Deborah Pryce

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Ohio, I want to recognize the accomplishments of Dr. Carl Kohrt, as he retires as president and chief executive officer of Battelle Memorial Institute.

Carl assumed the leadership of Battelle in 2001 after a long career at Kodak. He immediately put his experience from the private sector into practice at the world's largest non-profit independent research and development organization. Over the past eight years, Battelle has grown substantially in business volume and impact. Battelle has won competitions to manage and operate research and development laboratories for the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, and international organizations.

Battelle has also been selected for many projects in support of various national and homeland security programs. In fact, within a few weeks of Carl's arrival at Battelle in the summer of 2001, he was able to marshal Battelle's suite of capabilities to help the United States respond to the impact of the 9/11 attacks. Battelle was later asked by the White House to provide staff to help with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

Carl Kohrt has also enhanced Battelle's corporate role in the City of Columbus and the State of Ohio. He developed a strategic partnership with The Ohio State University. Battelle has supported many civic enterprises on behalf of the State of Ohio, the City of Columbus, Franklin County, and other organizations, such as COSI.

The son of schoolteachers, Dr. Kohrt, has left a major imprint on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education in Ohio through the Metro School, which is a partnership with The Ohio State University and the school districts of Franklin County. Battelle has also joined with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as other educational entities in the State of Ohio, to develop additional schools with a focus on STEM education throughout Ohio. Carl's indelible imprint on Ohio will be a signature effort on behalf of STEM education.

The way to judge one's impact on an organization or community is to measure one's personal and corporate accomplishments. Through this lens, it is easy to conclude that Carl has been an outstanding leader for Battelle as an organization and an outstanding leader in the Columbus metropolitan area. Carl has made a significant difference, and we extend to him and his family best wishes and good health in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I (Congresswoman Deborah Pryce) am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2638, The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009:

(1) $800,000 DHP for the Neuroscience Clinical Gene Therapy Center requested by The Ohio State University Research Foundation, 1960 Kenny Rd, Columbus, OH 43210. The Neuroscience Clinical Gene Therapy Center will facilitate the progression and translation of gene therapy research from the laboratory bench into clinical trials for the treatment of human disease.

(2) $2,400,000 RDTE,AF for Development of Intelligent Manufacturing requested by The Ohio State University, 1971 Neil Ave Columbus, OH 43210. This program establishes a research and educational program for enhancing U.S. competitiveness in Intelligent Manufacturing. Intelligent Manufacturing creates a highly adaptable work force capable of producing highly specialized components and devices with a quick turn around time between projects.

(3) $1,600,000 DHP for the Comprehensive Clinical Phenotyping and Genetic Mapping for the Discovery of Autism Susceptibility Genes requested by Nationwide Children's Hospital Research Institute, 700 Children's Drive Columbus, Ohio 43205. This project is a second year of funding to continue and expand a comprehensive, multidisciplinary autism research program for military families stationed at Wright- Patterson Air Force Base and other central Ohio families.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. And Steve, I don't know that--I just can't believe that I said at a fundraiser that you were a little different and you were a little bit weird. But it's true. And I thank you for yielding me this time.

You know, there has been no greater honor than anyone could ever enjoy than to serve in the company and then leave with the members of the Ohio delegation. Both Republicans and Democrats alike, it has been an honor and a joy.

Ralph Regula and Dave Hobson were mentors, they were colleagues, and they were the best friends a gal could ever have. They really have been wonderful to me.

When I first arrived here straight off the Municipal Court bench, I was a very green Member of Congress; and I was all new to this boys' world, and it's a lonely place for a woman. But my delegation was very kind and very welcoming to me and made it a place that I felt comfortable and at home and in which I thrived.

And these two gentlemen, which we honor tonight, were a very huge part of that.

Let me say first about Ralph--and you can't say ``Ralph'' without saying ``Mary.'' They are the true congressional couple. And the Ohio delegation never--well, they didn't always get along like we do today. And because of the leadership of our dean, Ralph Regula, our delegation came together for the entire time that I have served here to be effective, to be efficient, to be very good for Ohio, but also to be very friendly to one another.

And Ralph led that. He nurtured us. He did everything that he could possibly do from the initial days when I got here and he was on committees and gave me a committee I didn't necessarily want and didn't necessarily understand. But it was, first of all, good for Ohio, and second of all, good for Deborah Pryce.

So I will always thank you, Ralph, for your consideration and in placing all of us where we needed to be for the good of Ohio.

And Mary in the balcony. Mary, you are an original feminist, and I love you for that. An original feminist with the First Ladies Library. You advanced the cause of women with no strings attached, and that is no small thing, Mary Regula. Thank you.

You know, Ralph, I didn't stay long enough to get the view that you have, but I will always remember you and Mary for your kindness, for your nurturing, and for the good will that you taught me that makes this job a joy.

And then to Uncle Dave and his wonderful wife Carolyn.

You know what patience that woman has. But Carolyn is a joy to us because she gives us David.

David taught me so many things, and you know, I will always see Dave Hobson with a cell phone on his ear. I can't picture Dave without a cell phone on his ear. But not only--he's always in communication with someone. He's always making the deal, he's always making things happen, and he's making things happen for all of us in Ohio.

But one important thing that Dave Hobson taught me, and he continues to try to teach the world, and that is that ``earmark'' is not a dirty word. And the good things that these two cardinals, Dave Hobson and Ralph Regula, did through the earmark process for the State of Ohio will continue to make our State strong and important in the general scheme of things throughout history.

Earmark is not a dirty word as long as they are good earmarks. And these two gentlemen always made sure that they were.

And one more thing about Dave. He always had my back. And he still does. Thank you.

Gentlemen, thank you both for so many things. This is a hard job for me to leave because of the joys, of the companions that I made here, the relationships, and the true camaraderie that could make this a great place, and it should make this a great place if we just rely on that more.

So thank you, Mr. Hobson. Thank you, Mr. Regula.

You know, Monday afternoons and Tuesday mornings I might just have to head to the airport to get my fix of all of the politics because I'm really going to miss those moments we spend together, the private publicness that we've lived in all of these years together.

Thank you, Mr. LaTourette.