Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the Ladywood Blazers, Michigan High Athletic Association Division II Softball Champions, from my hometown of Livonia upon winning their first state title.

Led by Head Coach Scott Combs, the Blazers won the Central Division of the Catholic High School League and went on to defeat Farmington Hills Mercy to earn the CHSL A-B Division championship.

Ladywood came out swinging in their opening round of district play, overpowering Livonia Clarenceville, 17-0. The Blazers eliminated Dearborn Divine Child, 4-0, in the District 58 final and advanced to regional competition. First round opponent Detroit Kettering forfeited but the down time did not affect the Blazers as they erased Center Line, 13-0 and claimed the Region 15 title. Advancing to quarterfinal action, Ladywood defeated St. Clair, 4-2 and then tamed the Wildcats of Wayland Union by an identical 4-2 score in the semi-final round to earn a berth in the state final.

The Blazers had been in the state final in 2009, losing a heartbreaker to Niles. It was a long ride home from Battle Creek as runners-up. This time Ladywood wouldn't be denied as they shutout Saginaw Swan Valley, 4-0 and hoisted the Division II State Championship Softball trophy on June 16, 2012 to close out a stellar 39-3 season.

Mr. Speaker, the Ladywood Blazers and Head Coach Scott Combs, having compiled an impressive 170-31 record over the last 5 years, deserve to be recognized for their determination, achievement, and spirit. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Ladywood Blazers for obtaining this spectacular title and honoring their devotion to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge the distinguished career of Donna McEachern, Councilwoman representing the City of Wayne, Michigan as she retires after 25 years of dedicated service.

After moving to Wayne in 1962, Donna graduated from the University of Michigan in 1964. Her devotion to her community was quickly apparent as she became secretary of Wayne Cooperative Nursery from 1966 1967. During her storied career in public service, Donna has dutifully served the citizens of the Wayne area as Public Relations Liaison for the Huron Valley Girl Scouts, Wayne Jaycee Auxiliary President, City of Wayne representative to the Detroit-Wayne County Mental Health Board, President for the West Suburban Area Council of Chambers. She was also the director of the Wayne Chamber of Commerce for 28 years.

Donna McEachern has been involved in her community in an incredible number of ways. She shared her time as a Metric Program worker in the Wayne-Westland School District, worked with the Roosevelt Scouts, and spent six years as a Religious Education Teacher at St. Mary's of Wayne. Donna lent her considerable skills to Soroptimist International Wayne-Westland, Wayne Business and Professional Women, Wayne Rotary and the Western Wayne County YWCA and many other worthy organizations.

Donna has been acknowledged as Wayne Outstanding Jaycette, District 30 Speakup Winner, Wayne Business and Professional Woman of the Year, Wayne-Westland WYCA Woman of Achievement and was named by the Wayne County Commission as a ``Woman of Distinction''. Her dedicated support of cultural arts is a living legacy in the Donna M. McEachem Youth Theater Scholarship established in 2004.

Mr. Speaker, during her distinguished career, Councilwoman McEachern has bettered the lives of countless Michiganders. As she embarks upon the next chapter of her life with Barry, her beloved husband of 51 years, her adored children Donna and Barry II, and her treasured grandchildren Colleen, Ian and Meredith, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding her legendary leadership, and in thanking her for her unfaltering service to our community and our country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life of Arthur Shufflebarger and to mourn him upon his passing at the age of 60.

Born on May 3, 1952, Arthur graduated in 1970 from Atchison High School in Atchison, Kansas. He attended Benedictine College from 1970 until 1972 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kansas State University in 1974. In 1977, Arthur received a Masters of Environmental Health Science from the University of Kansas where he earned a Masters in Public Administration in 1983.

After serving as City Manager in Osawatomie, Kansas, Arthur became Village Manager of Milford, Michigan in 1990 where he served until his sudden passing. Mr. Shufflebarger was an active director in the Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Michigan Municipal League, a Rotarian and shared his time and talent with many other professional and civic groups.

