Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Flex-a-lite company, a Fife, Washington manufacturer for their 50 years of American manufacturing. The company has continuously set itself apart from its competition in the automotive industry by promoting strong domestic sales and rarely outsourcing manufacturing abroad.

Eddy Davis, along with his son-in-law, Rainer Willingham, founded Flex-a-lite in 1962. The company dramatically changed the automotive world, by inventing the very first flexible fan created from hand-cut fiberglass roofing material. In 1978, the founders patented the first electric fan and three generations later, the company continues to prosper.

The current president of Flex-a-lite and granddaughter of Eddy Davis, Lisa Chissus, has said that the business has been able to overcome hardships during tough economic times because Flex-a-lite remained loyal to three key factors: innovation, quality, and smooth succession.

The company has consistently produced new, innovative products and continues to bring new ideas to the table. Flex-a-lite takes great pride in their top quality products that are made and sold in the United States. It is clear that the business's family-owned values have helped to successfully guide the company for a half century.

Mr. Speaker, it is with honor that I recognize the Flex-a-lite company. I am confident that Flex-a-lite will flourish for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Guadalcanal campaign of World War II.

This month, as we approach the 70th anniversary of Guadalcanal, we are reminded of the many sacrifices that brought freedom and security to the South Pacific. We reflect upon the 7,100 men who gave their lives in the Guadalcanal campaign.

Guadalcanal lasted more than six months and effectively ended the military expansion of our enemies in the South Pacific. During that time, more than 60,000 Allied personnel participated in gaining control of Guadalcanal, its surrounding islands, and Henderson Field, a particularly important location to enemy forces. There is no doubt that this victory significantly contributed to the eventual end of the Second World War.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and remembering this great sacrifice and appreciating the advancement of freedom that came at such a high cost 70 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor John Annaloro, the CEO of the Northwest Credit Union Association, on his retirement after nearly 30 years of working in the credit union industry.

John's passion for people and economics first brought him to the credit union industry in

the mid-1980s. After leading the Congressional and regulatory affairs teams of the California Credit Union League, John became the CEO at the Washington Credit Union League in 1997. He led the Washington League through an efficient and effective merger with the Credit Union Association of Oregon in 2011. Now known as the Northwest Credit Union Association, this organization advocates for more than 160 credit unions in the States of Washington and Oregon. Currently nearly 4.4 million consumers belong to a credit union in Washington and Oregon.

John came to the credit union movement with a great deal of previous experience. He spent seven years as the Chairman and CEO of a computer software development corporation with a worldwide client base. He spent six years at the University of California as a mathematics professor, dean, and department chairman. He is an author with more than a dozen published books and articles on computer science and business. This extensive expertise explains John's approach to effecting change in the credit union system.

Under John's leadership, Washington credit unions encouraged the creation of a television program, BizKid$ on PBS, to teach school children about business. John was approached by a team of producers who were trying to create a program to help educate children about corporations, financial responsibility, and entrepreneurship. John and his staff brought credit unions together to finance this program, which is now seen by children in nearly every State.

John worked to ensure credit unions would lend responsibly and was a driving force behind the establishment of the Business Lending School at the Northwest Credit Union Association. Through this, credit union professionals receive expert training on business lending issues. On John's watch, the credit unions of the Northwest maintained a safe and sound financial position, even during times of overall financial instability.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize John Annaloro. John is a leader who personifies the core philosophy of credit unions, which is ``People Helping People.'' I wish him the best for his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize The LeMay-- America's Car Museum, located in Tacoma, Washington for opening its doors to the Pacific Northwest this summer. The LeMay Museum is one of the largest automobile museums in the world and will attract people of all ages with its modern look and unique history.

The museum, named after Harold LeMay, honors one of the most accomplished businessman from Tacoma, Washington. Harold was born in Yakima, Washington in 1919, but grew up in the Pierce County area where he pursued his love for motorized vehicles. As a young entrepreneur, he became associated with an automobile business in the Lincoln District of Tacoma. From there, he built Harold LeMay Enterprises, joined dozens of community organizations, and began his impressive automobile collection.

Harold and his wife, Nancy LeMay, owned one of the largest privately- owned collections of automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, and other motorized vehicles in the world. The LeMays formed the Harold E. LeMay Museum, a charitable organization that would donate their automobile collection to benefit the community Harold adored. In November 2003, just a few years after Harold's passing, the museum's board of directors approved the proposal to open The LeMay--America's Car Museum in the City of Tacoma.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate The LeMay--America's Car Museum. The museum showcases the history behind America's admiration for automobiles and Harold's inspiring story.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Art and Dorothy Oberto and the Oberto Sausage Company, based in Kent, Washington. This family-owned business was built on a foundation of providing quality products for their customers and treating their employees well. This has made Oberto, which is also commonly known as Oh Boy! Oberto, one of the most iconic companies of the Pacific Northwest.

In 1918, Constantino Oberto and his uncle, John, founded the Oberto Sausage Company in Seattle, Washington. From the very beginning, Constantino and John dedicated their company to selling the very best handmade Italian sausages and salami. Art Oberto has run the Oberto company since he was just 16, when his father passed away. In all, Art has been responsible for the family business for nearly seven decades.

