Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Reverend Dr. Samuel Berry McKinney for his more than 55 years of service and leadership building Mount Zion Baptist Church and the community of Seattle, Washington.

Rev. McKinney moved to Seattle in 1958 to lead one of Seattle's oldest and most prominent Black churches. During his time as Senior Pastor, he mentored over 40 ministers and lectured throughout the nation. With an eye toward the future, Rev. McKinney also oversaw the building of the church's educational unit and encouraged economic development in the church and the community.

Rev. McKinney grew up in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1920s and 1930s as the son of a prominent and politically engaged African-American minister. He attended Morehouse College, where he was a classmate of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. He also served as a minister in Providence, Rhode Island in the mid-1950s.

When Rev. McKinney arrived in Seattle, he quickly became a leader in the movement for human rights, which included playing a major role in the Central Area Civil Rights Committee. Always committed to social justice, he was a founding member of the Seattle Civil Rights Commission and he facilitated the only visit of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Seattle.

In addition, Rev. McKinney was a founder of Liberty Bank, the first African-American-owned bank in Seattle and was the first African- American President of the Church Council of Greater Seattle. He has served on the board of the Meredith Mathews East Madison YMCA, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and the Washington Mutual Savings Bank.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the work Reverend Dr. Samuel McKinney has done for his church and the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate SSG Stephen Ryan on being honored with the Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year Award from the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's Military Affairs Committee. He is a valued NCO who also serves in the Washington Army National Guard with distinction of more than 12 years.

The Citizen-Soldier Award is given to an exemplary Soldier, Airman, Sailor, Marine, or Coast Guardsman who demonstrates Mr. Scott's belief that giving back to the community is one's responsibility.

SSG Ryan has excelled in each position he has held throughout his career. He is highly regarded in the maintenance community as one of the best practitioners of the Standard Army Maintenance System Enhanced (SAMS--E) in the Washington National Guard.

His off duty work with the 951st Maintenance Company's Family Readiness Program is a tribute to his unit and fellow soldiers. He continues to volunteer and devotes his personal time to the men and women of the 951st as a leader and mentor of our Citizen Soldiers.

For the last six years SSG Ryan has volunteered often with the Pierce County Friends and Athletes (PCFA), one of the largest independent Special Olympics programs in the State. He also is the head usher at Lakewood New Hope Community Church, where he spent a year as a board member.

The Citizen-Soldier Award memorializes Howard Scott who grew up in Tacoma and served his nation when called upon during World War II. He returned to succeed as a banker in Tacoma--giving of much his time to community service organizations, believing that service is a core responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize SSG Stephen Ryan. His dedication to serving our community is an inspiration to others.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, April 26, 2013, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 125 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1765); ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 126 (on agreeing to the Dent Amendment Number 2 to H.R. 527); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 127 (on the motion to recommit H.R. 527 with instructions); and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 128 (on passage of H.R. 527).

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Patrick R. Foster.

As a Vietnam War veteran who served in a Naval Attack Squadron and a superintendant with the city of Federal Way, Washington, Pat Foster's life was dedicated to public service. As the self-proclaimed ``CEO of potholes'' for the city, Pat supervised a staff that maintained the city's many roads and sidewalks, using his warmth and sense of humor to add a human touch in handling the multitude of requests the city received.

Pat's tireless efforts and down-to-earth demeanor led his colleagues throughout the Federal Way city government to consider him an integral part of its operations. He was trusted to develop and implement creative and resourceful solutions to the issues and challenges faced by the city and its residents, while involving others and making them feel equally important in the process. As a leader, he spared no opportunity to make sure his staff's good work received due recognition. Under Pat's leadership, his Public Works division and those who worked in it earned a great deal of respect from all. He was also so well regarded by residents that they would request assistance from him by name.

Fiercely proud of his service with the Navy, colleagues fondly remember Pat's many stories of his time in the military and remarked about the wealth of aviation knowledge he was able to share. Nowhere was this on more prominent display than during a visit to the National Air and Space Museum. During their trip to Washington, DC, they also shared an especially moving time with Pat at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Pat's unrelenting and quiet dedication to serving the public, in the military and in local government, serves as an example of the tremendous impact one outstanding person can have on his community.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize the life of Pat Foster. He is a reminder of the standards of service to which we should aspire every day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. Kelly Aramaki, who has been recognized as the 2013 Washington State Elementary Principal of the Year.

Mr. Aramaki has been principal at Beacon Hill Elementary School in Seattle since 2011. He presides over a Title 1 language-immersion international school that has more than 86 percent students of color and where more than 32 percent speak English as their second language. More than two-thirds of the students are eligible for free or reduced lunch programs. Many families are new immigrants to the United States, coming from such countries as Vietnam, China, Laos, Mexico, Guatemala, and Somalia.

Kelly is highly praised for his dedication to instructional leadership. He clears his calendar for instructional work first. He prioritizes walk-throughs, observations, teacher conferences, and professional development meetings with staff.

