Mike Ross

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Thomas McKennon ``Ken'' Shea, a life-long resident of Dumas, Arkansas, who passed away at the age of 58 on November 29, 2012. Ken was born on August 9, 1954 in Dumas, Arkansas and I would like to recognize his life and achievements.

Raised in Dumas, Arkansas, Ken attended Dumas High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Ken returned to Dumas after graduating from LSU to become associated with his father at McKennon Implement Co. Inc, the family's John Deere farm equipment dealership, and served as president and sales manager there while helping to oversee his family's farming interests. Following the sale of the McKennon dealerships Arkansas Ag in 2011, he was Location Manager for Arkansas Ag in McGehee. He was a past president of the Southeast Equipment Dealers Association.

Ken led an exemplary life and was extremely active in many different capacities. He was past president of the Dumas Chamber of Commerce, Dumas Lions Club, and Walnut Lake Country Club Boar. He served as chairman of the Dumas Airport Commission, on the Chicot-Desha Metropolitan Port Authority (Yellow Bend Port) and on the Dumas School Board. He represented the Dumas area on the Southeast Arkansas Levee District Board and had been a member of the AgHeritage Farm Credit Services Board of Directors since 1993. Ken was chosen as the Ding Dong Daddy of Dumas for 1996 and was named Dumas Lions Club Man of the Year in 1993, the same year his wife Debbie was honored as Woman of the Year at the annual Dumas Chamber of Commerce banquet.

Ken was also very active at the First United Methodist Church where he served as past chairman of the Administrative Board, a member of the governing council, and a Sunday School teacher.

Leading by example through a lifetime of dedication, community service, and commitment to agriculture, Ken has left an undeniable mark on the Desha County community. Dumas is a better place, more cohesive community because of Ken Shea and he will be deeply missed. My heartfelt condolences are with his wife of 35 years, Debbie; his son, the Rev. Thomas McKennon Shea Jr. and wife Anna Collins Shea; his daughter, Sarah Helen Shea Studebaker and husband Peyton Mills Studebaker; his brother, William Warrick ``Bill'' Shea; his sister, Anne Shea Carroll; and his two grandchildren, Jackson Reade Studebaker and Thomas McKennon ``Mac'' Shea, III. While Ken may no longer be with us, his spirit will live on forever in the lives he touched.

Mr. Speaker, on September 19-21, 2012, I was not present for the following votes.

Rollcall vote 585 on passage of H.R. 5044, the Andrew P. Carpenter Tax Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 586 on passage of H.R. 5912, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit the use of public funds for political party conventions. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 587, on ordering the previous question providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 118 and H.R. 3409. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall vote 588, on agreeing to the resolution providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 118 and H.R. 3409. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall vote 589 on passage of H.J. Res. 118, Providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the Office of Family Assistance of the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of HHS relating to waiver and expenditure authority under the Social Security Act with respect to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall vote 590, on passage of HR 6429, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote innovation, investment, and research in the United States, to eliminate the diversity immigrant program, and for other purposes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 591, on passage of H.R. 5987, to establish the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Hanford, Washington, and for other purposes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 592, on Markey of Massachusetts Amendment No. 1. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall vote 593, on Waxman of California Amendment No. 3. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 594, on Kelly of Pennsylvania Amendment No. 4. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 595, on Markey of Massachusetts Amendment No. 5. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall vote 596, on Jackson Lee of Texas Amendment No. 8. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall vote 597, on McKinley of West Virginia Amendment No. 9. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 598, on Markey of Massachusetts Amendment No. 10. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall vote 599, on DeFazio of Oregon Amendment No. 11. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall vote 600, on Flake of Arizona Amendment No. 12. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 601, Gosar of Arizona Amendment No. 13. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 602, on motion to recommit, to limit the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations before December 31, 2013, under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Rollcall vote 603, on passage of H.R. 3409, the Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, September 13th, 2012 and Friday, September 14th, I was not present for rollcall votes 572- 584.

Had I been present for rollcall 572, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 573, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 574, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 575, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 576, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 577, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 578, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 579, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 580, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 581, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 582, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 583, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 584, I would have voted ``aye.''