Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the heroism and self sacrifice of Olney Springs Fire Chief Terry DeVore, 31, who died in the line of duty on Tuesday, April 15, 2008, while driving to the scene of a brush fire threatening his community.

When Terry heard the distress call Tuesday afternoon from nearby Ordway, Colorado, he jumped in his fire engine with fellow volunteer fireman John Schwartz to try to help. A massive wild fire was burning across the prairie and the smoke was so thick that Terry and John could not see the bridge burned out in front of them. Terry's father Bruce, a fire department volunteer for 36 years, was right behind them when he noticed their taillights disappear. Bruce and the other firefighters stopped and tried to fight the inferno in front of them, but it was a hopeless fight.

Terry first started helping his father at the fire department when he was 13. He loved his town and he loved helping people. Although he grew up in Olney Springs, he left for a time to work at Rocky Mountain Steel Mills in Pueblo, Colorado, before returning home to work for the Crowley Correctional Facility. He then moved to the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility where he became a sergeant. Terry also volunteered at the Olney Springs Fire Department that serves the town's 350 residents and served as Fire Chief for the past year.

Terry left behind wife Jennifer, four children between the ages of 4 and 10, Ryan, Breann, Katy, and Jeremiah, and his parents Bruce and Deborah DeVore. ``He was never afraid of anything; there was no sense of fear,'' his mother Deborah told a newspaper. ``He loved helping people. He was always making jokes, pulling pranks on people. He just loved life.''

Madam Speaker, I am honored to represent Terry and other men and women who sacrifice so much to care for their communities. I urge my colleagues to join me in mourning the loss of a great American and in expressing heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation for the service of Terry DeVore.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the heroism and self sacrifice of firefighter John Schwartz, 38, who died in the line of duty on Tuesday, April 15, 2008, while driving to the scene of a brush fire threatening a nearby community.

When John heard the distress call Tuesday afternoon from nearby Ordway, Colorado, he jumped in his fire engine with Fire Chief Terry DeVore to try to help. A massive wild fire was burning across the prairie and the smoke was so thick that John and Terry could not see the bridge burned out in front of them. Terry's father Bruce, a fire department volunteer, was right behind them when he noticed their tail lights disappear. Bruce and the other firefighters stopped and tried to fight the inferno in front of them, but it was a hopeless fight.

John and Terry were good friends and worked together at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility and John had recently joined Olney Springs' volunteer fire department. John's father told a newspaper that John joined the department because he liked the idea of doing something for the community. John attended Centennial High School in Pueblo, Colorado, and served in the U.S. Air Force for 4 years before returning to the Fowler area. John raised horses, cattle, and goats on a small ranch and he loved to hunt and shoot with his sons, ages 4 to 15, John, Wyatt, Wesley, and Cody.

John left behind his four boys, as well as his parents John and Toni Schwartz.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to represent John and other men and women who sacrifice so much to care for their communities. I urge my colleagues to join me in mourning the loss of a great American and in expressing heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation for the service of John Schwartz.

Madam Speaker, Fifty years ago today, the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District was formed by a district court in Pueblo, Colorado. Its charge was to develop and administer the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project.

My Congressional District includes the Lower Arkansas Valley, which both the Project and the District serve. Supplemental water is provided for agricultural, municipal and industrial purposes with the hope of sustaining the livelihood of the people of this region.

The Arkansas Valley is not a wealthy region, but its people are rich in their determination and their love for the Valley. After World War II, this area like many others, saw a future of growth and enhancement, but it needed more to obtain those goals.

The Southeastern District and the many wonderful Valley residents who have served on its Board of Directors over the 50 years of its existence have served us well. The Fryingpan-Arkansas Project is an important tool in the area's efforts to survive both economically and culturally. While the Arkansas

Basin experiences its highs and lows, often influenced by the availability of water in any given year, the Basin recognizes the value of the Project and the District which manages it capably and effectively.

