Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life of Don Massey and to mourn him upon his passing at the age of 83.

Born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee on April 28, 1928 to Samuel Henry and Ila Marie Massey, Don became enamored of the automobile business when, at the age of 14, he took a summer job as a porter at a Jacksonville, Florida Dodge dealership. Ten years later Don, now married to his beloved Joyce, had moved to Michigan with $300.00 and a love of cars. Employed at a used Desoto/Plymouth dealership in Wayne, this natural salesman moved on to Paul McGlone Chevrolet where he advanced to the position of General Manager within two years. Under his direction, McGlone became the number one Chevrolet dealership in the world from 1958 until 1960.

Deteriorating health and a stern warning from his doctor dictated Don make drastic changes to his heavy workload and, in 1960, he felt he had no choice but to retire. After several months, Mr. Massey felt well enough to begin a new venture and opened a very successful used car lot of his own in 1961. Five years later, Don again retired, selling the lot, and moved to Plymouth, Michigan. Boredom quickly set in and Don bought ``a little store that sold a couple hundred Oldsmobiles and fifty-sixty Cadillacs a year.'' He intended to work half days. A New Year's Day 1967 blizzard dropped several feet of snow and while digging out to inventory his stock, the indomitable Don sold seven cars. In a short time Don Massey Cadillac would become the top Cadillac dealer in the world, a title it would hold consistently.

A legendary salesman, Don believed in acquainting himself with his customers. His friendly approach brought him many a friend and sold many a car. In 1981, Don Massey acquired the second of his many dealerships when he purchased Capitol Cadillac located in Lansing, Michigan. Over the next decade he expanded his successful Southern charm to Colorado, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky, California and Texas. When General Motors launched its Saturn brand, Massey opened the first of three Saturn dealerships in the Detroit area in 1990. Although he sold every brand under the General Motors umbrella, Don Massey became known as ``The Cadillac King''.

Don Massey believed in his employees and promoted from within. His distinctive Southern drawl was recognizable in radio commercials for his dealerships. While he was never one to micromanage his businesses, he always left an imprint of his unassuming, personable style, and was an active member of his community. He co-sponsored the Plymouth Ice Sculpture contest, held an open barbecue on the 4th of July and donated the lights to the Plymouth baseball park bearing his name. He wanted his wife Joyce to be remembered. Massey built a wing on the Colorado hospital she was treated in after a debilitating car accident and named it after her. Don partnered with the St. Joseph Mercy Health System to establish the Joyce M. Massey Traumatic Brain Injury Day Treatment Center. A beautiful garden at Madonna University, in my hometown of Livonia, also bears the late Joyce Massey's name.

As Don was nearing 70, offers to buy the colossal Massey conglomerate began. In 1998, he sold his three Saturn dealerships to General Motors. The next year GM bought his Ann Arbor Cadillac showroom but an offer to purchase the rest of the Massey holdings was rejected. Don sold his portfolio of sixteen dealerships in 2002 but he remained the voice of the dealership which still bears his name. One enduring piece of advice he shared, ``Keep both feet firmly on the ground and don't overextend yourself--socially or financially.''

Sadly, on June 10, 2011, Don passed from this earthly world to his eternal reward. Reuniting in eternity with his beloved wife Joyce, daughter Joellen and brothers Tom and Sam Henry, Don is survived by his children Donald Jr. and Brenda, brother Bobby and sister Ruth.

Mr. Speaker, Don Massey will be long remembered as a dedicated husband, legendary businessman, philanthropist, community leader and above all as a friend. Don was a man who deeply treasured his family, friends, community and his country. Today, as we bid Don Massey 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 Mr. Leonard Rezmierski upon his retirement after 46 years of service with Northville Public Schools and having served the last 20 years as Superintendent.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University in 1965, Leonard Rezmierski went on, in 1969, to earn a Master of Arts majoring in Special Education with a minor in Administration at the University of Michigan. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy, majoring in Education and Anthropology, at the University of Michigan in 1982.

