Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Thomas L. Ortosky, as he receives the National Association of Letter Carriers' Regional Hero Award. His sincere, heroic and selfless act saved the lives of two young girls from his beloved community.

Mr. Ortosky was working from his delivery vehicle when he noticed two young girls on their bikes and a pack of dogs chasing after them. With no hesitation, Mr. Ortosky ran from his vehicle and fearlessly began to distract the dogs even though he was risking his own safety and perhaps his life. His good-hearted action worked. The girls rode off to safety while Mr. Ortosky bravely held off the dogs. The pack of dogs began nipping at him but Mr. Ortosky never hesitated. It was not until the dogs were captured by the animal warden that Mr. Ortosky was out of harm's way. And ever so dutifully and good-natured, Mr. Ortosky continued on his delivery route without ever notifying anyone about the incident and his heroic deed.

However, Mr. Ortosky's valiant and honorable deed did not go unnoticed. His grateful patrons reported the incident. With thanks from his community and the National Association of Letter Carriers' it is with great pride that as his representative I can recognize this great American.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Thomas L. Ortosky. Mr. Ortosky is truly a hero. He is a selfless and genuine human being and a role model for the people of his community as well as the country.

Madam Speaker, 3 years ago we heard the drums of war beating in this House Chamber, and Congress voted to take this Nation to war against Iraq.

We later learned that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, was not trying to get uranium from Niger, had no intention nor capability of attacking the United States. Yet we went to war and war against Iraq remains.

We went to war without any thought of how we would get out of that war. We went to war with a big buildup; but when it came to talking about an exit from Iraq, there was very little or no discussion except for the one thing, Democrats and Republicans alike to come together, in support of House Joint Resolution 55, a resolution that requires the administration to produce, by the end of the year, an exit strategy and to begin the execution of that strategy by October 1 of 2006.

We owe it to those who serve. We owe it to the troops who gave their lives. We owe it to their parents and to their families, to have an exit strategy so that we can let the world community take the burden of the years ahead in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I come from the State of Ohio where any debate over manufacturing technology is taken to heart because Ohio is one of those States which has had heavy job losses in manufacturing; but I look at this bill and this restrictive rule, and it really does not address some of the underlying issues.

How can we advance manufacturing technology competitiveness in this country if we really do not have a national strategy to do so? We are legislating piecemeal here and often missing the mark. We cannot have a manufacturing strategy if it does not take into account manufacturing job losses that come because of our trade practices.

So what has happened here is that Congress is called upon to take action in areas that are only piecemeal; that are not going to protect existing industries; that will not surely provide opportunities for the future. We are already being overtaken by China and other countries. This bill falls short. The rule is restrictive, and I join my colleagues in raising objections.

Mr. Speaker, I will vote for this bill; but I have to hand it to this administration, they want to lower your taxes so earnestly that they will even lower your wages to do it.

Through an executive order, the President lowered the wages workers will be paid to rebuild the hurricane-affected region. He suspended the Davis-Bacon Act, a 74-year-old law which requires that companies receiving Federal contracts pay the average wage to employees hired to perform those Federal contracts. With smaller incomes, workers will pay less.

But corporate income, unlike worker incomes, will rise. The corporate contractors will be able to keep more of the contract for themselves through a combination of setting lower wages for workers and receiving tax exemptions under the provisions of H.R. 3768. Suspension of the Davis-Bacon Act will give contractors unprecedented power to set wages. That is because the hurricane destroyed the labor market in the region. Nearly everyone is out of work; nearly everyone needs a job. After losing everything, how many people will be able to hold out for higher wages? Not many.

Thus, labor market forces will not determine wages. Instead, hurricane victims and workers who may be brought into the region are at the mercy of Halliburton and Fluor corporations, just to name a couple contractors who have won or will win construction contracts in hurricane reconstruction and which will dictate wage levels.

The bottom line is this: hurricane tax relief means one thing if you are a hurricane victim and another if you a corporate contractor receiving Federal funds to rebuild the hurricane-affected region. Tax relief for hurricane victims will primarily take the form of paying less taxes on smaller wages. But tax relief means something very different to the corporate contractors. They will be paying less taxes on increased income.

