Ann Marie Buerkle

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation of Fayetteville, New York, upon the occasion of receiving federal funding through the Department of State's Museums Connect Program--a highly selective program that aims to strengthen cultural understanding through collaborative and innovative projects facilitated by museums.

The Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation dedicates its efforts to educating individuals about the life and work of Matilda Joslyn Gage and her significant contributions to the women's suffrage movement of the 19th century.

With respect to her commitment and dedication to women's rights and human liberation, the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation commits itself to celebrating her life and promoting the continuing significance of the works of Matilda Joslyn Gage for current and future generations.

Consistent with her values, the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation works to preserve the home of this great American figure, as well as preserve her writings, provide educational programs devoted to the abolitionist and suffrage movements, and promote the history of Central New York as a beacon during our nation's great civil rights movements.

It is with honor that I pause in my legislative deliberations to acknowledge the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation for its dedication to strengthening and developing cultural and historical understanding throughout Central New York and the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in congratulating The Matilda

Joslyn Gage Foundation, recipients of the Department of State's Museums Connect grant.

Mr. Speaker, October 10 marks 101 years of the Republic of China, ROC, that now exists on Taiwan.

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated for a second and last time on Sunday, May 20. Taiwan limits its presidents to two terms, as do we. But in his already more than four years since first taking office, President Ma has fundamentally altered the dynamic of Taiwan's economic relations with mainland China and by extension, relations with the United States and the rest of the world.

Fresh off his first inauguration in 2008, President Ma launched the first regular non-stop flights across the Taiwan Strait since China's Civil War ended in 1949. These flights, now as many as 558 a week, have made life much easier for Taiwanese working and doing business on the mainland. It's in turn also made life much easier for Americans crossing the Taiwan Strait--be it for work or for pleasure.

But most significantly, in 2010, Taiwan entered into its Economic and Cooperation Framework Agreement, ECFA, with mainland China that eliminated tariffs on 16 percent of Taiwan exports to the mainland. Now that President Ma was reelected with a fresh mandate this past January, more tariff eliminations under ECFA will follow. There will also be further service sector openings in both directions. Most importantly, ECFA, as does President Ma's other cross-Strait trade and investment relaxations, reintegrates Taiwan into Asia's economic supply chain, allowing Taiwan producers to supply global customers in mainland China directly.

The spending power of the millions of mainland Chinese tourists who have visited Taiwan since 2008 has also boosted the island's economy, as well as exposed those same tourists to Taiwan's pluralistic, democratic system. Having now experienced Taiwan's elections firsthand, some mainlanders will demand accountability of their leaders back home as Taiwanese do theirs. Taiwan's elections can serve as an example and milestone for ethnic Chinese worldwide that these universal political freedoms are not somehow incongruous with culture as some mainland autocrats have alleged.

I thus urge my colleagues, on this 101st anniversary of the ROC, to congratulate Taiwan on this century-plus milestone and to applaud its recent trade, investment, and travel openings to neighboring mainland China. It suits Taiwan's economic interests as well as our own.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Kevin W. Bradley. On August 24, 2012 I had the great honor of attending Kevin Bradley's pinning ceremony where he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.

General Bradley, a native of Binghamton, New York, received his Air Force commission through the Officer Training School program in 1984. After serving in the United States Air

Force, General Bradley joined the New York Air National Guard in 1992 where he has commanded frontline combat units at the squadron, group and wing level. He has served at the National Guard Bureau and the Headquarters United States Air Force. General Bradley is a command pilot with over 3500 hours in the T-37, T-38, F-16 and MQ-9 aircraft. He has flown combat missions in support of Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2008, General Bradley began a four year tenure as Commander of the 174th Fighter Wing in Syracuse, New York. Under his command, the 174th saw a number of significant milestones including the conversion of the Wing from F-16 fighter jets to MQ-9 Reaper Drones, the standup of the MQ-9 Field Training Detachment, and the addition of numerous support mechanisms at Hancock field, especially the full-time Director of Psychological Health.

Brigadier General Kevin W. Bradley currently serves as Assistant Adjutant General--Air, New York Air National Guard. In this role, General Bradley is responsible for five flying wings and the Northeast Air Defense Sector. He is the primary advisor to the Adjutant General on all Air Guard matters.

General Bradley has answered the call to serve his country for more than 28 years. His service has made a great difference in the lives of so many. On behalf of the 25th Congressional District of New York, I thank General Bradley for his many years of service to our nation and community. America is grateful for his service and sacrifice, and that of his wife Karen.