Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special recognition to La Salle High School as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

La Salle High School was created in 1956 at the request of the archbishop of Los Angeles, who wanted a Catholic boys high school to serve the northern and eastern sections of the San Gabriel Valley. The school was created to fulfill the mission of its founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, ``to give a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor, according to the ministry which the Church has entrusted to the Christian Brothers.'' La Salle High School opened its doors in September of 1956 to 117 ninth grade students from 14 nearby communities.

Throughout its 50-year service, the growing La Salle High School has been committed to an ethnically diverse student body. Minorities now account for 45 percent of the student body, providing students with a culturally rich learning environment, and in 1989 the decision was made to begin enrolling women. In 1991, the first coeducational classes were offered at La Salle High School to freshman, sophomore, and junior classes.

La Salle High School challenges its students with a rigorous balance of college preparatory courses, religious education, and extracurricular enrichment activities. The school's diverse and inclusive student body has continually upheld the school's strong commitment to academic excellence. Since 1960, over 5,000 students have graduated from La Salle High School, and nearly 100 percent of the graduating class have gone on to attend public and private institutions of higher education across the Nation. In 2004, La Salle received a full 6-year accreditation from both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Western Catholic Education Association.

For 50 years La Salle High School has fulfilled its commitment of service and education under the strong guidance of its faculty. With a philosophy focused on the uniqueness of the individual as a person with religious, intellectual, emotional, social, and physical potential, the faculty at La Salle High School has long provided its students with a solid educational, social, and spiritual foundation.

I ask all Members to join me today in honoring La Salle High School upon the celebration of its 50th anniversary. The entire community joins me in thanking La Salle High School for the outstanding educational opportunities that it has provided for the youth of California's 29th Congressional District.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. James Kossler. Dr. Kossler has served the community for more than 40 years in education. During this time, he devoted 19 years to Pasadena City College (PCC), 12 of which he served as President. Dr. Kossler has dedicated himself to the promotion of student success and educational achievement.

Raised in Lynwood, California, Dr. Kossler received his bachelor's degree in philosophy and english from Saint John's College, California, and later earned a baccalaureate in theology and cannon law from Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. He then obtained his Master of Science degree in school management, and his Doctor of Education degree in institutional management from Pepperdine University.

Dr. Kossler taught at numerous high schools in the Los Angeles area and also held positions at East Los Angeles College, the University of Southern California, Pepperdine University, and Long Beach City College before serving as Vice President of PCC in 1988. Since then, he has served as a member of the Chancellor's Task Force on the Community College Budget, the State Commission on Athletics, and the Community College League's Commission on Legislation and Finance. Along with his involvement in education, Dr. Kossler is also an active member in the Rotary Club of Pasadena, the Pasadena Senior Center, and the YWCA.

In October 1995, the Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Kossler as the 10th President of PCC. Throughout his 12-year tenure as President, he advocated a vision that PCC would be a learning-centered institution that focused on improving the performance standards for students. Dr. Kossler aspired to increase the success of students in the completion of courses, number of degrees and certificates awarded, and the number of students transferring to 4- year institutions.

I ask all Members to join with me in congratulating Dr. James Kossler for his dedicated service and commitment to the promotion of education. I am sure that each person positively affected by Dr. Kossler's service will also join me in wishing him much joy in the years to come and thank him for his time, his energy, and his efforts.

Madam Speaker, on the eightieth anniversary of Cesar Chavez' birth, it is appropriate to reflect on the impact his life and work has had on our Nation. As the founder of the United Farm Workers, Chavez was able to bring about great and positive change for many of the Nation's most vulnerable workers, notwithstanding the seemingly insurmountable obstacles confronting him. He was a remarkable man, who not only fought for the basic human rights of a too often neglected segment of our country, but he went on to inspire a whole new generation of activists who would later carry on his path-breaking work.

Cesar Chavez understood the poverty and disenfranchisement of his fellow farm workers, having grown up working in the fields to support his own family. He fought for fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits and humane living conditions for farm laborers around the country. And this legacy carries us forward today.

