Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Annual Patriotic Day Celebration at Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School, taking place this Friday, April 4, 2009. The Parent Teacher Student Organization has organized this wonderful event for Kyrene Akimel A-al for the past 15 years.

Since its inception in 1992, Kyrene Akimel A-al has been committed to educating their students about the responsibilities of citizenship and about the sacrifices and bravery of those who make our freedom possible. In 1994, Kyrene Akimel A-al was named a World War II Commemorative School. It is the only middle school in Arizona to achieve this honor. This was also the first year that Patriotic Day was designated by Kyrene Akimel A-al to honor the contributions and sacrifices of all of America's Veterans.

I am hopeful that this event will teach the students of Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School, and its surrounding community, to honor the actions of our nation's veterans for years to come. I commend the school and its excellent Parent Teacher Student Organization for taking on this amazing project.

Madam Speaker, I have discovered that on February 13, 2008, my vote on rollcall vote No. 48 did not register in the voting system.

On this vote, I voted in favor of ordering the previous question on H. Res. 976, rollcall vote No. 48.

Madam Speaker, due to family obligations in Arizona that required my attention, I missed the following votes and had I been present, I would have voted against rollcall vote No. 111, the Motion to Adjourn; rollcall vote No. 112, the Motion to Adjourn; rollcall vote No. 113, the Motion to Adjourn; and rollcall vote No. 114, the Motion to Adjourn.

I would have voted in favor of rollcall vote No. 115, H. Res. 924; rollcall vote No. 116, the Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair; rollcall vote No. 117, the Vote to Override the President's Veto of H.R. 2082; rollcall vote No. 118, H. Res. 948; and rollcall vote No. 119, H. Res. 493.

I would have voted againat rollcall vote No. 120, the Motion To Adjourn.

I would have voted in favor of rollcall vote No. 121, on Ordering the Previous Question; rollcall vote No. 122, H. Res. 1031; and rollcall vote No. 123, the Motion to Adjourn.

Madam Speaker, I was absent today from three rollcall votes due to family obligations in Arizona that required my attention.

Had I been present, I would have voted in favor of H. Res. 537, rollcall vote No. 108; H.R. 3196, rollcall vote No. 109; and H.R. 4166, rollcall vote No. 110.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Annual Arnie Dworkis Memorial Dialysis Awareness Walk, taking place this Sunday, March 9, 2008. The Sunset Kiwanis Club of Fountain Hills has organized this wonderful and exciting event for the third year running.

I would particularly like to honor Edward Stizza and Susan Obst- Dworkis for coordinating this annual event, and for their efforts and activities to educate the community about chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease. The proceeds from the Arnie Dworkis Memorial Dialysis Awareness Walk will benefit the Dialysis Patient Citizens Group, which was founded by Mr. Stizza and his friend and fellow dialysis patient, Arnie Dworkis. After Arnie passed away in 2005, Mr. Stizza established the walk to honor the life of his friend. I am glad to say that by making this tribute, Mr. Stizza and Ms. Susan Obst Dworkis have educated thousands of people about this disease.

Currently, one in nine American adults will be affected by chronic kidney disease. More the 20 million Americans are personally suffering from the disease, which, if left untreated, can lead to end stage renal disease. With the assistance of Mr. Stizza and Ms. Obst-Dworkis, we can raise the public awareness of this debilitating disease, and the plight of the more than 400,000 Americans who are on kidney dialysis today.

I am hopeful that this event will educate the public on what can be done to prevent and treat kidney disease. It will undoubtedly contribute to support and funding to those whose lives are intimately touched by the chronic kidney disease.

Madam Speaker I rise today to recognize the achievements of two outstanding people from my hometown, Tempe, Arizona--Don and Bobbie Cassano. My pride in their contributions is magnified because I also count them among my friends.

The Tempe Chamber of Commerce recently presented them with the 2008 Spirit of Tempe Award during the annual Breakfast for Chamber Champions on February 29th. This award recognized business people who ``go above and beyond''.

The soul of any community is its people, and Don and Bobbie Cassano have epitomized the spirit that makes Tempe such an outstanding community. I am pleased that their outstanding efforts for our community have been formally recognized by the Tempe Chamber.

Don and Bobbie wasted no time in getting involved in their community when they moved to Tempe thirty four years ago. It is easy to assume that this was strictly a team effort, but Don and Bobbie have each made significant individual contributions as well.

Bobbie has served as president of Tempe Leadership, the Tempe/Kyrene Communities in Schools and the Tempe Governors. She was a founder of the Communities in Schools group. She has also served on the Tempe Community Council Board of Directors, the Tempe Connections Advisory Council and the Tempe Citizens Corps Council.

