Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to celebrate March as National Women's History Month with my support of H. Res. 211, ``Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Women's History Month.''

Women make up only 17% of the 111th Congress--that is abysmal given that we make up more than 50 percent of America's population. In the private sector, women CEOs are also in the minority. According to a 2008 census by Catalyst, among fortune 500 companies, only 2.4 percent are women. We can do better. More voices of women are needed in our boardrooms, courtrooms and in the halls of Congress.

In my home state of Arizona, women have been trailblazers. This year, Arizona became the only state in the nation to have three female Governors in a row: Jane Hull, Janet Napolitano and Janice Brewer. In 1998, Arizona became the first state to elect women to all five of its top offices, dubbed the ``Fab Five.'' Additionally, Sandra Day O'Connor, the first women to serve on the United States Supreme Court, hails from the great state of Arizona.

All of these strong, independent leaders embody the true spirit of Arizona women: self-reliant, hard-working and determined.

I also want to pay tribute to the countless organizations and coalitions that work tirelessly to improve the lives of women and girls throughout Southern Arizona.

I am proud to celebrate National Women's History Month by recognizing the increased awareness and knowledge of women's involvement in history.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize former United States Marine Corporal Javier Alvarez, who January of this year was awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry in Iraq.

As a Squad Leader with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit near New Ubaydi, Iraq, Corporal Alvarez joined other U.S. and Coalition forces attempting to stem the flow of foreign fighters and insurgents in Operation STEEL CURTAIN. Corporal Alvarez and his platoon were attacked by frontal and flanking fire from four, well-fortified enemy positions.

Braving certain peril, Corporal Alvarez courageously led his squad one-hundred meters through withering automatic weapons fire to reinforce his Platoon Commander and other Marines. Although wounded, Corporal Alvarez continued to lead his Marines in close combat with the enemy, while aiding in the evacuation of other Marines. While reloading his weapon, an enemy grenade was thrown in the midst of Corporal Alvarez and his squad. Selflessly and without regard to his own well being, he grabbed the grenade and began to throw it back at the enemy when it detonated.

Severely injured by the blast, Corporal Alvarez was evacuated by his Platoon Sergeant. His valiant efforts and those of his fellow Marines resulted in the deaths of 18 enemy insurgents and undoubtedly saved the lives of numerous Marines and Sailors.

His citation reads in part, ``Corporal Alvarez's indomitable spirit, dauntless initiative and heroism were an inspiration to those with whom he served. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and total devotion to duty, Corporal Alvarez reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.''

Our Nation owes him a debt of gratitude and remembers his fellow Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen who have paid the ultimate price in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Madam Speaker, it is my great honor to pay tribute today to Cele Peterson, a resident of Tucson, Arizona who on March 14, 2009, celebrates her 100 birthday.

Ms. Peterson is the founder and owner of a dress store that has been an integral part of the Tucson business community for generations. But to call Ms. Peterson a dressmaker or even a businesswoman fails to capture how important this woman is to countless Southern Arizonans who have been touched by her kindness and good works.

It is impossible to imagine what Tucson would be like without Ms. Peterson's presence over these many years. Through her hard work and generosity, she helped define and shape our city. Her caring spirit and actions are an inspiration to all of us.

Our world today is very different from the one Ms. Peterson entered 100 years ago, on March 14, 1909. Then, much of Europe was still ruled by kings and queens. A czar presided over Russia, a sultan based in Constantinople dominated the Middle East, and William Howard Taft occupied the White House. In 1909 the first Lincoln-head penny went into circulation, the Wright Brothers delivered the first military plane to the army, and two American explorers, Robert Peary and Matthew Hansen, declared they were the first to reach the North Pole.

The year Ms. Peterson was born saw the U.S. Navy open a new base at Pearl Harbor, a Ford Model T win the first transcontinental motorcar race, Sir Thomas Lipton begin packaging tea in New York, and the White Star Line start construction of the Titanic. It was the year Barry Goldwater, Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks were born and the year the artist Frederic Remington and the Apache leader Geronimo died.

