Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Colby College as it prepares to celebrate its bicentennial in 2013.

Nearly 200 years ago, residents of Kennebec County raised over $4,000 to secure land for a locally-based theological institution. The petition establishing what was then the Maine Literary and Theological Institution was formally adopted by the Massachusetts Legislature on February 27, 1813, making it the 33rd chartered college in the country. Today, Colby College enrolls over 1,800 students from 46 states and 76 countries. As one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the country, its graduates have gone on to become international business leaders, critically acclaimed writers, noted statesmen, and even members of my Congressional staff.

Throughout its history, Colby College has fostered a culture of social justice at its very core. In 1833, students launched the first college-based anti-slavery society. In 1871, Colby College became the first all-male college in New England to admit women, the first of whom was Mary Caffrey Low, valedictorian of the Class of 1875 and one of the five founding members of the Sigma Kappa sorority. In 1985, students successfully protested for College divestment in South Africa in protest of apartheid. More recently, Colby has made ever increasing strides to attract students with diverse cultural and economic backgrounds, to reduce the college's carbon footprint, and to develop new partnerships with the community.

The College will kick off its bicentennial celebration this October. Special lectures, panel discussions, and festivities will be held throughout the year both on campus, as well as in downtown Waterville. I am pleased to have the opportunity to join the community's celebration of Colby, and I look forward to watching the College continue its growth during the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, please join me again in congratulating the students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of Colby College as they celebrate their bicentennial.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bill, H.R. 5948, which is a mini-omnibus of veterans' measures that run the gamut of issues, such as improving the policy on notification of data breaches of veterans' personal information, to reforming of the Department of Veterans Affairs' fiduciary program, to ensuring that veterans with no known next of kin receive the dignified burial they deserve.

I thank all of the Members for their hard work on these measures, particularly Chairman Miller and Ranking Mr. Filner; Chairman Runyan of New Jersey and Mr. McNerney of California, the chair and ranking member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee; Mr. Johnson of Ohio and Mr. Donnelly of Indiana, chair and ranking member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. Their bipartisan work on the committee, along with the staff efforts, have helped ensure that the provisions of this bill are meaningful and sound for veterans on all fronts.

H.R. 5948 contains language from a bill introduced by Mr. Donnelly which will significantly improve the VA's notification requirements following a data breach involving a veteran's sensitive personal information.

We must work harder to protect veterans' personal identifiable information, including their Social Security number. And rapid notification procedures when breaches occur will stem the tide of harm any veteran, their family, or a survivor has to incur.

In that same vein of protecting our veterans, this bill also contains a long-overdue overhaul of the VA fiduciary program. The additional provisions seek to ensure that our most vulnerable VA beneficiaries who cannot manage on their own are provided the utmost protections of their hard-earned benefits.

In my district, the number one concern among the constituents that are brought before my congressional offices deals with veterans issues. And I'm so pleased that H.R. 5948 includes a provision to grant county veterans service officers, other State and local employees, as well as staff of Members of Congress greater access to veterans' claims information and for tracking purposes.

I wholeheartedly support the mission of this measure and the work of our county veterans service officers and the tireless work of my staff, as I know other Members of Congress' staff, as it relates to veterans' issues.

Finally, this bill will establish a Place of Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery for unidentified cremated remains of our servicemen and -women. This will ensure that not one of our veterans or servicemembers is left behind or forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, according to the Department of Defense, more than 48,000 servicemembers have been wounded in action while serving in the recent conflicts. Today, 18 veterans and servicemembers will take their lives by their own hands. These are sobering statistics. In caring for the injured men and women in uniform, we must continue to address their needs so they may live in dignity after their honorable military service.

I have only begun to name a few important provisions of this bill, and I want to thank the chairman for his work to bring this bill before the committee. I would urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I respectfully reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it's my understanding Chairman Miller has no further speakers.

I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I'd like to thank my colleagues for the hard work and effort on this very important bill as well.

Each year, as we assess the construction needs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, we do so with the safety and health of our veterans in mind, as well as fulfilling our statutory requirements to authorize major medical facility projects. This is a responsibility that we do not take lightly.

H.R. 6375, the VA Major Construction Authorization and Expiring Authorities Extension Act of 2012, would authorize approximately over $377 million for major medical facility projects. Specifically included is the authorization for a mental health building at the VA Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, and for a spinal cord injury facility at the VA Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Speaker, these authorizations provide the Department of Veterans Affairs the ability to provide state-of-the-art health care and services to our Nation's veterans wherever they choose to live.

