Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize James K. Wight, a resident of Michigan, for his volunteer leadership to the American Concrete Institute (ACI) headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, an organization whose work is fundamental to our nation's critical infrastructure, key to our economic competitiveness. As a Member of Congress, I am privileged and honored to recognize Dr. Wight for his leadership and lifelong commitment to this organization and to advancing concrete knowledge in the United States and abroad.

ACI has been the pioneer in all concrete-related fields: research and development, structural design, architectural design, construction, and product manufacture. With 99 chapters, 65 student chapters, and nearly 20,000 members spanning over 120 countries, the American Concrete Institute provides knowledge and information for the best use of concrete. Through a host of activities including continuing education, certification, seminars, publications, and conventions, ACI plays an active and vital role in the concrete industry. Core to ACI is the development of codes and standards, adopted by reference in building codes impacting potentially every concrete project in the United States. Additionally, there are some 21 countries worldwide that base part or all of their national building codes on the ACI 318 Structural Concrete Building Code provisions.

On April 18, 2013, Professor Wight will complete his service as president of ACI, the culmination of 40 years of volunteer service. Wight was named a Fellow of the Institute in 1984 and previously served on the ACI Board of Direction. He is a past Chair of the ACI Technical Activities Committee; ACI Committee 318, Structural Concrete Building Code; and Joint ACI-ASCE Committee 352, Joints and Connections in Monolithic Concrete Structures. He is a Past President of the ACI Greater Michigan Chapter.

ACI has honored him with the Delmar L. Bloem Distinguished Service Award, the Joe W. Kelly Award, the Arthur J. Boase Award, the Alfred E. Lindau Award, the Chester Paul Siess Award for Excellence in Structural Research, and the Wason Medal for the Most Meritorious Paper in 2011. He has also received the Arthur Y. Moy Award from the ACI Greater Michigan Chapter for outstanding service in the field of concrete technology.

Also of note, James K. Wight, who received his undergraduate education at Michigan State University, is the F.E. Richart Jr. Collegiate Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. He has been a professor in the structural engineering area of the civil and environmental engineering department since September 1973, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate classes on structural analysis and design of concrete structures. Wight is known for his work in earthquake-resistant design of concrete structures. His more recent research has concentrated on the strength and inelastic behavior of connections in composite structures (reinforced concrete and steel) and the use of high-performance fiber- reinforced concrete composites for earthquake-resistant design of critical members in concrete structures. He has been involved with post-earthquake damage studies following earthquakes in Mexico, Chile, Armenia, Egypt, California, Japan, and India.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor Dr. James Wight's leadership and service to the American Concrete Institute.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. as they celebrate a century of sisterhood and service. Over the past one-hundred years, the members of Delta Sigma Theta have guided many young women through the transition to adulthood, instilling values that have allowed them to reach their potential as publicly active members in their communities.

This enduring fellowship began on January 13, 1913, when twenty-two young women at Howard University in Washington, D.C. founded the sorority. Brought together in their shared life experiences, these young students envisioned an organization of women brought together in pursuit of promoting academic excellence, providing support to the underserved, and cultivating an interest and active involvement in public policy debates, with the goal of creating solutions to issues affecting their communities. As a testament to their dedication and leadership, Delta Sigma Theta continues its mission, serving communities and individuals all over the world.

As a central tenant of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, a deep passion for fighting for equity and equality is an ideal shared by its members. In keeping with this commitment, the sorority's first public act was to organize and march in support women's suffrage in Washington, DC. Many prominent community leaders have been proud to call themselves Deltas, includingCongresswoman Shirley Chisholm, a pioneer for women and African Americans in elected office. Following in Chisholm's success, Delta Sigma Theta member Congresswoman Barbara Jordan became the first women to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Both of these Deltas, in keeping to their ideals and beliefs, used their public office to give a voice to those who were unable to be heard.

As a Member of Congress from the Greater Detroit region, I have the pleasure to represent so many Delta Sigma Theta members in the Detroit Alumnae, Southfield Alumnae and Pontiac Alumnae chapters. Each of these chapters has a long and distinguished history of members doing their part to nurture future generations, shape the leaders of tomorrow and engage their communities in renewal and reaffirmation of citizenship.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent the members of three dedicated chapters of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and I wish them another hundred years of success in fulfillment of their mission to create a more just world that allows our youth to realize their full potential.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to recognize my friend, Dr. Michael C.R. Nabors as he and his congregation of New Calvary Baptist Church of Detroit celebrate his Fifteenth Pastoral Anniversary.

