E1482 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 11, 2012 

mornings, the congregation also partakes in 

the Synagogue’s educational and social endeavors. Encouraging participating of younger 

generations on a spiritual level, the Temple 

also holds a Junior Congregation and Tot 

Shabbat services. Ranging from a Nursery 

School and Kindergarten to Youth groups, 

Senior Group, and a Women’s league, White 

Meadow Temple offers everyone a chance to 

get involved and find their niche both in and 

out of the Jewish community. 

After 60 years of passionate leadership, 

White Meadow Temple is currently overseen 

by President Marc Levine and services are 

lead by Rabbi Benjamin Adler. May that clear 

commitment and involvement of the congregation in the community uphold the mission of 

the White Meadow Temple and continue to inspire future generations! 

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues 

to join me in congratulating The White Meadow Temple of Rockaway Township, Morris 

County, New Jersey, on reaching their 60th 

Anniversary. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO MITLA CAFE ́

HON. JOE BACA OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask 

Congress to pay tribute to an outstanding 

business in San Bernardino, California—Mitla 

Cafe ́. This September, Mitla Cafe ́ will be celebrating its 75th year as their family restaurant 

serving the people of Southern California. 

Mitla Cafe ́ is the oldest continually operating 

restaurant in San Bernardino, and one of the 

oldest Mexican restaurants in Southern California. Mitla Cafe ́ serves standard Mexican 

fare—tacos, burritos, and fresh tortillas. They 

pride themselves in fresh food, which keeps 

the locals coming back for more. Today, the 

restaurant remains in its original location, off 

historic Route 66 in San Bernardino. 

This family owned business was founded in 

1937, by Lucia and Salvador Rodriguez. Until 

her passing in 1981, Lucia ran the restaurant 

with the help of her daughters Theresa, Helen, 

and Vera. After the death of her mother, Vera 

continued to manage the restaurant with the 

same understanding and passion for the community that her mother held. After Vera 

passed away in 1984, Lucia and Salvador’s 

youngest son, Frank Montano, and his wife 

Irene continued the family business. Today, 

Mitla Cafe ́ is managed by the founders’ greatgrandson, Steven Oquendo. The family restaurant atmosphere and exceptional food 

keeps residents coming to Mitla Cafe ́ even 

after they have moved out of the area. From 

my own personal experience, my family and I 

have always enjoyed dining at Mitla Cafe ́. 

To celebrate their 75th year anniversary, 

Mitla Cafe ́ hosted an event on Saturday September 8th, which featured live music by the 

Scott Martin Latin Soul Band. Earlier this 

June, Mitla Cafe ́ also hosted an anniversary 

event, featuring Bruce Conte and the Jazz 

Junkies. 

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me 

in celebrating San Bernardino’s oldest restaurant, Mitla Cafe ́ for their 75th anniversary. 

HONORING PEGGY COMBS’ PROMOTION TO BRIGADIER GENERAL 

IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY 

HON. RICHARD L. HANNA OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

recognize Peggy Combs on her promotion to 

Brigadier General in the United States Army. 

Brigadier General Combs is the commandant of the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School at Fort 

Leonard Wood, MO. The change of command 

ceremony was streamed live to her hometown 

American Legion, R.K. Parkhurst Post 1448 in 

Oriskany, NY, where both she and her parents 

are members. Approximately 1,400 members 

of the community gathered to watch the ceremony. 

Brigadier General Combs is the first female 

general officer to hail from the upstate New 

York community, and is the first general with 

ties to Oriskany since Gen. Nicholas Herkimer, 

who led local militia during the famed battle of 

Oriskany during the Revolutionary War. 

Brigadier General Combs is the eldest of 

Jack and Pat Huther’s four children and is a 

1981 graduate of Oriskany Central School. 

Brigadier General Combs was the first member of her family to go to college. In 1985, she 

graduated from the esteemed Syracuse University and received her direct commission as 

a second lieutenant through the university’s 

Army ROTC program, where she was a distinguished military graduate. Together with her 

husband Brad, they have raised three grown 

children. Brigadier General Combs stands as 

a role model for women and female soldiers 

throughout the United States of America. Only 

in America can a young girl from rural upstate 

New York climb the ranks of the best Army in 

the world. 

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Congress and the 

United States of America, I would like to recognize Brigadier General Peggy Combs on 

her promotion in the United States Army. Brigadier General Combs has been an asset not 

only to the United States Army but to the people of New York State and certainly Oneida 

County and her hometown of Oriskany. It is an 

honor and a privilege to applaud Brigadier 

General Combs’ promotion and I wish her 

great success as she continues her upward 

journey in the United States Army. 

f 

CONSTITUTION DAY 2012 

CELEBRATION—MIAMI 

HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, next 

week, Monday, September 17th is Constitution 

Day. 

This day marks the 225th anniversary of the 

adoption of the United States Constitution by 

our Founding Fathers. 

On that day in 1787 the members of the 

Constitutional Convention of Philadelphia 

reached a watershed moment, collectively 

adopting the Constitution that embodies the 

ideals of a new nation and a free people. 

Over the course of this upcoming week, 

Americans from all walks of life will gather to 

commemorate this sacred document by collectively reading the Constitution in Constitution 

Day events nationwide. 

Tomorrow, at 5:30 p.m. at the Miami History 

Museum on West Flagler Street, local law firm 

Higer, Lichter & Givner, in conjunction with 

History Miami, will host students, veterans, 

business and community leaders, and all who 

wish to join, as they gather together to read 

and honor the Constitution. 

This is a wonderful tradition, and I strongly 

encourage everyone to take part in this important event. 

f 

H. RES. 484 AND H.R. 1410 

HON. JAMES P. MORAN OF VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong 

support of the two bills before us on human 

rights in Vietnam. These bills will enhance 

U.S. efforts to promote media and religious 

freedom in Vietnam, while communicating our 

concern and desire to protect the courageous 

advocates for freedom who risk everything to 

change their country for the better. I urge my 

colleagues to support both. 

H. Res. 484 condemns the increasing repression by Vietnam’s government of community organizers, bloggers, and democracy activists. Across the world, social media has empowered people to push for the rights that 

should be inherent in their citizenship. It has 

been like a wind filling the sails of movements 

pushing for more freedom, stronger accountability, and greater commitment to justice. 

But we cannot forget that behind these social media are courageous individuals who risk 

everything to achieve those goals. This bill will 

make it clear to the government of Vietnam 

that their use of vague national security provisions in the penal code has been noted, and 

that the U.S. Congress will continue to press 

for freedom for people who are swept into 

prison under such shameful circumstances. 

People like Nguyen Quoc Quan, a peaceful 

democracy activist and a U.S. citizen, who 

was arrested while visiting his home country. 

Recently, his prison sentence under one article has been extended four months under another. He was charged with terrorism under 

Article 88, and then the prosecutor rescinded 

that judgment and extended his jail term for 

‘‘attempting to overthrow the government’’ 

under Article 79. We call this what it is: arbitrary, cruel, and unfair, and with this bill we 

call on the Vietnamese authorities to release 

all political prisoners, especially activists, writers, and bloggers who have been imprisoned 

under these provisions of the Vietnamese 

criminal code. 

H.R. 1410 emphasizes that, while the 

United States will continue to work together 

with the Government of Vietnam on important 

issues of mutual concern, we will not increase 

our commitment of assistance until and unless 

they make substantial progress on media and 

religious freedoms, minority rights, access to 

U.S. refugee programs, and ending trafficking 

in persons. 

This bill will bring hope to Vietnam’s courageous democracy advocates that the United 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS