Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ezell Agnew for his lifetime of service on behalf of the Ypsilanti community. Mr. Agnew's work with Washtenaw Community College, the Perry Childhood Learning Center, and the City of Ypsilanti has helped make the city a great place to live and is worthy of commendation.

Mr. Agnew began working as a groundskeeper at Washtenaw Community College on the day that it opened in 1966. For over 40 years, Mr. Agnew was a friendly presence around the college who labored tirelessly to ensure that the grounds remained well-kept and clean. In addition to his career at WCC, Mr. Agnew also collaborated with the City of Ypsilanti to clean up the downtown area and provide assistance to the city as a volunteer and part-time employee. Since his retirement with WCC, Mr. Agnew has selflessly volunteered his time to beautify and maintain the Perry Early Childhood Learning Center's school grounds. He also tends to Perry's community garden and is well-known around the school for his dedication to this role. This has helped create a positive learning environment for Perry's students.

Mr. Agnew's outstanding efforts on behalf of the Ypsilanti community have helped beautify the city for decades. Additionally, his positive attitude and kind-hearted nature has made him a beloved figure in the community, and the support from students and staff of the Perry Early Childhood Learning Center underscores the impact that his actions and volunteer work has had on the city and its residents. His proactive work in helping the City of Ypsilanti and its schools is emblematic of Mr. Agnew's personality, and it is my hope that he continues his efforts on behalf of the community in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ezell Agnew for his lifetime of work and support of Ypsilanti and its residents. Mr. Agnew has helped make Ypsilanti a great place to live for generations of individuals.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mae Jemison, a physician, scientist and astronaut whose pioneering career has furthered our understanding of the world around us. Dr. Jemison has achieved excellence across a number of disciplines as a result of her hard work and perseverance.

After receiving a medical degree from Cornell Medical College and completing her medical training, Dr. Jemison served as a Peace Corps Medical Officer, treating Peace Corps volunteers in Liberia and Sierra Leone. She was then accepted into NASA's astronaut program in 1987, providing launch support and assistance until her space mission aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in September 1992. During her mission, Dr. Jemison conducted scientific experiments on bone cell research and the effects of weightlessness on the human body, which contributed to advancements in our understanding of life sciences. She then resigned in 1993 from NASA, and has since founded several companies, including BioSentient Corp., which develops treatments for chronic pain and stress disorders.

Dr. Jemison has had an extraordinary career and has affected countless lives through her work. In addition to breaking down barriers as the first black woman in space, Dr. Jemison has utilized her medical background and business acumen to develop novel medical treatments for a variety of illnesses. She has also excelled in academia, working as a professor at Dartmouth and Cornell, and is the founder of the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence, a nonprofit that promotes science education initiatives. Collectively, Dr. Jemison has had an indelible impact on a variety of disciplines through her work, and she continues to inspire new generations of scientists.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in honoring Dr. Mae Jemison for her outstanding career. Dr. Jemison's work with NASA, in medicine and in business has impacted and inspired countless individuals.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Inforum for its work on behalf of women. Since its founding 55 years ago, Inforum has provided effective mentorship and education opportunities for women throughout Michigan.

Originally founded in 1962 as the Women's Economic Club, the organization has grown and evolved over the years to meet its mission of empowering women to lead and succeed. Inforum hosts a variety of high-performing women leaders for lunches and roundtables to exchange ideas and foster leadership skills. Additionally, Inforum sponsors the Inforum Center for Leadership, an educational initiative that provides professional development through its training programs for mid-career women leaders. These include its Executive Leadership professional development program, a four-month program that combines individual instruction, group exercises, and personalized feedback to provide women with the skills to assume more senior and influential roles in their careers. Collectively, over 1,100 women have graduated from this program since its launch in 2003.

Inforum has provided countless women with critical skills and training to succeed in the 21st century workforce. Its talent initiatives and programs provide targeted professional development to women of all backgrounds, including veterans and early-career women. As a result of its success, Inforum has expanded throughout Michigan to better serve its members. Today, the organization hosts additional

branches in Lansing, Grand Rapids, the Saginaw/Bay City area and southwest Michigan. The growth of the Inforum Center for Leadership, along with its long track record of educating and empowering women, is a testament to the organization's success, and it is my hope that Inforum continues to effectively serve a broad range of women throughout their careers.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to Join me in honoring Inforum for its record of providing career skills and training that allows women to achieve success. Inforum provides resources and hosts a variety of programs that provide professional development for women.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize David Shtulman for his work with the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. As the Federation's Executive Director for the past nine years, Mr. Shtulman has helped the organization grow and develop to meet the needs of the Ann Arbor community.

Founded in 1987, the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor serves as a forum to initiate and coordinate activities that foster Jewish communal life while promoting social justice. The organization hosts a variety of events throughout the community, including public forums discussing local and national events, as well as dinners and community gathering events. Additionally, the Federation administers the Jewish Community Foundation, a fund that provides assistance to local groups that further the organization's mission. Since 2008, Mr. Shtulman has served as the organization's Executive Director and has played a crucial role in the Federation's success during his tenure.

Throughout his time as Executive Director, Mr. Shtulman has provided important guidance for the staff and members of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. Under his leadership, the size of the Jewish Community Foundation has grown substantially, allowing the organization to fund Hillel programs in the community in addition to family services and supports. As a result, the Federation was able to allocate over $1.5 million to local, state and national organizations in the year 2015. Mr. Shtulman has also championed youth exchange initiatives as well as Hillel programs at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. His principled leadership and passion for helping the Jewish community have helped it grow stronger, and he will be missed as he retires as Executive Director next month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring David Shtulman for his outstanding work as Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. Mr. Shtulman has provided important aid to the Jewish community through his leadership and efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Taylor Auxiliary Police Department for their work protecting the City of Taylor and its residents. The auxiliary plays a critical role in protecting the city and supporting the work of the Taylor Police Department with individuals from all walks of life.

Established in 1962 as a volunteer civil defense organization to assist the Taylor Police Department, the Taylor Auxiliary Police play a key role in safeguarding the public. In addition to helping the full- time police department staff community events like high school sports events and assisting with regular police patrols, the auxiliary police also serve as a reserve force to assist the City of Taylor in the event of a disaster or emergency situation. Additionally, the auxiliary has partnered with the city to further crime prevention initiatives, including Taylor on Watch, an education and outreach program that shares best practices for neighborhood and community safety. These initiatives have helped make Taylor a safe city to live and work.

The Taylor Police Auxiliary is critical to safeguarding the city from crime and other threats. Each member of the auxiliary is well trained and credentialed, and the approximately 45 officers provide thousands of hours of annual community service and protection to the city and its residents. In the past, the Taylor Auxiliary Police have helped provide traffic control during a visit by President Obama, as well as helping secure the annual Taylor Summer Festival and other community gatherings. These individuals perform the critical work of ensuring that the residents of Taylor remain

safe at great personal risk, and it is my hope that the Taylor Police Auxiliary continues to build on its legacy of success.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Taylor Auxiliary Police Department for its public safety and service to the City of Taylor. The auxiliary volunteers have helped make the community safe through their work and activism.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Marina Whitman on the date of her retirement from the University of Michigan for her distinguished career over half a century as a world-renowned economist and extraordinary woman. Dr. Whitman helped forge a path for generations of women as she rose to the top of government, business and academia throughout her career and broke down barriers for all of us.

Many do not know that Dr. Whitman is the daughter of renowned mathematician John von Neumann, one of the foremost mathematicians and scholars of the 20th century. He is recognized as inventing game theory, pioneering developments in computer science and contributing to the Manhattan Project, among other achievements. Marina charted her own course and outgrew her father's shadow early in her career, leaving a mark wherever she went.

