Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy that I rise today to pay tribute to the Bronx Council on the Arts, which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary. Recognized nationally as a leading arts service organization, providing cultural services and arts programs, BCA serves a multicultural constituency in excess of 1.2 million residents.

The Bronx Council on the Arts was founded in 1962 with the mission of encouraging and increasing the public's awareness and participation in the arts, and to nurture the development of artists, arts and cultural organizations. Indeed, throughout its 40 years of service BCA has accomplished its stated mission.

In April of 2000, The Bronx Council on the Arts received the Governor's Arts Award for its contributions to the burgeoning artistic panorama of the Bronx. They joined the ranks of Peter Martins of the New York City Ballet, filmmakers Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, photographer Cindy Sherman and many other celebrated artists and art institutions.

The Bronx Council on the Arts serves more than 250 arts and community organizations and 5,000 artists. Through its various grant programs and services, BCA has given over $1 million to individual artists and arts organizations in order to support literary, media, performing and visual arts projects. In addition, BCA coordinates arts and education services in public schools throughout the Bronx.

Mr. Speaker, the Bronx Council on the Arts is truly a Miracle in the Bronx. Bill Aguado, the Executive Director, put it best when he stated: ``This isn't supposed to be happening in the Bronx or anywhere else for that matter. Poverty, crime, drugs--those are expected, but to pick up a paint brush, raise a voice in song, fill a page with words or lift a foot to dance and say, `I am a Bronx artist,' seemed absurd. Things have changed a lot.''

For the rich contributions this organization has made not only to the Bronx but also to the world of art, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the Bronx Council on the Arts' 40th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to pay tribute to Mr. Johnny Albino, who will be honored this weekend as Yaucano del Ano 2003. Mr. Albino is a renowned singer and songwriter who has recorded more than 300 records. He has traveled around the world sharing the gift of his music, in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe, as well as places as far away as Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Egypt and Israel, among others.

Mr. Albino was born in Yauco, Puerto Rico, on December 19, 1919. He was one of seven children. He went to school in Guayama, Puerto Rico, and planned to pursue law studies at the University of Puerto Rico, but in 1940 he enlisted in the United States Armed Forces. He served in the Corps of Engineers and studied to become a telegraph operator. During his tenure in the military, he also found a way to pursue his interest in music by forming a quartet and singing in U.S.O. sponsored events for servicemen. He served in the military for seven years, retiring as a Lieutenant.

When he returned to Yauco, he formed El Trio San Juan with Chago Alvarado and Ola Martinez. They used to rehearse at a house on Tendal Street, on the way to Barrios Quebrada and Sierra Alta.

During his musical career as part of the famous Trio Los Panchos, with Alfredo Gil and Chucho Navarro, Albino traveled around the world seven times and had the opportunity to perform with luminaries such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole and Eydie Gorme. He also shared the stage with world-renowned figures like Xavier Cugat and Johnny Carson. He has been one of Puerto Rico's most talented musical ambassadors. He has been married for 43 years to Mrs. Maria Albino, who is also his manager.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Johnny Albino, an accomplished musician, for his achievements and for giving to the Hispanic community and to the world the gift of beautiful music.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to pay tribute to Mr. Juan ``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez, one of the great showmen in sports history. In a career that spans four decades, Chi Chi has won eight times on the PGA Tour and now boasts twenty-two Senior Tour victories. His colorful performances still make him a gallery favorite, while his shot-making skills have earned him the respect of his peers.

Chi Chi was born in 1935 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, and he grew up in the hot, dusty sugar cane fields of Rio Piedras, where he helped his father tend the fields. He began caddying at the age of six and actually learned how to play golf with clubs fashioned out of Guava tree limbs and tin cans hammered into balls. At the age of 12, he shot a 67. He became known for his hand-eye coordination and imagination, skills that for more than forty years have helped him overcome all types of obstacles. But Chi Chi's talents extend beyond what he is able to do with a golf ball. From his matador routine to his good-natured impersonations of fellow competitors, Chi Chi is an entertainer at heart.