I want to thank the Southeastern District for its efforts and congratulate them on their half a century of success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the patriotic public service and self sacrifice of Ernest LeRoy Peterson.

Ernest LeRoy Peterson was born on December 28, 1920, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Oscar and Nora Peterson. He was the second eldest son of eight children. As a child, he moved to the eastern plains of Colorado, where his family was involved in farming.

In August 1942, he was drafted into the 531st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, 30th Army Division, as a private. He completed basic training at Ft. Bliss, Texas and then advanced combat training at Camp Coxcomb, California. He later advanced to the rank of sergeant and section chief of Squad 13, Eighth Gun Crew.

On February 12, 1944, his battalion sailed out of Boston Harbor aboard the RMS Empress of Australia, bound for England. The ship, one of the largest transport vessels, held 6,800 troops. Ernie's bunk was in the swimming pool due to the lack of space. After 10 days on the high seas, the unit debarked at the bomb-scarred city of Liverpool.

On June 4, 1944, General Eisenhower spoke to Ernest and thousands of other troops over a loud speaker telling them an invasion of France would begin on June 6 and said, ``Soldiers, sailors and airmen of the Allied expeditionary force, you are about to embark upon the great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. . . . I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.''

Ernest landed on Omaha Beach with the 531st on June 15th, nine days after D-day. Facing fierce battles along the way, Ernest's division first encountered the Germans at Isigny, France. During his march to Germany, Ernest participated in the Battle of the Bulge, which started on December 16, 1944. Three powerful German armies with over 500,000 men plunged into the heavily forested Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg. The Americans were able to stop them at Malmedy.

Ernest dug in his defensive position at Malmedy not more than 100 yards from where 86 American prisoners had been massacred by the Germans the day before. For 5 days in a row his unit was under air attack in Malmedy by Americans who thought the city had fallen to the Germans. Ernest eventually marched into Germany and met up with Russian soldiers on April 17, 1945.

Ernest's unit also went to Buchenwald concentration camp. They found piles of human bones and piles of eyeglasses five feet tall, as well as lamp shades made out of human skin. The prisoners that remained were skin and bone. Ernest did occupational duty as a guard at a prison in St. Marc, France, before returning to the United States. He received an honorable discharge from the Army on November 14, 1945.

For his service to this Nation, Ernest was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Honorable Service Lapel Button, the Sharpshooter Badge and Rifle Bar and the Marksman Badge and Submachine Gun Bar. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French for volunteering to go on a special mission to push the Germans back across the Rhine River as well as the Fourragere of Belgium for his part in the liberation of Belgium.

On April 13, 2008, Ernest LeRoy Peterson passed away at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Charlotte, his two children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Mr. Peterson and other men and women who have given so much for our freedom. Like so many other members of the ``Greatest Generation,'' I urge my colleagues to join me in expressing my heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation for the patriotic service of Mr. Ernest LeRoy Peterson.

Madam Speaker. I rise today to honor Loren Maxey, who was born into a farm family in Illinois in 1932. His knack for inventing led to a college scholarship, but he interrupted college to enter the Navy, serving 4 years in the early 1950s. He sailed on a vessel taking part in the nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific, seeing up close the results of those tests, and finishing his service as a petty officer first class.

Loren then finished a degree in agricultural engineering at the University of Illinois, but chance led to meeting his future wife Kathy at her family farm in Greeley, Colorado. They moved to Greeley to take over the farm in 1958.

Loren's interest in practical engineering led to further studies in that field, then employment with Forney Industries in aircraft manufacturing, which tied in with another lifelong interest in being a pilot himself. He gained more experience in the agricultural engineering field, and in 1969 started his own company to design, custom build, and service agricultural equipment and later. machinery for snow sports. Maxey Companies continues to flourish, now with Loren's son at the helm, employing some 45 people. Their customers are local, national, and international. Over the years Loren has obtained three patents himself on practical improvements to increase farm productivity, and, being in Colorado, to groom snowmobile trails.

