Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the visit of Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski to Cleveland, Ohio. Since his recent election following the tragic death of former President Lech Kaczynski, President Komorowski has already become a powerful voice for peacemaking, reform, and cooperation in the world theatre.

In just a few short months, President Komorowski has taken steps to facilitate integration of Poland into the European Union, has proposed a plan for eliminating government corruption, and has met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to rebuild the political and economic relationship between the two countries. He has also continued former President Kaczynski's tradition of celebrating Hanukkah with Warsaw's Jewish community.

I am honored by the President's visit, and I know that my constituents deeply appreciate his efforts. Cleveland is home to a thriving Polish community, which has held together in the face of adversity and today enriches our culture with festivals, films, concerts, and exhibitions. His visit to our city acknowledges this community's success and marks yet another laudable effort toward strengthening international relationships and spreading good will.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of President Bronislaw and Cleveland's Polonia. May this visit enhance the ties between Poland and the United States, and bring Cleveland's Polish community the recognition it deserves.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of retired Chief Warrant Officer John Ulstrom, who walked 1,500 miles from Desdemona, TX to Washington, DC in an effort to bring attention to the need for better mental health care for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Officer Ulstrom made this journey in memory of his friend's son Joe Vitalec, a 21 year old Army reservist who committed suicide after developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Iraq. Unfortunately, stories like Mr. Vitalec's are not uncommon. Statistics from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reveal that veterans account for 20% of American suicides, which amounts to 18 suicides per day. Today's soldiers are deployed for unprecedented amounts of time, and the extra exposure to combat takes its toll. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that nearly one out of three veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who required services from the VA in the first part of the decade were diagnosed with psychological trauma. The VA has been underfunded for years, and it employs only a fraction of the number of mental health care workers needed to give veterans the treatment they need. Many veterans receive no treatment at all, and many of those who do receive it in the form of a pill.

In his blog, Ulstrom explains the situation in more personal terms. ``I have seen firsthand that there is a severe shortage of mental health workers and psychiatrists in the military and Dept. of Veterans Affairs. PTSD is a severe problem with our returning veterans, with no one to talk to and nowhere to turn, many vets suffer alone with no treatment whatsoever, slowly descending into their own personal hell.''

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in applauding Officer Ulstrom for his work. By making this journey and sharing his story, he has personalized the pain of mentally ill veterans and their families. These men and women who have given so much of themselves to our country deserve our full support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5987, the Seniors Protection Act of 2010.

Earlier this year, the Social Security Administration announced that for the second year in a row, Social Security beneficiaries would not be receiving a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase for the second year in a row. This legislation provides seniors with an additional $250 payment, equivalent to about a 2% COLA, to Social Security beneficiaries next year.

A COLA increase is imperative for seniors who rely on their benefits to support themselves and their families. According to the Economic Policy Institute, 3.5 million seniors are below the poverty level. The Department of Labor estimates that almost half of the 2 million workers over the age of 55 have been unemployed for six months or longer. Yet as more seniors experience poverty as a result of the economic downturn, the calls for privatizing and cutting Social Security in the name of fiscal responsibility have grown louder. Privatizing Social Security will hurt the most vulnerable Americans such as women, minority communities and children--those Americans that are currently experiencing disproportionately the effects of the recession. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the program is fiscally sound for another 40 plus years.

It is our responsibility to guarantee seniors an adequate income after a lifetime of paying into Social Security. We must shift the focus from cutting vital programs such as Social Security to reviving our domestic manufacturing sector as a means to put Americans back to work.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I am saddened to learn of the passing of George Dobrea last Saturday. Please join me in remembering George Dobrea, a businessman, soldier, statesman, activist, constituent, and friend who did much to make Cleveland and the world a better place.