Madam Speaker, I want to agree with my good friend from Texas (Mr. DeLay) that we need to do everything we can to avoid any kind of tax hikes.

However, I think all Americans would expect that the top 1 percent of the income earners in this country, who receive most of the benefit from the administration's tax cuts, should have to give up some of their tax cuts in order to relieve the burden on the people in the gulf coast. It is only fair.

America can meet its responsibilities, but we are going to have to roll back those tax breaks that were given to the wealthiest Americans in order to help the least of our brethren.

We can also save money by planning an exit strategy out of Iraq. Wherever I go in my district, people say, get us out of Iraq. Well, it is time for us to have an exit strategy. That is what House Joint Resolution 55 is about, a bipartisan exit strategy.

We can do things to have the resources to take care of people in the gulf. But we first have to get out of the Persian Gulf. And we also have to get out of this thinking that says that tax cuts are somehow the way to economic recovery.

Mr. Speaker, on September 15, 2005, I prepared the following statement during a hearing organized by Rep. Lynn Woolsey on how to end the war in Iraq:

Good morning. Thank you, Chairwoman Woolsey for your leadership in holding this important hearing. 1,896 of our brave young men and women have died in Iraq. By some counts, up to 100,000 innocent Iraqis have perished in a war that was based on false premises. It was wrong to go in from the start and it is wrong to stay. And it is counterproductive to U.S., Iraqi and regional interests, as Iraq heads closer to an all- out civil war.

The U.S. presence in Iraq is fueling the insurgency, and has turned Iraq into a training ground for the insurgents. The insurgency is growing stronger by the day and attack tactics are becoming more advanced. Iraqi rebels have refined their bomb-making skills. According to a CIA assessment from this past June, the Iraq war was likely to produce a dangerous legacy by dispersing to other countries Iraqi and foreign combatants more adept and better organized that they were before the conflict.

It is not only our soldiers who are falling victim to this insurgency. Just yesterday it was reported that almost 150 Iraqis died and 500 were wounded in coordinated attacks of at least a dozen suicide bombings in Baghdad. 114 of those people were Shiite day laborers in Baghdad, lured into a minibus by a suicide bomber with the promise of work. This was the second deadliest suicide bombing since the war began. AI-Zarqawi's Sunni militant group, Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, claimed responsibility in statements released over the group's website that said the bombings signified that ``the battle to avenge the Sunni people of Tal Afar has started.'' Later, an audiotape released over the Internet that was said to be from AI-Zarqawi declared a ``full-scale war on Shiites around Iraq, without mercy.''

One year ago today, it was reported that a National Intelligence Estimate produced for President Bush in the summer of 2004 on the political, economic and security situation in Iraq determined that at best, stability in Iraq would be tenuous, and at worst, there were trend lines that pointed to a civil war.

Now today, as fears of civil war in Iraq are becoming realized, it is clear that the worst scenario predicted is coming true. The U.S. presence in Iraq in only making the conflict worse, as it is strengthening tensions between the Sunni militants and the Shiite majority, and serving to strengthen the insurgency.

The Iraqi constitution and the run-up to the October 15 referendum on the constitution has been a central point of concern for the Sunnis, who feel that the constitution will institutionalize their reduced role in Iraq. Tensions between Sunnis and Shiites have increased recently and the attacks yesterday in Baghdad only emphasize that point. Yet the constitution is widely perceived to have a large U.S. footprint. Adnan Pachachi described how U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad participated in most meetings for the constitution and was not neutral. Despite the Sunnis wanting to continue negotiations on the constitution, according to Mr. Pachachi, Ambassador Khalilzad was interested in seeing the draft constitution done and sent to the National Assembly as soon as possible in order to prove that US policy has succeeded in Iraq.

Furthermore, the U.S. presence has served to attract and recruit terrorists into Iraq, to fight the U.S. and what they consider to be the U.S.-backed government of Iraq. The insurgents' attacks are becoming more advanced through their practice on U.S. soldiers and now they are applying these improved tactics on the Shiite majority.