I would like to take a few moments to comment on section 102, which provides the authority for the renovation of the surgical suite and the operating rooms at the VA Medical Center in Miami, Florida.

Earlier this year, it was brought to the committee's attention that VA was going to need additional authorization to finish the renovation of the operating suites in Miami. It is my understanding that, during the design phase of the original projects, an assessment was conducted, and the recommendation was to completely close down the surgical suite because of infection control and safety issues related to construction. Because of these, two smaller Miami projects were combined, and the cost exceeded the monetary threshold of $10 million that governs the need to seek congressional authority. Working in a bipartisan manner, with the concerns for the safe continuation of surgery in the Miami VA Medical Center always first and foremost in our minds, we have included this project so that VA can move forward without delay.

In addition to major facility projects, H.R. 6375 provides for the extension of certain expiring authorities. I am pleased to strongly support the extensions of the programs that directly affect some of our most vulnerable veterans--the serious mentally ill and homeless. Finally, Mr. Speaker, we have also included an extension of VA's contract authority with private providers of compensation and pension exams.

I support these provisions, but I also want to ensure that we remain vigilant in our oversight of this authority. As such, I am pleased to see 1-year extensions of these authorities, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6375.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this particular piece of legislation, which is very important for our veterans.

I would be remiss, though, if I didn't say that, like my colleague from New York earlier, I am disappointed that we are leaving Washington when we have a lot of work to do, such as the middle class tax cuts, the farm bill, the Violence Against Women Act, and responsible deficit reduction, as well as my bill that addresses the issue of our military, members of which are supposed to be clothed from head to toe with American-made clothing. The fact that the administration is not complying with the Berry amendment is very disappointing. Hopefully, we will be able to address these issues before the end of the year so that we can take care of a lot of the concerns that my constituents have brought forth.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize yesterday's passage in the House of H.R. 1775, the Stolen Valor Act.

I, unfortunately, was not able to vote on passage of this important bill because of a commitment back in my district. I joined with New Balance associates at the factory in Norridgewock, Maine to press U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk on the importance of preserving current footwear tariffs, which are threatened by the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multinational free trade agreement that is currently being negotiated. I truly appreciated Ambassador Kirk's visit and the opportunity to join him and New Balance's highly skilled workers, but I regret that this prevented me from helping to pass H.R. 1775, the Stolen Valor Act.

Had I been able to be present for the vote, I would have vote for the Stolen Valor Act. This Act appropriately creates penalties for individuals who benefit from lying about military decorations or medals. Our service members and veterans make an unparalleled commitment to our nation. They earn military honors through their sacrifices, and I am pleased that the Stolen Valor Act has passed the House to better protect the interests of those who have served our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to my distinguished friend and colleague from Illinois, Jerry Costello, as he enters his final days serving the Prairie State in Congress.

Jerry has been a loyal advocate and dedicated fighter for the people of Southern and Southwestern Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives. Jerry's unyielding commitment to Illinois, however, dates back even further--to his early days working as a full-time law enforcement officer as he worked his way through college. No matter how far Jerry traveled, his heart has always remained with his community-- and his family, at home in Belleville.

Since I first arrived in Congress in 2003, I have had the privilege of serving as a member

of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. During our service together, I have continually been impressed by Jerry's understanding of key issues, especially those pertaining to aviation, as well as his knowledge and passion for the legislative process.

Members of Congress and influential figures on both sides of the aisle have praised Jerry for his willingness to work across party lines to get things done for his constituents and the nation. As the rough winds of partisanship have made getting things done in Washington difficult, Illinois and Congress have benefitted from an experienced pilot who still believes that by working together, Congress can push ahead through turbulence to a better flight plan for our nation.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring my friend and colleague, Jerry Costello, for his eleven terms in Congress and his continued dedication to our nation.

I want to thank the gentleman for his strong support for veterans over the years and look forward to continuing to work with him through the rest of this Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor and a strong supporter of this bill. Each section of it makes important changes that will improve the care and services we provide our veterans. I'm especially proud that it creates a comprehensive educational outreach policy, recognizes that military service meets the standards of many civilian job certifications, and that it establishes an open burn pit registry.

All three of these provisions are the result of the hard work of veterans and their advocates. I had many meetings with veterans who not only identified these issues, but they also provided solutions for the issues as well.

In my time of serving on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I've always appreciated that it's one of the places in Congress where bipartisan efforts are working and things do get done. I'm pleased this is the tradition in this particular bill as well.

I want to thank all of my colleagues on the Veterans Affairs' Committee, Chairman Miller of the full committee, Chairwoman Buerkle of the Health Subcommittee, and Tim Walz, who has also been a true advocate of veterans' issues, and I thank him for his service as well for this great Nation of ours.