Don has also served as President of a number of organizations, including Friendship Village of Tempe, Arizona Clean and Beautiful and the Tempe Nuevo Kiwanis Club. He has chaired the Valley Business Council and Valley Forward Association. I am also proud to have served with him during the time he was a member of the Tempe City Council, from 1984-1993.

Together they joined forces to help pass a transit tax in Tempe which goes toward improving public transportation, including the light rail system which starts running this year. In addition, it funds expanded bicycle paths, and a free neighborhood circulator bus to help increase ridership on public transportation.

I can't think of two people who are more deserving of this award, and I say congratulations for a job well done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Identity Theft Prevention Week in Arizona and in several other states, as well as Consumer Protection Week around the Nation, and to bring attention to this growing and troubling trend in crime. Identity theft is a serious offense that occurs when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

Unfortunately, Arizona is one of the states hardest hit by identity theft, which continues to impact millions of victims and remains the fastest-growing white-collar crime in the United States. Identity theft costs businesses and consumers billions of dollars each year. Additionally, victims must take valuable time and often endure tremendous stress as they work to repair the damage to their credit and accounts.

However, Arizona is also the site of some of the Nation's most innovative efforts to combat

this crime. The Arizona Attorney General's Office regularly hosts ``shred-a-thons'' where residents can safely destroy documents containing personal information. And private companies like Lifelock, which is headquartered in my hometown of Tempe, has become a nationwide industry leader in helping consumers to proactively protect their personal information and render it useless to criminals.

Madam Speaker, I wish to applaud these efforts and encourage my colleagues to join me in doing all that I can to turn the tide against identity thieves across the Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the State Bar of Arizona on its 75th anniversary. The Arizona Bar Association was first incorporated in Arizona in 1906 and in 1912 first began official admission procedures for the practice of law. On March 17, 1933, the State Bar of Arizona was established as a mandatory membership organization through an act of the Arizona State Legislature. Since its statutory establishment, it has functioned as a self-policing organization that has worked to ensure that the legal profession in Arizona maintains the highest possible ethical standards and technical skill.

The State Bar of Arizona is guided in its service of the public by the core values of integrity, service, diversity, professionalism, promotion of justice, and leadership. The State

Bar utilizes these core values to further the legal profession and the administration of justice.

The State Bar serves not only the legal profession, but also the public, ensuring equal access to high quality legal services for all Arizona residents. The State Bar also serves the public through its participation in programs like ``Wills for Heroes'' where members of the State Bar donate their time and talent to provide free legal services in the area of wills and probate to emergency personnel in Arizona.

The State Bar of Arizona and its nearly 20,000 members should be proud of the work they continue to do to ensure that all Arizonans have access to equal justice.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a gentleman who has quietly spent the last twenty-five years making a difference in our community. Prior to 1983, Thomas Carney would never have described himself as, in his own words, a ``bunny hugger''. However, while out on a walk that year in our desert community, he came across two desert tortoises that had been badly damaged by heavy equipment on a construction site. One did not survive, but the other one did, due to the care and compassion of Mr. Carney.

This one day occurrence put Mr. Carney on a course in life he could never have imagined--tortoise advocate. He is now a member of the Arizona Chapter of the National Turtle and Tortoise Society. This group is dedicated to the study and conservation of these endangered animals.

I feel that it is important to recognize people like Thomas Carney. He saw a problem and educated himself about how to help these gentle creatures. He is now an advocate for desert tortoises and donates his time to educating others.

Too often, we overlook the little things in life that really make a difference. Mr. Carney, I want to recognize your efforts. I say congratulations and thank you very much for a job well done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Sharon Doyle on receiving Tempe Leadership's Outstanding Community Leadership Award. I am especially pleased to recognize Sharon because she is not only a worthy recipient, but a long-time family friend from my home town, Tempe, Arizona. This award recognizes outstanding leadership achievements and service that contribute to improving the quality of life in Tempe.

Sharon is also a fellow educator, retiring after thirty years as a speech and language pathologist in the Tempe Union High School District. This award represents years of community service which at the present time involves service to sixteen different committees and organizations. Although Sharon is retired,

she continues to use her time to serve education-related organizations, proving that her advocacy for young people did not end with her retirement.

She is a graduate of Tempe Leadership Class XVI and is the president of the Tempe High School District Education Foundation, vice-president of the Tempe Impact Education Foundation and is active on the Tempe City Council's Education, Technology and Economic Development Committee.

A community's quality of life is determined by many factors, such as the policies set by city government and the programs available to its citizens. However, I believe that a community rises and falls on the shoulders of its citizens, and the contributions they make to that community. Sharon exemplifies this commitment and raises the bar for everyone around her. I am proud to call Sharon Doyle a friend, and I commend her on her continued service to the young people of our community.

