Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on the evening of Tuesday, July 20, 2010, I was absent from the House and missed rollcall votes 451 through 453.

Had I been present for rollcall 451, on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1491, Congratulating the University of South Carolina Gamecocks on winning the 2010 NCAA Division I College World Series, I would have voted ``Aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 452, on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 5604, the Surface Transportation Savings Act of 2010, I would have voted ``Aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 453, on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1516, Recognizing the 65th Anniversary of the end of World War II, honoring the service members who fought in World War II and their families, and honoring the servicemembers who are currently serving in combat operations, I would have voted ``Aye.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark the thirty-sixth anniversary of Turkey's invasion, and subsequent occupation, of Cyprus. It is deeply concerning to me that every year we are compelled to gather in this chamber to remind the world of the devastating events that led to the division of Cyprus, and to remember those who were killed, injured, or displaced when Turkey invaded the island in 1974. It remains very clear to me, and to most of my colleagues, as well as the vast majority of the international community, that Cyprus must be made whole again and Turkey must be held accountable for its reprehensible actions in dividing the island.

Just fourteen years after gaining its independence from Great Britain, Cyprus was illegally invaded by 6,000 Turkish troops and 40 tanks. These troops swept over the northern section of Cyprus, occupying nearly 40 percent of the island, and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes. To date, more than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for, including five American citizens.

Thirty-six years after the invasion, we gather to honor and remember those who died. The world does not forget that Cyprus remains a nation divided and that over three thousand Turkish troops still illegally occupy almost half of the island in violation of international law.

As Cyprus is a member of the European Union (EU), a strong ally of the United States, and a stable democracy in the Mediterranean, we need to continue to send a clear message to Turkey that the illegal and immoral occupation of Cyprus will not be tolerated.

In an effort to move forward, Cyprus has extended the benefits of EU citizenship to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots on both sides of the divide, and there have been subtle exchanges and partnerships between the two communities since 2003. Residents now have the ability to travel freely between Cyprus and the occupied North.

Even with these positive developments, some aspects of the division remain intractable. The number of Turkish troops in the North is the same as thirty-six years ago. Greek religious sights in the North continue to suffer from neglect. Communities may be free to travel, but the island is still divided into ethnic enclaves.

I am optimistic that President Obama has identified bringing the Greek and Turkish communities together in a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as a priority, along with the EU. Most importantly, this is also the goal of the Cypriot people. On the thirty-sixth anniversary of the division of Cyprus, I encourage Cypriot President Demetrius Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to strengthen their efforts to remove Turkish troops, free movement between the Greek and Turkish communities, and end the division of Cyprus. It is time for us in Congress, with President Obama's commitment, to move Cyprus to a future of peace and prosperity.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to join with my colleagues in standing against Turkish oppression in Cyprus. Thirty-six years is a long time to wait, but it is my sincerest hope that our actions will persuade Turkey to end its unlawful occupation of Cyprus.

Madam Speaker, it is with great respect and deep sadness that I wish to commend United States Marine Corps Corporal Daane Adam DeBoer for his bravery and willingness to fight for his country. Corporal DeBoer was killed when hit by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol in the Helmand province in Afghanistan. His sacrifice will forever be remembered by a community that has been struck by the devastating loss of one of their own.

Daane Adam DeBoer was born in Valparaiso, Indiana. He attended Immanuel Lutheran School through the sixth grade. Former teachers report that Daane was an energetic youth with a zest for life. From a young age, family members remember Daane as having a thirst for the extreme. He enjoyed extreme sports, whether he was skiing in Colorado or walking the 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail to help raise money for the

Susan G. Komen for the Cure fund. Although he was only a young man, he garnered the respect and admiration of others in the communities that he was a part of, as made evident by the numerous prayer circles initiated upon the news of his death.