I would encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4057.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Appalachian Trail's completion.

On the 18th of August, 1937, the last mile of the original Appalachian Trail (AT) was completed at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine's Carabassett Valley. Although the idea of a super trail on the scale of the AT had been discussed for years, it was the vision and determination of Benton Mackaye and Myron Avery who truly gave the project life. The legacy of the trail was not always secure however, with severe weather, the Great Depression, and World War II threatening its continuity. Fortunately, the tremendous efforts of trail enthusiasts, lead by Mainer Stanley Murray, launched a campaign to save the AT and preserve it for future generations.

Maine's Appalachian Trail Club will be hosting a 75th anniversary celebration of the AT's completion 75 years ago. Members of the Club, Maine's Appalachian Trail Land Trust, the Trust for Public Land, the High Peaks Alliance, the University of Maine, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will be present. The event will be an opportunity to reflect on the beauty of the trail and honor the countless volunteers who have helped to sustain this national treasure throughout the years.

The enormous significance of the Appalachian Trail to the state cannot be overstated. Many of our local economies benefit from the thousands of hikers that are drawn to Maine every year along its paths. I am deeply proud to share in this celebration of Maine and American history.

Mr. Speaker, please join me again in commemorating this momentous anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the nominations of Barbara Anthony, Valdine Atwood, Barbara Drisko, and Sally Jacobs for the Mighty Women of Washington County Elder Award.

The Mighty Women of Washington County is a group of strong, compassionate women who collaborate with businesses in Washington County to promote positive social and economic change in the community. This self sustaining organization continues to draw together talented and dedicated women who are committed to the region. Since 2006, the Mighty Women of Washington County have grown their membership to over 180 strong representing business owners, government workers and volunteers. Together, their remarkable efforts have made a positive impact in the areas of homelessness, health care and other social issues.

In June of this year, the organization held its first event ``Celebrating the Mighty Women of Washington County'' in the town of Machias. At the event, Barbara Anthony, Valdine Atwood, Barbara Drisko, and Sally Jacobs were nominated for the Mighty Women Elder Award. This recognition is offered to members of the organization who embody exceptional character and citizenship.

Each of these women is a pillar of the Washington County community and they are all tremendously deserving of this recognition. Their energy, commitment to helping others, and devotion to the region are an inspiration to future generations of Washington County women and to Mainers throughout the state.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating these exceptional women for being recognized through this honor and thanking them all that they do for their community.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1627, as amended, the Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012. This bill represents the hard work of both Chambers and of both sides of the aisle.

I want to thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Filner, as well as Senator Murray and Senator Burr and all of my colleagues on the Veterans' Affairs Committees in both Chambers, for all of the work that went into crafting this legislation.

This bill provides health care benefits to veterans and family members who have suffered illnesses due to exposure to harmful chemicals through drinking contaminated water while stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

This bill also provides important improvements to enable the VA to better care for veterans living in rural areas. These veterans constitute 40 percent of the veterans who seek care at VA. These improvements include: waiving the collections of copayments for veterans who use telehealth or telemedicine services; authorizing VA to pay travel benefits to veterans seeking care at vet centers; requiring VA to establish and operate Centers of Excellence for rural health research, education, and clinical activities; finally, requiring VA to create a system for the consultation and assessment of mental health, traumatic brain injury, and other conditions through teleconsultation.

A provision I am particularly proud of will improve the care provided to our elderly veterans and to those who are 70-percent disabled or higher in our State veterans' nursing homes.

This bill makes improvements in the area of veterans' benefits and the claims process. One such improvement, a provision based on a measure introduced by Ranking Member Filner, enables a veteran or a family member, on an appeal, to waive the current requirement that new evidence be first considered by the VA. This provision would enable the Board of Veterans' Appeals to review evidence submitted directly to it instead of waiting for a redecision at the agency level.

This bill includes important housing provisions as well. One provision would help veterans with vision impairments and veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member by aligning VA's definition of ``blindness'' with the definition of ``blindness'' under existing Federal laws.

This bill provides that the amount made available to veterans who receive a temporary residence adaptation grant is not counted against the maximum allowable under the Specially Adapted Housing program. Also, this bill makes permanent the authority of VA to guarantee adjustable rate and hybrid rate mortgages.

Mr. Speaker, I have only highlighted a few of the important parts of this bill that were found in H.R. 1627, as amended. I would encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this very important veterans' measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell).

(Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Miller).