Mr. Speaker, what truly separates Chi Chi from his peers is that he has coupled his success on the golf course with a strong personal desire to make a positive impact. This has manifested itself in the countless hours he spends at the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation in Clearwater, Florida. This foundation serves as a safe haven for troubled and abused youngsters. Chi Chi's philosophy is simple; he wants kids to have a chance. Based on love and respect, the program builds confidence, instills discipline and provides positive educational experiences.

Clearly, Chi Chi Rodriguez is a champion golfer, but he is a greater champion in the lives of youths and the Hispanic community.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Chi Chi Rodriguez for his illustrious and distinguished career and for his extraordinary contributions to the Hispanic community and to young people in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to pay tribute to Rev. Aimee G. Cortese, who will be honored at a gala later this month for her exemplary life and service in active ministry around the world. She is best known in the South Bronx area, where for 16 years she was Associate Minister to her father, Rev. Rafael Garcia, of the Spanish Assemblies of God. Rev. Cortese has remained committed to the South Bronx community where she was raised, working with her brother, former Congressman Bob Garcia. She now serves as Founder and Pastor Emeritus of Crossroads Tabernacle, which will be celebrating its anniversary on May 29, 2003. She is also a mother of four children, who are all in active ministry.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert into the Record the biography of Rev. Aimee Garcia Cortese in recognition of her leadership, commitment to her community and extraordinary contributions, and in wishing her continued success.

Rev. Aimee G. Cortese is a dynamic, down-to-earth speaker

who leaves the listener with the experience that Jesus is a

reality. Her life speaks her theology--her foundation is the

Bible. Rev. Cortese is both a wife and the mother of 4

children, giving her the experience of both home and family.

Her preaching and teaching ministry placed her in great

demand in churches, women's groups and colleges throughout

the nation. Her message is timely, Christ-centered, and with

a sensitivity towards human need. She ministers with a burden

for souls and a determination to reach, to touch, and to

share Jesus with people from all walks of life.

Rev. Cortese has been engaged in active evangelism both in

the United States and throughout the world. Rev. Cortese is

best known in the New York City area. For 16 years, she was

Associate Minister to her father, Rev. Rafael Garcia of the

Spanish Assemblies of God. Rev. Cortese has remained

committed to the South Bronx community where she was raised,

working with her brother Congressman Robert Garcia, In her

own words, street ministry was her specialty and desire, ``I

want to be where the people are, that is where Jesus is.''

Outside the U.S., Rev. Cortese and her husband Joseph Sr.

both served with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Team in South

America. She was a delegate to the First Congress on

Evangelism in West Berlin, Germany.

Rev. Cortese broke ground as the first female Chaplain for

the NYS Department of Corrections and ministered in this

capacity for ten years. She worked with both male and female

inmates at the Ossining Correctional Facility (Sing-Sing) for

men, and Bedford Hills for women.

With ten years of Chaplaincy behind her, she felt qualified

to push ahead with a strong preventative work with both young

people and adults. She did prison work on a volunteer basis.

For the past 18 years, Rev. Cortese was Pastor of

Crossroads Tabernacle, a thriving work in The Bronx, NY. This

church serves as a counseling center to meet the needs of the

community, and all who may need help. She now serves as

Founder and Pastor Emeritus of Crossroads Tabernacle. Rev.

Cortese continues to speak at whatever events she is invited

to. Hearing Rev. Aimee G. Cortese is an experience long to be

remembered.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding individual who has dedicated his life to serving others, the Reverend Dr. Ronald L. Bailey, D. Min., who on April 26 of this year was elevated to the position of Bishop by the Love Gospel Assembly, a non-denominational church serving over 2,500 members within my Congressional district in the South Bronx.

Dr. Bailey was born and raised in Harlem, New York, and is the Senior Pastor of Love Gospel Assembly, one of the larger multi-faceted, multi- cultural ministries in New York City.