Ms. Peterson's life-long connection to Arizona began when the State of Arizona was born, in 1912. As a three-year old girl she moved with her family to Bisbee, then a thriving mining town. The population of the entire state in 1912 was around 200,000. Tucson had 14,000 residents and Phoenix--now the fifth largest city in the United States--had a population of 11,000. The Mexican Revolution had begun two years earlier and Ms. Peterson recalls climbing the hills around Bisbee to watch the revolution take place on the other side of the border.

When Ms. Peterson launched her business in 1930, our country was at the threshold of the Great Depression and it was not long before her two business partners backed out of the venture. Ms. Peterson, however, did not give up. She stuck to it and not only survived, but thrived.

For nearly 80 years, Ms. Peterson's merchandise and designs have been at the forefront of the fashion world. Her business has endured decades of ever-changing trends and economic ups and downs.

Today, Cele Peterson's retail store is still going strong in Tucson. Her daughters are managing the business but Cele still comes to the store to greet customers and make sure that her tradition of great service is maintained. Over the years, Ms. Peterson has dressed an untold number of women from all walks of life. Among them are a host of well-known celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor and Lady Astor.

Ms. Peterson's accomplishments go far beyond the realm of hems, pleats and necklines. She is a greatly admired and dynamic civic leader who has had a hand in the establishment of some Tucson's finest community organizations. She helped found the Arizona Theatre Company, the Arizona Opera Company, the Tucson Children's Museum and, perhaps most significantly, Casa de los Ninos. Casa de los Ninos' mission is to support children and families to both prevent child abuse and treat children who are victims of abuse. When the unmet needs of abused children were brought to her attention, Ms. Peterson offered up a three-bedroom house so that the new organization could begin its work. When it opened in 1973, it was the first shelter of its kind in the country.

As Tucson celebrates the 100th birthday of Cele Peterson, it is worth noting that 2009 also marks the centennial of the birth of Wallace Stegner. This great writer of the American West once noted that ``creation is a knack which is empowered by practice, and like almost any skill, it is lost if you don't practice it.''

Cele Peterson never stopped practicing her knack for creation and in the process she helped build a caring community. For all that she has done we owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude.

Thank you Cele for setting such a fine example of citizenship for all of us to follow.

Happy Birthday to you!

Madam Speaker, I am honored today to pay tribute to Elizabeth Littlefield, a hairdresser from Marana, Arizona. Ms. Littlefield has set an inspiring example for all Americans with one selfless act--the donation of one of her kidneys. It was not to a loved one or longtime friend that Littlefield made this generous donation, but to a customer whom she had known only a short time.

Ms. Littlefield's donated kidney went to Dale Charnick. Not long after Ms. Charnick became a customer of Ms. Littlefield's salon in 2006, both of her kidneys began shutting down. Upon learning of her customer's plight, Littlefield made the surprise offer that saved Ms. Chanick's life. ``I have two good kidneys,'' Ms. Littlefield said. ``You can have one of mine.''

Now, as a result of Ms. Littlefield's donation, Ms. Charnick is on the road to a strong recovery. Ms. Littlefield's selfless act reminds us in a dramatic way what it means to help a person in need.

I also want to commend the extraordinary medical skills of the well- trained health care professionals at Tucson's University Medical Center for their role in giving Ms. Charnick's a new lease on life.

My constituents in Southern Arizona are indeed fortunate to have a new team of nationally recognized transplant experts in our community. This team includes: abdominal transplant chief Dr. Rainer Gruessner; nephrology chief Dr. Bruce Kaplan, who is also a deputy editor of the American Journal of Transplantation; vice chief of abdominal transplantation Dr. John Renz; Dr. Thomas Boyer, who is director of the Arizona Liver Institute; and Dr. Khalid Khan, director of the UA's Pediatric Liver and Intestinal Transplantation Program.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize, congratulate and welcome home the remaining Soldiers of the 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, part of the 11th Signal Brigade, to Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

The battalion's 600 Soldiers began their deployment in December 2007. The men and women of the 40th Signal Battalion supported combat operations throughout the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom by providing secure communications and command-and-control networks for both U.S. war fighters and coalition partners. This was the third time the unit was called to war since the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan began.