George was born 84 years ago in Gary, Indiana, to a family of Romanian ethnic background, a heritage he embraced throughout the many facets of his life. He was active in his church, St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland, where his priest, Rev. Remus Grama, referred to him as a ``priest without a collar.'' According to Rev. Grama, ``He helped so many immigrants. He never said no.'' He served on the board of St. Mary, founded the Romanian Ethnic Art Museum alongside the church, and helped stock it with thousands of art objects.

George served in the Army in World War II in the Philippines. He volunteered to be a spotter in a Piper Cub, radioing the positions of the enemy while dodging bullets flying toward the plane. His radio transmissions, which may have saved thousands of American and allied lives, earned him two Bronze Stars.

Like his father before him, George worked in the steel mills of Gary. At the University of Detroit, he boxed and ran track while earning a bachelor's degree. He went on to study business at the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania before settling in Cleveland, becoming a stock broker and marrying the former Jean Barson.

His work in stocks launched many other business interests, including scrap steel, greeting cards, greenhouses, toboggan chutes, and racehorses. George Dobrea did a weekly spot on The Mike Douglas Show, a popular local TV program, explaining finances and investing to the public.

George was enthusiastic about international trade and served as a lobbyist for the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, the regional chamber of commerce. He saw bilateral trade as a stabilizing influence, toward promoting peace and democracy abroad while promoting business at home. He was especially influential in promoting trade with Romania, Russia and Hungary. He helped Americans adopt orphans from Romania and lobbied President Clinton to admit former Iron Curtain countries to NATO. He served as Romanian Honorary Consul for the Cleveland area while advocating for a fair and independent judiciary in that country after the fall of the Soviet Union. He also served as the president of the Union & League of Romanian Societies, headquartered in Cleveland and the largest Romanian mutual benefit society in the United States and Canada.

George Dobrea was active in politics. He was an early supporter of John F. Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election and helped garner support for Kennedy among European ethnic voters in Ohio. He also supported Kennedy's opponent 12 years later as the chairman for the Ohio Democrats for Nixon. He reportedly turned down administration jobs with President Nixon and Ohio Governor John Gilligan. George served for many years as an elected member of the Cleveland school board, 3 years as its president.

Madam Speaker and respected colleagues, please join me in offering condolences to Jean, their 4 children Peter, George, Paul, and Mary Grindahl, their 3 grandchildren, and their many friends in Cleveland, Romania, and around the world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Mr. Raymond Matjasic, a nationally honored photographer. His passionately accumulated expertise covered events such as the Marine Corps during World War II, Major League Baseball's 1948 and 1954 World Series, and the Presidential Inaugurations of Presidents Nixon and Carter.

Mr. Matjasic was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1920 and remained a lifelong resident of the area. Ray began his career with the Cleveland Plain Dealer at the age of nine as a paper delivery boy. After graduating from John Hay High School, he began working in the Plain Dealer's circulation department. It was during this time that his interest for photography was peaked. As a Marine, Matjasic photographed his colleagues during World War II in the South Pacific. Upon his return to Cleveland in 1945 he joined the Plain Dealer's photo department. Mr. Matjasic was the Plain Dealer's chief photographer from 1964 until his retirement in 1983. Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Matjasic won dozens of awards, and was named to the Cleveland Press Club Hall of Fame.

Photography was more than just a job for Mr. Matjasic, it was a passion that he loved to share with others. He traveled and lectured at many colleges and universities including Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, and Kent State University. He also helped establish and served as vice president of the Cleveland Chapter of the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Mr. Raymond Matjasic. I offer my condolences to his daughter Judith and three grandchildren. Mr. Matjasic will always be remembered for his brave service to our country and as an iconic photographer.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Albanian Independence Day. As the Albanian community in Greater Cleveland gathers to celebrate, I join them in appreciation of their rich history and culture.

Known as Day of the Flag among Albanians, November 28, 1912 marks the day that the Republic of Albania became a sovereign nation after approximately 500 years of occupation by the Ottoman Empire. After this liberation, the country still faced 51 years of occupation under fascist Italy and the Soviet Union, emerging again in 1991. In part because they spent so many years under foreign rule, the Albanian people take deep pleasure in their independence.