Dr. Nabors has a distinguished and extensive record of leadership in the communities he has served over several decades as a spiritual minister. His work began more than 30 years ago when he joined Galilee Missionary Baptist Church as its Youth Minister. In that position, he worked with the youth of the congregation to provide guidance at a pivotal point in their development. Dr. Nabors then served as a senior leader to two congregations in New Jersey before coming to Detroit and New Calvary in 1998.

Throughout his career, Dr. Nabors has employed a philosophy of leadership by example in all facets of his life. As a believer in the teachings of Christ, he has sought to be an active participant in shaping a more just and fair society. In his professional work, as a case worker for The Children's Home Society in New Jersey, Dr. Nabors sought to guide youth in the development of their leadership skills and then find employment after they graduated. He then went on to serve as Executive Director for the Joint Commission on Civil Rights in Princeton, New Jersey, where he played a central role, developing programs that fostered sensitivity and understanding between residents of a diverse community.

When he came to Detroit to lead the congregation of New Calvary, Dr. Nabors brought with him the same passion and zeal for strengthening his new community that he displayed earlier in his career. While serving as Senior Pastor of New Calvary, he has overseen the spiritual needs of his 600-member

congregation and has held true to his vision of equality by hiring the congregation's first female assistant pastor and licensing its first female ministers. He worked with members to establish ministries that helped them explore arts, provide basic human necessities for the community and support people in times of grief. In his professional work, he has continued to hold true to his faith through his service as an educator to future spiritual leaders, instilling in them the value of actively engaging the community in the pursuit of justice and equality.

The pursuits of his spiritual and professional work in Southeast Michigan have been mirrored in his volunteer work with the residents of the Greater Detroit region. In his position on the boards of Gateway Community Health and Gateway-Detroit East, Inc., Dr. Nabors has endeavored to build better mental healthcare and substance abuse services that empower the residents of the community. He also serves on the advisory board for United Voices for Michigan's Children, which serves as the State's largest non-profit advocate for youth. As a past advisory board member for The Skillman Foundation, Dr. Nabors has also continued to support the development of youth in the establishment of the ``Call to Service'' outreach program that created academic mentoring opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognition of Dr. Michael C.R. Nabors' great milestone in his service to the congregation of New Calvary Baptist Church and the people of Greater Detroit. His commitment to be a leader of his peers, a staunch advocate for our youth and a crusader for social justice values are a testament to his faith. I know his work has touched many lives and strengthened the fabric of the entire Southeast Michigan region. I congratulate Dr. Nabors on his fifteen years as Senior Pastor and look forward to working with him in our shared endeavor to create a more just and vibrant community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of Theodore Talbert, a renowned journalist, historian and proud Detroiter. Known to the Greater Detroit community simply as Ted, his documentaries brought history to life and inspired future journalists and leaders alike.

Born and raised in Detroit, Ted displayed early signs of excellence, graduating from Northern High School in 1961 as his class valedictorian. Ted attended Mount San Antonio College in California and it was early in the 1970s when he began to fully explore his passion for journalism, creating the first of his documentaries.

Over the proceeding decades of his journalism career, Ted worked for several of the local television stations in Southeast Michigan, although most of his time was with local NBC affiliate WDIV. Throughout the course of his career, Ted produced more than twenty documentaries that highlighted every aspect of the community that he loved so dearly. In his films, he showcased the unique heritage of Detroit, from his documentaries on Joe Louis and the Tuskegee Airmen to his story on the African American officers of the Detroit Police Department in the 1800s. Many in the Southeast Michigan community credit Ted with providing a unique perspective on the social, economic and political issues that have shaped our region, offering insights that inspired the community into action.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Ted dedicated his time to guiding, shaping and molding the next generation of young journalists. Ted lectured at a number of colleges including the University of Missouri, as well as Wayne State University and Wayne County

Community College, both of which are in Detroit. Through his lectures, he shared his passion and his experiences, in the hope of inspiring future generations to explore their history and to better understand the world in which they live.