Mr. Aramaki, a Bellevue native, earned and a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Washington and a Master of Teaching degree from the Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City. He received his principal credentials through the University of Washington's Danforth Educational Leadership program.

Mr. Aramaki began his career as a teacher between 1999 and 2002 at Newport Heights Elementary School in Bellevue. He then became principal at Maywood Hill Elementary School in Bothell, where he served between 2003 and 2007. In 2007, he took the principalship at John Stanford International School in Seattle, leaving in 2011 to join Beacon Hill Elementary School.

In 2010 he earned the prestigious Milken Family Foundation Award. The Milken Educator Awards were created by education reform leader Lowell Milken to celebrate, elevate, and activate excellence in the teaching profession.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the work Mr. Aramaki has done for education in the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Aramaki will be honored this fall in Washington DC as part of the National Distinguished Principal of the Year program.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Tamara ``TJ'' DiCaprio, Senior Director of Environment Stability at Microsoft. She has been awarded the 2013 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Center for Corporate Climate Leadership Award.

The EPA awarded TJ DiCaprio the 2013 Climate Change Individual Leadership Award for her extraordinary leadership in Microsoft's response to climate change. DiCaprio led the effort to establish Microsoft's recent commitment to carbon neutrality for its data centers, software development labs, offices, and employee air travel. A key component of this aggressive greenhouse gas reduction policy is an internal carbon fee, which provides an innovative approach to voluntary operational accountability and which is already helping to change behavior.

Internalizing the cost of pollution through financial measures offers greater incentives to reduce emissions while raising funds for efficiency and renewable energy projects, helping to advance measures to mitigate climate change.

DiCaprio was also responsible for leading Microsoft to achieve its goal of reducing carbon emissions by 30 percent per unit of revenue from 2007 levels by 2012 through a series of efficiency initiatives and by purchasing renewable energy.

As a result of her vision and efforts, Microsoft purchased 1.1 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power in 2012, making Microsoft the third largest purchaser of green power in the United States.

DiCaprio and Microsoft are tackling the challenge of climate change with practical, commonsense, and cost-saving solutions to improve efficiency and cut waste.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the work DiCaprio has done in the Pacific Northwest and for corporate leadership across the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce for its proven successes. The Chamber celebrated its 50th anniversary in February 2013.

The Chamber, founded in 1963, is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. The Chamber plays a major role in bringing together civic, professional, and business leaders from the Chinese community of Greater Seattle. It has been a leading voice in many important decisions affecting the Chinese business community in the Puget Sound region.

The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce has a long history of proven success with its business development, scholarships, and ambassador programs. It is an advisory board member of the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle (TDA) and a member of the Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC).

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I honor the 50 years of the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce connects leaders, improves the economy, and benefits the Puget Sound community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Melanie Dressel of Tacoma for receiving the 2013 Executive Excellence Award for CEO of the Year from Seattle Business Magazine. Dressel is the President and CEO of Columbia Bank and Columbia Banking System, Inc.

The Executive Excellence Award honors leaders in Washington State who demonstrate exceptional leadership and communication skills in the workplace, inspiring their employees to apply themselves and do their best.

Dressel began her career at Columbia Bank nearly 18 years ago. She, along with the Columbia Bank team, created a unique banking system. The new local bank offered programs that big banks provided, such as private banking and cash management, while adopting small-town values and quality customer service. These services enhanced the perception of banking, making Columbia Bank one of the most popular and successful banks in the Northwest.

Under Dressel, Columbia Bank not only expanded, but also endured the financial crisis with ease. Dressel said that by making smart

investment decisions and remaining loyal to their business model, they were able to advance their institution. Dressel and her team did not rely heavily on real estate loans and only raised capital when the market improved.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Melanie Dressel and her admirable leadership as President and CEO of Columbia Bank and Columbia Banking System, Inc. She is a prime example of sound banking company management.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Bullitt Center, which will be the greenest commercial building in the world. The Bullitt Center is complete, and is planning its grand opening on Earth Day, Monday, April 22.

This six-story, 50,000-square-foot building is located near downtown Seattle. The Bullitt Center will achieve the goals of the Living Building Challenge (version 2.0), as described by the International Living Building Institute.

To be certified as a Living Building, a structure is required to be self-sufficient for energy and water for at least 12 continuous months and must meet rigorous standards for green materials and the quality of its indoor environment.

The Bullitt Center features include: a solar array which will generate as much electricity as the building uses; rainwater collection for storage and use throughout the building; and ample natural lighting with opening windows. Also, Bullitt Center has been constructed without ``red list'' hazardous materials, which include PVC, cadmium, lead, mercury, and hormone-mimicking substances, which are sometimes found in building components.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I celebrate the opening of the Bullitt Center. It is a beautiful, self-sufficient building that exemplify technological leadership and innovation in the Puget Sound region. I am proud that the greenest commercial building demonstrating self-sufficiency for energy and water will soon open in Seattle.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and congratulate Mary Selecky, the Washington State Secretary of Health, on her retirement.

