Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and the state of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor former Mayor Lambert C. Mims and pay tribute to his memory.

With a public career spanning two decades, Mayor Mims's tenure in office marked a period of significant growth for the city of Mobile, including the completion of the George C. Wallace tunnels and the Interstate 10 Bayway, the opening of the restored Fort Conde, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, and the first oil well in Mobile Bay.

Born in the small farming town of Uriah in south Monroe County, Mayor Mims grew up on a cotton farm and was no stranger to hard work. He moved to Mobile at the age of 19 and had called the city home ever since. In 1965, he was elected to the Mobile City Commission, becoming the youngest commissioner in Mobile's history. When first elected, he served as Public Works Commissioner. The commission rotated the title of mayor every 16 months and, during his tenure as mayor and commissioner, he made public morality the foundation of his administration, including the passage of an anti-pornography regulation.

After leaving office, then-Governor George C. Wallace appointed Mayor Mims as ambassador to the Alabama Waterways Development Agency. He later served as president of the American Public Works Association and the Alabama League of Municipalities.

A long-time member and deacon at Riverside Baptist Church, Mayor Mims served as president of the Alabama Baptist Brotherhood, the Alabama Baptist State Convention, the Mobile Baptist Association, and the Masonic Breakfast Club. He was a member of the Azalea Masonic Lodge #898 F & AM, the Abba Temple Shrine, West Mobile Kiwanis Club, the CBMC and served as president of the Waterfront Rescue Mission Advisory Board.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. Lambert C. Mims will be dearly missed by his family--his wife, Reecie; his sons, Dale P. Mims and L. Daniel Mims; his grandchildren, Lindsay C. Mims and Katie E. Mims; and his brother, Bibb Graves Mims--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of the Honorable Joe Knollenberg for his service to the people of Michigan and the United States House of Representatives. Congressman Knollenberg has represented the Ninth Congressional District of the State of Michigan for the past 16 years.

Born and raised in Mattoon, Illinois, Joe is a graduate of East Illinois University. After serving in the Army for 2 years, he moved to the Detroit area in 1959 to work as an Allstate Insurance agent and eventually opened his own branch office.

Joe quickly became a familiar face in his community serving as PTA president, homeowner association president and parish leader. He also chaired the Oakland County GOP organization and directed the campaign of Republican Representative William S. Broomfield in 1992.

Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992, Joe has served as chairman of three House Appropriations subcommittees during his tenure. He currently serves as the ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

An ardent supporter of auto manufacturers, an integral part of Michigan's economy, Joe authored legislation that cracked down on counterfeiters who make fraudulent automotive parts that cost Americans thousands of jobs in the automotive industry.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family, his wife of 45 years, Sandie; his two sons, Marty and Steve; and his many friends and colleagues join me in honoring his accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the State of Michigan and the United States of America.

Joe will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with his family and loved ones. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of the Honorable Jon Porter for his service to the people of Nevada and the United States House of Representatives. Congressman Porter has represented the Third Congressional District of the State of Nevada for the past 6 years.

Born and raised in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Jon attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, majoring in Theology. Jon later moved to Henderson, Nevada, to begin his professional career as a small business owner with the Farmers Insurance Group. Jon's political career began with his election to the Boulder City City Council in 1983. Immediately following his term on the City Council, Jon was elected mayor of Boulder City in 1987 and went on to serve in the Nevada State Senate. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, becoming the first Representative of the newly created Third Congressional District.

Appointed to the powerful Ways and Means Committee at the beginning of the 110th Congress, Jon used this post to influence revenue legislation affecting the gaming and tourism industries which are the backbone of Nevada's economy. He also worked to shed light on travel requirements in order to facilitate easier travel to and from the United States in order to boost tourism to the Third District.

Education has also been a priority of Jon's. Working with John Walsh, child advocate and host of America's Most Wanted, Jon introduced legislation mandating criminal background checks for teachers in States that had not previously required them. The House passed bill was later enacted as part of the larger Adam Walsh Child Protection Act.