In recognition of his outstanding journalistic work, Ted was presented with a number of awards over his life. These awards include four Emmys for his documentaries and a Meritorious Achievement Award from the Tuskegee Airmen. Additionally, Ted was presented an Achievement of Merit Award from the Ohio State University. And in acknowledgement of the depth of his impact on the community, Ted was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2000. However, no award is greater than the testimonials provided by countless leaders, community members and organizations across Greater Detroit, who agree that our region is stronger because of Ted's work.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the life of Ted Talbert, who had an undeniable impact on all of us in Southeast Michigan. Through his documentaries, we have been able to better understand the history of our community and how we can work together to build a bright and prosperous future for our region. His straightforward, yet complex, perspective and passion for his community, which he never hesitated to share, will be missed by all of us who grew up watching his films and news stories. I know Ted's life will be an inspiration to young journalists for many years to come and I hope his sister, Edna Bell, and his daughter, Jamile Skinner, know that all of us in the Greater Detroit region share in their loss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor longtime Detroit-area resident and community advocate Grace Naftaly on the occasion of her 100th birthday. The Naftaly family is well known in the Detroit-area, and I've had the privilege of working with Grace's son Jerry, who served as the mayor of Oak Park for many years. Throughout her lifetime, Grace demonstrated a selfless dedication to the welfare of others, the community, and her family.

Grace was born on March 25, 1913 and arrived in the United States with her parents Mary and Emil Kahan through the Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty port. Grace and her husband Bill Naftaly were blessed with three children, Robert, Janice and Jerry, as well as six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Even at the young age of 100, Grace is still an avid Detroit Red Wings, Tigers and Pistons fan. She also loves puzzle books and novels.

As I close, I would like to wish Grace health and happiness for many years to come. I can say with confidence that because of her selfless attitude and dedication to the community, the Detroit-area is a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Colonel Rodney Williams of the Michigan Air National Guard as he retires after twenty-eight years of service to our Nation in the Armed Forces.

Colonel Williams' service began in 1984 when he joined the Army Reserve and later, in 1988, the Michigan Army National Guard. Over the next decade he would go on to obtain a Juris Doctorate from Cooley Law School and would hold the positions of Assistant Staff Judge Advocate for the 177th Military Police Brigade and aide-be-camp to Michigan's Adjutant General, Major General Gordon Stump. In 1994, Colonel Williams transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard and was assigned to the 127th Wing as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. While serving the 127th, Colonel Williams was committed to developing the unit's joint operational capabilities and was recognized by the North American Aerospace Defense Command for his work.

While posted at Selfridge, Colonel Williams was assigned as Director of the 127th Wing Mission Support Group where he continued his focus on developing his unit's readiness and coordination. Under his leadership, the 127th Mission Support Group achieved a ninety-four percent readiness rating while it was supporting missions for the Air Mobility Command's KC-135 operation mission and its F-16 flying mission. As part of his responsibilities, Colonel Williams oversaw support for more than 400 Airmen of his support group that were deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Air Expeditionary Forces and Operation Noble Eagle. In 2008, Colonel William's Mission Support Group received a ninety-eight percent rating from a Unit Compliance Inspection.

In 2010, Colonel Williams was chosen to serve as Director of the Michigan National Guard Human Resource Office, HRO, overseeing over twenty-two hundred full time employees. While in this capacity, he led efforts to streamline and increase efficiency within HRO, which created savings for taxpayers. Colonel Williams also fostered increased collaboration between first responders and the Michigan National Guard in disaster planning which earned the State outstanding evaluations for its Vigilant Guard Exercise.

Throughout his career, Colonel Williams has focused not only on professional excellence, but on supporting efforts that have helped his countrymen as well. In 2005, while with the 127th Wing, Colonel Williams coordinated Michigan's assistance for two-hundred and fifty victims of Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, he has worked with the Detroit based Veterans Task Force on veterans employment issues. He has received numerous medals including the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

Mr. Speaker, Colonel Rodney Williams' twenty-eight years of dedicated service to our men and women of the Armed Forces and to our Country are a testament to his character and I know that his leadership will be missed by the personnel with whom he served.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Elizabeth Jackson and her lifelong commitment to pursuit of social justice, as she and many in the Greater Detroit area celebrate her ninety-fifth birthday. Known to many in the community simply as Liz, she is a proud Detroit resident that has spent decades serving her friends and neighbors.

