Recognizing the Legacy of Dr. Tom Rivera

Floor Speech

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Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to follow the words of my good friend, Dr. Raul Ruiz, as we honor this towering figure from our region, the Inland Empire.

For more than 50 years, Dr. Rivera served our community as an educator, administrator, and community leader. His passing in March was felt by all of us, and it left too large of a void for just one of us to fill.

Back in 1985, our region suffered. More than half of the Latino students in our region didn't finish high school.

While others ignored the problem, Dr. Tom rolled up his sleeves as an elected school board member, as a lifelong educator. He joined with community leaders to form the Inland Empire Future Leaders Program to help these students stay in school.

As a result, more than 99 percent of the students who go through this program have graduated high school. Ninety percent have gone to college. Dr. Tom's positive influence, his beliefs in what we could become if given the opportunity, helped shape doctors, lawyers, teachers, and, yes, a couple Members of Congress.

Dr. Tom gave working-class kids like me a chance for a better life, for ourselves and for our family, and he taught us that no matter where life takes us, never lose sight of our heritage and our culture, and always give back to our community.

It is a testament to his unwavering faith in our young people that Dr. Raul Ruiz and I are standing on the House floor today. I was proud to call Dr. Tom a mentor, a friend, and importantly, a constituent. He would always ask me how my grandmother was doing. He went to school on the south side of Colton with members of my family, and he always took the time to ask how they were doing, what they were up to, how he could help them.

My thoughts go out to his wife, Dr. Lily Rivera, his children, and grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, now it is our responsibility, those of us in roles of making policy, those of us in our communities who strive to make our community a better place, it is up to us to carry his legacy forward and to lift up the next generation of Latino leaders.

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