle in Central America and are part of this great humanitarian crisis at the border. I got the opportunity to be able to visit the Homestead facility, a facility that had blocked several of us from several requests of touring it. And I saw over 900 children, between the ages of 12 and 17, that were in a facility not made for over 500. And I suspect those numbers have grown since then. There are a few of us who did speak Spanish, like myself, and were able to talk briefly to the children, even though they told us not to; but you know our responsibility that we have.

Mr. SOTO. And as we go into the budget, the protections that we couldn't get in recent bills, we will double down on to make sure we have them going into the appropriations process.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Chair, I would like to acknowledge that Division C of H.R. 2740, the Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2020's Committee Report, H. Rept. 116-84, provided an additional $10 million general program increase in funding for the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Support Program within the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide Account. These funds will allow the Department of Defense to leverage existing public-private-partnerships to establish a U.S. based manufacturing development platform for advanced microelectronic system integration, including foundational copper-based silicon interposer technology. The Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program is dedicated to ensuring that the Department of Defense is positioned to more effectively, and efficiently, address industrial base issues, and support the National Security Innovation Base. This includes the ability to proactively mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities within the global defense industrial base, and to cultivate next generation, emerging, defense manufacturing and technology sectors. Continued U.S. global leadership in microelectronics depends on U.S. owned firms operating at the leading edge of advanced logic technologies and digital memories. The next generation of electronic devices will require significantly greater functional density, in other words, packing functional components together even more tightly than current technology allows. This requires technical leadership in microelectronics system integration, specifically in the microelectronics manufacturing areas of integrating heterogeneous devices, stacking memory, logic processing, sensors, communications, and packaging with security and advanced interconnect methods. One of the foundational technologies required for advanced system integration is copper-based silicon interposer technology. This foundational interposer technology can enable almost any microelectronic dependent, or internet of things, system. However, advanced system integration capabilities have moved offshore due to cost, and there currently is no domestic sources that can reliably serve the low volumes of advanced microelectronics that the Department of Defense requires. That is why there is a need for the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Support Program to leverage existing public-private- partnerships to establish a U.S. based manufacturing development platform for advanced microelectronic system integration, including the foundational copper-based silicon interposer technology. This funding increase will help to accomplish this, and I thank the Chairman for the general program increase of $10 million for the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Support Program within the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide Account. I support the rapid modernization of domestic state-of-the-art foundry operations that produce trusted microelectronics and thank the Chairman and the Committee for all their work on the issue.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky) for yielding. Madam Chair, I want to express my gratitude to the committee for the inclusion of report language in the bill noting the importance of obtaining advanced microelectronics manufacturing, in support of the defense industrial base, from trusted domestic suppliers. Ensuring quick, reliable, and secure access to leading-edge microelectronics is often a challenge. The changing global semiconductor industry and the increasing sophistication of U.S. adversaries require us to update our domestic microelectronics security framework by establishing a comprehensive, public-private partnership- structured microelectronics cybersecurity center. This center can provide the defense industrial base with access to manufacturing resources to support antitamper devices, hardware security, and other evolving new concept technologies that support trusted and assured manufacturing, combined with advanced system integration and packaging technologies. The Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology Program enables the Department of Defense to advance reliable and secure state-of-the- art technologies. The funding increase provided in this legislation, along with the increased funding for advanced manufacturing, will facilitate America's innovative, secure, and domestic foundry operations and greatly contribute to our national defense through the establishment of a microelectronics cybersecurity center structured as a public-private partnership.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Mrs. Anna M. Pinellas. Anna M. Pinellas moved to join her husband, Louis C. Pinellas, Sr., in his hometown of Kissimmee, FL in 1981, after having worked in local government in Washington, Maryland, and Virginia. Having knowledge in securing funds for various projects, she was hired by the City of Kissimmee and was able to secure grants for the infrastructure around Osceola Square Mall, the paving of Hill Street, and John Young Parkway. The first of those grants being $750,000. She was also hired by Osceola County Government to secure federal funds for projects which included bringing Head Start back to Osceola County, refurbishing the Old Courthouse, and the establishment of a Salary Plan for Osceola County employees. One of her primary goals was to pursue the establishment of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday in the city of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Osceola County and the School Board. Thirty-four years ago, Pinellas founded Osceola Visionaries Inc., a non-profit corporation devoted to honoring and celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. before the holiday was observed. Today, Pinellas continues to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by hosting their annual banquet and holding programs for the Central Florida community.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, nearly 3 years ago, on this date, we lost 49 angels and 53 others were injured. Family and friends grieved for their loved ones and our Orlando community mourned. But we came together, stronger than ever before, to heal, to comfort each other, to overcome this tragedy, and, most importantly, to give back. As Orlando Strong, we swore, as a community, to never forget those who we lost that night--their stories, their images, their memories, and their spirits--which live on in our hearts and our memories. We can never forget this tragic act of hate against the LGBTQ and Latinx community: our community. We continue to reject these despicable acts of hate. To honor the fallen and the survivors of this tragedy, I joined with my colleagues, Representatives Stephanie Murphy and Val Demings, to introduce landmark legislation to designate the Pulse nightclub as a federally recognized national memorial site. This designation gives these hallowed grounds the national recognition it deserves, while serving as a reminder that love overcomes hate. Let the Pulse memorial become a symbol of hope, love, and continued light for our community. We will always remember the 49 angels: Edward Sotomayor, Jr. Franky Jimmy DeJesus Velazquez Stanley Almodovar, III Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado Javier Jorge-Reyes Shane Evan Tomlinson Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo Juan Ramon Guerrero Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz Luis S. Vielma Kimberly Morris Eddie Jamoldroy Justice Darryl Roman Burt, II Deonka Deidra Drayton Anthony Luis Laureano Disla Jean Carlos Mendez Perez Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon Amanda Alvear Martin Benitez Torres Jerald Arthur Wright Cory James Connell Brenda Lee Marquez McCool Christopher Andrew Leinonen Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala Luis Daniel Conde Leroy Valentin Fernandez Jason Benjamin Josaphat Frank Hernandez Akyra Murray Mercedez Marisol Flores Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez Oscar A. Aracena-Montero Enrique L. Rios, Jr. Miguel Angel Honorato Juan P. Rivera Velazquez Juan Chevez-Martinez Tevin Eugene Crosby Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz Paul Terrell Henry Joel Rayon Paniagua Jean C. Nieves Rodriguez Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan Angel L. Candelario-Padro Antonio Davon Brown Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, and Alejandro Barrios Martinez Just think about how long it took me to reference all those names. It gives you just a glimpse of the carnage and the death that happened that day, but we will always remember them. Do-Nothing Senate

Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, there is something rotten in the city of Washington. There is an injustice brewing in this Capitol. And there is a sinister plot afoot in this Congress. On the one hand, we have the people's House, the House of Representatives, where we are working every day and passing major legislation--our For the People Agenda--and, on the Senate side, we see something very different--inaction, stagnancy. In essence, they are doing nothing. Our For the People House is passing laws that combat corruption in D.C. and strengthen election security. Our For the People House is lowering prescription drug prices. Our For the People House is passing the Equality Act, Dream Act, universal background checks, and others.

Mr. SOTO

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Pride Month, I would like to honor Karen Castelloes. In 1971, Karen graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BA in Spanish. After moving to Orlando in 1975, she attained her master's degree in education from Nova University and was employed by Orange County Public Schools as an English to Speakers of Other Languages teacher, an ESOL teacher, for 31 years. She retired in 2007 and became involved in volunteer work. She is the cofounder of the Jefferson R. Voss Scholarship for Zebra Coalition youth. She served as a member of the Equality Florida Steering Committee for 3 years and presently holds the position of vice chair. She continues to volunteer at IDignity of Orlando and at the food pantry at Joy MCC. In addition, she proudly serves on the education fund at the Zebra Coalition organization which serves LGBTQ youth. For that, Karen Castelloes, we honor you. Honoring David Arthur Jones During Pride Month