Liz began her long career almost seventy years ago when she joined the Ford Motor Company at its River Rouge Aluminum Foundry. And like so many who share a passion for building a fairer and more just world, she became involved in her chapter of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 600. From the beginning of her involvement in the UAW, Liz was steadfast in her commitment to her brothers and sisters in labor. Over the first twenty years of her career, her peers elected her to a number of positions on the local board. In recognition of her leadership and dedication, Liz was among the first women appointed to the International UAW in 1966, where she worked with many UAW locals of Ford Motor Company employees. At the International UAW, Liz was an active member of the team making important decisions the national negations of fair contracts for Ford workers.

As was the case in her professional work, Liz mirrored those same principles and actions in her volunteer work. In her role as a community activist, Liz has utilized the oration, organizing and analytical thinking skills that she honed in her work with the UAW to serve and support many organizations that share her vision of a world where opportunity is equally accessible to all. Her civic activism includes a period as Vice President of the Michigan Black Caucus and she has been an active member of the Michigan Democratic Party and the Detroit Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In further service to her community, Liz was appointed to the Detroit Fire Commission.

Even after retiring from Ford in 1983, Liz continues to remain active in the fight to build a better future for Detroit and the nation. Just last year, Liz attended the 2012 Democratic National Convention as part of the Michigan delegation and cast her vote for re-nominating President Barak Obama. She describes her time at DNC as a moment in her life that she will always remember. Whether it was an issue to her colleagues at Ford Motor and the UAW or a matter of importance to her neighbors and friends in Detroit and beyond, Liz has displayed an unwavering zeal for making the American ideal of having a fair shot at success available to all. This has earned the recognition and respect of her neighbors and community leaders that often turn to Liz for advice on issues facing Greater Detroit residents.

Mr. Speaker, Liz Jackson's ninety-fifth birthday is yet another impressive milestone in the life of a women that has been a trailblazer for women in organized labor and public service. Her dedication to the Greater Detroit region and her brothers and sisters in organized labor have undoubtedly been an inspiration for many that have sought to serve their communities. Liz has made such a profound impact on the community she calls home and I wish her continued success in all of her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor long time philanthropist and community advocate Michael Fezzey for his deep commitment and years of service to the Greater Detroit area. I've had the honor of knowing and working with Mike for many years.

Currently, Mike Fezzey is the president of Huntington National Bank's East Michigan region. Prior to joining Huntington, Mike was the president and general manager of WJR-AM radio. In addition to leading WJR from 1994 through 2010, he also launched and ran Radio Disney Detroit programming for ABC.

A native of Detroit, Mike's service to the community has been broad based with particular emphasis on improving the region's philanthropic giving and the image and reputation of Southeast Michigan. He has served on a number of boards including Cornerstone Schools, New Detroit, the Children's Center, Habitat for Humanity, the Detroit Economic Club, the Parade Company, For the Kids Foundation, Sweet Dreamzzz Detroit and Forgotten Harvest. Mike is the former chair of the Detroit Regional Chamber's marketing committee and former president of the Detroit Advertising Association.

In his role with WJR, Mike earned the prestigious Peabody Award from the University of Georgia and the Neil Shine award for philanthropy in journalism. He and his wife were awarded the John Dingell Heroes for Babies award in 2010 and were the Michigan Arthritis Foundation's Tribute to Excellence honorees in 2011. Mike also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Central Michigan University and was named a John Aldinger Honorary Professor by Michigan State University in 2008.

In his current position at Huntington Bank, Mike Fezzey was instrumental in creating a public private partnership that included Huntington Bank, the city of Hamtramck, state officials, the Greater Metropolitan Association of Realtors and the Michigan Association of Home Builders. This partnership produced a $50-million initiative to complete construction of 104 homes around Hamtramck. This initiative fulfilled the federal court-ordered construction of 200 single-family homes that stemmed from a decades-long racial discrimination lawsuit. Under Mike's leadership, Huntington Bank was the only financial institution to help resolve this oldest housing discrimination lawsuit in America.

