Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Cheryl Hale of Saint Joseph, Missouri. Cheryl has enjoyed a successful banking career spanning 28 years and has been chosen to receive the YWCA Women of Excellence Award for Women in the Workplace.

Cheryl truly built her career from the ground up. At the age of 22, Cheryl already had a family to support, yet she had little education and experience. She took the initiative and obtained her General Education Degree. She then took her first job working as a bookkeeper, while she began taking college classes at night. In 1990, Cheryl graduated Summa Cum Laude from Missouri Western State College with a degree in Business Administration.

As a member of the community, Cheryl has been a major advocate of the ``Profit in Education'' program. She has audited books for several Parents and Teachers Association's in the area, and served on the boards of Band Boosters and The Coalition for Achievement. Currently, she serves on the Clarence J. Carpenter Memorial Fund Board and is very active in the Pony Express Chapter of the American Business Women's Association.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Cheryl Hale. Her commitment to education, business, and the community are truly remarkable. I am honored to represent her in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Sonia Culver of Saint Joseph, Missouri. Sonia is the President of Enrichment Therapies, a company that provides speech and developmental therapy services, and she has been chosen to receive the YWCA Women of Excellence Emerging Leader Award.

As a speech-language pathologist and developmental therapist, Sonia has worked closely in the community to aid children and families facing speech and language challenges as well as the problems associated with autism. Sonia contracts with school districts to provide training and case management to speech implementers. She is also the Co-Founder of Connecting the Pieces, a seminar that is designed to help educators and families learn about Autism Spectrum disorders. Sonia is also on the Regional Interagency Coordinating Council for First Steps and is the author of a book series to be published in 2007, focusing on eliciting speech and language from children.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Sonia Culver. Her commitment to speech therapies and enhancing the quality of life for children and families is highly appreciated. I am honored to represent her in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Susan Dudley of Saint Joseph, Missouri. For the past 11 years she has served as the executive secretary to the president of Commerce Bank and she has been chosen to receive the YWCA Women of Excellence Award for Women in Support Services.

As the executive secretary to the president, Susan is often looked to for guidance and direction. She is considered to be an outstanding member of the local Commerce Bank, as a result of her commitment to the company, staff, customers, and community. She is always positive and helpful, never refusing any task asked of her. In the community, she delivers ``Meals on Wheels'' through Inter-Serv. She also serves as a board member at Vatterott College and is a past president of her P.E.O. Chapter.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Susan Dudley. She serves as an inspiration to the community and sets the mark of excellence that encourages others. I am honored to represent her in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Dr. Norma Bagnall of Saint Joseph, MO. Dr. Bagnall retired from teaching in 1996, she has served the community ever since and has been chosen to receive the YWCA Women of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Bagnall came to Missouri after obtaining a bachelors, masters, and doctorate degree from Texas A&M University. She joined the staff of Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph, MO, in the early 1980's as an assistant professor of English and later gained a full professorship. She retired from Missouri Western in 1996 and began a long list of service to the community.

Norma has been a champion of literacy in the community. She has led the Runcie Club book study group for the past 6 years, and established the Hayes Bagnall Literacy Scholarship at Missouri Western and the Writer's Workshop at the Joyce Raye Patterson Senior Center. Then, during the summer of 2005, she developed a community class to teach conversational Spanish. That program became so successful that it had to be adopted by Inter-Serv, in order to accommodate the 110 students and additional 115 people on a waiting list.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Dr. Norma Bagnall. In nearly three decades in northwest Missouri, Norma has come to be one of the most outstanding members of our community. I am honored to represent her in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Nathanial Caleb Horn, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 204, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Nathan has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Nathan has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Nathanial Caleb Horn for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Trent Kendall German a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 9, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Trent has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Trent has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Trent Kendall German for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Samuel Gilbert Oas a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 9, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Samuel has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Samuel has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Samuel Gilbert Oas for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Drew Kelly, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities

of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Drew has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Drew has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Drew Kelly for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize LTC Richard E. Nichols, Jr. The Lieutenant Colonel is retiring from the United States Army after 24 years of distinguished service.