The U.S. presence is strengthening tensions within Iraq. There is no better time to leave than now--before the situation worsens. Iraqis themselves have asked for it. On June 23, 83 members of Iraq's newly elected National Assembly signed a petition calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

A member of the Assembly, Abdul-Rahman al-Neeimi, told the paper that American forces ``have used all possible means in order to provoke sectarian strife in Iraq, but have failed thanks to God.'' He concluded by saying, ``We tell the occupation forces: Hands off the Iraqi people and let us heal our wounds by our own means.''

It is time for this Congress to put aside the partisan differences that have occurred over the war and to come together in a plan where we can unify to take steps to withdraw our troops from Iraq and to take steps to heal the breach that the war has created between America and the world community. Neil Abercrombie, Walter Jones, Ron Paul and I introduced a bipartisan bill calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, and an announcement of the withdrawal by December 31, 2005. I believe that while a number of factors must come into play for a successful withdrawal, which I hope will be highlighted here today, merely announcing the withdrawal will start to reverse the increasingly disastrous course in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, on September 15, 2005, I submitted the following statement during a hearing in the Committee on Government Reform entitled, ``Back to the Drawing Board: A First Look at Lessons Learned from Katrina'':

Good morning. Thank you, Chairman Davis, for agreeing last

week to hold hearings in this Committee on what went wrong

with the government response to Hurricane Katrina. This

Committee is the most important venue within the House of

Representatives for federal government oversight and I am

grateful for your leadership. Interestingly, this first

hearing will not focus on Hurricane Katrina and the disaster

in New Orleans and the surrounding area, but will focus on 3

other cities that are vulnerable to a natural disaster or

terrorist attack: Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, D.C.

Further, the hearing is intended to examine the local

response to crisis, rather than the federal response, to

determine how prepared we are to handle another disaster.

Local, state and federal government all play key roles in

handling a disaster and disaster relief, but let's face it:

the federal government has the largest resources and should

have the greatest ability to deal with a serious disaster in

our nation. The first lesson we have learned from Katrina is

that this proved not to be the case. The federal government

was slow to act and the disaster was far too great for city

and state government to handle alone.

The second lesson we have learned from Katrina is that we

have not learned the lesson from the Iraq war regarding

Halliburton. Halliburton overcharged the government at the

taxpayer's expense during the Iraq war. Days after Katrina

struck, Halliburton was one of the earliest companies awarded

no-bid contracts, to repair 3 different Navy facilities in

Mississippi. The flawed contracting procedures of the Iraq

war are rearing their ugly head in the recovery of Hurricane

Katrina. Congress has already appropriated $62 billion so far

and more is surely to come. Yet the contracts awarded have

been cost-plus and no bid contracts, lacking oversight and

transparency.

There is an infinite number of issues on the federal level

that seriously need to be explored. Why aren't more steps

being taken to hire local displaced workers to rebuild their

towns and cities? How has the merger of FEMA into the

Department of Homeland Security played a role in FEMA's

ability as an agency? Why didn't FEMA's Hurricane Pam study--

contracted out to IEA to investigate what would happen if a

hurricane hit the gulf coast--better prepare the federal

response to the Katrina disaster?

As Chairman Davis indicated, however, we'll get into more

of these federal issues at future hearings.

A very important local issue that should be considered

today is the morality of establishing a mandatory evacuation

when there are people who lack the ability to evacuate. We

saw this in New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina. Everyone was

forced to evacuate, but not everyone could. There were people

in hospitals and nursing homes and people too poor and

without cars that were simply left behind. How were these

people supposed to leave? How might there have been better

emergency plans in place to facilitate the evacuation of

these citizens? In one reported story, a dead body was left

to decay for over 2 weeks in the Algiers neighborhood of New

Orleans, despite swarms of local police, Louisiana state

troopers and the Army. Residents believed that law

enforcement officials left the body there purposely to

encourage the residents to evacuate. If their belief is true,

such a practice is truly shameful and must be addressed.

Another issue related to local government observed in New

Orleans with the enforced racism that occurred through the

application of two standards of justice by law enforcement

officials. Local law enforcement reportedly allowed white

armed vigilantes to ride throughout the city but would not

allow the same for black residents. According to Malik Rahim,

a community organizer who recently ran for city council in

New Orleans. ``If a white person was taking something, he was

taking food for his family. But if a black was taking

something, he was looting.'' Rahim further described how the

white vigilantes were shooting blacks in his neighborhood

under the guise that they were protecting his neighborhood,

and were even bragging about it. He said he never before seen

New Orleans come so close to breaking into a race riot.