As I close, I can say with confidence that our community is a better place thanks to the ongoing, selfless service of people like Michael Fezzey. His leadership in the area of housing has earned the admiration of those throughout Southeast Michigan and I am pleased to recognize that leadership today in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and the underlying bills.

In the dead of night, 5 days before Christmas, House Republicans released legislation that they are rushing to the floor to gut funding for health care, food assistance, and other vital social services. Christmas is a season of giving, but sadly, Republicans are taking-- taking food off the table for millions of American families that are struggling in these tough economic times by cutting food assistance by $36 billion, taking the unemployment lifeline away from more than 2 million Americans who are trying to get back on their feet, and taking funding away from block grants that provide protective services for abused children. Why would Republicans insist on taking so much away from our families during this holiday season? So they can give an average $50,000 tax break to millionaires.

I urge my colleagues to stand up for millions of children, workers, and families that are facing a real cliff. Vote ``no'' on the rule and the bills.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Kerwin, my friend and a leader in the community of Troy, Michigan. This year, Mary has been recognized as Leadership Troy's Distinguished Citizen of 2012.

Each year, Leadership Troy recognizes a single community member as its Distinguished Citizen for their volunteer contributions to Troy that have gone above and beyond the requirements of their employment, improving the quality-of-life in Troy. Mary, with her twenty-four years of service in both the non-profit and public sectors of Troy, has on countless occasions demonstrated courage and leadership that has moved her community forward.

Mary's passion for building a stronger, more vibrant and better connected community has been a guiding force that has permeated every facet of her life. It is seen in her volunteer work for countless community organization like the Troy Community Coalition, The Friends of the Troy Library, the League of Women Voters and the Troy Historical Society. Mary's passion has also reached into the community of her Parish at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church where she serves as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister and part of its Women's Fellowship program.

The one area where Mary's enthusiasm for the Troy community has been so poignantly felt is in her work with young people. Mary has served in a variety of positions both volunteer and elected within the Troy Public Schools. She dedicated personal time to being a mentor to youth, served as President of the PTA at Hamilton Elementary and served on the PTA President's Council as its Parliamentarian. As a twice-elected Troy School Board member, she brought the knowledge of her experiences and pragmatic problem-solving approach to improving the educational experience of the District's students.

Mary later brought this same approach to Troy citizens while serving on the Troy City Council. During her four-year term, she served as Mayor Pro-Tern and as President of the Michigan Municipal League's Elected Officials Academy, a program which helped local elected officials improve and perfect their leadership skills to better serve the communities they represent.

Today, Mary continues to be an active participant in the Troy community and the broader Southeast Michigan region. In her professional capacity, she serves as the Development and Special Events Director for the Boys and Girls Club of Troy, which is actively engaging youth to identify and develop the skills of future leaders. This is a pursuit that Mary also supports through her work at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Institute for Local Government, which is helping the future elected leaders of our region to hone their abilities.

Mr. Speaker, our local leaders are an integral part of the fabric of our Nation, and this is witnessed by the passion Mary has injected not only into building a stronger community in Troy, but also ensuring that we are working to build a brighter future with more opportunity for future generations. It is again a great honor to congratulate her on her award as Leadership Troy's Distinguished Citizen of 2012. I know that Mary's passion will continue to be a driving force in her work within the Troy and the Southeast Michigan communities to build a stronger and more secure future for the region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark an important milestone in the history of the Michigan Lottery as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary. Over the last four decades the Michigan Lottery has been focused on fulfilling its mission to supplement state education programs through lottery revenues and provide Michigan residents and visitors with fun and entertaining games of chance, while doing so with a commitment to total integrity.

Since November 1972, when the Lottery offered its first game, a 50- cent green game ticket with weekly drawings, the Lottery has generated over $50 billion in sales. In 1981, Governor Milliken took an important step to help Michigan residents further realize the

economic benefit of the Lottery to our State by signing Public Act 40 into law, which dedicated Lottery revenues to the Michigan School Aid Fund. Since that time, the Michigan Lottery has implemented many new innovative programs and games to offer Michigan residents a great gaming experience, for which it was just recognized with an award for Best New Instant Game by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries.