Lieutenant Colonel Nichols spent his early years growing up in the heartland of Kansas and Missouri. While attending Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, Missouri, he made the decision to serve his country in the United States Army and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 1982. Upon graduating from Missouri Western State College in 1983 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, Lieutenant Colonel Nichols served in the Kansas Army National Guard as the Reconnaissance and Survey Platoon Leader for the 2nd/130th Field Artillery Battalion in Hiawatha, Kansas.

Lieutenant Colonel Nichols went on to serve in various posts over the next 24 years. During his service he was assigned to C Battery, 1/76th Field Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division, in Bamberg, Germany, and as the commander of B Battery, 6th Field Artillery, which deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm from 1989 to 1991. In these roles and under various posts in Kansas, Alabama, and Virginia, Lieutenant Colonel Nichols has earned numerous awards and decorations. Among these awards are the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal with service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Saudi Arabia Liberation of Kuwait Service Medal, the Emirate of Kuwait Liberation of Kuwait Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing LTC Richard E. Nichols, Jr., an outstanding leader in the United States Army. His years of service and dedication in protecting the freedom of the United States has been an inspiration to many. I commend him for his many years of service and I am honored to represent him and his family in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Senate Concurrent Resolution 60, a resolution sponsored by my friend Senator Talent, and agreed to by this body yesterday, that designates the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City as America's National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. It was my pleasure to work with Chairman Pombo and the Resources Committee to bring this important resolution to the floor, and I thank the Chairman for his help and friendship.

Those of us familiar with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum already think of it as America's museum, but the passage of this resolution makes that distinction official.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990, and for its first four years of existence operated out of a one room office in the historic 18th and Vine District of Kansas City. Today it is a 10,000 square foot Museum, filled with historic memorabilia, sculptures, photographs, and other exhibits that pay tribute to some of baseball's greatest pioneers.

It is fitting that the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is in Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. Speaker, because the Negro Leagues were officially organized in Kansas City during a meeting in 1920. Kansas City was also the home of the Negro Leagues' longest-running franchise--the Kansas City Monarchs--which sent more Negro Leagues players to Major League Baseball than any other Negro Leagues franchise.

From 1920 until the closure of the last teams in the early 1960s, countless greats excelled at America's pastime in the Negro Leagues, including Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, James ``Cool Papa'' Bell, Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, and of course Mr. Speaker, John Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil.

Mr. O'Neil is the current Chairman of the Board of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and continues to work tirelessly at age 94. He has enjoyed an unparalleled career as a player, scout, manager, coach, and ambassador for baseball since 1937, and Buck O'Neil also selflessly interrupted his stellar professional baseball career to serve our country during World War II in the United States Navy.

It is ironic that this resolution came before the House for consideration a few days before Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown, New York. Several Negro Leagues players will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend, but Buck O'Neil is tragically not among them. Mr. Speaker, I can think of no one more qualified for induction into the Hall of Fame than Buck O'Neil, but sadly that will not happen this weekend.

So, we must console ourselves in the knowledge that Buck O'Neil's passion--the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum--is granted official recognition by our nation with yesterday's passage of this concurrent resolution. I thank my colleagues for supporting this important measure, and I urge them to come to Kansas City and visit America's National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Nolan K. Stark, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 41, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Nolan has been very active with his troop, participating in many Scout activities. Over the many years Nolan has been involved with Scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Nolan K. Stark for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jeffrey Aaron Wulff, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 395, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Jeffery has been very active with his troop, participating in many Scout activities. Over the many years Jeffery has been involved with Scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jeffery Aaron Wulff for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Sean Alexander Burns-Sprung a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 395, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Sean has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Sean has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Sean Alexander Burns-Sprung for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Jacob Lee Buehler, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 395, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Jacob has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Jacob has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Jacob Lee Buehler for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Anthony Charles Chandler, a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 270, and in earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.

Anthony has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Anthony has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Anthony Charles Chandler for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.