Recognizing Omayra Andino

Floor Speech

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Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the public service and accomplishments of Omayra Andino, who this week completed two terms, or and 4 years, as mayor of the village of Tuckahoe, with prior service on the village board as trustee.

Mayor Andino, in her professional career, has shown executive skill and leadership as CEO of the Institute for Applied Human Dynamics, an organization that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them to live their lives on their own terms.

Managing that team and its mission across Westchester would be a task enough for anyone, but Mayor Andino added the responsibilities of elected office in Tuckahoe, a village of over 6,000 people in one compact square mile.

Tuckahoe local government has all of the responsibilities of any municipal entity: police protection, sanitation, parks and recreation, planning and land use functions, and more. Her leadership as mayor, chairing the village and the board, and providing policy direction and oversight to the professional village staff brought Tuckahoe into a new era, an era of capital improvement and better service delivery.

Her achievements come as she was the first woman and, as a Latina, the first person of color to lead the village government. She did not seek a third term and has left Tuckahoe in the capable hands of her colleague, new Mayor Cara Kronen, who was sworn in this past Monday.

Omayra has earned the respect of all of us, and we salute her as she completes her exemplary service to the people of Tuckahoe. Fair Pay for Ellie

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Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, which was recently reintroduced by Congressmen Bobby Scott and Pete Sessions.

This bill is a long, overdue modernization of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. In it, section 14(c) permitted people with disabilities to be paid less than Federal minimum wage with little hope of advancement.

Today, those employed under 14(c) waivers make an average of $3.50 per hour. While originally well-intended, section 14(c) has not lived up to its promise, and it needs to change.

Two of my constituents recognized this injustice as it relates to their loved one, a high schooler, Ellie, who wants to be paid fairly.

Over 10 days, the father-son duo ran 260 miles from New York City to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for the bill.

Their run raised national awareness, and it is now up to us to act. Together, we can support those workers by ensuring that they earn the fair pay that they deserve. Recognizing Rye High School Garnets Football Team

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Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the Rye High School Garnets football team as they head to Syracuse to compete in the New York State Athletic Championship for Class A under the JMA Wireless Dome, previously the Carrier Dome.

This Class A State championship game is much watched across the State of New York. Under the legendary 50-year leadership of Coach Dino Garr, Rye High School football teams have won four State championships and are now competing against Brighton for their fifth State championship.

This year's squad is led by quarterback Carson Miller; wide receiver Henry Shoemaker; running back Jagger Fenton; and the aptly named Charlie Garnet, Garnet being the school mascot.

Their strong offense mowed down all of the competitors in section 1 football and through five post-season games with huge margins, winning over Minisink Valley and Cornwall in the earlier games.

We salute the players and the coaches that have made the city of Rye proud. Go Garnets.

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