After receiving her doctorate in Columbia University, Dr. Whitman began her career in academia with the University of Pittsburgh in 1962, eventually being named a Distinguished Public Service Professor with the university. She then took a leave of absence to serve with the federal government, first as an economist with the President's Council of Economic Advisors, then on President Nixon's National Price Commission. As the first woman to be named to the President's Council of Economic Advisors, Dr. Whitman wrote about how the media focused not on her intellectual achievements, but instead ``talk[ed] about what I looked like and that my eye shadow matched my dress. Some woman from the Pittsburgh Press wanted to know how my daughter's gerbil survived the trip to Washington.''

After serving in government, Dr. Whitman worked as a Vice President and Chief Economist for General Motors from 1979 to 1985, and Vice President and Group Executive for Public Affairs until 1992. During this time, she oversaw GM's economics policies, as well as its environmental and industry-government relations activities. At the time, she was the highest ranking woman in the United States automotive industry.

Since 1994, Dr. Whitman has been a Professor of Business Administration and Public Policy at the University of Michigan. Her work has focused on international trade and labor markets, and she is well-known internationally for her expertise on corporate governance and social responsibility.

As one of the nation's foremost economists, Dr. Whitman has conducted pioneering research which helped to reshape international monetary and financial systems. She contributed to the success of one of America's largest corporations and worked to educate the auto industry about the changing dynamics of globalization and its impact on the industry. Her work and research has transformed our understanding of economics. She has been widely recognized for her outstanding work, having served on the boards of the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Institute for Advanced Study. Additionally, Dr. Whitman has received numerous awards throughout her career and holds honorary degrees from over twenty colleges and universities.

Even more significant than the mark she has left on many institutions is the mentoring of women she has done for a lifetime. I am lucky to have benefitted from that personally and do not believe I would stand here today without the benefit of her wisdom. Dr. Whitman sees her role as having been front and center in a transitional generation. She coaxed social change from inside the places where policy decisions are made or demanded it from outside--a generation that demarcated before this and after this. She observed, ``I literally transitioned from the world in which women were secretaries and were not allowed to matriculate at the Harvard Business School to a world in which we have women who are CEOs of corporations . . . and I'm the in-between.'' Her patience, wisdom and pragmatism guided generations of women in both the workplace and the realism of how to do it all including being a parent, a spouse and a child of the sandwich generation.

She leaves behind a peerless record of success, and I wish her well as she moves on from her position at the University of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Marina Whitman for her outstanding career as an economist. Her extraordinary work has impacted countless lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize David DiChiera for his outstanding legacy. As founder and artistic director of the Michigan Opera Theatre, Mr. DiChiera has built a culture of artistic excellence in Michigan.

After earning a doctorate in musicology from UCLA, Mr. DiChiera joined the faculty of Oakland University in Michigan in 1962, where he was eventually elected chairman of the school's Department of Music. During his time, he also oversaw the Detroit Grand Opera Association's education initiative known as the Overture to Opera. Under the leadership of Mr. DiChiera, Overture to Opera began performing full- length productions in 1970 and was officially reestablished as the Michigan Opera Theatre in 1971. The Michigan Opera Theatre has grown to become an internationally recognized institution that has brought world-class performances to Michigan while inspiring a new generation of artists and musicians. Mr. DiChiera had the vision to push for the restoration of the Detroit Opera House in 1996, and this effort played a critical role in revitalizing downtown Detroit. The Theatre has hosted renowned musicians like Luciano Pavarotti, as well as performances by the American Ballet Theater and other notable groups.

Mr. DiChiera's lifetime of artistic advocacy and passion for theatre has been critical to the growth and development of the arts in southeast Michigan. His love of the arts has taught and inspired generations to appreciate the importance of the arts to a community. He also galvanized so many to experience the opera and engage with the arts for their entire lives. Throughout his career, Mr. DiChiera has received numerous accolades for his work, including the National Endowment for the Arts' Opera Honors award, as well as recognition by the governments of France and Italy. In addition to this outstanding record of achievement, Mr. DiChiera is well known in the Detroit community for his kindness and generosity. He has been a true champion for Michigan, and his energy and dedication to our state and the arts will be missed as he retires from his current position with the Michigan Opera Theatre.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring David DiChiera for his lifetime of work with the arts. Mr. DiChiera's work with the Michigan Opera Theatre has inspired generations of performers and helped the city understand the importance of arts in the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the American Human Rights Council for their advocacy and efforts. The AHRC has been a steadfast champion in ensuring that all Americans, regardless of background, are able to exercise their civil liberties.