Jon is also a founding member of the ``Second Amendments,'' a bipartisan band of congressional Members that plays for various charities in Washington. The band has also traveled to Iraq playing for the troops at Christmas.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family, his children, J. Chris and Nicole, as well as his many friends and colleagues join me in honoring his accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the State of Nevada and the United States of America.

Jon will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with his family and loved ones. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of the Honorable Marilyn Musgrave for her service to the people of Colorado and the United States House of Representatives. Congresswoman Musgrave has represented the Fourth Congressional District of the State of Colorado for the past six years.

Born and raised in Weld County, Colorado, Marilyn cleaned houses and waited tables to earn a degree from Colorado State University. She married her high school sweetheart, Steve, during college and taught school for several years before deciding to stay home to raise their four children. Marilyn and her husband have owned and operated a farm equipment business in Eastern Colorado for over 20 years.

In 1990, Marilyn won her first election to the Morgan County School Board. Two years

later, she was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives, and in 1996, she was elected to the state Senate.

Elected to Congress in 2002, Marilyn quickly stood out from her peers. She was named by Newsweek magazine as the ``Rising Star'' in the House and the National Journal referenced her as one of two freshman congressmen to watch. She is probably most known as the chief House sponsor of a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, Marilyn has upheld her strong conservative views as a vocal member of the Republican Study Committee Caucus as well as founder of the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus. She served on the Small Business Committee and as chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment, and Government Programs.

As the top-ranking Republican on the Agriculture Committee's Specialty Crops Subcommittee, Marilyn served as a member of the Farm Bill conference committee, where she was a leading voice in the crafting of the legislation. She worked to obtain nearly $3 billion in emergency funding for farmers and ranchers who have been plagued by a multitude of natural disasters over the past six years.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know her family, her husband, Steve; her four children, Chad, Becky, Amy, and John; and her many friends and colleagues join me in honoring her accomplishments and extending thanks for her service over the years on behalf of the State of Colorado and the United States of America.

Marilyn will surely enjoy the well deserved time she now has to spend with her family and loved ones. I wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of the Honorable Christopher Shays for his service to the people of Connecticut and the United States House of Representatives. Congressman Shays has represented the Fourth Congressional District of the state of Connecticut for the past 22 years.

Born in the city of Darien, Chris is a lifelong resident of the state of Connecticut, attending school at Principia College where he received his bachelor of arts in American history and political science. Following college, Chris and his wife, Betsi, spent two years in the Fiji Islands as Peace Corps volunteers. Chris later attended New York University where he received his master of business administration in 1974, specializing in urban affairs and economics, followed by his master of public administration in 1978.

Chris began his political career at the age of 29 in the Connecticut State House of Representatives, serving from 1975 to 1987. In 1987, Chris was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives by a special election to fill the seat of the late Stewart McKinney. During his long career in Congress, Chris has served on

the Financial Services Committee, the Committee on Homeland Security, as well as the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where he is the ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs.

Known as a ``maverick'' and an ``independent thinker,'' one of his most well-known legislative accomplishments is probably the Shays- Meehan bill, which was signed into law as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. In his work on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Chris played a key role during the debate to create the new Department of Homeland Security.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family, his wife, Betsi; his daughter, Jeramy; and his many friends and colleagues join me in honoring his accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the state of Connecticut and the United States of America.

Chris will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with his family and loved ones. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of the Honorable Ric Keller for his service to the people of Florida and the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Keller has represented the Eighth Congressional District of the State of Florida for the past eight years.

Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Ric graduated first in his class at East Tennessee State University and received his law degree from Vanderbilt University. Before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Ric worked as a private lawyer in Orlando, helping write two state constitutional amendments to finance the cleanup of Everglades National Park. One, known as ``Polluter Pays,'' required sugar companies to contribute to the restoration of the Everglades.

Raised by a single mother on a secretary's salary, Ric used Pell Grants, federal grants for low-income college students, to help pay for his college education, and since coming to Congress, he has been a leading champion of Pell Grants. As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, as well as founder and chairman of the Pell Grant Caucus, Ric was successful in pushing to raise the maximum grant from $3,750 to $4,050 a year.