Daane would later use his enthusiasm and spirit to protect his country in the United States Marine Corps. Corporal DeBoer joined the Marines in 2009 and was deployed for combat for the first time to Afghanistan in March of 2010. His service awards include the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

The youngest of a loving family, Daane is survived by his father and stepmother, David and Mary DeBoer of Valparaiso, his mother and stepfather, Charlene and Jim Zerrenner of Ludington, Michigan, and his three sisters: Aubrey, Ashley, and Lindsey.

Madam Speaker, at this time I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in honoring a fallen hero, United States Marine Corps Corporal Daane DeBoer. Corporal DeBoer sacrificed his life in service to his country, and his passing comes as a great setback to our nation, shaken by the realities of war. Corporal DeBoer will forever remain a hero in the eyes of his family, his community, and his country. Thus, let us never forget the sacrifice he made to preserve the ideals of freedom and democracy.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure and sincerity that I take this time to congratulate the individuals who will take their oath of citizenship on July 4, 2010. In true patriotic fashion, on the day of our great Nation's celebration of independence, a naturalization ceremony will take place, welcoming new citizens of the United States of America. This memorable occasion, coordinated by the Hammond Public Library and presided over by Magistrate Judge Andrew Rodovich, will be held at Harrison Park in Hammond, Indiana.

America is a country founded by immigrants. From its beginning, settlers have come from countries around the globe to the United States in search of better lives for their families. The upcoming oath ceremony will be a shining example of what is so great about the United States of America--that people from all over the world can come together and unite as members of a free, democratic nation. These individuals realize that nowhere else in the world offers a better opportunity for success than here in America.

On July 4, 2010, the following people, representing many nations throughout the world, will take their oath of citizenship in Hammond, Indiana: David Buabeng Agyen, Gordana Obradovic, Adesola Titilayo Ikene, Iryna Anatolitvna Hillegonds, Snezana Cude, Olufunmilayo Oluranti Adebayo, Kim Anh Tong, Kenneth Llanos Fabugais, Reshma Begum, Lubna Sairesh Hussain, Ummaima Sadaf Hussain, Hilda Marumbo Love, Gilberto Garcilazo Ambriz, Hossein Ali Safavi Naeini, Lorraine Emilia Von Tobel, Jose L. Guerrero, Ashok Sundaram, Lily Shajil, Amjad M.A. Ahmed, Delia Lord, Sonal Sanjay Shah, Alfredo Gerardo Discepolo, Corazon Samonte Jurado, Eric Udave Zaragoza, Dan Chen, Muriel Magalhaes Pessoa, Saber Zedan Khawaled, Justine Elizabeth Smith, Harvind Singh Azrot, Dragan Gjikoski, Gopikrishna Ratakonda, Surinder Singh, Manjeet Geeta, Maria Cristina Sangueza, Rey Ancajas Sararana, Maynard Villavecencio Utayde, Eunice Jocabed Bojorquez, Olubunmi Emmanuel Adebayo, Amjad M. Amer, Rogelio Jose Munoz, Isabel De La Rosa Rangel, Juventino Flores, Jose Gutierrez Olivares, Vinh Quang Le, Eleazar Talili Tan, Nikunj Natvarlal Patel, Joel Erie Lingua, Mohannad Khaleel Alkaki, Dhirenkumar Jaswantlal Shah, and Ambrosia Ewican McLaughlin.

Though each individual has sought to become a citizen of the United States for his or her own reasons, be it for education, occupation, or to offer their loved ones better lives, each is inspired by the fact that the United States of America is, as Abraham Lincoln described it, a country ``. . . of the people, by the people, and for the people.'' They realize that the United States is truly a free nation. By seeking American citizenship, they have made the decision that they want to live in a place where, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, they can practice religion as they choose, speak their minds without fear of punishment, and assemble in peaceful protest should they choose to do so.

Madam Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating these individuals, who will become citizens of the United States of America on July 4, 2010, the day of our Nation's independence. They, too, will be American citizens, and they, too, will be guaranteed the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We, as a free and democratic nation, congratulate them and welcome them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act.

This important legislation will ensure that Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries will be able to keep their doctors by retroactively reversing a 21 percent decrease in physician reimbursement that occurred on June 1, 2010. Additionally, this measure would provide physicians a 2.2 percent increase in physician reimbursements through November 30, 2010.