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Pride Month, I would like to honor Ricardo Negron-Almodovar. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Ricardo obtained a master's degree in education, a juris doctorate, and is a licensed attorney in Puerto Rico. In 2015 Ricardo moved from Yauco, Puerto Rico, to Orlando, Florida. During his first year in Florida, he taught English to adults and became involved in civic engagement efforts to register new voters. After the Pulse tragedy on June 12, 2016, of which he is a survivor, Ricardo worked to empower the LGBTQ Latinx community and has advocated against discrimination and gun violence. Ricardo currently serves as a legal service coordinator for LatinoJustice where he has had the opportunity to assist those transitioning from Puerto Rico to Florida after Hurricane Maria devastated my family's native island. Recently Ricardo obtained a master's degree in nonprofit management and launched the community organization Del Ambiente, which is an effort led by the LGBTQ Puerto Rican community to build up the LGBTQ Puerto Rican community in Florida's activism in environmental work. For that, Ricardo Negron-Almodovar, we honor you. Honoring Karen Castelloes During Pride Month

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Pride Month, I would like to honor Eric Rollings. After 30 years of change, of loss, and of victories, Eric Rollings continues to be one of the most active and visible LGBT leaders in Orange County. Eric started volunteering at the Hope and Help Center in the early 1990s because he witnessed the injustices and stigma that his friends suffered from HIV/AIDS as they were dealing with it every day. In 1993, he was awarded the Volunteer of the Year for his dedication. In the present day, Eric is serving his sixth term on the Community Development Block Grant Board and helps secure funding for the LGBT+ Center of central Florida and helps make recommendations for housing and services for people living with HIV/AIDS and low- to moderate- income households in the Orlando area. In Eric's early small business career he was discriminated against for being gay. He saw an opportunity to help educate other business entrepreneurs and worked to provide a safe business environment. With that, he helped grow the Metropolitan Business Association, the LGBT Chamber of Commerce, serving on the board of directors twice. Eric, with many of his friends and activist allies, was instrumental in passing ordinances and protections for the LGBT people of the city of Orlando and Orange County. In the early days, nothing was certain, but because they did not give up on Orlando and Orange County, today our home is one of the most inclusive, welcoming, and economically vibrant areas in the Nation. After the Pulse tragedy, all of Orlando came together and became Orlando United. Eric was honored with an Orlando United Medal from Mayor Teresa Jacobs. Eric was elected as one of the first openly LGBT people to serve in an Orange County-wide position. He worked as chairman of our Soil and Water Conservation Board. He continues to work now politically to improve our environment and to stand up for equality for all, including a ban on conversion therapy. For that, Mr. Eric Rollings, we honor you. Honoring Ricardo Negron-Almodovar During Pride Month.

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Pride Month, I would like to honor Dr. George Wallace. Dr. George Wallace was born in New Hampshire and moved to central Florida in 1992. He returned to New England in 1995, and after finishing his undergraduate degree, he returned to Florida in 2002. George spent the first half of his career advocating and working with persons with disabilities as a case manager and later turned his passion for arts into a career as a senior leader of the Orlando Fringe. During the Pulse tragedy, George was serving on the board of the LGBT+ Center of Orlando. Knowing that he wanted to continue serving his community, he accepted the role as executive director of The Center in Orlando in 2017. Dr. Wallace has since grown the organization to include a programming center at its satellite office in Kissimmee in our district. George is a very visible leader within central Florida and enjoys travel, photography, and cheering on the Boston Red Sox in his free time. For that, Dr. George Wallace, we honor you. Honoring Eric Rollings During Pride Month

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Pride Month, I would like to honor Nikole Parker. Nikole Parker is a transgender woman of Puerto Rican, Italian, and African American descent. She was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, and at the age of 19 left her job and her home to begin her transition. After 3 years of black-market hormones and unsafe lifestyle practices she came back to Orlando to restart her life. Nikole's passion in advocating for the rights and dignity of transgender and gender-nonconforming community is legendary in central Florida. She currently works for onePULSE Foundation as the event and community outreach coordinator. Nikole also sits on various nonprofit boards within the community, including the LGBT+ Center and the Orlando United Assistance Center. In addition to her work with the onePULSE Foundation, Nikole coleads the work of the Orlando Trans Awareness Collective, a collaborative group of transgender and gender nonconforming leaders of color who have focused on community building and advocacy efforts for the central Florida transgender community. In 2018, Nikole was honored with the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the Miss Glamorous Pageant for her ongoing advocacy and empowerment of the transgender community and work with the onePULSE Foundation. She hopes to educate individuals from the community on healthy and safe ways to undergo transition, providing resources so black-market hormones and unsafe lifestyles can be avoided. For that, Nikole Parker, we honor you. Honoring Dieuseul Berto During Caribbean Heritage Month

