Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Carl Taylor, a farmer, soldier, and Colorado Native who lived his life in service of his country and family.

Mr. Taylor was born in Blanca, Colorado on May 16, 1919. Shortly after his twenty-third birthday, Mr. Taylor joined the U.S. Army. He was assigned to Fort Bliss in Company B, 271st Infantry, which eventually allowed him to serve in military campaigns all over the world. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge, as well as other campaigns in Tunisia, Naples, Rhineland, Rome and Southern France.

After the war, Mr. Taylor returned to Colorado where he farmed barley. He and his wife lived in Center, Colorado, where they eventually began to distribute their barley to the Colorado Coors factory. On January 8, 2008, Mr. Taylor and his wife, Mona, retired and moved to the Colorado State Veteran Center at Homelake, Colorado.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Carl Taylor today. Throughout his life he has served as an outstanding soldier and citizen, and his great life achievements deserve to be noted.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ed Ellis for his commitment to the

railroad industry and his investment in Colorado's infrastructure.

Mr. Ellis has provided many Coloradans with railroad service to remote areas that would normally not see such attention. His company, Iowa Pacific Holdings, LLC, specializes in reviving smaller railways that serve less populated areas. One of these lines is the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad in Colorado's San Luis Valley. His dedication to running the scenic train has provided a much needed boost to the area's economy and tourism.

Mr. Ellis has provided a needed service to southern Colorado and a number of other states that benefit from his attention and investment.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand and pay tribute to a man so devoted to local transit and to a small company fighting in a big industry. I have no doubt that under Mr. Ellis' leadership Iowa Pacific Holdings will continue to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. James Bedard, of Alamosa, Colorado, for being selected to the E. (Kika) de la Garza Fellowship program. With this recognition, Dr. Bedard will be able to further represent southern Colorado and Adams State College while continuing his already impressive research.

Dr. Bedard is one of 20 other faculty members in schools across the country selected for the honor. Nominees for the fellowship are chosen based on their educational experience and the relevance of their research to the USDA, specifically to issues facing the Hispanic population. It is one of the most prestigious awards available to Hispanic-American citizens.

The new resources available to Dr. Bedard will allow him to provide a more thorough education to his students and show them opportunities that were more elusive. He will also have greater access to federal agencies that specialize in agricultural problems facing the community.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand and recognize Dr. James Bedard today. Southern Colorado has long benefitted from his work and will now see even greater results with help from the E. (Kika) de la Garza Fellowship. I have no doubt that Dr. Bedard will continue his important agricultural research and thrive as a teacher and community leader.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Jim B. Jones, a man who proudly served his country during WWII.

Drafted into the U.S Army in 1945, Mr. Jones was assigned to G Company as a corporal, and was sent to Hawaii. Upon arrival in Hawaii, Mr. Jones boarded the USS Niagara, to Okinawa. During his time in Okinawa, the United States dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On V-J Day, only a few days after the bombing, Mr. Jones was moved to Korea. Here, he took part in accepting the surrender of the Japanese Army in ceremonies in Seoul.

During the remainder of his time in Korea, Mr. Jones served as a rifleman and a clerk typist in Chengju.

In 1946, when he was twenty years old, Mr. Jones left Korea after spending a year there. He arrived home in time for the first day of hunting season.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the service and character of Jim B. Jones.

Mr. Speaker, It is my honor to rise and pay tribute to one of America's most dedicated and passionate Civil Servants. On July 1st, 2011 Joan Anzelmo will be hanging up her ``flat hat'' after a meritorious 35 year career with the National Park Service.