This week the remainder of the 40th Signal Battalion returned home to a proud and grateful nation. They join other Soldiers from 11th Signal Brigade who returned to Fort Huachuca at the end of December from a similar mission in the Middle East. Together, the 40th Battalion and the 11th Brigade Soldiers courageous and heroically completed their critical mission. They represent the best of Southern Arizona and our Army. As with all of our brave men and women, we are proud and appreciate their service to our nation.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the AbilityOne Program, which in the last year, has helped more than 40,000 Americans who are blind or who have severe disabilities gain skills and training that ultimately led to gainful employment. The Beacon Group SW implements this program in my district in Southern Arizona.

The AbilityOne Program, formerly known as the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program, harnesses the purchasing power of the federal government to buy products and services from community based non-profit agencies that are dedicated to training and employing individuals with disabilities. This program gives Americans with disabilities opportunities to acquire job skills and training, receive good wages and benefits, and gain greater independence and quality of life. This program provides essential assistance to a segment of the population that has one of the highest levels of unemployment in our country.

I am proud to acknowledge the important work of the Beacon Group, which since 1952, has provided training and employment services to people with disabilities. The history and mission of the Beacon Group stands as a clear example of why this program is a winning proposition for all parties involved.

In the past year the Beacon Group employed over 25 individuals with severe disabilities through AbilityOne contracts. With the help of AbilityOne and other programs the Beacon Group served over 1,700 individuals and their families in the community.

The direct impact of these services on the lives of Americans with disabilities cannot be overstated. For an individual with a severe disability who has never had the opportunity to hold a job, be independent, participate in community life, or contribute their talents to society; the AbilityOne Program and agencies like the Beacon Group are invaluable.

I am pleased to acknowledge the tremendous accomplishments of the AbilityOne Program and the dedication and commitment of Steven R. King the President and CEO of the Beacon Group and his staff. Each day they assist individuals with disabilities to find meaningful employment and assume their rightful place in our nation's workforce. I also want to commend each AbilityOne employee for their hard work and their participation in this important program.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Robert Luther ``Lute'' Olson, the former men's basketball head coach at the University of Arizona.

In his long and illustrious collegiate career Lute Olson amassed a record of 780-280 in 34 seasons, including a 589-187 mark in his time at Arizona. He holds the all-time record for Pac-10 victories with 327. He is also one of only 17 coaches with over 1,000 victories, spanning a career as a high school, junior college, and college head coach.

On March 29, 1983, Coach Olson became the head coach at Arizona after successful runs at Long Beach State and the University of Iowa, the latter of which he guided to the 1979 Big Ten title and the 1980 Final Four. Few could have predicted the meteoric rise of the program he turned around from a 4-24 record in 1983. Just 2 years later, he guided the team to the NCAA tournament and began the Nation's longest active streak for NCAA tournament appearances, currently at 24 consecutive seasons.

Lute Olson transformed the University of Arizona and the Tucson desert into a college basketball oasis. In his 24 seasons he won one national championship, reached 4 Final Fours, and won 11 Pac-10 titles, solidifying the program as a perennial title contender and bringing national prestige to both city and school.

At the top of his game, Coach Olson took the Wildcats on an improbable run to the 1997 national title, including victories over three No. 1 seeds, a feat not achieved before or since. For these accomplishments, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 27, 2002.

Lute Olson's successes were not limited to the hardwood. As a high school teacher in Mahnomen, Minnesota, he taught six classes, was head coach of the basketball and football team, and assistant coach on the baseball team. He went to become a junior high counselor in Colorado, high school coach in Southern California and entered the collegiate ranks in 1972.

Along the way, as a teacher and coach, Lute Olson has encouraged students to live healthy, work hard and pursue their dreams. He has inspired and encouraged students across the country, in Tucson, and at the University of Arizona. Many young people have benefited from his guidance and are proud to call him their mentor.

I am pleased to acknowledge and thank Coach Olson for his great leadership and outstanding contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker, a strong solar power industry creates good jobs and widespread economic growth. It increases our energy independence and reduces the threat of global warming. Unfortunately, the economic downturn has caused many energy investors to put their projects on hold. They are unable to take advantage of the investment tax credit that we fought so hard to pass and extend last year.

To get these projects moving again, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allows solar energy developers to take grants in lieu of tax credits. But for the grant program to be an incentive for the largest renewable energy programs, it has to be expanded. Simply put, renewable projects will not get off the starting line until there is a usable incentive waiting for them at the finish line.

As the conferees work to finalize this bill, I urge them to expand these grants. This will safeguard the solar industry's ability to fully contribute to

our economic recovery. I commend the excellent work done on the energy provisions in this bill and greatly appreciate the conferees' willingness to work to make them as effective as possible.

I'd like to thank Chairman Obey as well for all his work, and members of the committee on both sides of this bill, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As a member of the Science and Technology Committee, it's my great privilege to work with Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall to advance our Nation's capabilities in scientific research and technological innovation.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains critical funding for the National Science Foundation, the Office of Science at the Department of Energy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and NASA. It also includes significant funding for research and development in advanced energy technologies.

These critical investments will create high-quality jobs, strengthen our economic competitiveness, and improve access to clean, affordable energy.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu).

Mr. Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards).

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko).

Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time we have remaining?

Mr. Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boccieri).

(Mr. BOCCIERI asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Peters).

Mr. Chairman, I now yield myself such time as I may consume.

As a Representative from the State of Arizona, the State that is the most abundant State in terms of sunshine, I would like to take the remainder of the time to talk about my support for solar power.

A strong solar power industry is going to create good jobs, it is going to increase our competitiveness internationally, and it is also going to help us reduce the threat of climate change. This form of renewable energy is going to be good for our economy, it is absolutely going to create much-needed jobs, and it is really going to focus on that next 21st century economy. It is going to really focus on our future. So I am pleased that this legislation includes some solar investments such as research and basic science, basic energy science, as well as applied research and development. The bill also includes critical funding for critical research into advanced transmission and energy storage technologies, what Representative Peters from Michigan spoke of earlier.

Innovation in these two areas is essential to unlocking solar power's full potential. But that is not all that is included in this bill. We also are looking at language that contains critical financial incentives to support the development of solar power generating facilities. These provisions offer direct grants to qualified renewable energy products in lieu of the investment tax credits, also known as the ITC.

In the current economic downturn, the ITC cannot achieve its full potential, because many entities that would like to invest in solar power do not have taxable income. Therefore, this grant program is essential.

Unfortunately, the grant programs application is limited. It falls short of supporting large-scale solar projects with long lead times. We have seen many of these projects proposed throughout the Southwest and in other areas. That is why I have offered an amendment to expand this provision to include the large solar projects with the greatest potential to boost our economy. They are going to maximize job creation, foster greater investments and dramatically expand the amount of power our Nation gets from solar energy.

So as this bill moves forward, I urge the House and Senate to consider this amendment. We have this opportunity to take advantage and facilitate large and small scale projects. I would like us to help achieve President Obama's goal of doubling our Nation's renewable power capacity over the next 3 years. We are looking at 40,000 new jobs and $8 billion in investment. This is exactly the kind of bold action our Nation needs.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today because signing a robust SCHIP authorization bill into law will truly make this a happy new year for more than 170,000 kids in my home State of Arizona.

The coverage that they receive through Arizona's SCHIP program, known as KidsCare, will change their lives, will change their futures and will change the future of the country.

At the end of 2008, more than one out of every seven or over 16 percent of kids in Arizona were uninsured. That makes Arizona the fourth nationally for the percentage of children in each State that goes without health insurance.