During my time in the California State Senate I supported legislation to designate a State holiday in honor of this remarkable leader. California is currently one of only eight States in the Nation that officially celebrate Cesar Chavez' accomplishments with a holiday, and it has proven an excellent opportunity to educate adults and children about his important effect on social justice and civil rights. That is why I support the effort to create a national holiday to honor Cesar Chavez and share his achievements with the entire Nation.

Cesar Chavez had a motto, si se puede (it can be done). This message continues to embody Chavez's legacy by inspiring Americans to demand social justice and civil rights. I call upon our community and our country to join me in honoring the contributions and services of a true American hero.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Lilian Kawaratani, of Monterey Park, California. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's History Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women.

Lilian was born in Honolulu, Hawaii where she was raised. She enrolled at the University of Hawaii. After completing the Fifth Year Program for Teachers, Lilian left Hawaii for New York where she attended Columbia University Teachers College and received her M.A. in

Education. In 1980, Mrs. Kawaratani received her Adult Education Designated Subjects Credential from the University of California State College.

Mrs. Kawaratani began her career teaching at Barber's Point Elementary School in Hawaii. Upon graduation from Columbia Teacher's College, Lilian moved to Monterey Park and began teaching at Euclid Ave. Elementary School in East Los Angeles. After taking time off to raise her children, Lilian returned to teaching for the Alhambra School District's Adult Education ESL program until she retired in 1999.

Lilian has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service. Lilian was a Board Member and Coordinator for the United Methodist Pre- School's Mother Helpers Program. She has held various positions for the PTA, served on the GATE Advisory Board, and volunteered as a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader. Mrs. Kawaratani has also held various offices at the California Council of Adult Education, where in 1988 she was awarded the CALCO Award for Excellence in Teaching. Lilian also serves as the Membership Chair for the Friends of Monterey Park Library Board.

Most notably, Lilian is admired for her volunteer work with the Monterey Park Library's LAMP (Literacy for All of Monterey Park) Citizenship Classes. Following her retirement, Lilian was invited to help teach Citizenship Classes for the library for two hours per week. Lilian's passion for teaching was made apparent as she spent up to eight hours a day at the library and often met one-on-one with adult learners to further prepare them for their citizenship tests and interviews. Her efforts have directly helped 50 to 100 students annually become proud new American citizens. As Lilian enters her eighth year of teaching for LAMP, she has seen over 700 students attain U.S. Citizenship and has devoted thousands of hours of service.

In addition to her many professional and personal accomplishments, Mrs. Kawaratani is a wife and mother of four children and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.

Mrs. Kawaratani's devotion to her career and her long-time commitment to the prosperity of our community serves as a true inspiration to us all. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Lilian Kawaratani.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America upon the celebration of its 80th Anniversary.

The Diocese of the Armenian Church was established on July 2, 1898 under the direction of Khrimian Hayrig, placing all Armenian Churches in the United States and Canada under the jurisdiction of the Diocesan Headquarters in Worcester, Massachusetts.

On November 28, 1927, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church was officially established by an Encyclical issued from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin by His Holiness Kevork V. Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The creation of the Western Diocese was a response to a continued and vigorous growth of the Armenian community in California and the vast distance separating the Armenian Churches in the West from the Headquarters in the East.

From its creation, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church progressed and expanded to serve the Armenian population throughout California. In 1928, the newly established Western Diocese consisted of five parishes. By 1953, the number of parishes had expanded to eight, and an additional three were added by 1957--the year that the Diocesan Headquarters relocated to Hollywood.

The Diocesan Headquarters remained in Hollywood until the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Later that year, the Diocesan Assembly decided to purchase a new Headquarters. On May 16, 1997 the Western Diocese moved to its new Headquarters in Burbank. Today, the Western Diocese is the proud owner of a multi-purpose complex where it is currently headquartered and will be the future site for the Mother Cathedral.

In addition to providing places of worship, the Western Diocese has made a strong commitment to community service. In 1963, the Diocese began to provide youth throughout the community with the opportunity to participate in a Summer Camp. In 1967 the Diocese purchased the Alta Sierra Camp providing year-round camping facilities for children, families, and organizations. The Western Diocese also publishes the bi- monthly periodical, ``The Mother Church,'' reaching 28,000 people worldwide.