A member of Milford United Methodist Church, Arthur was known as a calm, gentle and caring man. He possessed an amiable sense of humor. His dedication to Milford will forever be remembered. Arthur loved his community and his community loved him

Regrettably, on June 11, 2012, Arthur Shufflebarger passed from this earthly world to his eternal reward. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kelsey and his daughters Kayla Marie and Ieasha Nicole. An honorable man, Arthur will be sorely missed. Mr. Speaker, Arthur will be long remembered as a compassionate father, a dedicated husband, a leader, and a friend. Arthur was a man who deeply treasured his family, friends, community and his country. Today, as we bid Arthur farewell, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and honoring his unwavering patriotism and legendary service to our country and our community.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life of William Edward Saxton and to mourn him upon his passing at the age of 86.

Born in Hazel Park, Michigan on March 14, 1926 to Dean and Margaret Saxton, Bill graduated from Plymouth High School, where he met his future wife Valerie, in 1944. He served honorably in the U.S. Navy during World War II and went on to study business management and engineering at the University of Michigan, graduating in the late 1940's. Bill and Valerie married in the summer of 1947. Taking the reins from his father, Bill became the owner and operator of Saxton's Garden Center, an 83-year-old family business in Plymouth, Michigan. A historical cornerstone of Plymouth's pedestrian friendly downtown located at Ann Arbor Trail and Penniman, the former Saxton's Feed Company once served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Under Bill's knowledgeable and forthright leadership, Saxton's Feed Company transitioned from farm-supply and livestock feed to Saxton's Garden Center as farms gave way to subdivisions. Bill became active in the Plymouth Community and the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce. Saxton's is a perennial sponsor of the Plymouth Ice Festival, Art in the Park and many other downtown events. Kellogg Park borders Saxton's just to the west and has become a focal point of the community thanks to the generosity of patrons like Bill Saxton.

Sadly, on June 4, 2012, Bill succumbed to his second battle with cancer and passed from this earthly world to his eternal reward. He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 65 years, Valerie and his precious children Alan, Craig and Christopher. Reuniting in eternity with his adored daughter Karin, Bill will long be remembered by grandchildren NicheIle, Lauren, Christopher and Sarah. He leaves a legacy in his cherished great grandchild Connor and will be sorely missed by his treasured siblings Dean and Margaret.

Mr. Speaker, William Saxton will be long remembered as a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, veteran, legendary businessman, philanthropist, community leader and above all as a friend. Bill was a man who deeply treasured his family, friends, community and his country. Today, as we bid Bill Saxton farewell, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and honoring his unwavering patriotism and legendary service to our community and our country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge American Plastic Toys Incorporated, upon its 50th anniversary. American Plastic Toys is headquartered in Walled Lake, Michigan and operates a total of three facilities in Michigan and Mississippi. As a genuine model of American manufacturing, the company has proudly manufactured safe toys in America since 1962.

American Plastic Toys assembles 100% of the toys in their more than 125 item product line in the United States. It is worth noting less than 4% of their toy value content is imported and the majority of this minuscule percentage are sound components and fasteners, none of which are painted. Proudly, American Plastic Toys molds most of the components in their products in their own plants or purchases them from U.S. companies.

Dedicated to providing youngsters with safe toys and furniture for role play, riding and preschool learning along with summer and winter fun, American Plastic Toys mandates every product be tested by at least one independent U.S. safety-testing lab. They are focused on ensuring their toys comply with every applicable safety standard.

The products manufactured by American Plastic Toys are sold by most major North American mass merchants. Their toys are also available in Central and South America and Australia. No doubt, American Plastic Toys has encouraged the imagination of many a child.

Mr. Speaker, for 50 years American Plastic Toys Incorporated has consistently been committed to a truly American product with a legacy of excellence, ingenuity, and the irrepressible spirit of the American entrepreneur. Today, as the company celebrates this enormous milestone, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating American Plastic Toys and recognizing their years of loyal service to our community and country.

I move to strike the last word.

I rise in support of the bipartisan Peters-McCotter- Michaud-LaTourette amendment to fully fund the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center.

Common sense is afoot. I know the novelty is frightening to many in this Chamber. However, let us start by examining some of the premises behind this necessary amendment.

First, despite what many claim, we do not live in a period of time where we have free trade. We live in a period of time of negotiated trade; and, as such, trade must be reciprocal, not suicidal.