In 1964, Art introduced Natural Style Beef Jerky. He experimented with the product at home and the jerky was a tremendous success. It led to the company doubling in size and soon after Oh Boy! Oberto products were available nationwide.

Art and the Oberto Sausage Company continued to be dedicated to innovation. They launched turkey jerky in 1994 which solidified Oh Boy! Oberto as the nation's top jerky manufacturer. In 2011, Oberto released one of the biggest innovations to the jerky industry, All Natural Jerky. The company was the first major company to develop a jerky made with all-natural ingredients.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the hard work, perseverance and innovation of Art and Dorothy Oberto of Oh Boy! Oberto. Their dedication to quality and our community will drive the company forward for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mark Davis of Auburn, Washington, for forty-five years of dedicated service to the airline industry.

In 1967, Mr. Davis began working on the ramp for Northwest Airlines, with a propeller-driven Lockheed Electra. Over the next 45 years, he served in a variety of capacities for his company. These included time as a ramp agent, cleaner, working in the commissary, fueling aircrafts, serving at the post office and, finally, as a freight runner.

At a special ceremony, Mr. Davis received a pin commemorating his 45 years of service. Delta Cargo leaders and employees surprised him by unveiling a ramp tug personalized with his name, employment date and years of service.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Mark Davis for a long career of service to the airline industry in Seattle, Washington. Employees like Mark make companies, our economy, and our country thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Aretha Thurmond, Ariana Kukors, Courtney Thompson, and Tejay van Garderen from the State of Washington for representing the United States and competing in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

The 2012 Games will be Aretha Thurmond's fourth appearance at the Olympic Games

when she competes in the discus throw. She began throwing discus in high school and competed in her first Olympic games at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, just after finishing her sophomore year at the University of Washington. She went on to participate in the 2004 Athens Games and 2008 Beijing Games. Aretha has remained one of the top American discus throwers for over a decade.

Ariana Kukors will be making her Olympic debut and participating in the 200M Individual Medley. Shortly after the 2008 Olympic Trials, Ariana continued to train hard and won the 200M Individual Medley at the 2009 World Championships, setting a world-record of 2 minutes, 6.15 seconds.

Courtney Thompson will also make her Olympic debut in London as backup setter for the United States Women's Volleyball Team. Her professional career began when she joined the national team in 2007 and competed in the 2007 and 2009 Federation Internationale de Volleyball World Grand Prix tournaments. Her strong appearance in the 2012 Grand Prix grabbed the attention of many, which led her to this year's Olympic Games. Courtney and the women's volleyball team hopes to improve upon the silver medal they won at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Tejay van Garderen has been named one of the most talented cyclists in America and will compete in this summer's Olympic Games. He was born in Tacoma, Washington and spent the majority of his early years living and cycling in Europe. During his rookie years, he signed with HTC Highroad, which was at the time was the world's top cycling team. Tejay finished third overall in the 2010 Criterium du Dauphine Libre and made his very first appearance at the Tour de France in 2011. He has also competed in the Tour de California and in Colorado's inaugural Pro Cycling Challenge.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I commend these athletes from the State of Washington for their dedication and honor all Olympians taking part in the 2012 Summer Games.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 3703, a bill originally introduced by Representative Inslee of Washington, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, July 23 and Tuesday, July 24, 2012, I was unable to be present for recorded votes. Had I been present, I would have voted:

``No'' on vote No. 499 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 2362, as amended);

``No'' on vote No. 500 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Croatian musical heritage group, Ruze Dalmatinke from Seattle, Washington, for being featured in the Homegrown Concert Series at the Library of Congress' American Folklife Center.

The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress sponsors various programs throughout the year to celebrate and present different cultural traditions to the American people. This summer, Ruze Dalmatinke performed Traditional Croatian Singing.

Lead vocalists and sisters, Binki Franulovic Spahi and Alma Franulovic Plancich, immigrated to the United States with their family after World War II. The sisters have sung together since their childhood and were inspired to form the Ruze Dalmatinke in 1981. The group has passionately shared their Croatian heritage, lifestyle, and music in Washington State since.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Ruze Dalmatinke for being featured in the concert series hosted by the Library of Congress. Ruze Dalmatinke has shown incredible devotion to Croatian musical heritage by performing and sharing all around the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding as the House Agriculture Committee marks up H.R. 6083, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARMM) Act.

As families struggle to meet their basic needs during the economic downturn, the SNAP short-term food assistance program has become more important than ever. With over 14 percent of American households suffering from food insecurity, SNAP works to ensure that children, unemployed workers, and seniors have the nutrition and extra help they need. SNAP provides essential support for 46.3 million Americans (nearly half of which are children) in 22 million different households. Washington State alone has nearly 1 million people that rely on SNAP benefits.

Changes proposed in the FARMM Act to end broad-based categorical eligibility would hurt low-income families in Washington State. An estimated 80,000 Washingtonians that currently receive SNAP benefits would not qualify or would be dropped from the program. Further, an estimated 280,000 low-income children in SNAP-eligible households that currently have access to free or reduced school meals would no longer have access. Further, FARMM Act provisions to limit which Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payments can apply to SNAP benefits, would further limit benefits received through SNAP. These changes would disproportionately impact children, seniors, and working families. In these trying economic times, many Washingtonians cannot afford these cuts.