I consider it a great privilege to recognize the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America for its eighty years of service to the Armenian community and I ask all Members of Congress to join me in congratulating the Western Diocese for its remarkable achievements.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special recognition to Mayfield Junior School and Mayfield Senior School as they celebrate their 75th Anniversary of Holy Child education in Pasadena, California.

In 1931, the Mayfield School was founded by the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus. Under the philosophy and tradition of Cornelia Connelly, the Mayfield Schools are committed to educating the whole child, by providing a learning environment balancing academic excellence with the arts, athletics, community service, and spiritual growth.

The Mayfield Schools embrace seven goals developed by the Society of Holy Child Jesus founder Cornelia Connelly. These goals seek to provide an intellectually challenging and creative program of study that fosters academic excellence and to create a learning environment based on trust and reverence for the dignity and uniqueness of each person.

The Mayfield Schools have long been committed to community involvement and voluntary service. Upholding their motto of Actions not Words, both students and alumni have dedicated themselves to community enrichment and demonstrated the principals of compassion, integrity and leadership--characteristic of a Mayfield education.

Under the guidance of devoted teachers and faculty, the students of the Mayfield Schools have achieved great success. Over the past 75 years, more than 2,000 young men and women have graduated from Mayfield Junior School and more that 2,800 women from Mayfield Senior School.

I ask all Members to join me today in honoring the Mayfield Junior School and Mayfield Senior School upon the celebration of their 75th Anniversary. The entire community joins me in thanking the Mayfield Schools for their outstanding educational opportunities for the youth of California's 29th District.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Margaret York, of Pasadena, CA. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's History Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women.

Margaret was born in Canton, OH, and has resided in Pasadena, CA, for over 25 years. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands and holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of Southern California. Ms. York is also a proud graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.

Ms. York is widely admired for her long career with Los Angeles law enforcement. She began her career as a police ``woman'' and eventually became the first female deputy chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

In December 2003, Ms. York became chief of the Los Angeles County Police, the fourth largest police agency in Los Angeles County and one of the largest in the State of California. With her keen leadership ability serving as her strongest asset, Chief York is responsible for 600 sworn police officers, 130 civilian employees, and for nearly 800 private security officers. Their mission is to provide a safe and secure environment for patrons, visitors, and employees of Los Angeles County facilities.

Ms. York lives by the motto ``Dedicated to the Community We Serve.'' Indeed, it is because of her unwavering dedication to the community that she volunteers her limited free time to various community organizations. Ms. York is a member and former vice chair of the Metropolitan Board of the Salvation Army and is a founding member of the Army of Angels. She is also a founding member and vice chair of the Police Historical Society. Ms. York is a member of the LA5 Rotary Club, board member of Women Against Gun Violence, and a trustee of the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles.

In addition to the plethora of professional accomplishments, Ms. York is the proud wife of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lance Ito, a mother of three children, and a grandmother to seven grandchildren.

Ms. York's devotion to her career and her long-time commitment to the prosperity of our community serve as a true inspiration to us all. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Margaret York.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Margarita Campos, of Burbank, California. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's History Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women.

Born to Cuban parents, Margarita has been a resident of Burbank, California for over forty years. Margarita received her Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from Los Angeles Mission College and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Law from the University of West Los Angeles.

Since 2001, Margarita has been the elected Burbank City Clerk and is responsible for maintaining all official city records including: keeping a complete and accurate record of all City Council, Redevelopment Agency, and related proceedings, maintaining the Burbank City Charter and Municipal Code, and conducting all municipal elections. Prior to her term as City Clerk, Margarita served as the City of Burbank Community Assistance Coordinator and the Secretary to the Mayor.

Margarita is involved with various professional organizations. She is a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, the Association of Records Managers, and the City Clerks Association of California.