Dr. Bailey was ordained in 1987 by the late Bishop Gerald Julius Kaufman, founder of Love Gospel Assembly, who also mentored Dr. Bailey in full-time ministry for eight years. Dr. Bailey's life and work as he labored beside Dr. Kaufman have built on the foundation of ministry to and for the poor and inner cities that was clearly articulated and demonstrated by Dr. Kaufman and continued the important work of Love Gospel Assembly.

Dr. Bailey has a Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies, a Master of Arts in Theology from Evangelical Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry (D. Min) from United Theological Seminary in conjunction with Robert Schuller's School for Preaching (Fuqua School of Communication).

Dr. Bailey sits on the Board of Directors for The Urban Youth Alliance Inc., the Steering Committee for the Bronx National Day of Prayer, and the Board of Directors for the Concerts of Prayer, Greater New York.

Dr. Ronald L. Bailey has been married for 35 years to Dorothy Bailey and they have three children, Ron, Jr., Rachel, and Danielle and one grandchild, Anaiah.

Among other things, Dr. Bailey serves meals to over 700 people weekly, conducts a food pantry and provides clothing to the needy.

As it is written in Hebrews 6:10, ``for God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them,'' the community recognizes him and honors him with this consecration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to and in congratulating the Reverend Dr. Ronald L. Bailey, D. Min. on his consecration as Bishop of Love Gospel Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, it is with joy that I rise today to once again pay tribute to Bronx Community College, which will hold its 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame 10K Run on Saturday, May 3, 2003.

The Hall of Fame 10K Run was founded in 1978 by Bronx Community College's third president, Dr. Roscoe C. Brown and today continues to be an event of great significance. Its mission is to highlight the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, a national institution dedicated to those who have helped to make America great.

The 10K race tradition continues under the stewardship of Dr. Carolyn G. Williams. Dr. Williams has endorsed and follows the commitment made by Dr. Brown to promote physical fitness and highlight higher education.

As one who has run the Hall of Fame 10K Run, I can attest that the excitement it generates brings the entire City together. It is a celebration and an affirmation of life. It feels wonderful to enable more than 400 people to have this experience--one that will change the lives of many of them. It is an honor for me to join once again the hundreds of joyful people who will run along the Grand Concourse,

University Avenue and West 181 Street and to savor the variety of their celebrations. There is no better way to see our Bronx community.

The Annual Hall of Fame 10K Run is joined by a 2 Mile Fitness Walk and, for the second year, a Hall of Fame Excalibur One Mile Boys and Girls Youth Challenge for 9 to 18 years olds.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the individuals and participants who are making the Bronx Community College's 25th Annual Hall of Fame 10K run possible.

Mr. Speaker, the following tribute to Roberto Clemente by Mr. Mayoral

appears in English in the Congressonal Record, No. 54, Book 11, page E674. I now submit the following Spanish version for the Record as well.

Roberto Clemente

(Por Luis R. Mayoral)

Temprano una manana en diciembre de 1987, mientras charlaba

desayunando en un campo de golf en Dorado, Puerto Rico, con

el golfista Chi Chi Rodriguez el dijo de Roberto Clemente,

``Si yo fuera la mitad del hombre que el fue, diria que yo

seria un hombre muy afortunado.''

Lisas palabras me impactaron tan profundamente que desde

entonces comence a pensar, mas que antes, en el Pirata de

Pittsburgh miembro del Salon de la Fama, como un icono

inspiracional mas que un jugador marcadamente dotado.

La muerte de Clemente el 31 de diciembre de 1972, causo

luto pues me enfrente a la realidad de que jamas compartiria

tiempo preciado con un querido amigo en eso de ``arreglar''

al mundo, sabiendo que el internacional mundo del beisbol

habia perdido por siempre a una figura que personificaba

excelencia.

Muchas personas pensaban en el como el Jackie Robinson de

America Latina en la busqueda de igualdad para los peloteros

hispanos . . . pero yo siempre le vi como nuestro Joe

DiMaggio, pues el nos brindaba esperanza con su toque de

heroe perfecto.

Roberto fue un hombre sencillo, pero de palabras profundas

que poseyo un interes genuino en la humanidad.