This pleasure manifests each year on the Day of the Flag, marked by concerts, banquets, and celebrations. In Tirana, the nation's capitol, the President, Prime Minister, and Mayor appear at a flag raising ceremony and visit the graves of soldiers who fell in battle. Despite the cold, enthusiastic citizens attend the ceremony, waving the national colors.

Cleveland is home to a strong Albanian community, descendants of late nineteenth century immigrants and people seeking freedom and opportunity after World War II. This community has succeeded in preserving their heritage while wholeheartedly supporting American society, thereby contributing to the unique richness and diversity of our national culture.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and celebration of the Albanian Day of the Flag. May every American of Albanian heritage hold memories of their past forever in their hearts, remembering the day that their forbears gained their freedom.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Foreclosure Mediation Program.

The Foreclosure Mediation Program was introduced in 2008 by Judge Eileen T. Gallagher. As the chair of the Court's Foreclosure Committee and Foreclosure Mediation Subcommittee, as well as a former magistrate in the Court's Foreclosure Department, she was in a unique position to see the difficulties homeowners face and to develop a solution.

Through the program, many middle- and lower-class families have been able to stay in their homes through the remediation procedures the program offers. The results have been impressive; in 2009 alone, of the 821 foreclosure cases sent to remediation, 451 of them were successful.

The Foreclosure Mediation Program has been so successful that it has been nationally recognized. It was recently honored when its program director, Andrea Kinast and Common Pleas Court Committee Chair, Judge Eileen T. Gallagher received an invitation to the ``Closing the Justice Gap for America's Working Families'' event at the White House, on November 19, 2010. This event presents a great opportunity to highlight the program's success and draw attention to its potential use as a model for the rest of the nation.

Madam Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honoring the Cuyahoga County Foreclosure Mediation Program. The hard-working and dedicated staff has been able to keep many people in their homes, preserving our community and helping to save the financial integrity and personal dignity of those who have run into difficulties. I applaud and encourage their efforts to assist those in need.

Madam Speaker, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and I rise today to honor the life and work of Dr. Chalmers Johnson. Best known as an influential Asian studies scholar and economist, his insights changed the landscape of Asian political economics. His brilliance touched the lives of the many students he taught throughout his career, and his work provides understanding and vision to many others around the world.

Dr. Johnson's fascination with Asia first began while he was serving our country in the Navy during the Korean War. While in Japan, his interest in the politics and economy of the region was ignited, and he began to learn Japanese. His career in the field of political economy started at the University of California at Berkeley, where he earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees before joining the political science department. He later founded the Japan Policy Research Institute, which provides research and public education in the field of Japanese public policy.

He went on to have a prodigious writing career, which included many ideas that challenged contemporary scholarly theory in Asian political economics. For example, he was one of the first to suggest that famine, not ideology or personalities, drove the Chinese Revolution, and that the recovery of the Japanese economy after World War II was state- driven, rather than a product of the free market. These and other groundbreaking insights heavily influenced later political economic thought and discussion.

Later in his career, he became a vocal opponent of major aspects of American foreign policy, writing several books decrying America's increasing global military presence as an attempt at empire-building. In the process, he became a public figure and a voice of opposition to the expansion of American military power and global military hegemony.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and me in honoring the life and work of Dr. Chalmers Johnson. The boldness of his scholarship will be remembered as revolutionary, and his bibliography will be viewed by many students to come as defining in the areas of Asian studies, political economy, and international relations.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the faculty, staff, parents and students of St. Christopher School for winning the 2010 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award.

Blue Ribbon Schools is a Department of Education program that honors schools whose students have attained an extraordinarily high level of achievement or who regularly overcome socioeconomic barriers to academic success. Schools are judged according to strict criteria based on test scores and student demographics. Winners generally maintain a school culture of community involvement, high expectations for student achievement, an emphasis on teaching to the whole child and a dedication to developing leadership skills. This year, only 304 schools throughout America attained this prestigious award. I am proud to count St. Christopher School among them.