Along the way, Loren made time to serve on the Ft. Collins City Council, and Chamber of Commerce, as president of the East Larimer County Water District Board and as a director of the North Poudre Irrigation District. He kept his hand in farming and has spent, so far, 14 years on the county fair board.

His love of flying included 40 years as a director and officer of the local airpark. Loren provided a lesson in courage when he survived a plane crash in his late forties that severely burned him and was supposed to leave him unable to walk. Loren forced himself to overcome the pain and injuries, and learned to walk again.

He has long been active in local and statewide politics. Rounding out his active volunteer life, he has served as church elder and couples group leader.

Loren and Kathy have three children and eight grandchildren who are all nearby in northern Colorado. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Loren Maxey, a practical inventor, engineer, pilot, husband, father, and active contributor of time and talent to his country and community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jeanne Laudick who was born in Washington, DC, as the daughter of a government attorney. She grew up in Denver, CO, and obtained her college degree from the Colorado State College of Education, now the University of Northern Colorado.

Jeanne married her husband John, in Denver, when she was 21, and they started their family that grew to three children. Their oldest son eventually served in the United States Army. Jeanne was both homemaker and sometimes co-breadwinner for the family over those years.

In 1972, Jeanne and her family moved to Ft. Collins. There she and her husband started their own business, Alpine Manufacturing, Inc., in their basement, with all the kids helping out. That business grew over the years, providing employment for some 70 employees, manufacturing tools, dies, and molds, and providing production machinery. Jeanne held the corporate office of secretary-treasurer, as well as co-owner.

Through the family business, Jeanne became a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Governor's Small Business Committee. She was appointed to the Latimer County Board of Adjustments, and to the Judicial Performance Commission. Exemplifying the American spirit of action and service, Jeanne also served as a volunteer for the Poudre Valley Hospital, the United Way, and as a fundraiser for the Wingshadow Frontier High School for kids needing alternative education opportunities.

Jeanne Laudick never stops doing and learning. She has traveled extensively with her husband, especially since their retirement from the family business. She has seen and experienced several countries in Central and South America, and several more in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East; some, like Uruguay, far off the beaten path.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Jeanne Laudick, who has led a life of valuable contribution to her family, her community, and to this country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory of Kenneth Marion Musgrave, Sr., born on October 6, 1923, to a family of 14 children, in Adena, CO. He grew up on a farm southeast of Fort Morgan, CO, attended school in Adena through the 8th grade and completed his high school education in Fort Morgan. Kenneth proudly served his country in World War II and returned to Colorado to raise his family. Stories that have been told through the years prove that Kenneth was always ready and willing to liven any situation with either a practical joke or humor.

After high school, Kenneth joined the Army in December of 1942 and was honorably discharged in November 1945. Kenneth operated a 15-ton truck equipped with a power crane for 31 months with the 456th Service Squadron serving in the United States, England, France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. He received the European-African- Middle Eastern Service Medal, Meritorious Service Unit Plaque, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the American Service Medal. He was always proud of his service to his country and carried a strong sense of patriotism throughout his entire life and was an active member of the VFW.

During his army career he married Jean Elizabeth Mason on May 22, 1943 and they shared their lives for 49 years before she died in August 1992. After his discharge from the army, Kenneth and Jean farmed in northeastern Colorado for many years, raising six children, Kirby, Marva, William, Susan, Kenneth, Jr., and Robin. He moved his family to the Western Slope in 1967 and began working for the Colorado Department of Highways until he retired in 1988 with over 21 years of service.

Kenneth was a strong family man, maintaining strong ties with his many brothers and sisters, always ready for a visit with his children and grandchildren. His greatest delight was to hold his great- grandchildren. Kenny also enjoyed hunting and playing bingo. As an Odd Fellows member, he called the bingo for the lodge for many years. Kenny will always be remembered for that mischievous look in his eye that always gave him away when he had something up his sleeve.

Kenny's life was a lesson in how to enjoy life, care for others, and make a positive impact on the world. I am proud to honor Kenny, a precious veteran, who is the embodiment of all the values that have molded America into the great Nation it is today.