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Pride Month, I would like to honor Anthony H. Sandonato. Anthony is a proud Orlando resident, human resources executive, LGBTQ community advocate, and a member of the Human Rights Campaign's national board of governors. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Anthony currently resides with his husband, Tracer Foster, in downtown Orlando, Florida. After completing his bachelor's degree in education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Anthony relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1995 to pursue his career. It was there that he took on his first role in human resources with a Miami-based retailer. Anthony began volunteering to effect change for the LGBT community. He took on volunteer leadership roles with south Florida's volunteer committee for the Human Rights Campaign, the Nation's largest LGBTQ advocacy group and political lobbying organization in the United States. Anthony volunteered through HRC to protect Miami-Dade's hard-won human rights ordinance and to attempt to stop the passage of Florida's 2008 amendment which ultimately banned gay marriage and civil unions in that State until 2015. At the Federal level, Anthony championed HRC's efforts in south Florida to achieve the passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, and the decade-long effort to pass the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, otherwise known as ENDA. Anthony moved to Orlando in 2012. Shortly after relocating, he joined HRC's Orlando/central Florida volunteer committee and continued his LGBTQ advocacy as a political and community engagement leader. His focus in central Florida has been to continue his efforts to influence policy by coordinating local get-out-the-vote campaigns and by working with community leaders and Members of the House and Senate for repeal of the current administration's transgender military ban and the passage of the Equality Act, which I am proud, Madam Speaker, we passed out of this House earlier this year. For that, Anthony H. Sandonato, we honor you. Honoring Nikole Parker During Pride Month

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Caribbean Heritage Month, I would like to honor Wayne Golding, Sr., Esquire, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica. After his graduation from high school, he immigrated to New York with his mother and younger brother in 1981. He went on to graduate from Queens College, CUNY, with a BA in economics and worked on Wall Street. In 1988, he moved his young family to Orlando, Florida. Wayne earned his juris doctorate of law from Barry University School of Law. Even as an accomplished attorney practicing in the Florida State courts, the United States courts, and immigration court, he has continued his work as a community leader and activist. In 2004, he established the litigation law firm, The Golding Law Group, PLC, based in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Golding has served as president of the Caribbean Bar Association's Central Florida chapter. As an immigrant, he made history when he was selected to serve as chairman of the Orange County School Board Biracial Committee. Since August 2015, Mr. Golding has been selected to serve as the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board member of the southern USA. In this role, he confidently advises the minister of foreign affairs for the Government of Jamaica on Jamaica diaspora issues. He has been laser focused on methodically galvanizing the skills and talent of the members of the Caribbean community and strengthening the voice of the Caribbean communities in the spaces they reside. Notably, he continues to be involved with the planning and execution of the annual celebration of Caribbean American Heritage Month. Wayne credits his drive and commitment to his community to the lessons learned from his grandparents; the support of his wife of 30 years, Lois A. Golding; from their two children, Tassanee Golding and Wayne Golding, Jr.; his mother, Minett Gayle-Brown; as well as a host of mentors and leaders on whose shoulders he stands. Madam Speaker, for that, we honor Mr. Wayne Golding. Honoring John Perry During Caribbean Heritage Month