St. Christopher School is a Catholic School in Rocky River, Ohio that strives to develop its students spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. Students are taught to become healthy, loving, well- rounded leaders with a lifelong dedication to learning and to living out Christian values.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in congratulating those who have worked hard to make St. Christopher School a nurturing and academically rigorous institution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the founders, staff, volunteers and clients of Recovery Resources of Cleveland, Ohio, as they celebrate their fifty-fifth anniversary at the 20th Annual Bronze Key Gala. Thousands of individuals and their families, seeking to break free from the chains of drug and alcohol addiction have been helped by Recovery Resources.

Recovery Resources was founded 55 years ago by two caring and dedicated individuals, Martha Baker and her husband, Dick Baker. Recovery Resources helps people triumph over mental illness, alcoholism, drug and other addictions in Northeast Ohio. The dedicated, compassionate, and professional staff at Recovery Resources delivers outpatient mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs in nine locations and touches 13,000 clients annually in Cuyahoga County.

Treatment programs at Recovery Resources are based on several phases of assessment, treatment and aftercare. The programs employ evidence- based best practices, mental health and psychiatric services, individual and group counseling, intensive services for those with dual diagnoses, homeless services and case management. In addition to intensive individual therapy and education programs, Recovery Resources provides special services to HIV/AIDS, Older Adults, Homeless, Women and Families.

Madam Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of the founding members, staff and volunteers of the Recovery Resources of Cleveland, Ohio. Their unwavering dedication to lifting the lives of thousands of individuals and families onto a platform of safety, strength, and recovery steady the foundation of hope and peace throughout the entire community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Reverend Dr. Roland Hayes Crowder on the occasion of his 45th anniversary as pastor of the Second Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio and his 60th anniversary of ministering to those in need.

Reverend Crowder was educated in the Jefferson County Schools in Birmingham, Alabama. He was raised with the values of faith, family, hard work and service to community. He graduated from Malone College and Ashland Theological Seminary, where he earned a doctoral degree in theology.

After college, Reverend Crowder accepted the call to ministry, and on November 8th, 1950, he preached his first sermon at East Mount Zion Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1965, Reverend Crowder accepted the position of pastor of the Second Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. His leadership led to an increase in church membership, the creation of new outreach programs and the construction of a multi-purpose church facility.

Madam Speaker, please join me in honor and recognition of the Reverend Dr. Roland Hayes Crowder, whose 60-year ministry and 45 years as a pastor reflect missions of healing, hope and faith. Reverend Crowder's compassionate service and dedicated leadership continues to bring light and strength to countless individuals and families.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6419, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Continuation Act.

Madam Speaker, 14.8 million Americans are unemployed. A majority of them are workers that endure historic long-term unemployment. Economist Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) estimated that at the current pace of job growth, it would take twenty years for the country to return to its pre-recession rate of unemployment. The American people cannot afford to wait another 20 years for the country to fully recover from the longest recession it has experienced in seventy years.

Some argue that passing unemployment benefits will add to the deficit and therefore should be opposed. Research tells us otherwise. EPI estimates that the effect of the $65 billion spent on extending benefits through 2011 is actually ``one of the most efficient things that can be done to create new jobs'' and will increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by ``an estimated $104.7 billion.'' This increase in the GDP will translate into approximately a half-million jobs.

Madam Speaker, it would be a disgrace for Congress to adjourn for the Thanksgiving break without giving those who need our assistance the help they deserve. This is not a hand out. This is our responsibility.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the Polonia Foundation of Ohio as they unite the community in remembrance and celebration of General Casimir Pulaski, for his legacy of courage and selfless dedication to the people of Poland and the people of the United States of America.