May God bless his family, may God bless our precious veterans, and may God bless America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a business woman from Las Animas, Colorado. Mrs. Gula Stough Adams has poured her heart and soul into a business that has been owned and operated by Mrs. Adams and her family for 70 years.

Gula owns and operates Stough's Flower Shop, and has weathered the economic storms of rural Colorado going back to the days of the Great Depression and WWII.

``It's wonderful work. I wish I were 20 years younger,'' said Gula, who is 85 and still going strong. Her mother Inez Stough, established the business in 1938. Of course, Gula's personal history goes back a little farther than that. Before her family moved to Las Animas they ranched at Ninaview, Colorado, 35 miles south of Las Animas. ``We still have the ranch we homesteaded in 1915,'' she noted. In those long ago days she attended Pine Hill School, which her family and relatives helped build by bringing in rock and then assembling the one-room school. She reports the structure is still standing, and a memento from it hangs on a wall in her flower shop, the Regulator clock. When the school was reorganized she asked her parents to obtain the clock. She walked over and pointed to four letters in the clock manufacturer's name . . . Gula.

The Depression years were not the happiest of times, but the hard times brought the family into town from the ranch. Gula's mother knew the family had to do something. So Inez thought she would open a flower shop. The original flower shop was downtown, but the rent was too high. So her mother had a small stucco shop built.

``You just think back about the Depression years and you wonder how we ever did it, but we did. During the Depression people were able to survive,'' Gula noted, adding that people may have managed their money better then than they do now.

Over the last 70 years that she has been in business, Gula remembers when Las Animas was thriving. Though it saddens her to see the current economic state of this rural community, she still carries on in her business despite what some would think to be insurmountable odds. Gula never took an opportunity to pull back from the challenges of running a small business in rural America. She believes in working hard and sound financial management, and it is my firm belief that these two things have contributed to her long and productive life. When other businesses failed around her she worked hard and spent wisely.

During World War II Gula married Pete Jerman, Jr., a B-24 pilot who went down over the Mediterranean, leaving her a widow. Those were sad days for Gula and her family. In 1947, her mother insisted she go to Denver and study at the first floral school to be established in Colorado. Her mother told her she would be more confident in herself if she took the classes.

Back in Las Animas she married again to Mr. Lloyd Adams. They built their current flower shop in 1968 at 702 Grove Avenue in Las Animas, Colorado. This will be her 40th year at this location. Gula loves her business and the community in which she has run her business for 70 years.

Madam Speaker, I am grateful to Mrs. Gula Adams for her dedication and courage. She is an example to all of the small businesses within my district. It is an honor to represent her in Congress, and it is an honor to recognize this small business owner who has been a part of this family business for 70 years. She is a tribute to her trade and a treasure to her community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a true American hero, Milton Conger, from Burlington, Colorado. Mr. Conger was born on October 1, 1924, in rural Kansas. He was a member of the greatest generation and served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946.

Milton grew up in Kit Carson County, Colorado, and entered the Army immediately following graduation from high school. He married Marjorie Irene Schmidt on October 1, 1943, while home on leave, right before being sent to Europe to serve with the 79th Infantry Division, 314th Regiment, L. Company. Milton's company fought primarily in France. On October 9, 1944, while digging a foxhole at the edge of the Forest of Parroy, a Jeep pulled up and out stepped a 4-star general and asked him how things were going. He later determined that he had spoken to General Marshall, who had come to France to see the troops. Milton was awarded the Purple Heart for a leg wound he received a few days before his meeting with the general. It was also in the Forest of Parroy that Milton and one of his buddies captured four German soldiers. Mr. Conger received the Combat Infantry Badge and the Croix-de-Guerre from the French in 1997.

