Ritchie Torres: “I rise today to honor Julio Pabon, a visionary, a fighter, and the heartbeat of the South Bronx for over five decades.…”

“I rise today to honor Julio Pabon, a visionary, a fighter, and the heartbeat of the South Bronx for over five decades. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in our resilient borough, Julio never waited for change. He built it. He founded the Coalition in Defense of Puerto Rican and Hispanic Rights, the South Bronx Community Association, the South Bronx Congress, and Discovery for Justice, turning voices into power. A pioneer in bilingual media, he launched 'La Hora Deportiva,' one of the first Spanish-English sports talk shows. He created Latino Sports, establishing the prestigious LatinoMVP award, now embraced by Major League Baseball, to celebrate Latino excellence when it was far too often overlooked. In a place too often defined by struggle, Julio chose to define the South Bronx by its potential. His legacy of vision, perseverance, and fierce cultural pride will inspire us always, and we thank him. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”