I am deeply concerned about the worsening economic crisis, and what the growing unemployment means for health insurance in our future.

As we work to stabilize our economy, Democrats and Republicans have to stay united for our children. We are their representatives. We are their voices. We have to speak out for the kids of our Nation. In this economic climate, we must not fail to recognize that health care continues to be incredibly expensive, the most costly economic challenge confronting our families and businesses.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the SCHIP reauthorization.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute today to the men and women of Southeastern Arizona who for the past two years have served on my Senior and Aging Issues Advisory Council.

These 35 active and engaged citizens have selflessly shared their time and expertise with me as important advisors. Each one brought considerable personal and professional expertise to the table to help me gain a greater understanding of the challenges faced by seniors and their family members. Their advice and insights allowed me to better represent my constituents in Arizona's 8th Congressional District.

The counsel they provided has been invaluable to me in making legislative decisions and delivering constituent services. I am grateful to them for the recommendations and issues

they brought to my attention during my first term in Congress and I look forward to their continued assistance.

The Senior and Aging Issues Advisory Council members are: Harry Anthros, David Braun, Marlene Bluestein, Fred Ebeling, Dr. Mindy Fain, Karen Fields, Sharon Gartner, Doris Goldstein, Mary Gomez, Craig Gordon, Clark Hay, Kathleen Heard, Felipe Jacome, Anna Jolivet, Al Kaszniak, Joe La Cava, Cress Lander, Dr. Allan Levenson, David Likness, Larry Linderman, Marian Lupu, Barbara Matteson, Dr. Fred Miller, Jim Murphy, Steve Nash, Elizabeth Packard, Gordon Packard, Anita Royal, L'Don Sawyer, Bill Santa Cruz, Mattie Stone, Jan Sturges, Helen Symes, Russ Symes, Dr. Tony Vuturo and Carol West.

I commend each of them for their contributions to our work on behalf of seniors and thank them for their service our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to five retired United States Generals who, for the past two years, have served as members of my Military Advisory Council.

These distinguished Americans have served the Nation as leaders of our Armed Forces. They continue their service in our community. I am fortunate to have the benefit of their advice on military affairs.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have often turned to my Military Advisory Council as we considered legislation and appropriations to meet the needs of our Armed Forces. I have benefited immeasurably from their knowledge and experience.

I commend them for their commitment to our men and women in uniform and thank them for making their expertise available to me. They are: General John Wickham Jr., former Chief of Staff, United States Army, General Donald Shepperd, former Director, Air National Guard, General John Cronin, former Deputy Commander, Fleet Marine, General Bill Van Dyke, former Adjutant General, Arizona National Guard, and General Ronald Shoopman, former Commander Arizona 162nd Fighter Wing.

They all have proven themselves to be true patriots. It has been my privilege to have them as advisors on military issues. On behalf of our Armed Forces I thank them for their continued service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the forward- thinking men and women of Southeastern Arizona who for the past two years have served as members of my Solar Energy Advisory Council.

Arizona is known throughout the world as a place of abundant sunshine. Harnessing the power of the sun and putting it to use as a source of energy has been among my top priorities as a member of the United States House of Representatives. Great strides have been over the past two years in advancing this goal, the most significant of which has been the extension of the investment tax credit.

Many individuals across our country played a role in this achievement. Among them are the twelve determined members of my Solar Energy Advisory Council. Each and every council member played a crucial role in helping expand the availability and use of solar energy in our nation.

The Members of my Solar Energy Advisory Council are:

Tom Alston, Roger Angel, Kendall Burt, Dennis Dickerson, Prabhu Dayal, Richard Elias, Steve Farley, Tedra Fox, Michael Gering, Britt Hanson, William Harris, Scotty Johnson, Katharine Kent, Leslie Liberti, Mayor Paul Loomis, Jacquie McNulty, Tom Peterson, Bruce Plenk, Luther Probst, Valerie Rauluk, Denise Richerson-Smith, David Rousseau, Joaquin Ruiz, Shirley Scott, Joe Simmons, Denise Smith, Mayor Bob Strain, Leslie Tolbert, Nina Trasoff, Karin Uhlich, Mayor Robert Walkup, John Waszczak, John Wesley Miller.