Congress must stand up for SNAP funding, as the program plays a crucial role in our economic recovery. The best way to lower government spending on SNAP is not through major cuts, but by continuing to help families in need. In Washington State, the average SNAP recipient receives benefits for only nine months. In these tough economic times, SNAP is providing much-needed support in getting families back on their feet.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues protect SNAP funding as the FARMM Act goes through the legislative process.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Margarita Prentice as she retires from the Washington State Senate after 24 years of distinguished public service. Representing Washington's 11th Legislative District, her constituents included residents of Seattle, Renton, and SeaTac.

Senator Prentice's voice as a healthcare champion has been invaluable and has bettered our community. She previously worked as a registered nurse at Valley Medical Center and in recognition of her career in public service and leadership, the Emergency Services Tower at Valley Medical Center is named in her honor.

The Senator's contributions have been recognized by many throughout the years. She has dedicated countless hours of hard work on behalf of her constituents in the 11th District and all of Washington State. She has been recognized as the 2008 Children's Advocate by the Pediatric Interim Care Center and in 2007 was named by the Community Health Care Network of Washington as their Health Care Champion. She has also been named Legislator of the Year by the Washington State Nurses Association and Washington State Dental Hygienists Association.

Mr. Speaker, it is with respect and great pleasure that I recognize the work Senator Prentice has done for Washington State's 11th Legislative District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Wright, on his upcoming retirement. He has served as Administrator of the BPA for over a decade and is the second-longest serving administrator in the organization's history.

Mr. Wright joined BPA in 1981 in the agency's conservation office. From this entry-level position he became the permanent BPA Administrator in February of 2002 after serving as Acting Administrator since late 2000.

Mr. Wright began his tenure as head of the BPA at the beginning of the West Coast energy crisis in 2000 and 2001. He successfully avoided electrical blackouts in the Pacific Northwest by reducing spot market purchases, which helped return BPA to financial stability. He also worked to negotiate and preserve the hydropower system and bring more renewable resources to the region.

His leadership of BPA has been based on collaboration and transparency. Steve's work to reach out to customers, tribes, and stakeholders resulted in the highest ever customer, constituent, and tribal satisfaction scores. By opening up the financial and decision- making process to the public he increased transparency and reduced internal inefficiencies, saving millions of dollars.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize the career of Steve Wright. His leadership and dedication to Bonneville Power Administration has had an astounding impact on the lives of everyone living in the Pacific Northwest. I wish him the best in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments and valor of the Montford Point Marines as they are awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States Congress. During an era when African- American men faced racism and Jim Crow segregation, these Marines left home to defend the United States during World War II.

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order barring government agencies from denying employment in defense efforts based on race, creed, color or national origin. The military was required to recruit and enlist African-Americans and a year later, recruitment began for African-American Marines who would train at Montford Point.

Thousands of African-American men enlisted, despite widespread segregation and discrimination both in and outside of the military. From 1942 until 1949, approximately 20,000 African-American men enlisted in the Marine Corps and trained at a segregated facility, Camp Montford Point, near Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Successfully completing training was a substantial feat for these Marines. While their white counterparts may have been required to run ten miles, Montford Point recruits often had to run twenty. These challenges gave them the endurance, both physical and emotional, to serve. As Marines, they bravely fought in theatres from the Pacific to Europe.

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman ordered the desegregation of the United States Armed Forces. In 1949, recruit training at Montford Point was discontinued as all recruits, regardless of race, were sent to other integrated training facilities.

Many Montford Point Marines continued their service as Marines after the conclusion of World War II, including in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I honor the Montford Point Marines. Their legacy has paved the way for African-Americans to serve proudly in all branches of the United States Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Joanne Lane for her achievements and for being named a United Health Foundation Diverse Scholar.

As a student in Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology at Tacoma Community College, it is evident that Joanne is dedicated to her education in the health care field and to improving the quality of care patients receive. She is learning how best to learn and carefully meet individual patients' emotional, physical, and cultural needs. Joanne has shown great enthusiasm toward offering patients the best medical treatment regardless of their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or income, and she will undoubtedly apply these beliefs as she prepares to begin her career.

Joanne has used the United Health Foundation Diverse Scholars Initiative to devote her time to her rigorous course work. She has learned new skills through interactions with a variety of people and has gained a new appreciation for people from different backgrounds. In an ever-changing field, Joanne's adaptability gives her the skills to learn continuously evolving methods for helping her future patients.

The United Health Foundation Diverse Scholars Initiative helps increase the number of students from multicultural backgrounds in higher education working towards degrees and careers in the health care sector. Since 2007, more than $3.5 million in scholarship funds have been awarded to high-achieving and promising students. Students like Joanne will help to increase cultural relevance in health care and improve the care of all patients, including those from underrepresented populations.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize Joanne Lane. Her dedication to patient care will undoubtedly lead her to great success in her career and to the improved wellbeing of her community and all of those who call it home.