Today the results of the Michigan Lottery's success are evident in the many ways its programs have benefitted the State. Specifically, over the duration of its existence, the Lottery has awarded over $26.8 billion in prizes to Lottery participants. In addition, it has donated $17.3 billion to the School Aid Fund over its lifespan. Local merchants have also benefitted with $3.2 billion in retail commissions. When the merchant commissions are combined with the awards given to participants and schools, it is clear the Lottery has been a significant contributor to stimulating the State economy.

As a former Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery, this milestone is one that I view with a personal point of pride. While serving as Lottery Commissioner, I was pleased to implement a new innovative game, Club Keno, which spurred growth by offering participants the chance to play a fun, fast and action-oriented game that could yield up to a $100,000 prize off just a single $1 bet. Thanks to the success of Club Keno and many other Lottery programs, I was honored to oversee record contributions to the School Aid Fund during my time as Lottery Commissioner.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the tremendous contributions that the Michigan Lottery has made to the State of Michigan over the last 40 years. I congratulate the current Commissioner, Mr. M. Scott Bowen, on overseeing the Lottery's continued success and support of public education in Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor William C. Vogel, Jr. on the occasion of his installation as Commodore of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club during its 84th Annual Commodore's Ball. Serving as the club's face to the community and monitor of its policies both present and future, the position of commodore is an esteemed office befitting an individual like Mr. Vogel.

Bill has long been an active member of the Club, serving on its executive board for many years, including multiple terms as the Club's Vice Commodore. Under his leadership, the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club has continued on a path of success and prosperity. Its membership has grown and it has undertaken projects to expand and improve both its facilities and the Grosse Pointe Harbor, one of Michigan's most precious treasures.

Outside of his involvement in the Grosse Point Yacht Club, Bill has been steadfastly engaged in the support of groups and issues that have historically made the Grosse Pointes a thriving group of communities. Through his support as a member and past director of the Detroit Goodfellows, he has taken the initiative to provide Detroit youth with educational scholarships and other necessities which have enhanced their quality of life. Bill has also been instrumental to the Lakeshore District of the Boy Scouts of America, serving as Chair of the Friends of the Scouts Campaign.

Bill's passion for his community is mirrored in his dedication to his profession. With over thirty years of accomplishments in the field of engineering, he has earned the respect and admiration of his peers and coworkers. During his tenure with General Motors as a systems analyst, project planner and marketing planner, Bill received both the Chairman's Award and the GM North American Special Achievement Award. At EDS, he was honored with the prestigious Inner Circle Award, Circle of Excellence, and Diamond Club recognitions for his achievements as Client Delivery Executive and Solutions Delivery Executive. He also received recognition from Wayne State University's College of Engineering in 2006, earning their Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award for Industry Achievement. Finally, in August of 2012, Bill retired from his post as director of EDS's OnStar account for General Motors, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and success. He currently serves on the Board of Visitors for both Wayne State and Western Michigan Universities' Colleges of Engineering.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to recognize William C. Vogel, Jr. on the occasion of his installation as Commodore of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. I join with Bill's wife of 37 years, Susan, as well as his children, William III, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Michael in congratulating him on this joyful occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC) as it celebrates 40 years of service to Southeast Michigan. Situated within Macomb and Oakland Counties and located in the heart of the Great Lakes region, the Clinton River watershed covers over 760 square miles that begins at the headwaters of the Clinton River in Springfield Township and stretches to its outlet into Lake St. Clair.

Water has long been an important part of our lives in Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes region--it was the means through which Michigan became a center of industry and innovation during the Industrial Revolution and remains a critical part of our economy. However, as an unintended consequence of our success, the Clinton River and its watershed became polluted by industrial runoff and untreated sewage, which threatened this important natural resource in Southeast Michigan. As a response to growing public concern, in 1972 the CRWC was founded with a mission to protect, enhance and celebrate the Clinton River, its watershed and Lake St. Clair.

In execution of its mission, the CRWC has created programs that have engaged all the sectors of the community in efforts to restore the watershed, while providing hands-on education which has instilled the value of good environmental stewardship. Among its programs is Adopt-a- Stream, which directly involves area residents in the water quality monitoring process. It promotes annual events like Clinton River Day, which brings the community together in dozens of sites around the watershed to participate in projects that educate, clean and promote the importance of the Clinton River to our region. Over its 40 years, the CRWC has created a clear track record of leveraging strong partnerships with area stakeholders to remove the impairments caused by pollution.