La ultima vez que le vi fue varios dias antes de su

inesperada muerte mientras en el Estadio Hiram Bithom en San

Juan el dirigia la colecta de bienes destinados a las

victimas de terremotos en Nicaragua.

Esa tarde, en sus ojos vi la seriedad y dedicacion que

tantas veces vi mientras el vestia un uniforme de beisbol.

Momentos antes de salir del estadio, me invito a su hogar

en la vispera de Ano Nuevo.

Eso jamas se logro; pues en el segundo que arribo el ano

1973, ya el Ilevaba de muerto unas dos horas cuarenta y cinco

minutos en las profundidades de Oceano Atlantico a una milla

al norte de Puerto Rico.

Roberto vivio 38 anos, 4 meses, y 13 dias. Ese fue el

tiempo que le tomo para convertirse en un miembro del Salon

de la Fama, en una mejor persona y leyenda.

Mr. Speaker I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Roberto Clemente, an outstanding athlete and a very successful baseball player. Thirty years ago, in 1973, the National Baseball Hall of Fame held a special election for Roberto Clemente, who had died on New Year's Eve, 1972, while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He was the first Latino elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Born on August 18, 1934 in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente Walker's pride and humanitarianism won him universal admiration. Despite an unorthodox batting style, the Pirates' great won four batting crowns and amassed 3,000 hits. He was equally brilliant in right field, where he displayed a precise and powerful arm. Clemente earned National League Most Valuable Player honors in 1966, but achieved his greatest fame in the 1971 World Series, when he batted .414. Tragically, Clemente's life ended at age 38--the victim of a plane crash while flying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.

Mr. Speaker, in 1952 Roberto Clemente attended an open tryout in Santurce, sponsored by the Brooklyn Dodgers' Al Campanis. There were seventy-two kids at the tryouts that day. First Campanis had everyone line up in center field and throw to home plate. Throw after throw fell short until young Roberto's turn. He came up and threw a straight hard throw that hit the catcher directly in the mitt with a loud pop. So Campanis had him throw another one, which was as good as the first. Campanis then told the rest of the 71 young men to go home and asked Roberto to stay. Next, Campanis had Roberto run the 60-yard dash. He was amazed when Roberto ran it in a sizzling 6.4 seconds. Next, they moved to the batting cages. For 20 minutes, Roberto hit one line drive after another. Campanis and the Dodgers wanted to sign him right then, but he was only 17 and he had to be 18 before he would be able to play in the Major Leagues. Three days later, he signed with a local semi-pro team the Santurce Crabbers.

Clemente played with the Crabbers for 1 season before signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954. After spring training he did not join the Dodgers in Brooklyn, he was sent to the Dodgers' farm team, the Montreal Royals. Roberto was not happy and was homesick and in 1954, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh, Pirates.

Clemente was only 20 years old and spoke almost no English at all. Pittsburgh was not integrated in 1955. When he went to Forbes Field he saw only two other black players. He encountered a lot of racial discrimination, starting in spring training when a Pittsburgh sportswriter labeled him a ``Puerto Rican hot dog.'' His answer to all the social injustices he encountered was: ``I don't believe in color; I believe in people.''

Clemente got off to a great start with the Pirates. He had an inside- the-park home run against the Yankees, and drove in a run that gave the Pirates their first win of the season. He played right field for the Pirates.

Clemente played 5 seasons with the Pirates before they finally won the World Series. The year 1960 was the year the Pirates could do no wrong. Led by Roberto Clemente, Kick Groat, Bill Mazeroski, Bill Virdon, and Dick Stuart, Pittsburgh snatched first place in May and never let go. They won 23 games by their final at-bat. In May, Clemente had a.353 batting average. In one game at Forbes Field, he caught a ball and went head first into a concrete wall but somehow managed to throw his head back and only cut his chin. The Pirates faced the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series. The Pirates took the series into the seventh game. Few people expected the Pirates to win, but sure enough, they pulled it off. The Pirates won the game in the ninth inning when Bill Mazeroski smashed the ball over the fence for a home run.