Ric is also a member of the House Judiciary Committee, from which post he has been a leading advocate of the Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) program, which makes law enforcement officers more visible by taking them out of patrol cars and putting them on neighborhood streets.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family, his wife, Dee Dee; his four children, Nick, Christy, Kaylee and Kate; and his many friends and colleagues join me in honoring his accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the State of Florida and the United States of America.

Ric will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with his family and loved ones. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and the State of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to honor Jamie Catlin Praytor and pay tribute to her memory.

A realtor for four decades, Jamie was known to many throughout southwest Alabama as the founder and president of Praytor Realty; however, it was her longtime work with area charities and civic groups that gave her such a special place in so many of our hearts.

Jamie served as chairwoman of the Homeless Coalition Task Force, and she was involved with the Salvation Army and in fundraising for the American Diabetes Association. She also served on numerous boards including: Forward Mobile, Art Patrons League, Allied Arts Council, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Mobile United, Alabama School of Math and Science, Junior Achievement, USA Small Business Development Center, Mobile 2000, March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, Florence Crittendon Home, and Mobile Sunrise Rotary Club. Jamie was instrumental in helping to establish McKemie Place, a shelter for homeless women and children.

Named Realtor of the Year in 1981, Jamie was an institution among Alabama realtors. In 1974, she opened Praytor Realty with an all-female sales staff, which was unique at the time. Labeled ``Praytor's Pretties'' by The Birmingham News, Jamie and her team quickly built a highly successful and respected company. Jamie gave much of her time to the realtor community as well. She was elected president of the local Board of Realtors and became president of the state association in 1992. This year, the Mobile Association of Realtors established the Jamie C. Praytor Humanitarian Award, honoring her service. In 2001, Jamie was chosen First Lady of Mobile.

A native and lifelong resident of Mobile, Jamie was a member of All Saint's Episcopal Church. She had served as stewardship chairwoman, vestry member, Altar Guild group leader and president of the women of the church.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. Preceded in death by her beloved husband Tommy, Jamie Catlin Praytor will be dearly missed by her family--her daughter, Ellen Praytor Wingard; her sons, Hugh Thomas Praytor III and Wilson Wrath Praytor; four grandchildren, Hayley Catlin Praytor, Hugh Thomas Praytor IV, Charles Lee Wingard Jr. and Blake Dixon Wingard; her sisters, Anita Catlin Miller and Martha Catlin Willcox; her brothers, Paul W. Catlin, James G. Catlin, and Charles P. Catlin--as well as the countless friends she leaves behind.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and the state of Alabama lost a dear friend this week, and I rise today to honor Joseph Henry Baker, Jr. and pay tribute to his memory.

Known affectionately as ``Bobo,'' he was a native and lifelong resident of Mobile. Bobo graduated from Murphy High School and entered the U.S. Army at the height of World War II at the age of 17. He would ultimately retire from the U.S. Army Reserves with the rank of colonel.

As part of his military service, he attended both North Carolina State University and Oregon State University and earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Following the war, Bobo earned an accounting degree from the University of Alabama. He was also named to the University of Alabama School of Commerce and Business Administration's All Time All Star Academic Team.

After finishing at the University of Alabama, Bobo began his career in the Mobile banking industry. During this time, he attended the National Trust School at Northwestern University, the New York State Trust School and Rutgers Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

In 1955, Bobo joined the auditing department of the First National Bank of Mobile, now AmSouth Bank. The following year he was promoted to assistant trust officer and then to trust officer in 1960. In 1965, Bobo was named assistant vice president. He was elected vice president in 1967, senior trust officer in 1969, senior vice president in 1974 and head of the trust department in 1975.

He was active in a number of professional banking organizations. He served as chairman of the Southern Trust Conference Planning Committee, president of the trust division of the Alabama Bankers Association, and member of the American Bankers Association.

Bobo was also active in a number of civic and community organizations. He was a former secretary and director of the Lion's Club of Mobile, former president of America's Junior Miss, former president of the Mobile Preschool for the Deaf, a founding member of both the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Family Counseling Center, and a member of the Senior Bowl Committee, the M.W. Smith Foundation, Quarterback Club, Mobile Touchdown Club, Coastal Conservation Association, Alabama Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and the Mobile County Wildlife Association.

Bobo also gave much of his time to his beloved parish, St. Ignatius Catholic Church. He was a member of the Equestrian Society of the Holy Sepulchre, Legatus, the Serra Club of Mobile as well as Catholic Social Services. He has also served as treasurer and member of the board of directors of the McGill-Toolen Foundation.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated community leader and friend to many throughout south Alabama. Joseph Henry Baker, Jr. will be dearly missed by his family--his wife of 48 years, Mary; his children, Laura Blakely Cooper, Leigh Eleanor Givhan, Joseph Henry Baker III, and Mary Lucille Green; his 12 grandchildren, James Lucien Hinton Ill, Laura Blakely Hinton, Russell Baker Hinton, Mary Virginia Givhan, William Bowman Givhan, Jr., Eleanor Frances Givhan, Mary Deas Baker, Elizabeth Frances Baker, Charles Lansing Green, Jr., Mary Eleanor Green, Julia Baker Green, and Henry Harmon Green; his sister, Frances Baker Lauten; and his brother, William Costello Baker--as well as the countless friends he leaves behind.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them all during this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, the city of Mobile and indeed the entire nation recently lost a true American hero, and I rise today to honor the memory of Willie Herd Rushton and pay tribute to his memory.

Many Americans came to know Mr. Rushton last year as his courageous story, along with those of other Mobilians, was told in the Ken Burns documentary series, ``The War.''

Born in Nadawah, Alabama, Mr. Rushton grew up on a saw mill farm in Atmore. After graduating from high school, he moved to Mobile to work at the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant. He was drafted in the spring of 1943, just a year after getting married.

He signed on with the Marines and was shipped to the Pacific in July 1943. His son was born just one month later, a son he would not see for more than two years. Assigned to the 11th Depot Company, he served in the South Pacific from July 1943 until October 1944. He and his unit--a unit that sustained the highest casualty rate of any black Marine unit--took part in the invasion of Peleliu along with the 1st Marine Division.

Mr. Rushton himself was wounded in the leg by shrapnel from a mortar round while on the island. Following his discharge in November of 1945, Mr. Rushton was awarded the Purple Heart as well as the Good Conduct Medal for his valor in service. He worked at Sears, Brookley Field and the United States Postal Service, where he stayed for 43 years. During his career with the Postal Service, his colleagues affectionately referred to Mr. Rushton as ``The Chief.''

Madam Speaker, I rise to ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a true American hero and friend to many throughout Alabama, as well as a wonderful husband and devoted father. Mr. Rushton will be deeply missed by his family--his wife, Evelyn Bush Rushton; his two sons, Willie Herd Rushton Jr. and Derrick Rushton; his daughter, Deborah Rushton Campbell; his brother, John Lee Jones; his six grandchildren; and his six great grandchildren--as well as the many countless friends he leaves behind.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to remember the life and courageous service of United States Navy Petty Officer Third Class Matthew J. O'Byrant.

Petty Officer O'Byrant was killed in a terrorist attack at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, a cowardly act that claimed the lives of 53 people including two members of our country's armed forces. Matthew was serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from Islamabad.

A native of Theodore, AL, Matthew O'Bryant excelled in the ROTC program at Theodore High School and was assigned to Navy Information Operations Command at Fort Meade, MD, as a cryptologic technician.

As a cryptologic technician, Petty Officer O'Bryant was in charge of maintaining the advanced communications and technological equipment so vital to America's success in 21st century warfare.

Petty Officer O'Bryant's brother, along with two of his cousins, had enlisted to serve in the Navy. Coming from a Navy family, Petty Officer O'Bryant was deployed to Pakistan for only 30 days before the blast that took his life. At his funeral, Matthew's brother, Lawrence, remembered him by saying, ``There were four of us in the Navy. Well, there's three of us now. I guess there will always be four of us because he will always be in the Navy.''

