IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 131 

Recognizing and honoring the lifetime contributions of Rafael Jose DiazBalart on the dedication of the Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall at the Florida 

International University College of Law. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 6, 2007 

Mr. MEEK of Florida (for himself, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. 

MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. 

FEENEY, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. MACK, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. 

WEXLER, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. MICA, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. KELLER of Florida, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. 

KLEIN of Florida, Mr. BUCHANAN, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. 

MAHONEY of Florida, Mr. BOYD of Florida, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

of Florida, and Ms. CASTOR) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing and honoring the lifetime contributions of Rafael 

Jose Diaz-Balart on the dedication of the Rafael DiazBalart Hall at the Florida International University College of Law. 

Whereas a native of Santiago de Cuba, Rafael Jose ́ DiazBalart completed his studies at the University of Havana 

with a law degree in 1919; 

Whereas soon after joining the Bar, he became a municipal 

judge in the city of Palma Soriano, where he served with 

distinction for four years until, by civil service examinaVerDate Aug 31 2005 23:47 Feb 06, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR131.IH HR131

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•HRES 131 IH 

tion, he obtained the post of civil law notary in the town 

of Banes in eastern Cuba; 

Whereas, while maintaining his law practice, Rafael Jose ́

Diaz-Balart was elected City Council President and 

Mayor of Banes; 

Whereas he was later elected Congressman and transferred 

his law practice to the city of Holguı ́n and subsequently 

to Havana, where he founded the law firm of DiazBalart, Diaz-Balart and Amador, with his son, Rafael 

Lincoln, and Rolando Amador; 

Whereas, years later, also by examination, Rafael Jose ́ DiazBalart assumed the post of Land Registrar, a prominent 

achievement for lawyers in many civil law countries, including Cuba; 

Whereas Rafael Jose ́ Diaz-Balart lived in exile after 1959, 

and became a proud citizen of the United States; 

Whereas along with his son, Rafael Lincoln Diaz-Balart, 

Rafael Jose ́ Diaz-Balart commenced law school at the 

University of Madrid, Spain, and in 1965, at age 66, 

earned a second Law Degree; 

Whereas Rafael Jose ́ Diaz-Balart died in Miami, Florida in 

1985; 

Whereas Rafael Jose ́ Diaz-Balart instilled not only in his son, 

but in his four grandsons a sense of honor and service, 

which led them to become prominent members of American society; 

Whereas his son, Rafael Lincoln, was a prominent member 

of the Cuban House of Representatives, and his 

grandsons, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart 

were elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1992 and 2002, respectively, Jose Diaz Balart 


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•HRES 131 IH 

became a prominent journalist as the Washington bureau 

chief for Telemundo Network and was the first United 

States journalist to host daily Spanish and English language newscasts, and Rafael Diaz-Balart became a 

prominent Miami investment banker; 

Whereas, on February 10, 2007, Florida International University will dedicate the Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall as the 

new home of the College of Law; 

Whereas Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall will provide a state-of-theart facility for teaching, research, and study, as well as 

scholarly and social interaction; and 

Whereas the Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall was designed by the 

internationally renowned architect Robert A. M. Stern, 

Dean of the School of Architecture at Yale University: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors 

2 the lifetime accomplishments and legacy of Rafael Jose ́

3 Diaz-Balart for his numerous contributions to democracy, 

4 and recognizes the Florida International University dedi5 cation of the Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall at the College of 

6 Law as an appropriate tribute in his memory. 

Æ 


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