In her spare time, Margarita dedicates herself to volunteering with organizations that directly benefit the Burbank community. She is a member of the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization that advocates for the improvement of government systems and aspires to impact public policies through citizen education and advocacy. Margarita served as the First Vice-President for the Zonta Club of the Burbank Area, a world-wide organization comprised of a diverse membership working together to advance the

global status of women through service and advocacy.

Margarita enjoys spending time with her family. She is a loving wife to husband Vince and proud mother to two children, Natasha and Vince.

Ms. Campos' devotion to her career and her long-time commitment to the prosperity of our community serves as a true inspiration to us all. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Sarah Tramel, of Altadena, California. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's History Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women.

Sarah was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, and relocated to Altadena, California in 1981. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in urban studies from California State University, Los Angeles. She worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District for 24 years until she retired, in 2003, from her position as telecommunication manager.

Sarah was instrumental in the opening of the Los Angeles City Child Care Center and the Pasadena Coalition for Better Schools. She also represents William Blair High School on the Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent's Advisory Board and is a Merit Badge Counselor for the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 40.

Currently, Sarah is the president of the Pasadena City College Parent Teacher Student Association. Pasadena City College is proud to be the only community college in the country with a Parent Teacher Student Association. This group is responsible for several tasks including hosting the Honors at Entrance Scholarship Program, supporting the Pasadena City College Child Development Center, and recognizing exceptional service to Pasadena City College.

Ms. Tramel is also the first vice-president of Women in Action, a group whose purpose is to work toward stimulating citizen participation, to increase community awareness, and to make minority representation in government a reality. She is an alumnus of the Gamma Phi Delta Sorority and has served at the local, regional, and national levels. She is a member of the Altadena United Methodist Church and volunteers on the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and the Finance Committee.

Most importantly, Sarah is noted for her ability to ``look after the unders of this world: the under-represented, the under-served, the under-privileged, the under-educated, and more.''

Ms. Tramel's devotion to her career and her long-time commitment to the prosperity of our community serves as a true inspiration to us all. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Patricia ``Trish'' Callaghan, of Alhambra, California. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's History Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women.

Trish was born in San Francisco, California, and was raised in the San Gabriel Valley. She earned her undergraduate degree from San Diego State University and went on to receive her postgraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Ms. Callaghan is widely admired for her long career with the Garvey Unified School District. As an educator, her goal was to make learning a joyful experience that would ``come alive'' for over a thousand middle school students. Trish set high standards for all her students and created a stimulating, challenging and meaningful learning environment that met the student's diverse needs.

While working as a full-time teacher, Trish participated in special committees and projects at both the school and district levels. She was a member of the Educational Technology Advisory Committee and the Curriculum Planning Committee. Trish was responsible for drafting grants and recruiting funds that supported the school-site technology program. Trish also authored the applications for the California Distinguished School Award in 2006 and the Title I Achieving School in 2004.

Despite her busy career as an educator, Trish has done an excellent job of following her family's motto of ``giving back to the community.'' She has been volunteering for Huntington Hospital for the past 21 years and she

is currently a board member of the Fall Food and Wine Committee. Ms. Callaghan has also done extensive work with the Junior League of Pasadena where she was involved in a variety of community projects. Through the Junior League, she was able to assist in the production of a foster family recruitment video and worked on the Pediatric Play Therapy project.

Now that she is retired, Trish intends to spend more time with family and friends, and continue her volunteer work. Trish is looking forward to working as a docent at the Japanese Garden in the Huntington Library, where she will give tours to 4th-12th grade students.

Ms. Callaghan's devotion to her career and her long-term commitment to the prosperity of our community serves as a true inspiration to us all. I ask all members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Patricia ``Trish'' Callaghan.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Diane Acosta, of San Gabriel, California. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's History Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women.

Diane was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in the San Gabriel Valley. She attended Rosemead High School and then went on to receive a bachelor's degree in social work from California State University Los Angeles.

Ms. Acosta began her career as general partner for a marketing consulting company where her clients included a regional shopping center, various hospitals, small and large businesses, and non-profit organizations. She currently is the development director for San Gabriel Union Church and Christian School where she is responsible for community outreach, fundraising, volunteer coordination, and special event planning. She has been with the church and school for the last 5 years.

