September 20, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6535 

critical work of Hispanic-serving Institutions across the United States. 

These resolutions celebrate the immense contributions of Hispanic Americans to our great Nation and pay tribute to over 300 nonprofit Hispanic-serving Institutions for their important 

role in educating and empowering Hispanic youth. 

Latinos have a long and decorated 

history in the United States, full of extraordinary contributions to America’s 

past, present, and future. Latinos have 

proudly served, helped build, and defended our country and have done so 

for hundreds of years, honorably serving in every action since before the 

founding of the Nation. 

Hispanics fought alongside patriots 

in the American Revolution and rallied 

in the Civil War, serving bravely in 

both the Union and Confederate armies. Latinos rode in Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War, received Congressional Medals of Honor in both world 

wars, and made the ultimate sacrifice 

for our country in Korea and Vietnam. 

As of July 2012, over 143,000 Hispanic 

Americans were actively serving with 

distinction in the U.S. Armed Forces, 

including 19,752 Hispanics serving in 

Afghanistan. 

Just as Hispanics have defended our 

Nation, we have also helped shape and 

build it. That is why I also want to 

honor the exemplary institutions that 

are making vital investments in the 

next generation of Latino leaders. 

Hispanic-serving Institutions are colleges or universities where total Hispanic enrollment constitutes a minimum of 25 percent of the student body, 

and they serve over half of all Hispanic 

students in the United States. As a 

product of a Hispanic-serving Institution in my home State of New Jersey, 

my experience is a living testimony of 

the important role that HSIs play in 

providing opportunities to Hispanic 

students in States such as Arizona, 

California, Colorado, Connecticut, 

Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New 

York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and the Commonwealth of 

Puerto Rico. 

With these resolutions, we celebrate 

the contributions of all Latinos and 

the institutions that serve the Hispanic community in the United States. 

This month, let us celebrate not only 

Hispanic Heritage, but Hispanic-serving Institutions as well. 

I am pleased with the overwhelming 

support these important resolutions 

have from my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, particularly 

Leader REID and Senator CORNYN. This 

outpouring of bipartisan support is a 

strong indication of how far our community has come and how important 

our contributions are to this country. I 

look forward to celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos and our valuable contributions to this Nation. 

TRIBUTE TO CORTNEY JORDAN 

Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I 

wish to recognize Nevada’s own 

Cortney Jordan for her outstanding 

performance in the 2012 London 

Paralympic Games. 

Cortney participated in six events: 

the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 

and 200 individual medley. She brought 

home four medals for Team USA; three 

silver (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 

400m freestyle) and one bronze (100m 

backstroke). 

Cortney had her first taste of 

Paralympic medal glory at the 2008 

Paralympic Games in Beijing, where 

she was awarded four medals; one 

gold—50m free, two silver—400m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and one bronze— 

200m IM. 

This 21-year-old Paralympic medalist 

is not only a remarkable athlete, but a 

talented student and an aspiring elementary school teacher. Recognized for 

her commitment to school and community involvement, Cortney is a Nevada 

Interscholastic Activities Association 

Top Ten Scholar Athlete and an Academic All-American. Serving as a role 

model for all Nevadans, I wish Cortney 

continued success on her future endeavors. 

On behalf of the residents of the Silver State, I am proud to recognize 

Cortney’s accomplishments. Today, I 

ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating a talented Nevadan as we 

show our pride and support for the entire U.S. Paralympics Team. 

f 

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS 

60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 

LINKS, INCORPORATED 

∑ Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I rise 

today, September 20, to celebrate the 

60th anniversary of the Denver, CO 

chapter of The Links, Incorporated, 

and to honor dedicated women actively 

working to build a stronger community 

in the greater Denver area. As the father of three daughters, these women 

exemplify role models and are leaders 

in our community in the areas of business, civic duties, mentorship, activism, and volunteer work. 

Founded in 1946, The Links is one of 

the oldest and largest volunteer service 

organizations committed to enriching, 

sustaining, and ensuring the culture 

and economic survival of people of African descent. Their membership consists of over 12,000 professional women 

of color in 276 chapters located in 42 

States, the District of Columbia, and 

the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. 

The Links focus on our five major 

facets: national trends and services, 

the arts, services to youth, international trends and services, and 

health and human services. The combined 276 chapters contribute more 

than 500,000 documented hours of community service. 

For over 50 years, the Denver chapter 

has sponsored numerous projects including support to Stovall Care Center 

nursing home; Cleo Parker Robinson 

Dance; the George Washington Carver 

Day Care Center; the East High School 

Community Forum; and the Marcus 

Garvey Center at the University of 

Northern Colorado. Internationally, 

this chapter has also helped to increase 

access to basic necessities such as 

water by building water wells in African countries. 

This chapter has honored and awarded scholarships to high school and college students. Our current mayor, the 

Honorable Michael B. Hancock, received one of these scholarships to help 

him attend Hastings College in Nebraska. 

Since 2009, the Denver chapter has 

made a tradition of targeting programs 

that aim to close the achievement gap 

of middle school students at Hallett 

Fundamental Elementary School in 

Denver. In response to the academic 

needs of youth at Hallett, they have 

tutored, mentored, donated computers, 

and coordinated cultural, career, 

health, and violence prevention programs. 

As the former superintendent of Denver Public Schools and a person devoted to enhancing volunteerism and 

commitment to community service 

among Americans of all ages, I am 

proud to honor the Denver chapter of 

The Links, Incorporated. 

Mr. President, our Nation is profoundly affected by the service of volunteers. Generations of individuals 

from different backgrounds have served 

each other and have focused on making 

our communities a better place for all. 

Please join me in celebrating the 60th 

anniversary of Denver’s chapter of The 

Links, Incorporated, and their commitment to purposeful service and transformational programs to enrich the 

quality of life for local, national, and 

global communities everywhere.

f 

∑ 

REMEMBERING KENYON MARC 

YOUNGSTROM 

∑ Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask my 

colleagues to join me in honoring the 

life of Kenyon Marc Youngstrom, a 

dedicated husband, proud father, loving 

son, devoted friend, and respected law 

enforcement official. Officer 

Youngstrom lost his life serving the 

California Highway Patrol on September 5, 2012. He was 37 years old. 

Kenyon Youngstrom was born in 

Pasadena, CA and raised in Riverside. 

He served as a U.S. Army Reservist 

from 1994 to 2000, attaining the rank of 

Specialist. He graduated from the California Highway Patrol Academy in 

February 2006 and served at both CHP 

Headquarters and CHP’s Contra Costa 

Area Office. 

Officer Youngstrom served his community with a heroism that extended 

beyond his own life. As the Vallejo 

Times Herald wrote, Officer 

Youngstrom ‘‘wanted his organs donated so that if something did ever 

happen to him in the line of duty, others might live even if he would not.’’ 


tjames on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE