Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of a great American, Marion Paul Sanchez, Sr. June 2, 1922-May 27, 2006. I honor him today for his service in the United States Navy during World War II and his dedication to his family.

Mr. Sanchez served on the USS Kula Gulf CVE 108 during World War II. The USS Kula Gulf was commissioned on May 12, 1945 and on August 5 was assigned to the 7th Fleet in the Western Pacific. The Kula Gulf patrolled the East China Seas, shuttled planes between Saipan and Guam, and transported veterans of the Pacific Theater around the region and back to the United States.

After returning from the war, Mr. Sanchez married MaryAnn Del Razo in 1948 and began what would become a 59-year marriage. Mr. Sanchez decided to follow in his father's footsteps and began a career in agriculture, where he spent 50 years growing produce in California's Central Valley. Over the course of his career he employed hundreds of workers and grew cotton, tomatoes, lettuce, garlic, asparagus, cantaloupes, bell peppers, alfalfa, prunes, grapes, sugar beets, and corn.

Farming allowed Mr. Sanchez to pursue his true passion in life, which was raising his family. He had four boys; Theodore, Richard, Ronald, and Marion. Through the years, the Sanchez family has grown, and Mr. Sanchez became the proud grandparent to 11 grandchildren and 5 great- grandchildren. Mr. Sanchez took great pride in his family and loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Sanchez was an avid golfer and played 18 holes, 2 days a week, until his passing in May of 2006. Mr. Sanchez's approach to the game of golf illustrates his approach to life. He was dedicated to the game, always willing to try new things, and never let a bad round affect the next.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and heartfelt gratitude that I salute Marion Paul Sanchez, Sr. for his service to our Nation and dedication to his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Euler, a Vietnam veteran, retired U.S. marine, and tireless public servant.

After retiring as the Deputy Director of the Torts Branch, Civil Division of the Department of Justice, John thought he was finished working for the Federal Government. However, in January of 2004, John's sense of duty compelled him to volunteer for 6 months in Iraq as Director of International Counsel. His 26 years of experience with the Department of Justice and his extensive legal career gave him all the tools necessary to help the new Iraqi Government build a new legal system from the ground up. John faced many challenges in Iraq, including the fact that all legal records were destroyed by war. Despite the difficult task, John helped the Iraqi Government to build an entirely new court system and to defend itself in over 70 international cases. His service has helped the Iraqis to live in a society operating under the rule of law, a protection that many Americans take for granted.

John's strong passion for civil service has again called him to Iraq. He is currently serving as the Deputy Legal Counsel for the U.S. Department of State. In this new position, John advises the United States Embassy in Iraq on issues relating to the new Iraqi Government. His experience in creating the Iraqi legal system makes his counsel invaluable to the embassy's team.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor John Euler for his extensive service to the United States and for his dedication to the rebuilding of the Iraqi Government. His bravery and support during these trying times serve as a model for us all. I thank him for his perseverance and his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Emilia Guenechea for her outstanding efforts to bring awareness to minorities and the underprivileged in Las Vegas.

Over the past ten years, Emilia has served in various positions in her quest to create and implement plans for healthy communities, and she has participated in a variety of programs to assist members of the Hispanic community in Las Vegas. Emilia served as the Woman to Woman Program Coordinator for the YMCA and SAFE HOUSE Shelter, providing a support system for Hispanic women. She also served as the Salud in Accion Program Coordinator, where she was responsible for the planning and coordination of all media production associated with the cancer prevention program for Hispanic women. In addition, Emilia has dedicated two years to the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service Partnership Program as Coordinator for the Northwest Region, where she conducted a comprehensive study to identify gaps in cancer information and education services in order to identify, implement, and maintain partnerships with organizations to serve the underprivileged.

In addition to her outstanding work with the Hispanic community, Emilia has a very impressive academic record. She received her first Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at the Iberoamericana University in Mexico, and her second Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Emilia is currently the Nevada Cancer Institute's Multicultural Community Outreach and Education Production Manager, a position she has enjoyed since October of 2005. In her role, she develops and implements programs to increase awareness, education, and early detection of chronic diseases. Emilia's main goals are to increase the screening numbers of breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancers, and to increase the participation in clinical trials within multicultural communities. Emilia's hard work is leading to progress in these often difficult and culturally sensitive tasks.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Emilia Guenechea. Her dedication to creating health awareness has greatly impacted the diverse communities of Las Vegas. She is truly a remarkable woman who should serve as an inspiration and a roll model for us all. I commend her efforts and wish her the best in future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ree Wengert, a prominent Las Vegas singer and activist, who passed away on Sunday, July 2, 2006, at the age of 78.

Ree was born on December 14, 1927 in Charleston, WV, and was the youngest of an amazing 12 children. Ree chose to complete her undergraduate studies at Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY. She was soon awarded a full scholarship to the Julliard School of Music.

In 1952, Ree moved to Las Vegas, NV, and joined the Las Vegas Service League, which is now known as the Junior League of Las Vegas. She also began performing charity work for the Catholic Church. In the 1980s and '90s, she donated her services to Southern Nevada in many ways, including singing in charity events and advocating for AIDS victims' rights. She often visited and spoke with the most critically ill patients in the University Medical Center's AIDS ward.

Ree was most prominently known as the wonderful wife of Ward Wengert, a banker and civic leader in Las Vegas who passed in 1996, and mother to Rhetta Storebo, Rene McCown, Ward Jr., and Cyril, who passed in 1997. She also enjoyed four grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Ree Wengert and her amazing family for their contributions to the Southern Nevada community. She will be dearly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Craig Harris for his outstanding efforts as a taxicab driver safety advocate. Craig passed away on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at the age of 56.

Craig had been a Las Vegas resident for 28 years and a taxi driver for Yellow-Checker-Star Transportation since 1979. Having been assaulted and robbed twice by passengers, Craig fully understood the dangers of driving a taxi. A long-time advocate of taxi driver safety, Craig was one of the first to test still cameras in taxis as a deterrent against attacks on drivers. According to his long-time boss and Yellow-Checker-Star's director of operations, Bill Shranko, Craig's work led to camera installation in each of the company's cabs. Since then, Shranko says there has been at least a sixty percent decrease in attacks on drivers. Craig's hard work and advocacy has produced impressive results for driver safety.

In addition to driving a cab forty hours a week and his efforts to promote driver safety, Craig also found time to represent local drivers as a steward for the Industrial Technical Professional Employees Union, helping fired drivers to regain their jobs and making sure that drivers have access to important benefits, including health insurance. He led a campaign to raise thousands of dollars to aid the family of a colleague who was killed while on duty as a cab driver, and always offered to help colleagues and their families when in need.

Born in Los Angeles on October 14, 1949, Craig graduated from Shasta College in Northern California. He worked on newspapers in California and Oklahoma before moving to Las Vegas in 1978 and beginning work on the Trip Sheet magazine for cab drivers in the 1980s. He served as managing editor of the magazine and often wrote articles dealing with driver safety and furthering the fair treatment of drivers. His work helped turn the six-page newspaper of the '80s into the 48-page magazine of today, which reaches over 7,000 monthly readers.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Craig Harris for his outstanding service and representation of the taxi drivers of Las Vegas. His tireless efforts to help drivers and their families and his hard work as a driver, journalist, and advocate have greatly contributed to the safety of the profession, and he will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend Sandy Heverly for her dedication to victims of DUI accidents and their families.

Sandy became impassioned with the anti-DUI movement after she, her husband, children and mother were all injured as a result of an accident caused by a drunk driver. Following this incident, Sandy decided to try to help DUI victims and create awareness about the severity of DUI crimes. Since then, Sandy has been a driving force in the anti-DUI movement in Nevada, and has helped enhance awareness nationwide.

Through her positions as Executive Director and Co-Founder of STOP DUI, Executive Director of Nevada Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and Nevada Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) State Coordinator, Sandy has spread the message about drunk driving throughout Nevada and the Nation. She has increased awareness by making over 1,000 anti-DUI presentations to students, civic organizations, and the gaming and liquor industries, and through various media movements, including the eight-year ``Red Ribbon Campaign.'' With STOP DUI, Sandy established a Victim's Assistance Program to provide immediate financial assistance to DUI victims and their families, the only program of its kind in the Nation. She has also helped the bipartisan Congressional Stop DUI Caucus shed new light on the epidemic of drunk driving in America.

On July 19, 2006, Sandy's efforts to end drunk driving will be recognized as she is sworn in to the President's Advisory Commission for Drug-Free Communities. Her extensive knowledge and experience in bringing awareness to the anti-DUI cause will undoubtedly make Sandy an asset to the Commission.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Sandy Heverly for her dedication and advocacy against drunk driving. As the co-chair of the Congressional Stop DUI Caucus, and father to a daughter injured by a drunk driver, ridding our nation's roads of these dangerous drivers is a cause that is very important to me. I congratulate Sandy for her appointment to the President's Advisory Commission for Drug-Free Communities, and I wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Coral Childs for her tireless efforts to enhance technology in the classroom.

Coral Childs has worked tirelessly to further her vision of providing every student in America with access to computers in their schools. Through the Computers for Learning program, CFL, Coral and her team are turning her vision into a reality, matching these ``needy'' schools with a donor, either a government agency or a member of the private sector, and giving young students access to the tools they need to prepare themselves to compete in the new economy. The CFL program helped bring to life an executive order that encouraged government agencies to donate computers and equipment to schools.

The General Services Administration took ownership of CFL in late 1999. It was at this time that Coral began her work with the program. Under her leadership over the next 5 years, CFL helped transfer more than 118,000 computers and related equipment to over 12,000 needy schools. Coral played a significant role in both the marketing and outreach for the program, but her active involvement with the CFL's website cannot go unmentioned. Due to her remarkable compassion for the public and her dedication to the cause, the website is a place where agencies can instantly access pertinent information about needy schools. A key innovation to the program that Coral brought to CFL was to expand potential donors from government agencies to donors from the private sector including corporations and individuals.

Coral's achievements with CFL helped propel her to a new position within the General Services Administration. She no longer plays a daily role in the Computers for Learning program, but its success would not exist without the key part she played in the program's initiatives and implementation.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Coral Childs. Her dedication to distributing computers and related equipment to needy schools has greatly enhanced the educational experience of countless children. I applaud her efforts and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Kathy Augustine, a dedicated Nevada leader, who passed away on Tuesday, July 11, 2006.

Kathy was a devoted and passionate public servant, having served in the Nevada State Assembly from 1993 to 1995, and also in the State Senate from 1995 to 1999, where she chaired the Legislative Affairs and Operations Committee and was Vice Chairman of Taxation and the Human Resources and Facilities Committees. In 1999, Kathy became the first woman to be elected as Nevada State Controller. To add to her impressive resume, Kathy was also a Trustee for the Center for Governmental Financial Management, and the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers' representative on the Electronic Benefits and Services Council, where she served as Chair of the Strategic

Expansion and Advanced Technology Committee.

Kathy's work on behalf of her constituents earned her a number of honors throughout her years of public service. She was a recipient of the American Legion Achievement Medallion, the Community Partners Family Resource Center 1998 Community Service Award of Excellence, the 1998 National Republican Legislators Association, Legislator of the Year, Nevada Opera Theatre's International Friendship Award (2003), and the Augustus Society's Italian American of the Year (2003).

In addition to her vast public service career, Kathy also had an impressive array of academic achievements. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Occidental College in Los Angeles, and a Master's in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. She served as a Delegate to Russia and the Ukraine with the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) in 1993 and was selected as an Executive Committee Member to the Biennial Assembly of the Atlantic Association of Young Political Leaders (AAYPL) in Paris, France in 1995. She participated in the Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellowship Program and was also selected for the Flemming Fellows Leadership Institute's Class of 1996. In 1999, she attended the Governors Center at Duke University Strategic Leadership for State Executives and, in 2000, graduated from the Greater Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce Leadership program. In 2001, she completed the Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.

Mr. Speaker, I am saddened by the unexpected and sudden loss of such a young and ambitious woman. Kathy will be remembered for her dedication to the State of Nevada, to her family, and to her friends. She will be deeply missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Roxanne Boyce for her long and distinguished career as an educator and librarian.

Roxanne received her undergraduate degree in music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and then went onto to earn a masters in music from Carnegie Mellon University. Utilizing the lessons learned at those fine academic institutions, Roxanne began her teaching career as an elementary school music specialist. She taught elementary school for 11 years in Pennsylvania and 1 year in Arizona before moving to Las Vegas in 1980. Over the course of her 26-year career with the Clark County School District, Roxanne has served as a reading specialist and librarian at the elementary, middle and high school level. After having outstanding success opening the libraries at several new schools in our growing district, Roxanne accepted a position at Boulder City High School to revamp the ailing library in 1999. While at Boulder City High School, she successfully brought the library into the 21st century.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the career of Roxanne Boyce for devoting her career to advancing the quality of education. Her innovative approach and her passion for education have inspired countless students, teachers and community members. She has truly been an asset to Boulder City High School and to the entire community. I wish her the best in her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dr. Charles ``Charlie'' Ruggeroli, who passed away on Saturday, June 24, 2006.

Charlie was a lifetime resident of Southern Nevada, a 12-letter man at Bishop Gorman, in football, basketball, and baseball. He would later watch his four sons play football and basketball at Bishop Gorman during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Charlie went on to the University of San Francisco on a basketball scholarship and subsequently earned his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Charlie served in the Air Force and did residencies in Northern California before returning to Las Vegas to open his practice in 1974 and joining the staff at Valley Hospital.

No matter how busy Charlie was, he always took the time to explain everything to his patients and make sure all their questions were answered. In over 30 years of medical practice, his patients included Elvis Presley and Sugar Ray Leonard. Charlie also served on the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the life of Dr. Charles ``Charlie'' Ruggeroli. He will be greatly missed by the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Command Sergeant Major Joseph LaPlante Jr., who will retire on July 21, 2006, after 29 years of service in the United States Army.

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Command Sergeant Major LaPlante completed his basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma in September, 1977. He then served as a Fire Support Specialist, Armorer, and Career Counselor for the B Battery's 1st Battalion, 29th Field Artillery from 1978 to 1980 at Fort Carson, Colorado.

In October 1981, Command Sergeant Major LaPlante completed the Army Recruiter Course and was assigned as a Field Recruiter to the New Bedford, Massachusetts, Boston Recruiting Battalion. In April of 1984, he was the Station Commander of the Fall River Recruiting Battalion. In July of 2000, Command Sergeant Major was selected to attend the United States Sergeant Major Academy, Class 51, at Fort Bliss, Texas. On June 25, 2001, he assumed the position of Command Sergeant Major of the New England Recruiting Battalion.

After 27 years of service, Sergeant Major LaPlante assumed the position of the 6th Recruiting Brigade Command Sergeant Major in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Command Sergeant Major LaPlante has received many awards including the Gold Recruiter Badge with three Star Sapphires, the Recruiter Ring, the Glenn E. Morrell Award, the Career Counselor Badge, the Army Achievement Medal 3rd Award, the Army Commendation Medal 3rd Award, the Army Meritorious Service Medal 7th Award, Legion of Merit 2nd Award, National Defense Service Medal, the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development with Numeral #4, the Army Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct 8th Award, and the Army Superior Unit Citation 2nd Award.

To add to all of his outstanding accomplishments, Command Sergeant Major LaPlante has a wonderful family including his wife, Patti, and his daughters, Crystal and Heather.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Command Sergeant Major Joseph LaPlante, Jr. for his distinguished record of service and his commitment to the United States Army. I wish him the best in his retirement and all future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mark Jaget, who recently competed in the Gobi March, a 7 day 150-mile footrace across China's Gobi Desert.

Mark Jaget is a chiropractor who owns three Spinal Rehabilitation Centers in Southern Nevada with his brother, David. He and his wife Clare have two children, Sebastian, who is 7, and Tristan, who is 5. Mark enjoys endurance running and has competed in several marathons over the years. This year, Mark chose to further challenge himself by competing for the first time in the rigorous Gobi March.

The Gobi March is a 6-stage, 7-day trek across some of the world's most severe terrain, which includes salt flats, sand dunes, rivers, slot canyons and mountain ridges. To add to the challenge of the race, competitors in the Gobi March are required to carry a 7 day supply of food and the supplies necessary to survive on the trek. Despite confronting intense temperatures, 60 mile-per-hour winds and a stress fracture in his foot, Jaget crossed the finish line on June 3, 2006. Although he competed against nearly one hundred experienced endurance runners and ultra marathoners from around the world, Jaget finished the race an impressive 9th place, with a time of 32 hours and 56 minutes.

I applaud Mark Jaget for his unparalleled determination and will to succeed. His resolve to compete at such an outstanding level is an inspiring example of what a person can accomplish when committed to physical preparation and personal fortitude. What is truly inspiring, however, is that Mark chose to race in this grueling competition on behalf of several charities that are devoted to providing for veterans disabled in the War on Terror and to honoring the men and women who serve in the United States Military. I cannot think of a more commendable way to show appreciation for those who serve and sacrifice for our great country and for the cause of freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mark Jaget on the floor of the House for his extraordinary accomplishment. I commend him for his overwhelming determination to achieve personal excellence and I appreciate his commitment to honoring the United States Military. Mr. Jaget has set a wonderful example for his family and his community and I wish him well in all his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Michigan. In all fairness to my friends and colleagues on this side of the aisle, I respectfully disagree with the concept.

Whether you are for or against Internet gaming, this bill is not going to change some realities. The reality, as has been mentioned here time and time again is close to $12 billion is being invested on the Internet. We are not sure who these folks are, but we know the bulk of them are somewhere in other parts of the world.

I would highly encourage that my colleagues in the House look seriously at my bill, which is H.R. 5474, that I cosponsored with Shelley Berkley from Nevada, my friend and colleague. It is an Internet gambling study. It is a comprehensive study that looks at government activities, existing legal frameworks. There is so much confusion for those that are using the Internet. I would highly encourage, this is a very complex issue that needs intense review in a bipartisan approach. We are not going to stop Internet gambling. It is illegal today. This bill is one more piece that is not going to be enforced. I encourage opposition to this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and accomplishments of my friend and mentor Robert N. Broadbent, a lifelong resident of Southern Nevada who dedicated his life to public service. Robert Broadbent passed away in August 2003, but he left a legacy of honor and integrity that will not be forgotten.

Robert ``Bob'' Broadbent was born in Ely, Nevada on June 19, 1926. From a young age, his parents, N.E. ``Broadie'' and Hope Broadbent, instilled in him strong family values and a commitment to serving his community. Bob's father served as mayor of Ely for 16 years, and also served on the University Board of Regents and the State Pharmacy Board. During World War II, Bob served 2 years in the Army Air Corps. When he returned home, Bob attended the California Institute of Technology and the University of Nevada, Reno, before earning his bachelor of science degree in pharmacy from Idaho State University in 1950. Upon graduation from college, Bob began working at Rexall Drug in Boulder City, Nevada, and eventually purchased the drug store.

On January 4, 1960, Boulder City was officially incorporated under the State of Nevada. The city charter called for an elected five-member council, which would then choose one of its members as mayor. Bob was elected a member of the city council, and was then appointed to be the first mayor of Boulder City. The post entitled him to a seat on the board of directors for the newly formed Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority LVCVA. Bob served on the LVCVA board for 20 years and spent 8 of those years as chairman. Bob remained on the Boulder City Council until 1968. By that time, his love for politics had prompted him to run for the Clark County Commission. He won, and served 12 years on the Commission, representing a district that included Boulder City, Henderson and North Las Vegas. Bob also served as the Department of the Interior's Assistant Secretary for Water and Science under President Ronald Reagan, and was Clark County Director of Aviation from 1987-97. During his tenure as Director of Aviation, McCarran International Airport became one of the Nation's 10 busiest airports in the United States.

Though Bob served the State of Nevada with honor and distinction, his greatest legacy is his family. He and his wife Sue raised four children, Bob, Kathy, Doug and Michele, who became strong members of the southern Nevada community. They have 15 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

There are several lasting monuments that add to the legacy of Bob Broadbent, including the Las Vegas Monorail, which is named in his honor. On Tuesday, July 4, 2006, the city of Boulder City named a park for him. A bust of Bob Broadbent now stands at the corner of 5th Street and Avenue B, on the northwest corner of the newly dedicated Broadbent Park, formerly known as Central Park, or the Pool Park, as the residents of Boulder City know it.

Bob's leadership was unsurpassed and his example was one of the driving forces behind my desire to be involved in public service. He was a valued friend who taught me a great deal about the political world and how to approach it with honor and integrity.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join with the people of Boulder City in paying tribute to Robert N. Broadbent on the floor of the House. His life stands as a tremendous example of leadership. He dedicated his life to enriching and improving our community and I am grateful for the legacy of service he left for the people of southern Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor William ``Goldie'' and Mary Goldfein, who will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on July 22, 2006.

Goldie and Mary met in Japan in 1955. Goldie was assigned as a new officer and fighter pilot, and Mary worked as a school teacher for the Department of Defense. After their marriage in 1956, the Goldfiens had three boys, all of whom currently serve in the United States Air Force: Steve, a Major General, Dave, a selectee for Brigadier General, and Mike, a Lieutenant Colonel. They also enjoy six grandchildren, Alex, a Lieutenant in the Air Force, Travis, a senior in college, Dani, who is entering college in the fall, Diana, who is 16, Scott, who is 12, and Hannah, who is 10. All of Goldie and Mary's sons and one of their grandsons have graduated from the United States Air Force Academy.

Goldie, his sons, and grandson have accumulated over 100 years of military service and that number continues to grow. Mary has dedicated thousands of hours of service on numerous Air Force Bases. The most notable in their 20 years of service was serving as the Nanoscience and Technology and the Combined Federal campaign director.

The Goldfiens retired from the United States Air Force at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize William and Mary Goldfein on the floor of the House. I commend them for their contributions to the United States Air Force, Southern Nevada community, and especially the airmen stationed at Nellis Air Force Base.