The next season Clemente won the National League batting title and a Gold Glove for the bestfielding right fielder. In 1966, he won his first MVP award.

Four years later, in 1970, Clemente was honored on Roberto Clemente Night at the Pirates' new Three Rivers Stadium. He was given a lot of awards and gifts including a scroll signed by over 300,000 people in Puerto Rico. Thousands of dollars were also donated in his name to his favorite charity in Pittsburgh. The entire ceremony was broadcast on radio and TV in Puerto Rico.

In 1971, the Pirates again won the World Series again with Clemente finishing the series with a .414 batting average and several spectacular catches. In 1972, he had another great season. During the season, he hit his 3,000th career hit. Only 10 players before him had done that.

In December 1972, a massive earthquake struck the Central American country of Nicaragua. An estimated 7,000 people were killed, and thousands of people were left without food, shelter, or water. Nicaragua badly needed help. So Clemente was asked to be an honorary chairman of the Puerto Rican Earthquake Relief Committee, and he immediately agreed.

He started to raise money as fast as he could. Contributions of food, money, clothing, and medicine poured in and were sent to Nicaragua. However, some of the supplies were being stolen and sold for high prices. When Roberto heard what was going on he was furious, and decided to accompany the next planeload of supplies to Managua and supervise their distribution himself.

On December 31, 1972 at 9:22 p.m., the old DC-7 rumbled down the runway and took off. Before long, there was trouble. One of the engines exploded so the pilot turned the plane around and started heading back. However, there were more explosions and the plane went down in the Caribbean Sea. Unfortunately, Roberto Clemente was not rescued and died at sea.

Through his dedication, discipline, and success in baseball, Roberto Clemente served as a role model for millions of youngsters in the United States and Puerto Rico who dream of succeeding, like him, in the world of baseball.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Mr. Roberto Clemente for his contributions and dedication to baseball, as well as for serving as a role model for the youth of Puerto Rico and the U.S.A.

Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago, in 1973, the National Baseball Hall of Fame held a special election for Roberto Clemente, who had died on New Year's Eve while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He was the first Latino elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame. In celebrating this milestone, my dear friend Mr. Luis Rodriguez Mayoral wrote a very fitting tribute to Clemente that is posted on the National Baseball Hall of Fame's website. Mr. Rodriguez Mayoral has written, and continues to write extensively, on the long and distinguished career of Mr. Clemente.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame gave special thanks to Luis Rodriguez Mayoral for his account of Roberto Clemente. After 9 years as a Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers official, Luis is in his 34th year in baseball. He is the author of five baseball books and he coordinated Major League Baseball's Latin American Baseball Players' Days for 25 years. A veteran of over 2,000 MLB radio broadcasts, he has been honored by the Puerto Rican, Mexican and Laredo-Texas Halls of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert into the Record the latest tribute to Roberto Clemente by Mr. Rodriguez Mayoral, and I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Roberto Clemente and congratulating Luis Rodriguez Mayoral for a well written piece.

Roberto Clemente

(By Luis R. Mayoral)

Early one December 1987 morning, while chatting over

breakfast at a golf course in Dorado, Puerto Rico, golfer Chi

Chi Rodriguez said of Roberto Clemente, ``If I were half of

the man that he was, I would say I was a very fortunate

man.''

Those words impacted me so profoundly that since then I

began thinking of the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famer, more

than ever, as an inspirational icon rather than as a superbly

gifted player.

Clemente's death on December 31, 1972, provoked

bereavement, for I faced the reality of no longer sharing

precious time with a dear friend trying to ``fix'' the world,

while knowing that the international world of baseball had

forever lost a figure that personified excellence.

Many thought of him as Latin America's Jackie Robinson in

search of equality for Hispanic players...but I also saw him

as our Joe DiMaggio, for he gave us hope with his touch of a

perfect hero.

Roberto was a man of simple, yet profound words who had a

genuine interest in humanity.

The last time I saw him was several days prior to his

untimely death while at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. He

directed the collection of goods destined to earthquake

victims in Nicaragua.