Joan is a native of Washington, D.C., and graduated from the University of Maryland in 1975 with a Bachelor's Degree in French. She began her Park Service career the next year as the Visitor Services Chief at the National Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. Along the way, Joan has served in Virginia at Great Falls Park, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, and has been tasked by the Park Service to coordinate large scale events including the Bicentennial Celebrations at Yorktown, the 75th Anniversary Celebrations of the National Park Service in Yellowstone, and the 50th Anniversary Celebrations for Grand Teton National Park. Among her accomplishments is her service as National Park Service spokesperson during the 1988 wildfires that swept through Yellowstone, equipping her with nationally recognized crisis communications prowess, and seeing her assigned to the Unified Area Command for the National Park Service in response to the BP Oil Spill in 2010. She has received numerous awards for her service, including the Superior Service and Meritorious Service awards, two of the Department of Interior's most prestigious honors.

Joan wraps up her career overseeing the management of the awe- inspiring red rock canyons and formations of the Colorado National Monument in my district at the far western edge of Colorado, where she serves as Superintendent. With rising visitation, active outreach to the local school population, and a very successful centennial celebration just this year, this is a fitting capstone to an accomplished career, and worthy of our recognition. I wish her well as she returns to Jackson, Wyoming, where she will be in close proximity to her daughter, Jenny, who is herself employed at Grand Teton National Park's public affairs office.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to rise in commendation of John F. Martinez, who has served his country with great honor and dignity during WWII.

Mr. Martinez was born in San Luis, Colorado, in 1917. He worked as a farmer and answered his country's call, enlisting in the US Army at Fort Logan in 1942. There he was assigned to the 358th Infantry Division as squad leader.

The admirable career of Mr. Martinez included campaigns in Normandy, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Because of his courageous service, Mr. Martinez has received ribbons for each campaign, was awarded a Bronze Star, and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in combat.

Mr. Speaker, John F. Martinez embodies the values of hard work, courage and sacrifice that make this country great. His actions and service are worthy of admiration and praise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to businessman, community philanthropist, and courageous WWII and Korean War hero, William R. Thurston.

While studying for a geology degree at Harvard University, Mr. Thurston trained to fly torpedo bombers for the Navy after Pearl Harbor. He was awarded the Air Medal 11 times and the Distinguished Flying Cross three times for his bravery while flying missions in the Pacific and over Japan.

Mr. Thurston put his geology degree to use, working for Sun Oil Co. between WWII and the Korean War, and for an independent oilman in Denver after the Korean War.

Mr. Thurston moved to Durango in 1977 with his wife Beatrice, where he became involved in the local arts scene and was an avid supporter of community theater. Lovers of live-music, the Thurstons founded Four corners Opera in 1980, and also became sponsors of Music in the Mountains, organizers for the Raise the Roof concert series, and participants in many other community endeavors.

Mr. Thurston's community involvement also included efforts to preserve and protect the rich history of the Four Corners area, and educate others about the region and its people. He supported the founding of the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in 1983, with the hope of sharing his great enthusiasm for the area's remarkable past, precious artifacts, and cultural significance with others.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise and pay tribute to the inspiring life of of William R. Thurston. Colorado was fortunate to benefit from his tremendous spirit and lifetime of community service.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I just came back from our work week. I traveled better than 1,500 miles throughout Colorado. It was remarkable to me. At every one of our meetings, we found cities, counties, small businesspeople, talking about the opportunity to be able to get America back to work. But the problem, the obstacle that we are truly facing, it is not the American spirit but it is overregulation coming out of Washington, D.C. Rather than being the steppingstone, it has become a stumbling block, and we are going to be able to get this economy working and moving forward once again if we simply free up that American spirit.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed from H.R. 1380.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 32 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Walter ``Bus'' Bergman, one of Colorado's great student-athletes, coaches and war heroes.

Mr. Bergman, originally of Denver, Colorado, was a three-sport star in high school and college. He even hit the game winning shot to give Denver's North High School the state hoops championship in 1938. At Colorado A&M, now Colorado State university, he lettered in basketball, baseball and football, while also serving as student body president.

During World War II, Mr. Bergman enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He earned the rank of Major and received the Bronze Star for heroism during the Battle of Okinawa.