Founded in 2014, the AHRC brings together community leaders and civil rights activists to promote and defend human rights defined in the United States' Constitution and by the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights. Initially focused on protecting and preserving the rights of prisoners, the AHRC has expanded its advocacy efforts to address pressing humanitarian issues in the United States and abroad. In addition to its work on prisoners' rights, the organization has also strongly pushed for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen and relief for the humanitarian issues facing the country's citizens, as well as opposed the Syrian government's attacks on innocent civilians during the Syrian civil war. The AHRC also recognizes outstanding individuals who work to further the group's mission during its annual Spirit of Humanity Gala event.

The AHRC has played a critical role in protecting and advancing human rights both in the community and around the world. By working with state and local partners, the AHRC has been able to draw attention to human rights issues by hosting public forums and educational awareness events. In the past year, AHRC has investigated dozens of inmate inquiries relating to issues in prison facilities and participated in multiple community forums, including discussions about community policing initiatives and an annual Capitol Day visit to Lansing in order to highlight the organization's mission and its concerns with elected officials. These efforts have helped raise awareness while driving action to further the AHRC's mission of promoting human rights.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the American Human Rights Council for its work to protect and preserve Americans' civil liberties. The AHRC's work has helped safeguard our nation's fundamental rights.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Simon Eaglin, a prominent community leader who served Ypsilanti throughout his life. Mr. Eaglin served as Postmaster General for the Ypsilanti area for over two decades and provided impactful leadership to many local organizations and causes.

Born in 1917, Mr. Eaglin moved to Ypsilanti during the Second World War to work at the Willow Run Bomber Plant and aid the United States' war effort. After the end of the war, Mr. Eaglin became a radiation control technician at the University of Michigan medical center while working to complete his college degree at Eastern Michigan University. He was then named as the Ypsilanti Post Office's Postmaster in 1964, a position he served until his retirement in 1988. Mr. Eaglin was known for his efficient leadership in ensuring prompt delivery of mail and packages in the Ypsilanti area. He was also heavily involved in the Ypsilanti community, serving as a member of the local Kiwanis Club and spearheading several of the organization's outreach efforts and remaining involved with its committees.

As the first African-American Postmaster in Ypsilanti, Mr. Eaglin dedicated his life and career effectively served the public while helping to break down barriers. In addition to his pioneering career as Ypsilanti's postmaster, Mr. Eaglin was well-known as a kind, caring individual whose service to the Ypsilanti community was instrumental to making the city a great place to live and work. In addition to his career as Ypsilanti's Postmaster, Mr. Eaglin volunteered for years with St. John's Catholic Church, the Housing Bureau of Seniors and several local hospitals. His legacy of public service, as well as his upbeat and friendly attitude, made him a beloved figure in the community, and he will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Simon Eaglin, Ypsilanti's former Postmaster and community leader. Mr. Eaglin went above and beyond to serve the city and its residents during his life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pastor Victoria James of Ekklesia Fellowship Ministries in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Pastor James has provided spiritual guidance and support to the Ypsilanti community at large.

Pastor James works with the Ekklesia Fellowship Ministries church in Ypsilanti, which holds religious services every Sunday and also participates in a variety of different community initiatives to support groups and individuals in need. These include the annual Back to School Prayer, which provides backpacks and school supplies to needy children, as well as an annual community Thanksgiving celebration for members of the congregation and surrounding areas. Additionally, Pastor James serves as a member of the Washtenaw Faith Leaders Forum, a countywide interfaith initiative that mobilizes and speaks out on behalf of justice and equality. She has also been an outspoken advocate of improved community relations with law enforcement and has worked with other faith leaders and law enforcement officials to address this and other issues. Collectively, Pastor James' actions have provided critical support to individuals in need throughout Washtenaw County.