During their time in France, 862 soldiers of Milton's 314th Regiment were killed in action, 4,139 were wounded, and 56 were reported missing in action. They also captured 11,822 German soldiers. The trip home from Europe was dangerous for Milton, he was sent home on the French ship Athos II. On December 21, 1945, they encountered a huge Atlantic typhoon and were tossed about the sea for two days. The soldiers were forced to stand for hours in the slimy lower passages as ballast. The ship was badly battered, and had to stop in the Azores. There they waited to be transferred to the aircraft carrier Enterprise for the rest of the trip home.

After the war, Milton returned home to Colorado where he worked as a carpenter and building contractor, operating Conger Construction. Milton and his wife Marjorie raised three daughters: Linda Kay (Malm), Nancy Lee (Brown), and Connie Rae (Ogle). Mr. Conger is a charter member of VFW Post 6491 and is also a member of American Legion Post 60.

I am proud to honor Milton Conger for his dedicated service to our Nation. He is an American hero who left his home to defend our Nation, and then returned home to be a valued member of his community, showing his children and grandchildren how to live meaningful lives of service. Milton truly is the embodiment of all the values that have molded America into the great nation it is today. May God bless Milton and his family, may God bless our precious veterans, and may God bless America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Paul Victor Linstrom who was born May 31, 1926, in Whitewood, SD. Paul attended school in Sturgis, SD. He joined the Navy in August of 1943, finishing his high school GED and naval training at the U.S. Naval Training Station at Farragut, ID. He was listed as a graduate of the class of 1944 at Sturgis High School. He was assigned to the Pierre Victory troop transport ship as a signalman and spent his military tour in the South Pacific. Paul was honorably discharged from the Navy in July 1946.

Paul married Isabelle Gerhard on September 21, 1946, in Sturgis, where he started his truck driving career for his Dad's business. Paul and his family moved to Rapid City in 1950 where he started a 25-year career as an over-the-road, sleeper, truck driver for United Buckingham Transport. He also drove for AMOCO Oil Co. of Rapid City from 1975 to 1990, when he retired.

He loved fishing, hunting, traveling and camping in the Black Hills as well as and throughout the American West, Mexico, and Canada. In 1965, he helped organize the ``Black Hills Hillbillies'', a camping club associated with the Red Dale National Campers Club, serving as the Head Scout for the Hillbillies and hosting a number of National Rallies in South Dakota, as a 36-year member.

Paul and Isabelle spent 10 years wintering in Apache Junction, AZ, meeting many new friends in the RV Park and taking bus trips in Arizona, California and Mexico. Paul and Isabelle raised two daughters, Paula Kay LaPorte, who is married to John LaPorte, and Deborah Ann Phelps, who is married to Mike Phelps. They have four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, we are so fortunate to live in this great country where freedom is something that we rarely have to think about and often take for granted. It is simply a way of life for us, and we are truly blessed to live in a country whose citizens willingly volunteer to put themselves in harm's way to defend and protect our great Nation.

I am proud to honor Paul for his dedicated service to our Nation. Paul is an American hero who left his home to defend our Nation, and then returned home to be a valued member of his community, showing his children and grandchildren how to live meaningful lives of service. Paul truly is the embodiment of all the values that have molded America into the great Nation it is today. May God bless Paul and his family, may God bless our precious veterans, and may God bless America.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the memory of Vester Eugene Shuler whose warm heart and love of music touched many lives in Colorado. Gene was born in Choestoe, GA, and first came to Colorado when he was 13 years old to work in the sugar beet fields in Weld County. He traveled back and forth between Georgia and Colorado frequently in his early years and later raised his family in North Park Colorado.

Gene spent summers working in Colorado while attending school in Georgia. He proudly served in the United States Army and was sent to Germany in 1945. During his tour of duty he was a mechanic who supervised a garage. He returned home to Georgia to marry his sweetheart Loujine Young on July 17, 1948.

The young couple soon headed west and spent time working and living with Gene's brother Grady and his wife Ethel. They later moved to North Park where Gene worked as a welder and mechanic with Ozark Mahoney. A labor strike closed the mine and sent the young family to California to spend some time with relatives. They soon returned to North Park, living in Cowdrey, Pine Springs and finally Walden. Gene worked for the Wilford Garage, Cooper Motors and the Sigma Coal Mines.

