CONGRATULATING JOHN AVILA

On 2026-09-01, Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13) delivered a floor speech titled "CONGRATULATING JOHN AVILA" in the House.

CONGRATULATING JOHN AVILA

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 138 (Tuesday, September 1, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 138 (Tuesday, September 1, 2026)] [House] [Page H5412] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CONGRATULATING JOHN AVILA (Mr. ESPAILLAT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate a young constituent, John Avila. I first met John when he was working toward his bachelor's degree in the prelaw track of New York University. I met him outside of Our Lady of Angels Roman Catholic Church in my district, in the Bronx part of the district. As a son of Luis and Ivonne Avila, two Ecuadorian immigrants who settled in the Bronx in the 1990s, he said that he noticed disparities around him and believed that a just legal system could help bridge the opportunity gap. After graduating from NYU, he became a paralegal during COVID and enrolled in New York Law School. Through his hard work, he was able to graduate with his law degree in 2022. He now works at a personal injury firm. He says that he looks forward to mentoring other aspiring lawyers, especially children of immigrants. I congratulate John on all of his accomplishments. I know that his family is very proud of him. ____________________