I have one further request for time, and then I am prepared to close.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. Speaker, I am particularly pleased with this package because it also includes legislation that I have been working on for well over 2 years that will ensure that our severely disabled and elderly veterans are able to get the care they need. Specifically, my bill requires the VA to enter into contracts or provider agreements with State Veterans Nursing Homes in order to get the reimbursement that they adequately need to take care of our veterans.

Without this legislation, State Veterans Homes will not get reimbursed properly for the services they provide for our veterans. According to data from the National Association of State Veterans Homes, the average rate for care is roughly $359 per veteran per day, while VA only reimburses the homes $235 per day. This difference of $124 per day amounts to over $45,000 per year for each covered veteran. And with approximately 25,000 beds nationwide, the financial burden on State Veterans Homes could become crippling.

Passing this legislation into law will ensure that our State Veterans Homes are paid adequately for the services they provide and can continue to serve our veterans that are in need of those services.

I want to thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Filner for their support of this bill and for working to bring this legislation to the floor. Our veterans will be better off as a result.

I also would like to thank Chairwoman Buerkle for her efforts as well, working in a bipartisan manner, and staff on both the majority and minority sides for bringing this bill forward,

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for Mr. Miller. He had mentioned earlier about a colloquy. If those colloquies are entered separately, will that be made a part of the Record?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague about section 102 of the bill. That provides medical care for certain medical conditions for veterans and their families who lived at Camp Lejeune from 1957 through 1987.

There is one provision applicable to family members where VA would reimburse family members for health care services provided under this section but only after they exhaust reasonably available alternative reimbursements.

I want to ensure that this language is not read to mean that family members must actually file suit under the Federal Tort Claims Act or even come to end of litigation under a suit filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act to ensure the medical care offered by this provision. Can my colleague confirm this?

I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, with that, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor U.S. Marine Captains Mark Silvers and Sean Gobin for their tremendous efforts on behalf of our nation's wounded warriors.

Everyday our men and women in uniform place themselves at great personal risk in order to defend our nation's freedom and security. Captain Silvers and Captain Gobin are two such heroes who decided to continue serving their fellow soldiers after their tours had ended. Moved by the number of service members returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with debilitating injuries, the two men pledged their efforts to improve the lives of our nation's wounded warriors.

On March 15, 2012, Captain Silvers and Captain Gobin commenced a 2,180 mile hike of the Appalachian Trail to raise funds and awareness of the debilitating injuries our soldiers have suffered while in service to our country. Their journey will come to an end next week at the summit of Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park. As they travelled through 14 states, Captain Silvers and Gobin have hosted a number of fundraisers at separate VFW posts on behalf of Operation Military Embrace; a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of wounded servicemembers. All of the proceeds from these events will be used to purchase adaptive vehicles for veterans who have sustained multiple amputations in the course of their service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

These men have set a remarkable example for what it means to serve our country. Operation Military Embrace and Warrior Hike remind us all of our enduring responsibility to honor and care for those who have sacrificed so much in defense of our freedom. As the Ranking Member on the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am pleased to join the chorus of congratulations celebrating the completion of these men's impressive journey.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Captain Silvers and Captain Gobin on achieving so much on behalf of our wounded veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Pine Tree Legal Assistance in celebration of their 45th anniversary this month.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high quality, free, legal assistance to low-income individuals. Serving as the primary legal aid provider in Maine with six offices ranging from Presque Isle to Portland, Pine Tree Legal strives to provide access to legal assistance in all corners of the state.

Since its founding on July 19, 1967, Pine Tree Legal Assistance has worked to remove the barriers to justice that can be experienced by low-income Mainers. Their services range from providing basic legal advice to active representation in the most serious cases. The organization continues to place a priority on helping individuals and families meet their basic human needs, such as access to housing, food, income, safety, and education. Pine Tree Legal also boasts innovative, issue-specific divisions such as a Native American Unit and KIDS LEGAL, as well as providing help with unemployment issues and foreclosure prevention. More recently, they have been responsible for the development and ongoing support of Stateside Legal, which is an online resource to provide legal information to veterans and military families.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance maintains an excellent reputation in the field of legal advocacy. They also serve as one of six Maine nonprofits that meet the Better Business Bureau standards for charitable accountability. I am pleased to share in the celebration of Pine Tree Legal Assistance's 45th year of exemplary legal assistance to the people of Maine.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Pine Tree Legal Assistance on achieving this tremendous milestone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th birthday of Laurianne Cormier. Born on July 12, 1912, in Lewiston, Maine, Mrs. Cormier has two daughters, seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Cormier has dedicated much of her life to working and volunteering in her community. Like many other Franco-Americans growing up in Lewiston during the Great Depression, Mrs. Cormier helped to support her family by working in a local shoe factory. After her retirement, Mrs. Cormier kept busy by volunteering at the YWCA and at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. In fact, thirty-five years later, Mrs. Cormier is still volunteering there and has devoted over 18,500 hours of her time and energy to the community she loves.