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to take a moment to reflect upon the many things that have helped to make this the greatest country on the face of the planet. And to that end, we must acknowledge that soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines like Petty Officer O'Bryant deserve the highest praise for their unselfish service and, in this particular case, for their willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Madam Speaker, I hope you and my colleagues will join me in paying tribute to Petty Officer Matthew O'Bryant. We should also remember his wife, Bridgett O'Bryant; his parents, Barbara and Tommy O'Bryant; his two sisters, Janet O'Bryant and Nancy O'Bryant; his brother, Lawrence O'Bryant; and his other relatives and many friends.

Our prayer is that God will give them all the strength and courage that only He can provide to sustain them during the difficult days ahead.

May Matthew rest in peace. He was without question a true American hero.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today to congratulate Dr. Regina Benjamin of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, for winning a 2008 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship. As one of 25 recipients of this year's prestigious ``genius grant,'' Dr. Benjamin's star is rising on the national level even as she continues to work daily to improve the lives of the people of south Mobile County and the State of Alabama.

Dr. Benjamin, a lifelong resident of Alabama, has dedicated herself to serving the underserved--providing high-quality medical care to shrimping communities of the Alabama bayou. When Bayou La Batre was devastated by Hurricane Georges in 1998 and again in 2005 by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Dr. Benjamin rode from house to house in a pickup truck, caring for her patients one by one until her clinic could be rebuilt. Her dedication to serving her community stands out as an example for us all, and I am so glad she has been recognized by one of the world's truly prestigious foundations.

The MacArthur Fellowship is awarded annually to individuals recognized for ``extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.'' Fellows are awarded $500,000 with absolutely no strings attached, a complement to the virtues of creativity and self-direction recognized by the foundation. Though Dr. Benjamin has not yet decided how she will use her grant, she is considering a program to help lower-income students pursue careers in medicine. It would be a worthy use of this award and truly a gift that would keep on giving.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the proud citizens of the First Congressional District and the entire State of Alabama, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Benjamin on her MacArthur Fellowship. I know I speak for all my colleagues in the House of Representatives when I say we can't wait to see what she does next.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I rise to honor the long and distinguished career of the Rev. Gregory F. Lucey on the occasion of his retirement as president of Spring Hill College in Mobile.

For the past 10 years, Father Lucey has been an integral part of the Mobile community. As Mobile's Press-Register wrote in a tribute, ``His remarkable accomplishments will set the standard for leadership at [Spring Hill College] for years to come.''

Father Lucey was a student at Campion Jesuit High School, a boarding school in Wisconsin, when he chose to follow in his brother's footsteps and become a Jesuit priest. Ordained in 1964, Father Lucey has said he knew then that God had a plan for his life. He went on to earn a master's degree in education as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy from St. Louis University. He earned a master's degree in liturgy from the University of Notre Dame, and later, he earned a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Following his educational pursuits, Father Lucey served as a teacher at his former high school before being named the school's principal a short time later. Just one year later, he was named president of Campion Jesuit High School.

From there, Father Lucey went on to Seattle University where he served as vice president for development. In 1988, Father Lucey returned to a spiritual role, serving as rector of the Jesuit community at Marquette University. He then went on to become president and chairman of the board of the National Jesuit Conference in Washington,

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request to include the accompanying articles in the Congressional Record to supplement my remarks which were entered during the Special Order in honor of two Members of the Alabama Delegation who are retiring.

[From The Montgomery Advertiser, August 5, 2008]

Congressman Garners Praise for Local Support

(By Cosby Woodruff)

Congressman Terry Everett's support for Maxwell Air Force

Base during his 16 years in Washington is one reason the

River Region benefits from the base's $1.6 billion annual

impact, said the head of the Montgomery Area Chamber of

Commerce.

Chamber President Randy George said Everett's impact on the

area goes far beyond Maxwell, but any discussion of the

congressman's legacy must start with the military.