If a race riot had broken out in New Orleans the crisis

situation there would have become far more disastrous. How

can local governments ensure that one standard of justice is

applied equally in times of disaster?

I hope this hearing will address the many concerns raised

and what changes are necessary in the local planning for

disasters in other large cities. Moreover, I look forward to

the series of hearings that this Committee intends to hold

that will specifically look at the federal response to

Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Father John C. Dalton, Pastor Emeritus of Holy Name Church of Cleveland, Ohio, whose love, kindness and faithful service to the people of Cleveland will be remembered always.

Pastor Dalton entered St. Mary's Seminary in 1943 and was ordained into the priesthood in 1948. For sixty-five years, Pastor Dalton served the people of our community, young and old. He baptized more than 2,000 parishioners and united 545 couples in marriage. At Holy Name parish, Pastor Dalton tended to the spiritual and humanitarian needs of the parishioners, and extended his assistance out into the community.

Pastor Dalton's vision and focus on uplifting his community manifested itself along Broadway Avenue and beyond, where he led efforts to improve Holy Name church and school, and even helped out in the construction of new ball fields. His compassion, patience and love for others reflected throughout his life of service, from tenure as teacher, to his position as Associate Director of Services for the Deaf; to his neighborhood activism and work as a counselor within self- help groups. Even following his retirement, Pastor Dalton continued his life-long mission of regular visits to hospitals and the homebound, offering comfort and support to our most vulnerable citizens.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join us in tribute and remembrance of Father John C. Dalton, Pastor Emeritus of Holy Name Parish of Cleveland. Pastor Dalton's steadfast service to others, framed by compassion, understanding, and a warm smile, offered healing, hope and faith to all of us. I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Pastor Dalton, to the parishioners of Holy Name Church, and to the entire Broadway Avenue community. Pastor Dalton will be deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved him well, yet his light and love will always serve as a guiding force throughout our community and will radiate forever along Broadway Avenue and far beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Judge Andrew Boyko, dedicated husband, father and grandfather, friend and mentor, and WWII Navy Veteran. Judge Boyko's professional career as Municipal Judge, law director and assistant prosecutor in the City of Parma, reflects a legacy of grace and excellence that extended from the courtroom to the community.

Judge Boyko's unwavering work ethic and sense of service to others characterized who he was and how he lived his life. He grew up in Cleveland, graduated from West Tech High School in 1941, and served as a Navy Corpsman during WWII. After the war, he graduated from John Carroll University and in 1955, Judge Boyko earned a law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

In the early 1960's, he settled in Parma with his family, where he served as an assistant prosecutor until 1963, when he was elected to the post of law director. Judge Boyko's political ingenuity shone through when he orchestrated a bid for the post of law director for the City of Parma through a write-in campaign, successfully clinching the Democratic Party's nomination. He served as law director until 1987, when he was appointed to the municipal bench, where he served until his retirement in 1993. Although his professional achievements were significant, family and community were a consistent priority in Judge Boyko's life. He was an active member of numerous civic organizations, including the Elks Club, American Legion Post 572, Municipal Judges Association and the Citizens League, and he served on the Board of the Parma Savings Association. Judge Boyko embraced his heritage through his involvement at St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church, where he headed the Ukrainian Youth League.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Judge Andrew Boyko. His commitment to his family and to his community defined his life, and he will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him well. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife of 55 years, Eve; to his sons, Chris, Tim, Greg and Jeff; to his ten grandchildren; to his brothers, Michael and Nicholas; and to his extended family members and many friends. Judge Boyko's life was lived with joy, energy and in service to others. His unyielding integrity and faith in our legal system will continue on as a guiding force of truth, fairness and justice for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Robert L. Lewis, beloved husband, father, friend and United States Veteran. Mr. Lewis leaves behind a brilliant legacy that reflects his personal passions and professional accomplishments as admired attorney, educator, author and longtime activist on behalf of the performing arts and educational opportunity for all.