While I am pleased that the House is considering a 6 month fix, I continue to support a permanent solution. It is not fair to medical providers to face the continued uncertainty of temporary fixes. I am proud that I supported and the House passed a permanent fix last November, and would urge my colleagues in both the House and Senate to recommit themselves to passing legislation to permanently fix this problem.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, June 29, 2010, I was absent from the House and missed rollcall vote 401.

Had I been present for rollcall 401, on a motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, H.R. 5623, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on the evening of Wednesday, June 23, 2010, and on Thursday, June 24, 2010, I was absent from the House and missed rollcall votes 382 through 394.

Had I been present for rollcall 382, on a motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, H.R. 5481, To give subpoena power to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 383, on a motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended, H.R. 3993, the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 384, on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1388, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 385, on ordering the previous question for H. Res. 1468, Providing for consideration of H.R. 5175, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 386, on agreeing to H. Res. 1468, Providing for consideration of H.R. 5175, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 387, on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 285, Recognizing the important role that fathers play in the lives of their children and families and supporting the goals and ideals of designating 2010 as the Year of the Father, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 388, on agreeing to the amendment, King of Iowa Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 5175, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 389, agreeing to the amendment, Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania Amendment No. 5 to H.R. 5175, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 390, on a motion to recommit with instructions H.R. 5175, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 391, on passage of H.R. 5175, the Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 392, on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1464, Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the United States-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and expressing appreciation to the Government of Japan and the Japanese people for enhancing peace, prosperity, and security in the Asia-Pacific region, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 393, on a motion to suspend the rules and concur with the Senate amendments to H.R. 3962, To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 394, on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report to H.R. 2194, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5175, and strongly believe that the legislation is vital to our democracy.

While I believe that personal speech should be protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, I feel that corporate speech was never meant to be protected and extending Constitutional safeguards to it is corrosive to our democracy. By providing unprecedented transparency, H.R. 5175 goes a long way to hold corporations who participate in U.S. elections accountable to the American people.

At its core, H.R. 5175 protects the constitutional right of voters to know the identity of the organizations spending money to influence their elections and the sources of the money they are spending.

Without the establishment of strong new disclosure rules, the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC will give corporations incredible power to influence elections. That is why I believe that H.R. 5175 is necessary to ensure that people know who is trying to influence our country's elections.

I also believe that this legislation prevents those who should not interfere in our elections, such as corporations controlled by foreign interests, from doing so.

This legislation strikes the appropriate balance and I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I take this time to honor one of America's great leaders, retiring president of the United Auto Workers Union, Ron Gettelfinger. Mr. Gettelfinger served as president of the UAW from 2002 until 2010.

Mr. Gettelfinger became a member of the UAW in 1964 when he became a chassis line repairman in Ford's Louisville factory. In 1984 Mr. Gettelfinger was elected by the membership of the UAW Local 862 chapter in Louisville to represent them as their committee person, bargaining chair, and president, and in 1992 Mr. Gettelfinger was elected to be the director of UAW's Region 3, which represents the UAW membership of Indiana and Kentucky. Then in 1998 Mr. Gettelfinger was elected vice president of the UAW, and he served in that position until June 5, 2002, when at the UAW's 33rd constitutional convention Mr. Gettelfinger was elected president.

Throughout Mr. Gettelfinger's rise to the top within the UAW he was driven by the sole purpose of fighting for the rights of the American worker. He fought for fair trade agreements that would protect the rights and health of American workers and the environment. He steadfastly worked to prevent a race to the bottom environment in countries around the world, and was an outspoken advocate for a national single-payer health care system. He fought for all of these ideals while having to lead the UAW through the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and I wish there were more exemplary fighters out there like Ron Gettlefinger.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in commending Mr. Ron Gettelfinger for his 46 years of service as both a member and leader of the United Auto Workers Union, and in wishing him all the best in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to pay tribute to the outstanding achievements of Robert A. Taft Middle School, located in Indiana's First Congressional District. After undergoing a very selective application and interview process, Robert A. Taft Middle School received the distinct honor of being named one of the ``Schools to Watch'' by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle- Grades Reform. For accomplishing an extraordinary feat and exerting remarkable efforts, Robert A. Taft Middle School will receive recognition at a gala dinner during the Schools to Watch Annual Conference. This prestigious event will take place in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 24, 2010.