Her involvement with the San Gabriel Union Church has provided Diane with a new medium for reaching out to those facing hardship. She is a member of the Deacon Ministry, a group that strives to meet the emergency physical, financial, health, and emotional needs of the church's congregation. Diane is also a member of the Outreach Ministry Teams, a group that develops new ways for the church to become a more effective community partner.

Most notably, Diane is admired for her dedication to the community she feels lucky to call home. She is a board member for both the San Gabriel and Temple City Chambers of Commerce and she is the president of the San Gabriel Community Coordinating Council. She is also a board member of the San Gabriel Community Foundation, a member of the San Gabriel Education Foundation, and has held leadership positions with local Parent Teacher Associations.

In addition to her many professional and personal accomplishments, Ms. Acosta is a wife and mother of three children. She enjoys watching her kids play sports, going on vacation, and spending time with good friends.

Ms. Acosta's devotion to her career and her long-time commitment to the prosperity of our community serves as a true inspiration to us all. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Diane Acosta.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Ms. Jasik ``Jasmen'' Jarahian. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's History Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women.

Born in Iran, Jasmen received her master's degree in accounting and held various positions with the York Shire Insurance Company in Tehran, Iran. In 1984, Jasmen moved to the United States and settled in Glendale, California. She joined Group Services and Tax Management Company, owned by her brother.

Since 1991, Mrs. Jarahian has been the general accountant/controller for the Armenian Relief Society of the Western United States of America (ARS). Mrs. Jarahian oversees a variety of funds, orphan sponsorships, and the coordinating of assistance. Her efforts have helped the Armenian Relief Society provide philanthropic assistance to isolated villages in Armenia and Artsakh (Karabagh). For almost 100 years, the Armenian Relief Society has ``brought women together to laugh or cry, cook or eat, learn or teach, always serving, always striving for something larger than ourselves.'' Mrs. Jarahian's work in our community is an ideal illustration of that mission.

In addition to her work with the Armenian Relief Society, Mrs. Jarahian is an active member of Homenetmen (Armenian General Athletic Union). She is a founding member of the Davtian-Meyramian Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization that organizes after-school programs that promote education and multiculturalism for children in elementary and middle school. Mrs. Jarahian also does volunteer work with the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry Project, a group whose mission it is to recruit and provide matched unrelated donors for bone marrow or stem cell transplantation for patients that are suffering from leukemia or other blood related illnesses.

She was named ``Mother of the Year'' by the North Hollywood ARS Meghri Chapter and was deemed an ``Honorary Artsakh Citizen'' by the Dzaghgatsogh Village. Jasmen became an honorary citizen after several years of leading efforts to renovate Dzaghgatsogh Village, including the museum, the local hall, and school. Jasmen spends her free time mentoring women and enjoys inspiring others to volunteer.

Mrs. Jarahian's devotion to her career and her long-time commitment to the prosperity of our community serves as a true inspiration to us all. I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Jasik ``Jasmen'' Jarahian.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Peggy Tsiang Cherng. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's History Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our Nation's women.

Born to Chinese parents, Dr. Cherng was raised in Burma and Hong Kong. She attended Baker University in Kansas before transferring to Oregon State University, where she earned her bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics. Dr. Cherng then received her master's degree in computer science and a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri.

Following graduation, Dr. Cherng married and settled in southern California, where she became a member of the technical team at McDonnell Douglas. Later, she worked at Comtal-3M, where her highly technical background allowed her to quickly move up the corporate ladder to become software development manager. During this time, her father and husband decided to open a restaurant they named Panda Inn-- which featured gourmet Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine--in Pasadena, California.

While at Comtal-3M, the Panda Inn business grew steadily and in 1982, Dr. Cherng decided to join the family business. As executive vice- president, Dr. Cherng's leadership and skills played a vital role in creating the vision, mission, and value statements for the Panda Restaurant Group, and established a solid foundation for future corporate growth. In 1997, Dr. Cherng served as president and in 1998, she also took on the role of CEO until 2004. During the time she held both roles, the company flourished and more than doubled in size from about 250 locations to nearly 650. In 2004, Dr. Cherng took the position of co-chair and CEO, and now focuses primarily on her co-chair responsibilities.