Sharon, congratulations on a job well done. Keep up the good work!

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, a nationally renowned neurologist who has dedicated his career to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease. As the founder and director of clinical research at Sun Health Research Institute's Cleo Roberts Center for Clinical Research, Dr. Sabbagh is working to develop new tools and treatment options for those who have been diagnosed with this tragic disease.

Dr. Sabbagh and the Sun Health Research Institute are partners in the Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium. This Consortium is a leading model for statewide research centers that build upon the strengths of participating institutions. As a member of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's disease, I am proud of the groundbreaking research and education that is being done in my home state of Arizona.

Later this week, I will join Dr. Sabbagh as he celebrates the release of his latest book, ``The Alzheimer's Answer''. This book provides readers with the latest facts about the disease, real tips for prevention, and information on current diagnosis and treatment options. As we continue to learn more about the crisis this disease presents, reducing our risk and promoting wellness is more important than ever.

Madam Speaker, in addition to Dr. Sabbagh's work with the Sun Health Research Institute, he is also a scientist in the Department of Neurology at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale and serves as an adjunct professor at Midwestern University and Arizona State University. Through his work at these leading research institutions, Dr. Sabbagh is a leading investigator for several national Alzheimer's treatment trials, including Alzheimer vaccine studies.

Dr. Sabbagh currently resides in Scottsdale with his wife Ida and their two sons, Habib and Elias. The work that Dr. Sabbagh has done, and continues to do, will greatly benefit our nation. I am proud of his accomplishments and congratulate him on his book release.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate David Nagel, who has successfully completed the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout. The Boy Scouts of America program recognizes the Eagle Scout as the highest attainable rank; less than four percent of Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle.

The process of becoming an Eagle Scout involves earning numerous merit badges and demonstrating spirit, service, and leadership. Scouts must plan, organize, lead, and manage an extensive service project. David took the initiative to develop a plan for landscaping improvements at the Kiwanis Building in his hometown of Fountain Hills, Arizona. David led the project to remove a large amount of sand from a volleyball court in order to turn the area into a park. He enthusiastically installed a sprinkler system and laid sod in order to beautify the Kiwanis Building. Through his work, David has showed his strong commitment to his community and to the Boy Scouts of America, and has developed strong leadership and management skills that will serve him well in the future.

David should be proud of his accomplishments. Again, I congratulate him on his achievement of Eagle Scout and say thank you for a job well done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Grace Do, who has been selected as a Distinguished Finalist for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, which honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The Prudential program was created in 1995 to emphasize the importance our nation places on service to others, and to encourage all young Americans to contribute to their communities.

A junior at Corona del Sol High School, Grace leads two tutoring programs in her community that help immigrants learn English. Grace, who used to struggle with English because she spoke Mandarin Chinese at home, is now co-director of the Chinese Immigrant Tutoring Center at her church, where she has volunteered for five years. In addition, she co-founded a similar tutoring program at a local library three years ago.

Grace should be proud of her accomplishments. Again, I congratulate Grace on her award and thank her for a job well done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Kaitlyn Mulhollan, who has been selected to receive the Prudential Spirit of Community Award as Arizona's Top Youth Volunteer. The Prudential Spirit of Community Award, which honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism, was created in 1995 to emphasize the importance our nation places on service to others, and to encourage all young Americans to contribute to their communities.

A senior at Corona del Sol High School, Kaitlyn has helped build 10 houses for needy families over the past five years as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and now serves as a team leader for the local Habitat chapter. After working on her first house when she was only 13 years old, Kaitlyn has shown up early every Saturday morning when projects are under way. As a team leader, Kaitlyn has the responsibility of guiding and assisting many small groups of volunteers on the construction site. In addition, Kaitlyn has worked tirelessly to educate others about Habitat for Humanity's mission, even recruiting friends and classmates to join the effort. She has also persuaded her employer, California Pizza Kitchen, to provide meals for construction volunteers.

As a state honoree, Kaitlyn will join youth from across the country here in Washington DC in May. Kaitlyn should be proud of her accomplishments. Again, I congratulate Kaitlyn on her award and thank her for a job well done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Megan Yee, who has been selected as a Distinguished Finalist for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, which honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The Prudential program was created in 1995 to emphasize the importance our nation places on service to others, and to encourage all young Americans to contribute to their communities.

A senior at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, Megan organized a series of computer classes to teach members of the Phoenix area's Chinese-American community how to use word-processing programs, spreadsheets, e-mail, and the Internet. Megan worked hard to design the curriculum, recruit volunteers to teach the classes, prepare all of the lesson plans, and teach classes herself.

Megan should be proud of her accomplishments. Again, I congratulate Megan on her award and thank her for a job well done.