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Caribbean Heritage Month, I would like to honor John Perry. Mr. John Everton Perry was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in August 1955. He migrated to New York in 1967 and attended junior high school at Mount Vernon's Washington Junior High, where he received the certificate for outstanding writing presented by the actor-community activist Mr. Ossie Davis. Mr. Perry went on to attend Mount Vernon High School, where he lettered in football as a quarterback and also in track. He was a voice on the student council as head school marshal. After high school, Mr. Perry enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served honorably for 5 years. During this time, Mr. Perry found time to attend The Ohio State University, Park College, and Rollins College. Mr. Perry's first passion is as a fishmonger. He has worked in the seafood industry since the age of 13, but, along the way, he has worked in corporate America: in sales for Brach's Candy, as a tile and gap filler specialist for the U.S. Space Shuttle program at KSC, and financial labor auditor with the Lockheed Corporation. John now works as an independent insurance counselor in the employees' benefit arena, a relocation specialist, and a LegalShield director. For the last 4 years, Mr. Perry has been on WOTS 1220AM in Kissimmee, Caribbean Rhythms Radio Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the ``A Little Bit of Everything'' commentary show on the subject of the day. Mr. Perry has been a devoted husband to Mrs. Cecilia LaVerne Perry for the last 43 years. They were blessed with two outstanding children, John, Jr., and Jonnell Evette Perry, and also their two grandchildren, Makayla Perry and Johntae Perry. Madam Speaker, for that, we honor Mr. John Perry. Honoring Louis Witter During Caribbean Heritage Month

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Caribbean Heritage Month, I would like to honor Louis Witter. Louis Witter has been a longstanding businessman in the hospitality industry in the central Florida area since 1992. He attended Florida Technical College, where he gained his knowledge in business administration and management. He is a current member of the Caribbean and Floridian Association, Inc.; Restore the Path for Christ Church; and the Jamaica Diaspora group, Southeastern Division. Louis Witter is an entrepreneur, a Caribbean restaurant owner, and a producer and host of Caribbean Rhythms Radio Network AM1220 WOTS, a local Caribbean radio station in the Kissimmee, Florida, area. This radio station provides vital sources of business, social networking, events, and community information, interviews, and has been a voice to the central Florida Caribbean communities for the past 20 years. He has used the radio platform to provide internships to over 50 individuals who have successfully completed programs at the radio station and have moved on to pursue careers in the radio broadcasting industry. Louis Witter is from the Caribbean island of Jamaica. He has lived in the United States for over 30 years. When he is not involved with business, he enjoys listening to cultural reggae music. He believes that reggae music speaks to all nations, with a strong message in each song. Louis Witter lives in Davenport, Florida, and can be heard online every Saturday at www.crrnetwork.com, on his broadcasts. Madam Speaker, for that, we honor Mr. Louis Witter. Honoring Shelley Briggs During Caribbean Heritage Month

Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, in honor of Caribbean Heritage Month, I would like to honor Dieuseul Berto. Dieuseul Berto is a Haitian American immigrant who was a former kick boxer and founder of Tiger's World Martial Arts and Boxing Fitness, founded in Winter Haven, Florida, in Florida's Ninth Congressional District. He competed in the UFC. Berto was known as the man who helped so many people. He was recognized for his conception of a cardiovascular weight loss training program. Although Berto was injured in a horrendous car accident that left him in a wheelchair for over a year, he did not let the accident define or confine him. Therefore, Dieuseul Berto began creating ways to self- train in his wheelchair by including pushups and the use of a punching bag, which served as a catalyst for his cardio program. He then incorporated those techniques used in the workout. Berto's fitness program is credited with helping more than 1,200 people gain access to better health by shedding unwanted and unhealthy pounds, resulting in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol concerns over the past 20 years. He is considered a pioneer in helping people with their health and, consequently, their self-confidence. He was also a family man who helped many kids and tried to keep them out of trouble with his kids program. Berto also mentored children and encouraged them to never sell themselves short by reiterating that any dream is possible and attainable with hard work and dedication. He is credited with teaching children to set larger-than-life expectations for themselves. He interacted, impacted, and inspired people from all aspects of life. Berto and his wife are the parents of seven children, including Andre Berto, a two-time former welterweight world champion; Edson and Revelina, who are also professional mixed martial artists; and his son Cleveland, who is an actor. Madam Speaker, for that, we honor Dieuseul Berto. Honoring Casmore Shaw During Caribbean Heritage Month