After graduating from college, he became one of the most successful coaches at Mesa State University. He led multiple teams to conference championships and took pride in preparing every athlete for life after college. The college renamed its athletic fields in his honor and its athletic hall of fame is one of six that has inducted Mr. Bergman.

Family was an extremely important part of Mr. Bergman's life. He was devoted to his wife, Elinor, and their three children. His daughter, Jane Norton, was Lieutenant Governor of Colorado and his other daughter, Judy Black, was an assistant to President Reagan for intergovernmental affairs and has held several national Republican positions.

Mr. Speaker, it is truly an honor to stand and pay tribute to a husband, father, teacher, athlete, war hero and a great American. Colorado is indebted to his work and I am grateful for his devotion to the State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jordan Lestina of Julesburg, Colorado. Mr. Lestina was recently awarded the prestigious Boettcher Scholarship for his efforts both in and out of the classroom.

Mr. Lestina already has substantial leadership experience as the national FFA Organization president, the Future Business Leaders of America president and student body president at Dove Creek High School. They are positions that require an enormous amount of attention, but ones he is able to balance with his duties as captain of the school wrestling team. In the classroom, he helps instruct FFA and agriculture classes, competed in the International Science Fair, and still manages to allot time for his responsibilities as a ranch hand.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Jordan Lestina today. The excellence he has shown in academia, athletics and through community service is admirable. There is no doubt that he will continue his success at the collegiate level, with the help of the Boettcher Foundation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Augustine Abeyta for his service and heroism defending the United States of America. The Colorado native is a decorated veteran who helped defend our country and our values during one of its most trying periods.

Mr. Abeyta enlisted shortly after the outbreak of World War II, in 1944. As an infantryman, he fought in two campaigns in Germany and Ardennes. His bravery in both arenas was quickly recognized and earned him two Bronze Campaign Ribbons. Almost a year after his enlistment, he was wounded in Germany by an enemy combatant on Christmas Day, 1944. He was given the Purple Heart for the injuries he suffered protecting his country.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand and pay tribute to a man who served the United States with such valor. His sacrifices are an inspiration and I am truly grateful for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Janet Rountree for her lifelong commitment to community service and activism. From a young age, Ms. Rountree has played an integral role in young, conservative groups in Colorado, and in a number of state offices. Her devotion to public television, education and curing disease is a truly exemplary trait.

Among many other pursuits, Ms. Rountree currently serves as a precinct committee woman in Arapahoe County, is a member of the Cherry Creek Republican Women's Club, and the Colorado Lincoln Club. Since Ronald Reagan, she has volunteered on every Republican Presidential campaign and several Senate, Congressional and local races. For a decade, she was a legislative aid in state Senator Paul Schauer's office and ran numerous fundraisers for the state Republican Party.

Ms. Rountree is also immensely dedicated to the education and health of children in Colorado. She is a volunteer Trail Guide for the Denver Aquarium, a special events coordinator at Colorado's Museum of Nature and Science and has volunteered at several fundraising events for the state's Children's Hospital. She also has volunteered over 5,000 hours to the Rocky Mountain PBS Television station.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand and pay tribute to Janet Rountree. Her dedication and service to public office in Colorado is admirable. The time she has given to volunteer efforts throughout the state is equally commendable. I am grateful for her commitment to the people of Colorado and her community and have no doubt that her impact will be felt for many years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize George Whitten for his service to the United States of America. He is one of the many men and women who put themselves in harm's way to protect our country and its values.

Mr. Whitten, now a rancher in Saguache, Colorado, enlisted during World War II. He was an exemplary soldier and his efforts contributed to the United States' success in the Pacific Theater. Towards the end of the war, he was one of the soldiers who saw the American flag raised at Iwo Jima. The victories, and struggles, he saw are humbling to contemplate. We owe a debt of gratitude to the servicemen of his generation, and to all who have bravely served our country.

Mr. Speaker, it is truly an honor to stand and pay tribute to George Whitten. His dedication to our country is immense, and for that I am grateful.