Mr. Lewis was born and raised in New York. As a young boy, he performed song, dance and comedy routines with his family on the vaudeville circuit. His formal education in public school did not begin until age 12. Extremely bright, Mr. Lewis quickly ascended through the grade levels. He graduated from high school at age 15 and enrolled in college at age 16. Following his service in the army in Europe during World War II, Mr. Lewis studied law at Western Reserve University in Cleveland and graduated in 1948 with a law degree.

Mr. Lewis joined the law firm of Ulmer, Berne, Laronge, Glickman and Curtis and retired in 1996 after 46 years of outstanding work with the firm. He worked as a professor at Case Western Reserve University's Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, and also taught corporate and contract law courses at what was then Cleveland Marshall Law School.

Throughout his adult life, Mr. Lewis maintained an unwavering focus on raising the lives of others into the light of possibility and achievement. He volunteered his time as past president of the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities; board member with PACE (Program for Action by Citizens in Education), and served on the board of the Fairmount Center for the Creative and Performing Arts.

His passion and belief that higher education should be affordable for everyone manifested itself in 1963 with the establishment of Cuyahoga Community College (CCC), an institution that continues to be a significant source of educational and career opportunities for thousands of students each year. Mr. Lewis served on the CCC Board of Trustees for 18 years and Chairman of the Board for 4 years. He also served as CCC's ``resident scholar,'' and taught courses in Greek mythology and drama.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor, remembrance and gratitude to Mr. Robert L. Lewis, whose life was defined by his steadfast commitment to his family, his significant contribution to our community and his boundless energy in promoting the performing arts and securing educational opportunities for everyone. I offer my condolences to his wife of 42 years, Joanne; his daughters, Pavia and Clea; his sons, Paul, David and Brian; his nine grandchildren and his extended family members and many friends.

The kindness, vision, energy and personal and professional excellence that flowed from the gracious life of Mr. Lewis will continue to serve as a fountain of learning and strength for the students and educators at Cuyahoga Community College, and his legacy will continue to raise our entire community into the light of hope, possibility and opportunity for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Stanley M. Fisher, devoted family man, accomplished attorney, friend and mentor to many, and first-ever recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed upon him by the Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. This premier mark of excellence reflects Mr. Fisher's multifaceted service in the legal profession, service framed by achievement, integrity and heart.

After graduating from Oberlin College and the University of Michigan Law School, Mr. Fisher worked as a clerk for the 6th Circuit with Chief Judge Charles Simon and later for Justice Potter Stewart, before Justice Stewart was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Equipped with unwavering commitment, steadfast integrity and expertise, Mr. Fisher's work serves as a source of knowledge, strength and advocacy throughout all levels of the justice system. His significant service within the Federal Bar Association, FBA, extends from his role as past President of the Northern District of Ohio, lifetime member of the FBA Board of Directors, and most notably, the first Ohioan to serve as National President of the FBA.

In 1983, Mr. Fisher was appointed as an Ohio Commissioner with the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws by then Governor, Richard Celeste. He was reappointed by Ohio Governors Voinovich and Taft. Mr. Fisher's talent and conviction have impacted cases from Ohio to our Nation's Capitol. President Clinton appointed Mr. Fisher to the Federal Service Impasse Panel in 1992. For 10 years, he handled mediation and arbitration cases, directing each grievance from preparation to resolution. Mr. Fisher continues his work as a local and national mediator and is currently serving his second term as a member of the American Arbitration Association Advisory Council.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Stanley M. Fisher, for his outstanding and continued excellence as attorney, guide and leader within the legal profession. His unwavering focus on the balanced scales of justice serves to protect legal equity throughout our American system of justice, from Cleveland, to Washington, DC and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Dennis Morton, committed public servant, Vietnam War Veteran, and friend and mentor to many, upon the occasion of his retirement, following 32 years of dedicated service within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Morton's tenure at HUD reflects vision, ingenuity, endless energy and strong leadership, all focused on ensuring the availability of quality housing for the most vulnerable individuals of our society--our struggling and our poor.