The ``Schools to Watch'' program honors middle schools that exemplify exceptional performance in education. This rigorous program was developed in 1999 by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. To date, there are eighteen States that participate in this national initiative. Candidates for the ``Schools to Watch'' program must demonstrate four main criteria: academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structure. The middle schools that are chosen for the ``Schools to Watch'' program exceed these standards.

Robert A. Taft Middle School provides education to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in the Crown Point, Cedar Lake, and Winfield communities in Indiana. In recent years, Robert A. Taft Middle School implemented a program involving innovative educational techniques which made significant contributions to the school's success. Important factors of the new program include interdisciplinary teams that allow staff to create personalized environments, flexible schedules to ensure comprehension, and team planning and preparation periods that provide students with high-quality teachers and learning opportunities. Additionally, the implementation of the ``Creating a Safe School'' anti-bullying effort made Robert A. Taft Middle School an even stronger candidate for this prestigious honor.

Madam Speaker, I would like to once again extend my most heartfelt congratulations to Robert A. Taft Middle School faculty, staff, and students, as well as Principal Michael Hazen, on being named one of the ``Schools to Watch'' for 2010. The dedication exhibited by the school and the community serves to inspire us and to encourage other schools across the Nation. It is my honor to have been given this opportunity to recognize such a supreme middle school, and I am honored to have Robert A. Taft Middle School in my district.

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I stand before you today to pay tribute to Eugene H. Kijanowski and to congratulate him on his upcoming installation as the State Commander of the Indiana Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Northwest Indiana is certainly indebted to Mr. Kijanowski for his tireless commitment to those who have crossed seas to fight for our country. In honor of Mr. Kijanowski, a celebratory reception will be held on June 20, 2010, at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 717 in Saint John, Indiana.

Eugene Kijanowski hails from a family with a great military tradition. All three of his brothers served in the armed forces--Thomas and Jerome in the Army, and Wayne in the Air Force. Eugene began his military career in Whidbey Island, Washington, as a member of the United States Navy, where he worked as a parachute rigger and specialized in aircraft hydraulics. He was then transferred to Miramar Naval Air Station to Light Photographic Squadron 63, where he became Aviation Hydraulics Mechanic Third Class as well as a plane captain for the squadron. On the morning of October 26, 1966, aboard the USS Oriskany off the coast of North Vietnam, Mr. Kijanowski was forced to show his true character as a disastrous fire broke out on the flight deck. Crewmen, including Eugene, valiantly fought the fire, jettisoning heavy bombs which lay within reach of the flames. Other men wheeled planes out of danger, rescued pilots, and helped to halt the fire. In the end, 44 sailors perished and 156 were injured. The USS Oriskany returned to Subic Bay on October 28, 1966; and Eugene was discharged on November 16, 1966. His courage and performance on the USS Oriskany earned him the Vietnam Service Medal.

Commander Kijanowski joined the VFW in 1976 and has since held every office in his post. He has gamered many accolades and is a perennial state award winner. During his service with the VFW, Eugene was awarded the prestigious Eisenhower Award for outstanding leadership. Eugene will continue his lifelong commitment to the VFW and will become State Commander of the Indiana Veterans of Foreign Wars on June 20, 2010. For his truly heroic service to our nation and his outstanding dedication to the VFW, Mr. Kijanowski is worthy of the highest praise.