That afternoon, in his eyes I saw the seriousness and

dedication I had seen so many times while he wore a baseball

uniform.

Moments before leaving the stadium, he invited me to his

home on New Year's Eve.

That never came to be; as the second 1973 arrived he had

been dead for some two hours

and forty-five minutes in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean a

mile north of Puerto Rico. Roberto lived 38 years, 4 months

and 13 days. That's how long it took him to become a Hall of

Famer, a better person and a legend.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to pay tribute to Mrs. Rossana Rosado, Publisher and CEO of the El Diario-La Prensa who will be honored on Thursday, March 20, 2003, on the 90th anniversary of the newspaper, the oldest Spanish-language daily in the United States. I regret that I am unable to join her and her colleagues for the 18th Annual National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) Convention and luncheon in Las Vegas. l would very much have enjoyed celebrating this well-deserved recognition with her.

For 90 years, EI Diario-La Prensa has been instrumental to the Hispanic community in the Northeast, providing the Hispanic community in the United States a vehicle of communication within itself, which has contributed to its development and strengthening and empowered Hispanics to attain significant achievements in the political, economic and social arena. Furthermore, for nine decades, El Diario-La Prensa has informed our Latino community, serving as an ever present link between them and their families and friends in their countries of origin in Latin America and the Caribbean, during times of political turmoil and times of stability, times of success as well as times of economic downturn, joyous occasions or sad times.

Mr. Speaker, good writing is indeed an art. From 1995 to 1999, Ms. Rosado was responsible for the newsroom operations as El Diario's Editor in Chief, becoming the first Latina and one of just a few women in this country to hold this important position at a major newspaper. Her writing, eloquent and to the point, has won the attention and admiration of El Diario-La Prensa readers like me. I commend her for her ability to bring style to provocative and powerful commentary. Editorials that grab the reader with candid and passionate writing about politics and other issues affecting New York City communities deserve recognition.

In September 1999, after dedicating to El Diario-La Prensa nine of her seventeen years in the news media, Ms. Rosado was promoted to Publisher and CEO to oversee the day-to-day operations of the entire paper. She, once again, became the first Latina in the U.S. to hold such a high-ranking post in the newspaper-publishing world. This move provided her with the opportunity to cross over to the business and revenue side of the newspaper industry, a new frontier for Latinos in general and for women in particular. It is interesting to mention that her first experience as a reporter was at El Diario-La Prensa where she covered my home borough of the Bronx as well as City Hall, and wrote a weekly column. Ms. Rosado has had a diverse career in the N.Y. media, which includes work at radio and television stations, print media and public service.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Rosado is the recipient of several prestigious awards including an Emmy for her work in television. Among many tributes, in March 2002, she received the NYS Governor's award for Excellence- ``Women Sustaining the American Spirit''--in honor of Women's History Month. How fitting, Mr. Speaker. Ms. Rosado served as a member of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's transition team. She serves as Director on the board of United Way of NYC and September 11th Fund, as well as in other organizations. She is a graduate of Pace University, in White Pains, New York where she received her B.A. in journalism.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Rossana Rosado for her leadership and extraordinary contributions to the advancement of journalism and in wishing her continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to congratulate the member of the Morris Robotics Team from Morris High School in the South Bronx for their remarkable work and achievements.

Three years ago, thanks to Gary Israel, a history teacher, and a $5,000 award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the school started a robotics team. Mr. Israel campaigned to raise $25,000 from local sponsors, encouraged skeptical parents and faculty, and gathered a team of 15 students who built a robot named Bulldog. This robot placed 3rd out of 38 at the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) regional competition in New York, demonstrating the robot's agility and basketball skills, as well as its creators' teamwork. The Morris team worked with graduate students from Columbia University's School of Engineering to construct the robot, combining the technical knowledge of the engineers with the mechanical abilities of the teenagers.

Morris High School has received support from many sponsors, such as: the Columbia University School of Engineering, the Fu Foundation and Applied Science, NASA, the

North Folk Bank, the McGraw Hill Companies, the New York Yankees, ABC, and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Secretary of State Colin Powell, a graduate of Morris High, presented the members of the Morris Robotics Team a gold coin in honor of the team's achievements over the past three years.