Mr. Morton's service at HUD began in 1977, when he was hired as a Realty Specialist in the Housing Management Division. Mr. Morton concentrated his efforts on all phases of acquisition, purchase and restoration of multifamily properties. As they have for decades, these properties exist as a basic yet vital need for thousands of residents in Cleveland and beyond--a dignified and safe place to call home.

Even though HUD has reorganized several times since its inception, Mr. Morton's unwavering focus on transforming bankrupt multifamily properties into vibrant structures, has provided quality housing for thousands of citizens of all ages, from young families to the elderly. From Realty Specialist, to Public Trust Officer, to Director of the Federal Housing Authority Multifamily Program Center Office in Cleveland, Mr. Morton directed the acquisition and rehabilitation of numerous public and senior housing units, including Longwood Apartments, Reserve Square and the award-winning Arbor Park Village.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of Dennis Morton, whose dedicated work as a HUD administrator has provided a safe home for the most vulnerable residents of our community. Mr. Morton's legacy at HUD will continue to serve as a brilliant example for all those who will follow in his path. His vital contribution continues to offer shelter, dignity, and for many, the necessary support for their journey toward personal independence.

Mr. Speaker, from our deepest silence, from that place within each of us that knows peace, from our heart of hearts which connects us to the world and to the heart of the world, we know that fear leads to violence, that violence leads to war, that war leads to total destruction. Yet we do not want to fear, we do not want violence, we do not want war, we want peace. We desire peace so intensely that we are willing to do almost anything to achieve it, including spending half of our resources for arms to help feel secure.

We know we cannot continue on this perilous path of seeking peace through violence. We know that this approach offers our children no future at all.

So today we make a new beginning with House bill 3760, legislation to create a Cabinet-level department of peace and nonviolence. In doing so, dozens of Members of this Congress announced that we choose courage over fear and hope over despair. We announce our desire to create a new America and a new world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Sister Mary Eileen Duffy, in celebration of the joyous occasion of her 60th Jubilee Anniversary, reflecting a ministry in faith, service and concern for others throughout our Cleveland community.

Sister Eileen taught at St. Joseph Academy and Nazareth High School. In addition to her dedication to teaching, she served as a community administrator and Pastoral Associate at St. Leo the Great Church and St. Colman Church. Sister Eileen also served diligently on the Diocesan Pastoral Council, Commission on Catholic Community Action, the Interfaith Commission and the Sisters' Senate. In 1972, Sister Eileen was elected as director for the Northwest Deanery.

Inspired by a true calling of spiritual and humanitarian duty, Sister Eileen began her ministry with a strong foundation in education. She inspired that quest for knowledge and awareness in others, especially her students, and consistently touched the lives of countless children within our community. Her dedication, leadership and unwavering faith continues to strengthen and empower families and individuals throughout our community.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and celebration of the 60th Jubilee Anniversary of Sister Eileen Duffy. Her strength in leadership, energetic spirit and commitment to helping others, from our children to our elderly, has served to lift the spirits of countless individuals, and continues to radiate faith, hope and light throughout our entire community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor, recognition and celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Cleveland Job Corps Center of Cleveland, Ohio. For four decades, the Center has served as a vital source of education and vocational opportunity for thousands of at-risk young adults throughout the Cleveland community.

The core mission and committed work carried out daily by the staff of the Cleveland Jobs Corps Center continues to offer a foundation of strength and assistance that supports, educates and guides thousands of young lives away from the shadows of struggle and despair and onto a pathway of personal independence, accomplishment, and the promise of a better life.

The dedicated staff members and administrators of the Cleveland Job Corps Center assist young persons in attaining their GED; offer intensive trade and vocational training; and instill a sense of empowerment, self-confidence, personal responsibility and team interaction within each young person. These significant life goals and practical educational and job training programs hold the promise of career achievement and societal contribution as each young person is shown the way and given the tools to succeed.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of the staff, leaders, and especially the students of the Cleveland Job Corps Center, past and present. The Center continues to serve as an invaluable source of educational and vocational opportunities for countless teens and young adults throughout the Cleveland community. Moreover, the Center provides these young people with a sense of self- worth and accomplishment, and offers them the personal power to dream, to hope and to take control of their own destiny. The Cleveland Job Corps Center continues to elevate the life of every student into the light of possibility and achievement, thereby uplifting our entire community.