Recognizing Coach Tom Flores

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Hispanic Heritage Month. We know that millions and millions of Hispanics for generations have made so many contributions to our country in every way of life.

Today, I want to recognize the distinguished career of Coach Tom Flores, a trailblazer in the Latino community in the sport of professional football.

A son of immigrants from Mexico, a native of my hometown, Fresno, California, Coach Flores was a gifted high school and collegiate athlete and later made an indelible mark on professional football.

Playing for the Oakland Raiders' silver and black, Flores became the first Hispanic starting quarterback in the NFL.

But his success didn't stop there. After ending his playing career, he went on to Super Bowl XI as an assistant coach for the Raiders. Whether they be the Oakland Raiders, the Los Angeles Raiders, or now the Las Vegas Raiders, we all know the silver and black, with a great deal of pride.

Four years later, he led the team to victory as a head coach, becoming the first Hispanic head coach to win a Super Bowl. He did it twice.

To this day, he is only one of two people in history to win multiple Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach.

Despite his success, he never forgot where he came from. That is Tom.

We hope and pray the third time is a charm and that he will be inducted into the NFL's Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Since leaving professional football, Coach Flores has used his influence to bring educational opportunities to the valley home where he came from through the Tom Flores Youth Foundation.

He has raised nearly $2 million to support local school districts, science, art, and athletic programs. He never forgot where he came from.

Before the pandemic, he was also scheduled to be an honored guest for Fresno's annual FresYES Fest.

Sadly, despite such a decorated career, he was passed over for induction in the Professional Football Hall of Fame back in February. It was not the first time.

In January, I introduced legislation calling for the recognition of his significant achievements in the sport and for his induction into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

Recently, the Professional Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee announced Coach Flores as the single finalist in the 2021 class in a new coach category. This development is welcome news and opens the door for Coach Flores to receive the overdue recognition he deserves.

So, we recognize the important contributions Hispanic Americans have made to our culture, to our communities, in every way of life in the United States.

I urge my colleagues to support the Tom Flores resolution to honor the invaluable contribution he has made to his community, to our country, and to America's game. It is time. Honoring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, RBG.

For all Americans, I believe Friday night was a sad evening as we learned the news. Justice Ginsburg truly made a difference, both during her tenure on the Court and through her long career.

Justice Ginsburg inspired people. Justice Ginsburg inspired women. Justice Ginsburg inspired young women.

Justice Ginsburg broke the glass ceiling in so many different ways through her fierce advocacy for women's rights and civil justice.

Justice Ginsburg's keen ability to build bridges between conservatives and liberal Justices garnered the respect of all jurists, regardless of their political philosophy, something we should take note of here in the people's House of Representatives, that we bridge the gap between our political differences and remember that we are Americans first.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg always reminded us that we are Americans first and that equal justice under the law is always the credo of the American way.

Justice Ginsburg served in so many ways for so many examples on how to balance the scales of justice. Our Nation will mourn Justice Ginsburg's loss and honor her legacy for generations to come, I truly believe, because she is a role model for all.

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