The United States, throughout our lifetimes, has been the economic engine of the world. It has remained so because we are a free people, free to engage in contracts, free to engage in research and development, free to innovate, free to manufacture, free to show the world what we can achieve economically as well as politically.

What this amendment will do is something that is a long time coming. It is to treat other nations' unfair trade practices as a comprehensive problem. No more Whack a Mole, no more pretending the problem doesn't exist. What we need to do is, quite simply, take a ``root and branch'' approach to those mercantilist countries whose own oppression leads to the lack of necessary freedom for their people to be able to achieve and compete with the United States.

A refusal to support this amendment simply shows that we will continue to go on the same old tired path of watching the best workers and the best entrepreneurs in the world be cheated out of their pursuit of prosperity, and us all be cheated out of a healthier, more vibrant economy.

I urge my colleagues to embrace this bipartisanship, this common sense, so that, together, we can strike a blow for free and fair trade and protect American jobs by allowing for free and fair competition amongst nations.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life of Bridget Phillips and mourn her upon her passing at the age of 79.

Born on December 19, 1932, Bridget Phillips grew to be a woman loved and revered by all who knew her. Mrs. Phillips was the proud matriarch of a three generation Michigan based business. She was gifted with a gracious, thoughtful and philanthropic spirit, generously dedicated to local organizations, such as St. Mary's Hospital, Madonna University, Angela Hospice and The Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund.

Regrettably, on April 17, 2012, Bridget Phillips passed from this earthly world to her eternal reward. She is survived by her beloved husband of 57 years, William and her cherished children Lynn, Donna, Lisa, Terry, Scott, Bob, Amy and Sean. She will be long remembered by her much-loved siblings Bill, Derm, Mary, Fran and Terry. She leaves a precious legacy in her grandchildren Sarah, Erin, Meghan, Ben, Lauren, Max, Caleb, Haley, Laine, Jarred, Molly, Amy, Andy, Matt, Alia, Zane, Jack, Will, Luke and Owen. An amiably benevolent woman, Bridget will be sorely missed.

Mr. Speaker, Bridget Phillips is remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, adored grandmother, treasured sister, compassionate neighbor, and a valued friend. Bridget was a true lady who deeply treasured her family, friends, community and her country. Today, as we bid Bridget farewell, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning her passing and honoring her dedicated commitment to her family, our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life of Carol Pastor and mourn her upon her passing at the age of 75.

Born on September 2, 1936, Carol Pastor dedicated her life to her family and was the proud matriarch of a three generation Michigan based construction business, George H. Pastor and Sons.

Regrettably, on March 4, 2012, Carol Pastor passed from this earthly world to her eternal reward. She was preceded to eternity by her beloved husband of 54 years, Richard and her treasured son, Keith. Mrs. Pastor is survived by her cherished children, Craig, Mahala, John, Tim, and Michelle and will be long remembered by her sister, Barbara and her brother, Thomas. She leaves a precious legacy of 12 grandchildren. A thoughtful and benevolent woman, Carol will be sorely missed.

Mr. Speaker, Carol Pastor is remembered as a loving mother, a devoted wife, adored matriarch, compassionate leader, and a valued friend. Carol was a true lady who deeply treasured her family, friends, community and her country. Today, as we bid Carol Pastor farewell, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning her passing and honoring her dedicated commitment to her family, our country and community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to observe the loss of my friend, Andrew Breitbart, at the age of 43.

In endeavoring to eulogize anyone, there is truly no more eloquent testament than their family. To his wife, Susie, and their four beautiful children, our prayers, our thoughts, and our acts are with you.

Professionally, in Andrew's prodigious genius that was his life's work, he tirelessly fought the good fight and, in the end, gave his all with every fiber of his soul to serve his fellow human beings and his country.

Numbed with shock and loss at the word of his passing, and in reflecting upon the pleasure of his company, which I and so many others shared, I do find that I am at a loss for words and will, instead, rely upon those of the poet, Rupert Brooke:

Now, God be thanked Who has matched us with His hour

And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping,

With hand made sure, clear eye, and sharpened power,

To turn, as swimmers into cleanness leaping,

Glad from a world grown old and cold and weary,

Leave the sick hearts that honour could not move,

And half-men, and their dirty songs and dreary,

And all the little emptiness of love!