Pastor James' work has had a transformative effect on the city of Ypsilanti. As a lifelong resident of Ypsilanti and longtime community leader, she has leveraged her deep knowledge of the issues affecting the city and its residents to drive positive change. Ms. James' role as a counselor of Ekklesia Fellowship Youth, a church youth group, underscores her position is a respected mentor and voice for individuals in need. Her work with Ekklesia Fellowship Ministries has helped transform countless lives, and it is my hope that she continues to play a leading role in the Ypsilanti community in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Pastor Victoria James of Ekklesia Fellowship Ministries for her work on behalf of Washtenaw County. Pastor James has been key to the growth and development of Ypsilanti and the surrounding areas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Margaret Crawford for her outstanding career with Lincoln Consolidated Schools. As school board member and president for Lincoln Schools, Ms. Crawford worked tirelessly on behalf of the school district's students and staff.

After graduating from Wayne State University with a degree in Social Work, Ms. Crawford began her career doing case management work for the State of Michigan, eventually transitioning to work in fiscal management for Head Start. She then utilized her management and community service experience to successfully run for a seat on the school board of Lincoln Consolidated Schools. During her time on the school board, Ms. Crawford established a reputation as an effective advocate for the district's students. As a result of her successes, Ms. Crawford was elected school board president of Lincoln Consolidated Schools, making her the first female and black president in the schools' history. Additionally, Ms. Crawford later started the nonprofit Council for Black Student Achievement, which provided academic assistance and financial support to individuals in need. These initiatives played a critical role in providing impactful aid to the district's students.

Ms. Crawford's work with Lincoln Consolidated Schools and in the community has helped empower countless students and improve educational outcomes. In addition to her work with the local school system, Ms. Crawford also partnered with local social and community agencies to support efforts to better serve children in the school district. Her exemplary public service and activism have left a lasting legacy in the community, and it is my hope that Lincoln Consolidated Schools can continue to build on these successes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Margaret Crawford for her work on behalf of Lincoln Consolidated Schools. Ms. Crawford's trailblazing career has improved the lives of countless students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Orchards Childrens' Services as it celebrates its 55th anniversary. Orchards provides critical adoption, foster parenting and family preservation services throughout southeast Michigan.

Founded in 1962 by the Greater Detroit Section of the National Council of Jewish Women, Orchards Children's Services provides comprehensive services and supports to vulnerable children in the southeast Michigan community. The organization recruits, trains and licenses foster parents to provide care for children in need of these services. Additionally, Orchards facilitates adoptions and runs several Post Adoption Resource Centers to ensure that these children and their adoptive families receive the support and resources to help make the transition a success. The organization also maintains a scholarship fund to help Orchards foster children afford a college education. Orchards' Promise Scholarships provide critical financial support to help these children achieve success in college, and every child who receives an Orchard Promise scholarship has achieved at least a 3.0 GPA at a Michigan University.

Orchards Children's Services has played a key role in providing resources and support to vulnerable children in the southeast Michigan community. Since the organization began its adoption program in 1986, it has helped place over 3,000 children with adoptive families. It also serves over 5,000 children through its family preservation programs, which provide assistance like household organization and other skills training to help stabilize families and keep them together. Collectively, these initiatives have helped empower children in need to reach their potential and provide them resources for success later in life, and I am confident that Orchards will continue its excellent work in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Orchards Childrens' Services on their 55th anniversary for their work on behalf of Michigan's children. Orchards' programs have helped support vulnerable children in southeast Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Toyota Motor North America on the date of the Toyota Supplier Center and Prototype Development Facility grand opening. Toyota Motor North America has been a strong partner to southeast Michigan by utilizing our state's automotive expertise to help produce its next generation of automobiles.