I commend them for their hard work and dedication and look forward to their ongoing advice and counsel as we continue to make solar energy more available to the citizens of my District, the state and the nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute today to the men and women of Southeastern Arizona who for the past two years have served as members of my Veterans Advisory Council.

These former members of our Armed Forces live throughout my 8th Congressional District, they come from all walks of life and they represent every branch of military service and every military conflict from World War II to the present time.

They are a very diverse and multi-talented group and yet they all have one important thing in common. They all willingly contributed their time, experience and knowledge as advisors to me on issues concerning veterans.

Their wise counsel and insights have been invaluable to me. By serving on my Veterans Advisory Council, they have continued to serve their country and the men in women who have put on the uniform. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.

The Members of my Veterans Advisory Council are: Stan Abrams, Sergio Arellano, Bob Berry, John Cronin, Jim Ellars, Johnny Fajardo, Mary Figura, Terrie Gent, Dale Halstead, Frank Hartline, Amy Hartline, Thomas Heaney, Mike Klier, Mel Kloor, Col. Joey Strickland, Pepe Mendoza, Tommy Mendoza, Able Moreno, Pam Murphy, Norma Navarre, Chuck Larry Ohara, Bob Parson, Dan Ross, DuWayne Smith, John Soltero Sr., Mary Pat Sullivan, Christian Vasquez, Bob Walton, Barbara Williams, Don Williams, and Bob Winchester.

I am grateful to them for their advice and their advocacy on behalf of our veterans and I look forward to their continued assistance in the next two years.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to acknowledge the extraordinary accomplishments of Mr. Warner Glenn, a dedicated steward of our fragile lands and a champion for endangered species of the Southwest.

Mr. Glenn is a rancher who lives near Douglas, Arizona, a small city on the United States-Mexico border that traces its roots back to the early 20th century. The desert lands surrounding Douglas are an environmental treasure. They are abundant in wildlife. These beautiful areas face serious threats and many citizens in my district have taken action to address these issues. Warner Glenn is a leader in this movement.

Warner and his family are part of the Malpai Borderlands Group, ranchers and conservationists who are dedicated to preserving the open spaces that are in danger of disappearing.

He was recently named by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as a ``Regional Recovery Champion'' for his tireless efforts in protecting the endangered jaguar. Mr. Glenn's photographs of jaguars were the first taken of the animal in the United States.

Mr. Glenn's photographs were more than mere documentation of the jaguar. In honoring Mr. Glenn, Benjamin Tuggle, the director of the Fish and Wildlife's Southwestern Region, noted that Mr. Glenn's ``stunning photographs, along with his written and oral accounts, have ignited a passion for jaguars and borderlands conservation.''

He took his photographs in 1996 and 2006. Since then, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has granted the jaguar protection under the Endangered Species Act. The agency also funds monitoring efforts in Arizona and has contributed to local and international programs to help conserve the jaguar and aid in the species' recovery.

Mr. Glenn embodies the true spirit of the Southwest. Born and raised in the fabled Chiricahua Mountains, he makes his living from the land as a rancher, guide and outfitter for hunters. When he is in the wild, he typically carries a .357 Magnum on his belt. Yet as he has said that he ``never felt danger'' when he encountered the jaguars! His only thought as he first saw the jaguar that day was how can we protect this beautiful animal and maintain its ability to roam the deserts and mountains?

Not all of us have Mr. Glenn's vision but all of us can learn valuable lessons from him with regard to the jaguar. As he put it, ``When you see one of those in the wild, you can't help but admire and respect those cats, and they deserve it.''

I commend and thank Warner Glenn for all he has done to preserve the land and the wildlife that lives on it.