Secretary Selecky has served three governors since first being appointed Acting Secretary by Gov. Gary Locke in October 1998. Her nearly fifteen years as Washington's Secretary of Health make her one of the longest-serving state health leaders in the country.

Before being named Secretary, Selecky was the administrator for the Northeast Tri County Health District in Washington for nearly 20 years and 2013 marks her 38th year in public service.

During her time as Secretary, she has served the public through trying times, including the Nisqually earthquake, the days following 9/ 11, bioterrorism threats, and outbreaks of mad cow disease and whooping cough. With her staff, she has helped make the Puget Sound cleaner and shellfish safer. She has also worked to make the Washington State Department of Health a trusted, credible source of health information, and has helped to develop one of the strongest local-state public health relationships in the nation.

Secretary Selecky has made it her mission to implement a preventative health care program in our state that is effective and which can serve as a model for the nation. Under Selecky's leadership, Washington's adult smoking rate has dropped 30 percent and youth smoking rates are down by half. Childhood vaccination rates are also the highest in years. It is clear that Selecky's work will ripple

through the generations and we will be healthier for her efforts.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize and congratulate Mary Selecky on her retirement and for her longtime service to Washington State.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, March 14 and Friday, March 15, 2013, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 70 (on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 113); ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 71 (on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 113); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 72 (on approving the journal); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 73 (on agreeing to the Tierney substitute amendment to H.R. 803); ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 74 (on the motion to recommit H.R. 803 with instructions); and ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 75 (on passage of H.R. 803).

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 4, 2013, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 56 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 307).

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, February 25, 2013, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 46 (on approving the journal) and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 47 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 667).

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Michael Higgins, a professional staff member for the House Armed Services Committee, on his retirement after over 40 years of public service.

Mike's dedication to the personnel and families of the U.S. Armed Services began in 1970, when he joined the U.S. Air Force as a career personnel officer. His assignments in the Air Force included the Military Personnel Center, the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, and a variety of unit personnel positions. After retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1990, Mike joined the staff of the Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Military Personnel, where he served for most of his 23 years on Capitol Hill. His work has affected the lives of millions of active, reservist, retired, and civilian Department of Defense men and women and their families. His expertise on all policy and fiscal matters related to the sustainment of the morale, welfare, and recreation programs of the military services, including the commissary system and military exchanges, helped ensure a high quality of life for all who have served in the military.

Mike's tireless efforts to protect and enhance the quality of life for service members resulted in many notable achievements. His early advocacy and shaping of statutes that required the military services to consider and address individual service members' deployment time helped lead the Services to recognize that frequent back-to-back deployments, combined with extensive training even when not deployed, were a detriment to readiness. His recognition of the special challenges and needs of service members also led to the drafting of the critical skills retention bonus--a very flexible tool that allowed military leaders to target bonuses and bonus amounts at retaining people with crucial military skills, such as senior special operations non- commissioned officers and intelligence analysts.

Mike also helped transform the environment supporting our service members. His oversight of the initial implementation of the Military Child Care Act of 1989 resulted in the world-class military child care system that exists today. He helped make subsistence and housing payments more consistent with the real-world conditions faced by service members and their families, and eased compensation penalties for military widows and disabled retirees. More importantly, Mike established himself as an honest broker and listener to all parties, including advocacy groups, particularly in managing the committee's response to the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy from its inception until its repeal in 2011.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize Michael Higgins. Mike personifies

the ideal of public service to his fellow citizens. I wish him the best in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. Ian Moncaster, the former President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Seattle, Washington, for his leadership and achievements over the past eleven years.

Mr. Moncaster has tirelessly devoted himself to enhancing the Seattle World Affairs Council's existing programs and deepening international conversations, helping Americans engage with and understand the world beyond our borders. Under Mr. Moncaster's leadership, over 1,000 public events were generated, including appearances by international notables ranging from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

With Mr. Moncaster at the helm, the Global Classroom programs, with their focus on K-12 education, reached more than 23,000 teachers and students in the region. Additionally, the International Visitor Program, supported by the State Department, expanded from 500 to more than 1,000 international visitors per year, contributing an estimated $2 million dollars in economic impact to the community. More importantly, these programs have helped to break down stereotypes, prejudices and promoted greater understanding while building memorable, lasting relationships across the world.

Last but not least, under Mr. Moncaster's guidance, two new initiatives, the World Affairs Fellows Program and the Young Professionals International Network, have matured to identify and cultivate ideas, talent, and leadership potential.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I honor Mr. Ian Moncaster. His eleven year tenure as the CEO of the World Affairs Council of Seattle has inspired and invigorated thousands of citizens in Washington State and around the world to realize a more secure and peaceful world through dialogue and mutual understanding. I wish Mr. Moncaster the very best on his future endeavors.