Oh! we, who have known shame, we have found release there,

Where there is no ill, no grief, but sleep has mending,

Naught broken save this body, lost but breath;

Nothing to shake the laughing heart's long peace there

But only agony, and that has ending;

And the worst friend and enemy is but Death.

Good-bye and God bless, brother Andrew. You are loved and mourned and ever remembered. You never wasted a day of our finite time called life.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I rise in support of the rule and the underlying bill, a bill which is a piece of bipartisan legislation that was introduced not to serve mere partisans but to serve real people, not to promote one's party but to promote everyone's prosperity.

I say this in a true spirit of inclusion as someone who comes from a manufacturing State, as one whose auto companies stared into the abyss of potential bankruptcy. It was a bipartisan coalition that helped to save it and a policy that was put forward by a Republican President named Bush and continued by a Democratic President named Obama.

Today, we must come together in a similar bipartisan fashion, for there is a federally dictated drought in the San Joaquin Valley, one that devastates farmers and all of our fellow Americans who live and who, if they can, work there.

To me, as someone who has watched and lived with my constituents through such an experience, I see no choice but for the Federal Government to rectify its legislatively imposed drought and to allow the people of the San Joaquin Valley the same rights that we have to pursue our prosperity and continue to keep the fruits of our labor without the heavy hand of government coming in and making it more difficult for us to pursue and to create a better life for ourselves and for our children.

Finally, on a note, I know that these are very contentious times, and one of the underlying issues regarding this bill is the Endangered Species Act. But whether you are wholeheartedly for the Endangered Species Act or wholeheartedly opposed, can we agree on one thing? The Endangered Species Act exists to preserve wildlife, not to impoverish human life.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commend my alma mater, Detroit Catholic Central High School, for winning Michigan's 2012 Division I State Wrestling Championship. It is the team's ninth State wrestling championship.

After winning the Catholic High School League title, CC dominated the district and regional meets; and, in the finals, defeated Oxford to cap a 25 3 0 season.

Coach Mitch Hancock's team not only claimed their second title in 3 years, they are sending 10 Shamrock wrestlers to the individual State finals. Truly, the toil and devotion of every CC teammate is inspiring and well reflects upon the entire Catholic Central family, which celebrates these student-athletes' achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Coach Hancock's Catholic Central Shamrocks for having earned the 2012 State wrestling title and for exemplifying the Basilian Fathers' teachings of goodness, discipline, and knowledge.

Live and die for CC High.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge David Spellich upon his retirement after 14 years of service with the Livonia Public Schools.

After graduating from Belleville High School in 1970, Dave attended Eastern Michigan University. As often happens, he left EMU to pursue gainful employment. In 1987, Dave returned to Henry Ford Community College where he continued his education, transferring to Eastern Michigan to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in 1990.

Dave began his career as an educator by becoming an instructor in Livonia's Adult Education curriculum and went on to teach in Ferndale, Michigan's alternative education program. He encouraged his students, most of whom had a difficult path to education, to become more than they were. He organized a student prepared annual Thanksgiving Day dinner to be shared with their families and educators.

In 1998, Dave became a Social Studies instructor at Livonia Stevenson High School. He took on the roles of sophomore class sponsor and Chair of the Social Studies Department where he launched the AP Government program in the Livonia Public Schools. Dave then moved to Franklin High School in 2008, becoming the Student Activities Director. While serving in this capacity, he developed the freshman orientation/mentoring program. Returning to teach AP Government Stevenson High School in 2010, Mr. Spellich encouraged his students to contact elected officials to better understand the process of governing and legislation.

Mr. Speaker, David Spellich has faithfully served the students of Livonia, Michigan. As he enters the next phase of his life with Linda, his beloved wife of 38 years and his son Jason, perhaps he will continue to avidly travel beyond the 50 states of this great Nation, all of which he has visited. He leaves behind a legacy of dedication, integrity, and excellence. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating David Spellich upon his retirement and recognizing his years of loyal service to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Marycrest Manor Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, upon its 50th anniversary. Marycrest Manor stands in my hometown of Livonia, Michigan and is the result of the compassionate dream rooted in the Polish-Catholic community of the 1940's Detroit area and brought to fruition through the efforts of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph.