``You can't take that away from him,'' George said. ``He

has been a major player on Maxwell.''

George said Maxwell is one of Montgomery's biggest economic

engines, but the base contributes to the region in ways that

can't be measured in dollars and cents.

``The societal impact to our area is at least as

important,'' George said. ``It makes us cosmopolitan.''

Everett, who is retiring after eight terms in Congress,

spoke to the chamber for the last time as a congressman

Monday at its Eggs & Issues breakfast series.

His speech focused more on national politics than on local

economics, but he did say sectors of Alabama's economy are

poised for growth--and he pointed to the space industry as

one area that could have an impact in years to come.

``We have never had a national discussion about what space

means to our economy,'' he said. ``Space is a $19 billion

global industry growing at 22 percent a year.''

He suggested the industry's impact on Alabama is limited

only by the workers the state can supply.

``We need more young people interested in space,

engineering and math,'' he said.

George pointed out Everett's contributions to the area that

go beyond his commitment to the military.

``Downtown, he helped us get the money,'' George said, of

the construction boom and renovations going on in Montgomery.

``Much of that money came from federal grants that he has

been very supportive of. He has been an advocate for the

expansion of the airport.''

Everett said he has supported the state's agriculture

industry, what he called its biggest economic factor, in

Congress.

He said he made sure those interests were protected in the

recent farm bill.

George said the congressman has been a friend to the

chamber and area businesses.

``Terry has been very responsive to the business

community,'' he said. ``We think he has done a great job.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of the Honorable Ron Lewis for his service to the people

of Kentucky and the United States House of Representatives. Congressman Lewis has represented the 2nd Congressional District of the state of Kentucky for the past 14 years.

Ron was born and raised in South Shore, Kentucky. He graduated from McKell High School and worked his way through Morehead State University before transferring to the University of Kentucky, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science. Following graduation, he worked as a salesman and then taught at a business college in Louisiana. He returned to Morehead State and earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education and then attended Southern Baptist Seminary and became an ordained Baptist minister.

Ron has long been an ardent supporter of our national defense. In 2005, he and the entire Kentucky delegation successfully fought the closing of Fort Knox, one of our nation's premier military installations employing nearly 9,000 personnel. Due in large part to Ron's leadership during this most recent round of base realignment, Fort Knox was designated to remain open and to keep the majority of our nation's gold reserves.

From his post on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Ron has been a champion for farmers in his heartland district. He sponsored the Rural Communities Investment Act, which provides tax incentives to make interest income on farm real estate and certain rural housing loans exempt from federal taxation. He has also worked to develop alternative fuels made from crops grown in his district, sponsoring legislation to promote increased use of ethanol and biodiesel, made from corn and soybeans.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family, his wife, Kayi; his two children, Ronald Brent and Allison Faye; and his many friends and colleagues join me in honoring his accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States of America.

Ron will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with his family and loved ones. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of the Honorable Charles ``Chip'' Willis Pickering, Jr. for his service to the people of Mississippi and United States House of Representatives. Congressman Pickering has represented the 3rd Congressional District of the state of Mississippi for the past 12 years.

A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Chip received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi and a master's degree in business administration from Baylor University.

Before joining Congress, Chip served as a Southern Baptist missionary in the communist region of Budapest, Hungary. Upon returning to the country, former President George H. W. Bush appointed him to the United States Department of Agriculture as a liaison to bring reform to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Upon his return to the United States, Chip went to work for the people of Mississippi as a staffer of former Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, where he served for nearly four years. At the age of 33, he ran as the Republican candidate for Mississippi's 3rd District in 1996.

Chip has taken the lead in passing FEMA and contracting reform legislation in the wake of 2005's Hurricane Katrina. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Chip has been an influential leader on issues such as telecommunications and technology concerning Mississippi's future.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a dedicated leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family, his five sons, Will, Ross, Jackson, Asher, and Harper; his many friends and colleagues join me in praising his accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on behalf of the state of Mississippi and the United States of America.

Chip will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with his family and loved ones. I wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.