Mr. Speaker, the Morris Robotics Team has mentored students at I.S. 162 since they decided to join in the FIRST Lego League competition and looked for support. Morris High School students have been working at the school since October 2002, and thanks to this, on February 8, 2003, members of the Morris Robotics Team and I.S. 162 students competed for and won the 2003 First Lego Competition Director's Award. The Director's Award is given to the team that is best in five key elements of the Technical and Team Performance Awards.

Morris High School also competed the weekend of March 8 with 60 other high schools around the country in competition for mentoring/coaching a winning middle school team. The Morris Robotics Team is the only New York City high school that has traveled to Richmond, Virginia, to compete in the NASA/Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) South- Atlantic Regional FIRST Robotics Competition on March 6-8. On Friday, at the conclusion of the first day of competition, Morris High School won the Imagery Award, which celebrates attractiveness in engineering and outstanding visual aesthetic integration of the robot and the team appearance. At the end of the competition on Saturday, March 9, the Morris Robotics Team received the top trophy as the South Atlantic FIRST Robotics Winner. The Morris Team has the opportunity to be a dual regional winner when they compete in the New York City High School Robotics Regionals on March 21 and 22.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize the members of the team: Sherelle Benjamin, Malik Shuford, Sashanna Saunchess, Angel Alvarado, Walson Ty, Makeba Higgins, Tyrue Green, Jose Vanderpool, Mark Banks, Isaias Guity, Alison Green, Cruz Mayelyn De Los Santos, Uche Nwosu, Daniel Nwosu and Edwin Ruiz.

This team has demonstrated that they have the ability and the desire to be assets and role models in our community. We are proud of their accomplishments and I am confident they will continue to be successful. They are terrific examples for students throughout our schools and communities.

Again, I congratulate them and I wish them the best of luck in their future activities and competitions. They are our champions and our future leaders!

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to and congratulating the Morris High School Robotics Team in the South Bronx.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to congratulate The Lola de Rodriguez de Tio Academy of Future Technologies at Intermediate School 162 from the South Bronx which, on Saturday, February 8, 2003, won the 2003 New York City FIRST Lego League Tournament. This is a highly competitive tournament that trains students to use Lego blocks and computers to solve challenges that urban planners face every day.

The New York City competition included 115 schools from the five boroughs, including Manhattan East, IS 72--The Rocco Laurle School, Brooklyn Tech, Hunter High School, IS 98K--Bay Academy, MS 51K, Satellite West Academy, IS 227Q--Louis Armstrong, MS 217 Q, IS 90M-- Mirabel Sisters, IS 22--Mott Hall, IS 187--The Christa McAulliffe School in Brooklyn, among many others.

Despite being a rookie team they went on to win every category-- including the robotics competition and the research competition. They also won the 2003 First Lego League Bronx Ryders Winner of the Top Prize Director's Award.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize the members of the team. From the 8th Grade Team they are: Terrell Washington, Byron Flores, Durrell Washington, Hazel Rivera, Elyse Arroyo, Noel Pichardo, Valentine Dixon and Austin Leak. From the 7th Grade Team they are: Jose Verdejo, David Quinones, Nikisha Romsaran, Nickolos Rivera, Joshua Rodriguez, Natholy Torella, Jose Matos and Alexis Herrera.

The team will be heading to Houston, Texas to compete in the National Tournament from April 10-April 13. Only 20 teams out of 2500 nationwide have been chosen to compete. We wish these amazing young people from the South Bronx the best of luck.

They have demonstrated that they have the ability and the desire to be assets and role models in our community. We are proud of their accomplishments and I hope they will continue to be successful. They are terrific examples for young men and women throughout our communities.

Again, I congratulate and I wish them the best of luck in their future enterprises. They are our Champions!

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to and congratulating The Lola de Rodriguez de Tio Academy of Future Technologies at Intermediate School 162 from the South Bronx.