Mrs. Cormier's co-workers admire her work ethic, spirit and passion for her job. In October of 2010, she was presented with the Mayoral VIBE Award (Volunteers Inspire By Example) and in April of this year, she was nominated for one of the Maine Commission for Community Service's annual Governor's Awards for Service and Volunteerism. Mrs. Cormier was recognized as a special ``Volunteer Hero'' at that ceremony.

On Tuesday of this week, her colleagues at St. Mary's hosted a birthday party for her and on Sunday, July 15, her family and friends will gather for a second celebration that will take place at the Franco-American Heritage Center. I am very much looking forward to congratulating Mrs. Cormier in person at Sunday's celebration.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Laurianne Cormier on this special day. She is truly an exemplary citizen whose dedication to her community and to her family is certainly an inspiration to us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the first successful transatlantic television signal between Andover Earth Station, Maine, and Pleumeur-Bodou Telecom Center in Brittany, France, which took place on July 12, 1962.

As a Co-Chair of the Congressional French Caucus, it is often my great honor to commemorate special moments in history that recognize the historical relationship of the United States and France. It is a particular honor to recognize an event that my home State of Maine played a key part of.

Five decades ago, Andover, Maine, and Pleumeur-Bodou, France, were connected for a short 22 minutes. In our digital world, sometimes it is hard to believe how far we have come. But that short bond, less than a half an hour, played a historical role in advancing science and telecommunications forever.

Former Senator Margaret Chase Smith is synonymous with statesmanship across Maine and the United States. How proud Senator Smith, who played an important role in Telstar's success, must have been when the first image shown across the Atlantic Ocean was a live shot of the American flag being held in Andover, Maine.

Because of the unique partnership formed between Maine and France five decades ago, the world saw the potential in space and satellite communication, and in the power of sharing information around the globe.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this special occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize L.L. Bean on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.

It was one century ago that Leon Leonwood Bean sent out his first shipment of Maine hunting shoes. Defects in the shoe's initial design caused individuals to return 90 pairs of those shoes. Undeterred, Bean provided the purchasers with full refunds, corrected the design flaws and set back to work marketing his products. This commitment to customer satisfaction has been the cornerstone of L.L. Bean's success throughout the last 100 years. Not only does their customer satisfaction guarantee remain in effect, but L.L. Bean's store in

Freeport, Maine is still open to visitors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

L.L. Bean has since grown to become a global retail giant. The company achieved over $1.52 billion in sales last year while providing over 4,900 full-time jobs. Shoppers can visit any one of the retail or outlet stores located throughout the United States and Japan, or purchase quality products online. Despite its success in appealing to consumers from all over the world, L.L. Bean is beloved for retaining its uniquely Maine character.

From July 4th to 7th, L.L. Bean will be celebrating its 100th anniversary with music, parades, and a fireworks display. I am pleased to be one of the countless individuals throughout Maine who will be congratulating L.L. Bean, and all of its employees, on achieving this impressive milestone.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating L.L. Bean on its tremendous success over the last 100 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rita Cannan on her retirement from the Can Am Crown International Sled Dog Races.

Rita is stepping down from the Can-Am International Sled Dog Races after 15 years as its President and 19 years of dedicated service overall. Her remarkable efforts helped transform the community of Fort Kent, Maine into a premier dog sled racing location on the mushing map of North America.

The Can-Am International Sled Dog Races loses an incredible asset with Rita's departure. She is extremely well known in the Fort Kent community as a businesswoman and a civic leader. Rita has served as a member of the planning board, president of the Greater Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce, a trustee of the Northern Maine Medical Center, a member of the Aroostook County Tourism Board, a member and president of the Rotary Club, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a member of the Fish River Scenic By-Way Committee, and as a director of the University of Maine at Fort Kent Foundation. Without question, Rita's leadership was instrumental to the growth of Can-Am.

The recipient of countless awards and commendations issued by the town of Fort Kent and the State of Maine, there has been little left unsaid about Rita's enormous value to the community. I am pleased to join the members of the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races, and the people of Maine, in congratulating Rita Cannan on her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, please join me again in congratulating Rita on achieving this milestone, and thanking her for her all that she has done for the community of Fort Kent.