Eugene's devotion to the VFW is exceeded only by his devotion to his wonderful family. He has been married to his loving wife, Mary, for 42 years. They have two beloved children: Mary and Kevin.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in commending Eugene Kijanowski for his service and dedication in the United States Navy and

congratulate him on his new position of leadership as State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Indiana.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I stand before you today to honor Dr. Bruce Bergland and to him well upon his retirement from his position as Chancellor of Indiana University Northwest. Dr. Bergland's many years of service in the field of education have had a tremendous positive impact on numerous students and educators within the community of Northwest Indiana and across the nation. In honor of Chancellor Bruce Bergland, a retirement reception was held on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at the Savannah Center located on the campus of Indiana University Northwest in Gary, Indiana.

Dr. Bruce Bergland's professional career began with his passion for education. His truly impressive resume reflects his many years of service in numerous capacities within the collegiate education field across the United States. Following his graduation in 1966 from Iowa University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in psychology, Bruce went on to pursue his doctoral degree in counseling at Stanford University. After graduating in 1970, Dr. Bergland took a position at Northwestern University and became the Assistant Professor of Education and Psychology. Bruce's career then led him to the University of Colorado at Denver, where he served in numerous capacities from 1972- 1995. His many positions during his tenure included: Executive Vice Chancellor, Interim Dean, Vice Chancellor for Planning, and Associate Professor of Education. In 1995, Dr. Bergland decided to move on and became the Executive Vice Chancellor and Professor of Psychology at the University of Hawaii, West Oahu. Next, in 1997, Bruce's career led him to Trinity College in Vermont, where he served as the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Professor of Basic and Applied Social Sciences, and Academic Dean.

Chancellor Bergland started his tenure as Chief Executive Officer at Indiana University Northwest (IUN) on July 1, 1999. Dr. Bergland's main goal from day one was to develop a ``shared vision'' for the university by reaching out to faculty and students, as well as community and business leaders, in order to develop a strong sense of the economic and cultural needs of IUN. Chancellor Bergland has successfully maintained this steering committee which provides a continuous effort for the future growth and development of the university. Among his many accomplishments at IUN, Bruce has also initiated the Diversity Programming Group, established

the Office of Institutional Research and the Office of Contracts and Grants, initiated IUN's participation in the Academic Quality Improvement Process Accreditation, and established a new College of Health and Human Services.

Additionally, Bruce selflessly gives of his time to the community of Northwest Indiana and has been involved in the following civic activities: Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council, South Shore Arts, Urban League of Northwest Indiana, Lake Area United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana, Tradewinds, Gary Educational Development Foundation, Mayor's Hall of Fame Advisory Committee, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Northwest Indiana Empowerment Zone, Northwest Indiana Forum, and University Club.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in commending Chancellor Bruce Bergland for his lifetime of leadership, service, and dedication to the institution of education. He has touched the lives of countless students and educators, as well as many citizens of Northwest Indiana through his civic endeavors. For his true service and uncompromising dedication, Chancellor Bruce Bergland is worthy of the highest praise, and I ask that you join me in wishing him well upon his retirement.

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I stand before you today to recognize the Indian American Cultural Center of Northwest Indiana as they celebrate the grand opening of the Bharatiya Temple of Northwest Indiana. They will be commemorating the event with the religious and historic tradition of Maha Kumbhabhishekam. This event will take place over three days, from Friday, June 18, 2010 to Sunday, June 20, 2010, at the Bharatiya Temple of Northwest Indiana in Merrillville.