The work of the CRWC has left a tangible impact on the communities of Southeast Michigan--riparian habitat has been restored, children have been educated on the healthy and active lifestyle that the watershed supports and recreational fishermen once again enjoy premier fisheries. Beyond these benefits to area residents, the CRWC's outreach to its stakeholders has created important synergies between local governments, institutes of higher education, area businesses and advocacy groups, that have strengthened the vitality of the Southeast Michigan region. The results have been, not just a healthier ecosystem, but also increased economic activity and increased quality-of-life for our families.

Mr. Speaker, as a proud supporter of the Great Lakes and the federal commitment Congress has made through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the CRWC for 40 years of leadership in protecting, enhancing and celebrating the Clinton River, its watershed and Lake St. Clair. While there is still a lot of work left to be done to fully restore and protect our important natural resources, we have seen great progress because of the work of the CRWC and its sister organizations across the Great Lakes region. I am confident that with the sustained dedication of the CRWC, its stakeholders and its supporters, that we will continue to see more progress made to fully restore the Clinton River Area of Concern.

On Monday, July 23, 2012 I unfortunately missed two votes due to a delay in my flight to Washington, DC. Had I been present I would have opposed both bills.

H.R. 2362, the Indian Tribal Trade and Investment Demonstration Project Act of 2011 benefits one particular country, and is redundant to H.R. 205 the HEARTH Act which has passed both the House and Senate and is waiting to be signed by the President. S. 2039 would undermine an important policy in place to protect federal taxpayer dollars and prevent wasteful spending. While I was not able to cast my vote against these bills, had I been present I would have voted ``no.'' I was happy to see that both were defeated.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to join with Oakland University in celebrating the designation of Meadow Brook Hall as a National Historic Landmark.

Meadowbrook Hall, built on what was the Dodge family's Meadow Brook Farms in 1929 in then Avon Township, now Rochester Hills, Michigan, is a symbol of the American automotive industry's transformative effect on Michigan. When the 88,000-square foot, 110-room residence was envisioned by Matilda Dodge Wilson, the widow of Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company cofounder John F. Dodge, it was a country residence for her and her family. Today, Meadow Brook Hall is the site of Oakland University, a fully fledged institution of higher learning which supports a student body of 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

In Meadow Brook Hall's construction, Mrs. Wilson held true to many of the principles that guided the greats of America's automotive industry. Believing in the spirit of American innovation and contrary to the prevailing practices of the time, Mrs. Wilson had the Tutor-revival styled estate constructed almost entirely from American materials crafted by American designers. And in keeping with the spirit of community involvement that has been ever prevalent in the American automotive industry, Mrs. Wilson often used the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall to host charitable events and civic engagements.

In 1955, it became a focus of the community in Oakland County that as Michigan's second most populous county, area residents should join together to cultivate a local institution of higher learning. Answering the call of their community, Mrs. Wilson and her second husband, Mr. Alfred Wilson, bequeathed the entire 1500-acre Meadowbrook estate to the State of Michigan. And after supporting the endeavor with an additional two million dollars, Michigan State University (MSU) opened its MSU-Oakland Campus in 1959. MSU-Oakland would become known as Oakland University in 1963.

Steeped in the history of Michigan's industrial ingenuity, Meadow Brook Hall has come to embody the American automotive industry's spirit of transformation. Just as the auto industry once raised millions of Americans into the middle class, Meadow Brook Hall and Oakland University continue that proud tradition; providing our youth the tools they need to become the successful leaders of tomorrow. And throughout its years, the spirit of philanthropy and service upon which Meadow Brook was gifted to the State, continues to be a fundamental tenant to Oakland University as it supports many community endeavors and engages local stakeholders in shaping the future of the Southeast Michigan region.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to have supported Oakland University in its endeavor to have Meadow Brook Hall designated a National Historic Landmark. As a symbol not only of Michigan's history, but also its future, the designation of Meadow Brook Hall as a National Historic Landmark is truly becoming of its significant impact on the communities of Southeast Michigan.