Music played a large part of Gene's life. As a young boy Gene stuttered. He began playing music at a young age; it gave him a way to say things he couldn't make out in words. He realized that he could do with music what he couldn't do with words. He knew when it was time to start the music and what music everyone loved to hear. If you knew him at all, then he knew your favorite song. He truly loved the time he shared with the people he cared about.

Gene and Loujine raised 2 children, Carl Shuler and Gwen Hanson. They were blessed with 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. They enjoyed traveling and visited Georgia, Florida, Texas, California, Wyoming, Arizona and many places in between.

Gene's life was a lesson in how to enjoy life, honor God, care for others, face difficulties with courage, and make a positive impact on the world. I am proud to honor Gene, a precious veteran, who is the embodiment of all the values that have molded America into the great Nation it is today. May God bless his family, may God bless our veterans, and may God bless America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of SSG Shane Becker.

Mr. Becker served in the United States Army as a staff Sergeant. in the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Mr. Becker courageously died in combat on April 3, 2007, in Baghdad. I believe his service and commitment to our country most worthy of being recognized by this great legislative body.

Shane Becker was born October 12, 1971, and graduated from Greeley West High School in 1990. Becker joined the Army in 1993 and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. In 2006, Becker transferred from Fort Hood to Fort Richardson in Alaska.

Mr. Becker was a decorated war hero who received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Overseas Service Medal.

Becker is survived by his wife Crystal and daughters Cierra and Cheyenna; his mother and stepfather, Deborah and Bob Jorgensen, his father and stepmother, Joe and Jean Becker; sister Brooke Jorgensen; stepsister Nichole Becker; and stepbrothers Chris Becker, Adam Becker, Matt Jorgensen and Chris Jorgensen.

Madam Speaker, I am grateful for Mr. Becker's selfless service to our Nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing a man worthy of our honor, Mr. Shane Becker.

Mr. Speaker, because it is taking longer than it should to complete the people's business and the Agriculture appropriations bill is getting further delayed by political wrangling, I am compelled to petition Speaker Pelosi to focus on a Federal food bank program that is very important to my Colorado district.

I have asked the Speaker to retain funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. This program was established in the 1960s and effectively and efficiently provides low-income elderly individuals and pregnant women basic food assistance. However, in recent years, Presidents Clinton and Bush have proposed the elimination of this program, despite the objections of many, including me.

The importance of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program funding was made clear to me during the August work period when I visited the Weld County Food Bank. This food bank is one of seven in Colorado that utilizes this funding, and it serves nearly 20,000 residents in my district.

This food bank program and the Agriculture appropriations bill are vital to Colorado. Please retain funding for

this program, and do so without further delay.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, RMFU, for 100 years of proud service to the independent farmers and ranchers of Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.

The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union was founded in 1907 as a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the well-being of family producers and their communities through legislation, cooperation, and education. This organization believes, as I do, that stable farm and ranch families are the foundation of healthy rural communities, and healthy rural communities bolster the entire U.S. economy and provide the Nation with a steady, wholesome, local food supply.

As a practical display of these values, RMFU founded the Educational Charitable Foundation in 1996 offering programs such as the Cooperative Development Center, seminars and conferences on renewable energy, and campaigns such as ``Buy Fresh Buy Local.'' As a family organization RMFU also sponsors activities and educational opportunities for all ages, from toddlers to senior citizens. This organization seeks to meld the value of experience with the importance of developing young leaders.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to publicly recognize the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union on their 100th anniversary and thank them for their service to the ranchers and farmers of Colorado's Fourth Congressional District. And although we don't always agree about how best to help farmers and ranchers, I wish RMFU continued success as they advocate for the needs of the independent producer into the next century.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 975, I inadvertently voted ``yea'' and intended to vote ``nay.''