St. Mary's Home, the initial 25 bed facility, was located at 215 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit. Recognizing the need for more space, the Franciscan Sisters looked to Livonia and petitioned Cardinal Edward Mooney for assistance in their charitable endeavor. Cardinal Mooney purchased and donated 10 acres of land on what is now Middlebelt Road just north of Five Mile Road.

Sadly, Cardinal Mooney passed away in 1958. His successor, Archbishop John Dearden selected the name Marycrest Manor. Celebrated during the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, the state of the art 55 bed facility was dedicated on September 12, 1962. After being granted licensure as an extended care facility, Marycrest Manor is now one of the most recognized in the State of Michigan.

Seeking to meet the needs of the communities they serve, Marycrest Manor recently extended their ministry by opening a 60 unit facility specifically designed for self-sufficient senior citizens who seek a secure faith-based lifestyle. Plans are being made to open an assisted living facility, thus making Marycrest Manor a continuum of care campus.

Mr. Speaker, for 50 years Marycrest Manor has stood as a tribute to the benevolent work

of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. As the facility celebrates this enormous milestone, it personifies a legacy of excellence, ingenuity and the empathetic spirit of the Franciscan Sisters and the Livonia community. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Marycrest Manor and recognizing their years of loyal service to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, odds and sods for brunch this morning.

We have recently seen an ad that played during the Super Bowl that is referred to as the halftime ad. It has caused much discussion in this country, much of it focusing on the political dimension of the attempt to sell cars that were made in my hometown of Detroit.

First I must admit that I disagree with the premise of the ad, that it is halftime in America. For logically, we would then have to conclude that the free Republic in which we inhabit will expire before its 500th birthday. I refuse to concede that a revolutionary experiment in human freedom has any timeline whatsoever. But what I do wholeheartedly concur with is the fact that American manufacturing, especially our auto industry, is starting to revive. As it does, it will continue to form a critical engine of any economic recovery we have and will form the basis of ensuring that our American economy leads the world. Yet despite this nascent recovery, we must continue to watch the horizon for any dangers that may loom to our industrial base here at home.

One of these is the attempt of our strong ally Japan to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership initiative. Currently the United States, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam are trying to ensure the free flow of goods, including automobiles, amongst our Nations. Japan wishes to enter into this partnership which was formed. Unfortunately, the time is not right. For Japan, like Communist China, continues to manipulate currency, continues to put up nontariff trade-entry barriers, and until Japan has restructured and reformed itself, their entry into this organization, to this initiative can only slow the progress and have a detrimental impact upon our manufacturing base.

I would encourage all to understand the importance--not just to those of us who were born and bred in what was once known as the arsenal of democracy--to understand the importance of manufacturing. I ask this administration and I ask all those involved in this initiative to ask Japan to do the right thing before they join us at the table and embark upon a greater period of prosperity for our nations.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to point out, as I did when the ObamaCare legislation on health care was passed: So this is what change looks like.

As an Irish Catholic, I remind my co-religionists and all Americans that no government can come between you and your conscience and the central tenets of your creed. What we are seeing now is the unfortunate fruits of the logical extension of the cesspool of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and his civil religion whereby your true religion was tolerated as long as it was subservient to the state. That is not what this Nation is about. It is a clear violation of your constitutional right to freely exercise your religion.

There is no debate. There is nothing to be worked out. This odious regulation must be withdrawn, lest this administration or those who support it go back on their word to protect and defend your rights under that said Constitution, and, as a practical matter, belie the left's myth that they will not enforce their morality on you.

Mr. Speaker, today, February 3, is the American Heart Association's National Wear Red Day, which encourages people to help raise awareness and join the fight against heart disease, which is the leading killer of women.

Now, I understand most men don't own a red suit unless, of course, you were keyboardist in an eighties hair band. But we all have shirts; we all have ties, accessories, and lapels by which we can show our support and ``Go Red for Women.''

As sons, husbands, fathers, and friends, we can do no less for the women we owe everything, for the women we love, for the women whose loss would empty our hearts.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage every American, Go Red.