Born on March 4, 1747 in Warzka, Poland, General Pulaski achieved great military success in Poland with his focused leadership and brilliant strategies in fighting the Russian domination of Poland. By 1777, General Pulaski had become one of the most renowned cavalrymen in Europe. While in Paris that year, he was actively recruited by Benjamin Franklin to assist in the American quest for liberation.

Sympathetic to the American cause, General Pulaski sailed to America and was made head of the newly formed American cavalry during the Revolutionary War. General Pulaski's deep level of commitment to the American cause was framed by energy and style. He reportedly wore a plumed hat, flashing saber, and an elaborate uniform, and spent his own money to feed and equip his troops. General Pulaski was involved in many significant battles during the Revolution. His ultimate stand took place in Savannah, Georgia in October 1779, where he led a valiant charge against British artillery. General Pulaski was shot and died a few days later.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of General Casimir Pulaski, who made the ultimate sacrifice in his valiant fight to secure the ideals of the American Revolution. An American hero, General Pulaski's life and legacy serves as a significant reminder of the vital contributions and great achievements by Polish immigrants within our Cleveland community, and throughout America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Julia Jozepha Hadam

Kusek, lifelong resident of Cleveland's historic Tremont neighborhood, as we join with her in celebration of her 96th birthday. Mrs. Kusek was born on October 2, 1914 to Polish immigrant parents. Three years earlier, in 1911, her mother, Jozepha and father, Ignatz, made the long journey across the Atlantic, far from their Polish homeland, and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, like thousands of immigrants did--with the common dream and hope for a better life in America.

They raised Julia and her two younger siblings with an unwavering connection to, and abiding love for, the culture, language and traditions of their beloved Polish homeland. By the time she was in the 8th grade, the Great Depression had severely devastated most communities across the country, including Cleveland. With her family struggling to survive, Mrs. Kusek had to quit school in the 8th grade to go to work to help provide for the family. Her lifelong love of fashion, along with her determined spirit, led her to work while taking classes and later graduate from the Darvis School of Fashion and Design, where she graduated with honors. She designed and made beautiful clothes for her family; her talent reflected in her daughters' dresses, worn at school events, holidays and special occasions.

Mrs. Kusek married Stanley Kusek on June 24, 1939. They were devoted to each other until his passing in 1985. Together, they raised three children: Thaddeus, Diane and Carol. Ahead of her time, she worked in May Company's toy department while raising her children and was a loyal employee for forty years. Beyond her family and career, she made time to volunteer at St. John Cantius rectory, school and convent, and cooked for every special event. Her family, faith and Polish heritage continue to be the foundation of her life she remains very close to her children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and celebration of Julia Jozepha Hadam Kusek of the Tremont neighborhood in Cleveland, as we celebrate her 96th birthday. Her kindness and joy for living continues to be a shining example for all of us to follow.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of my friend Tom Jelepis, devoted family man and community leader. His dedicated service and civic contributions continue to make a positive difference throughout our community.

Mr. Jelepis was born in Cleveland and raised in nearby Lakewood, Ohio. His parents, Joanne and Leonard, raised his siblings and him with a focus on family, faith and service to others, values that Mr. Jelepis continues to carry with him today. He attended Cuyahoga

Community College and Cleveland State University before joining the United States Marine Corps. Following three years of honorable military service, he successfully ran for public office and served for two terms as the Mayor of Bay Village. Following his time as Mayor, he helped develop a small business which he operates today.

In addition to his public and professional accomplishments, Mr. Jelepis' focus on family has never wavered. He is the dedicated husband of Beverly and devoted father of Elizabeth and Caitlin. His commitment to charity is reflected at St. Raphael Catholic Church, where he and his family are longtime members and volunteers.

Madam Speaker, please join me in honor and recognition of Mr. Tom Jelepis, who lives his life with energy, kindness and service to our community. Mr. Jelepis is a true gentleman known for his integrity, generosity and kind nature. His friendship has touched the lives of many, including my own.