The Indian American Cultural Center of Northwest Indiana opened on March 9, 2002, and operates as ``a place to preserve, nourish, and advance the Indian culture, heritage, religious values, and social values.'' In order to continue to advance the teachings and culture of the Indian American people and the Hindu religion, the members of the Indian American Cultural Center decided to expand the existing building and to give the community a legacy in the form of the truly glorious Bharatiya Temple of worship. The Indian American community will be celebrating Maha Kumbhabhishekam, which is a Hindu tradition performed when a new Temple is built and installed with new deities (Gods or Goddesses). Many religious rituals of the Hindu religion will be performed during the celebration which will sanctify the beloved Bharatiya Temple of Northwest Indiana. It is a Hindu belief that taking part and witnessing a Maha Kumbhabhishekam is a lifetime blessing.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in honoring the Indian American Cultural Society of Northwest Indiana and its congregation as they celebrate the opening of the Bharatiya Temple of Northwest Indiana and observe the religious and historic tradition of Maha Kumbhabhishekam. Through their words and teachings, this honorable organization shares with us the rich culture and tradition of the Indian American people as well as the traditions of the Hindu religion.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I stand before you today to honor one of America's finest organizations, the American Legion, and to recognize one of its local Auxiliary units, Roselawn American Legion Auxiliary Unit 238, as they recognize their newly elected officials. The members of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 238, as well as the Legioneers and the Sons of the American Legion, will be recognizing these individuals at the Installation of Officers Awards Dinner held on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at the American Legion Post 238 in Roselawn, Indiana.

For many years, Roselawn American Legion Post 238 has been an extraordinary example of the ideals and mission of the American Legion. The American Legion Auxiliary was established in 1919 to assist the American Legion and has quickly become the world's largest women's patriotic service organization. For volunteering many hours to our American veterans and to the community of Roselawn, as well as all of Northwest Indiana, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 238 and its newly elected officers are to be honored.

Please join me in recognizing the 2010-2011 newly elected officers for the Auxiliary Unit 238: Tina Stevens--President, Elizabeth Albright--First Vice President, Roxanne Hepworth--Second Vice President, Jane Bower--Recording/Corresponding Secretary, Adrian Mandernach--Chaplain, Natalie Haber-Barker--Historian and Parliamentarian, Lupe Hinch--Sergeant-At-Arms, and Jeannette Sutton, Nancy Lanier, and Phyllis Lindley--Executive Board Members.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in recognizing the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 238 and its newly elected officers. I also ask that you join me in honoring its membership for their service to their community, its veterans, and their devotion to the ideals of the American Legion.

Madam Speaker, it is with great respect and admiration that I stand before you today to honor Mr. William Beatty, who has been recognized by the Hammond Rotary Club as an outstanding club member who has demonstrated consistent achievement in mentoring young men and women in the community of Hammond and throughout Northwest Indiana. His devotion to teaching young people the importance of community service is to be commended. For his outstanding efforts, he will be presented with the Robert V. Heinze Vocational Service Award by the Hammond Rotary Club on Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

The Hammond Rotary Club was established in 1920, adhering to the principles of Rotary International: ``World Peace through Understanding'' and ``Service above Self.'' These values are vigorously upheld by the Hammond Rotary Club members, who passionately serve their community. Each year, the club recognizes an individual or organization who enthusiastically reaches out to the youth of the community by honoring the recipient with the Robert V. Heinze Vocational Service Award, and this year's recipient is William ``Bill'' Beatty.

Bill Beatty grew up in Hammond, Indiana and is a proud graduate of Hammond High School. He went on to attend Purdue University where he studied mechanical engineering. After college, Bill joined the family business, which at the time was called Beatty Machine, and is now known as Beatty International. In 1975, Bill succeeded his father and became the company's leader. In addition to his amazing career, Bill has been involved with the Hammond Rotary for many years and is recognized for his work with the youth of the community as well as his positive attitude and contagious laugh. He has been the inspiration behind the Hammond Robotics Team, a science and technology competitive team, and has led these students to many State, regional, and national championships. In addition, he has assisted other school districts in forming their own robotics teams. His willingness to encourage and guide the youth of the community is constant and unwavering, and it is because of his efforts that he is the recipient of the 2010 Robert V. Heinze Vocational Service Award.

Bill's dedication to the community and his career is exceeded only by his devotion to his amazing family. Bill and his wonderful wife, Lisa, have two beloved sons, Brian and Jeff.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in congratulating Bill Beatty on receiving the Robert V. Heinze Vocational Service Award, and in honoring the Hammond Rotary for their outstanding contributions to the community of Hammond and all of Northwest Indiana. Their constant commitment to improving the quality of life for countless individuals in Northwest Indiana is truly inspirational, and they are worthy of the highest praise.