Originally established in July 1977, Toyota Motor North America's Research and Development has contributed significantly to the leadership of southeast Michigan as a leader in automotive engineering, driving important breakthroughs in automotive design and safety. Toyota employs approximately 1,440 individuals in its Ann Arbor and York Township facilities whose work has critical input to many of Toyota's most popular vehicles. These facilities collectively have contributed to the vehicle development of many of Toyota's most popular vehicles, including the 2014 Tundra and 2015 Camry designs, and its advanced research and prototype development efforts continue to serve as a critical source of innovation for the company at large.

Toyota Motor North America's significant investment in expanding and upgrading its Ann Arbor and York Township engineering facilities underscores the importance of the groundbreaking research and development being done here. The expansion of the powertrain development facility in Ann Arbor Township, as well as further improvements to the York Township site, will allow a continuation of the successful partnership between Toyota and the State of Michigan. The talented and educated southeast Michigan workforce, combined with Toyota's new facilities and additional resources, will help ensure that Michigan's automotive industry remains a worldwide leader in the coming decades.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Toyota Motor North America and Mr. Toyoda during the grand opening of the Toyota Supplier Center and Prototype Development Facility expansion. This critical investment will leverage Michigan's talented workforce to conduct cutting edge automotive research and development.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Byron Bunker for being named a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. Mr. Bunker's work as Director of Compliance Programs for the Environmental Protection Agency was key to uncovering Volkswagen Group's automotive emissions evasion scheme and safeguarding public health.

Since 1999, Mr. Bunker has worked for the EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which conducts tests to certify that vehicles and engines meet the United States' emissions and fuel economy standards. As Director of the NVFEL's Compliance Division, Mr. Bunker tests automobiles and their components to ensure that they comply with clean air regulations. Working in conjunction with academic researchers and other federal officials, Mr. Bunker helped uncover and halt a scheme by Volkswagen to evade emissions standards through the use of software designed to intentionally fool regulators about the true emissions levels of its diesel vehicles. This discovery eventually resulted in the largest penalty ever levied against a car manufacturer and helped lay the foundation for additional criminal investigations. These have resulted in $4.3 billion in civil and criminal penalties, as well as indictments against Volkswagen executives.

Mr. Bunker's expertise and tireless efforts played a critical role in uncovering this wrongdoing and underscore the importance of the EPA's enforcement efforts. As a result of Mr. Bunker's work, the EPA was not only able to detect a sophisticated and widespread emissions evasion scheme, but also strengthen its testing procedures to prevent similar deceptions in the future. Through his rigorous work and collaboration with other officials in the EPA, Mr. Bunker has been an important driver of efforts to protect Americans' health and the environment, and it is my hope that he continues to effectively safeguard public health and safety in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Byron Bunker for being named a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. Mr. Bunker's rigorous enforcement work has been important in protecting public health and safety.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan as the community gathers to celebrate all the good work it performs. The Women's Center provides affordable counseling and health services to women in a caring environment.

Originally established in 1977 as Soundings: A Center for Women, the organization changed its name to reflect the growing region

it. The organization combined with several other service-oriented groups over the years to better serve its constituency of women in need while continuing to offer low-cost, women-friendly counseling and support services. Today, the Women's Center, based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, builds on this legacy, offering divorce support, job coaching, personal counseling, and other services through its staff of social workers, graduate interns and community volunteers. Collectively, these individuals help the Women's Center provide direct services to approximately 500 individuals each year, as well as referral services to over 1,000 other individuals to access additional community resources.

The assistance provided by the staff and volunteers of the Women's Center provides professional services that build confidence, strengthen connections and create positive energy. Women find a network and gain access at a low affordable cost to therapists, job coaches, legal aid, divorce specialists, financial advisors and other important tools they need for support and success. The Women's Center's unique approach and comprehensive resources have empowered countless women to address issues in a confidential and specialized setting, and it is my hope that the Center continues to build on its legacy of success.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan on its 17th annual Swing into Spring fundraiser. The Women's Center offers important services and supports to women in need.