Dr. Cherng is a firm believer in giving back to the community. The Panda Restaurant Group has supported the community and charitable causes such as United Way, City of Hope, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Children's Miracle Network. In 1999, Dr. Cherng launched a company-wide community involvement initiative called Panda Cares, which gives back to the community and provides assistance for the care and education of children. Panda Cares has committed nearly $3 million to non-profit organizations nationwide.

Dr. Cherng is active in a number of organizations including the National Restaurant Association, the board of directors of the Methodist Hospital of Southern California, East West Bancorp, Inc., the board of visitors for the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and the board of trustees for Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Dr. Cherng's devotion to her career and her long-time commitment to the prosperity of our community serves as a true inspiration to us all. I ask all members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Dr. Peggy Tsiang Cherng.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Janet Barrie Smith of Temple City, California. Each year in March, in recognition of Women's History Month, we pay special tribute to the contributions made by our Nation's women.

Janet was born in Palo Alto, California, and has been a resident of the Temple City community for the past 25 years. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts from California State University San Diego in 1979 and her State of California teaching credential in 1980.

Mrs. Smith is a former elementary school teacher and worked for San Marino Unified School District and Monrovia Unified School District. Her greatest joy is contributing to the community in which she has raised her family. She has served four terms as the Temple City Council PTA president and has held virtually every PTA office and chairmanship at Longden Elementary School, Oak Avenue Intermediate School, and Temple City High School. Currently, she is the vice president of hospitality for the Temple City High School PTA. Janet also serves as the outreach chairman at First District PTA and the Temple City Council PTA representative.

In 2002, Janet helped develop the Temple City Schools Foundation, a fundraising organization dedicated to preserving quality programming and creating unique opportunities for students of the Temple City Unified School District. Aside from being a founding member and current board member, Janet has also served terms as secretary and vice president. Last year, Janet was the chair of a committee that raised funds for a Temple City High School Senior that was diagnosed with cancer. The overwhelming success of the event illustrated Janet's ability to bring her community together in support of a common cause.

Janet is an active supporter of the performing arts. She served on the Temple City High School Band Rose Parade Committee and helped raise over $100,000 to support the Pride of Temple City's debut in the 2004 Rose Parade. Most recently, she has chaperoned parades, competitions, and coordinated the Temple City High School week-long band camp.

Janet states her most rewarding experience is being a stay at home mother to three sons. Janet is married to Matt Smith, a member of the Temple City Unified School District Board of Education. In her very limited spare time, she enjoys baking, photography, and being creative on the computer.

Mrs. Smith's devotion to her career and her long-time commitment to the prosperity of our community serves as a true inspiration to us all. I ask all members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. Janet Barrie Smith.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Reverend Tyrone Skinner of the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena, California, as guest Chaplain of the House of Representatives.

Pastor Skinner embarked on his career as a preacher at a remarkably young age. He delivered his first public sermon at the age of 10. While at Bishop College in Dallas, Texas, in pursuit of his bachelor's degree, he joined the First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park. He earned his Master's of Divinity Degree from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1989. One year later, he became pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

Under Reverend Skinner's charismatic leadership, the Metropolitan Baptist Church has seen incredible transformations. Pastor Skinner has enriched the worship experience for 800 members and has overseen significant infrastructure improvements to the church facility. Pastor Skinner was instrumental in engaging church members in a Body and Soul program by serving as a judge at a men's cook-off and encouraging members to become more healthy physically as well as spiritually.

Pastor Skinner helped establish Praise Team, Praise Dancers, Soldiers for Christ Stomp Team, and several other ministries in the church. He also established a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Metropolitan Community Action Services Corporation, which has been a sponsor of the Young African American Male Conference.

The list of Reverend Skinner's accomplishments is long, his altruism is broad. Last year, Metropolitan celebrated its 100th anniversary, and today is a fitting capstone to his service to the church, the community and now to the country.