Founder of the Galileo Leadership Training Program, Dr. Rezmierski served as the Tri-County Alliance President and as the Michigan Association of School Administrators Region 9 President during the 2003/2004 school year. He held the position of MASA Region 9 Vice President in the prior year and during the 2006/2007 school year he was chosen as President Elect while also being an active member and Past President of the Wayne County School Superintendents' Association. Dedicating considerable time and effort to the Council for Exceptional Children at the state, national and international levels, Leonard has also devoted himself to the Wayne County and the Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education.

Dr. Leonard Rezmierski has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Northville Parent-Teacher Organization Service Achievement Award, the Marvin E. Beekman Administrator of the Year Award, the Susan Phillips Gorin Award for Outstanding Service to University Students and the TASH (The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps) Award for Leadership in Non-Adversive Programming for Handicapped Students.

Active in his community as a member and Past President of the Northville Rotary and as a member of First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, Leonard has volunteered as a Boy Scout Leader, a youth hockey and Little League Baseball coach, and with Meals for the Homeless Program. Perhaps, the most poignant recognition of his devotion to educational distinction, innovation and leadership in academics, athletics, the arts and community service is the establishment of the Dr. Leonard Rezmierski Fund for Excellence. This enduring legacy will stand as confirmation of Leonard Rezmierski's idea of valuing the unique contributions of every child and adult to their school community. His perception of educational experience transcending classroom walls and reaching beyond traditional academics innovatively prepares students to work, live and succeed in our ever more global society.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Leonard Rezmierski has faithfully served the students and citizens of Northville, Michigan. As he enters the next phase of his life with his beloved wife Virginia, his daughter Sara and his son Ryan, he leaves behind a legacy of dedication, integrity, and excellence. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Leonard Rezmierski upon his retirement and recognizing his years of loyal service to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge St. Raphael Catholic School, located in Garden City, Michigan, as they celebrate 75 years of commitment to the education of the youth of our community and our country.

Established in 1936 upon land generously donated by Ms. Florence Cowperthwithe, the meeting hall which became the first school was built using primarily donated materials, contributions and volunteer labor. The original windows were donated by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent. Undoubtedly, this demonstrates a literal truth; it is the people who build a parish.

Father Anthony Kirchner, the second pastor of the fledging St. Raphael the Archangel parish, led the effort to convert the hall into a four-room school. Again, the labor and materials used were largely donated. The IHM sisters could no longer stay on and the Sisters of St. Francis agreed to take on responsibility for the school. They have remained diligent in their commitment. As the parish and the community grew, additional school buildings were built in 1950 and 1956. In its 75-year history, St. Raphael's School has grown from a converted hall serving a handful of students to a campus with a capacity of 500.

Mr. Speaker, for 75 years St. Raphael School has provided a Catholic education for students ranging from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the students, parents, faculty and alumni of St. Raphael Catholic and in recognizing their years

growing in friendship, knowledge and God's spirit as part of our community and our country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Sister Mary Ann Smith, President/Principal of Ladywood High School, as she receives the Helen Kern Morris Award from the Father Kern Foundation and Most Holy Trinity Church, located in Southwest Detroit. Each year the Helen Kern Morris Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a deep commitment in the Catholic faith and dedication in serving her community and the needs of the less fortunate.

Born in Bronson, Michigan, Sister Mary Ann is the third of four children born to Leo and Martha Smith. She completed her elementary education in Bronson at St. Mary's Assumption and responded to God's calling to enter the Aspirancy of the Felician Sisters. After attending both the Felician Academy in Detroit and Livonia's Ladywood High School, Sister

Mary Ann entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice, Felician Sisters. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music/Education from Madonna University in 1972 and went on to Wayne State University where she earned a Masters in Music/Education in 1980. Impressively in 1987, Sister Mary Ann received a Master's Degree in Educational Administration at the University of Dayton. From the State of Michigan she obtained Administrative Certification K-12 Building Level Leadership Improvement, a Secondary Certificate in Music-K-12 and in Music 9-12.

Sister Mary Ann Smith has served on numerous Boards and Committees in the academic community, is a member of the Livonia Chamber of Commerce and is a choir member and cantor at St. Monica Parish. She taught school in Detroit, Hamtramck, Wyandotte, Bay City and Livonia and served as Principal at St. Florian High School in Hamtramck before becoming Principal/President of Ladywood High School in my hometown of Livonia.

Mr. Speaker, Sister Mary Ann Smith has bettered the lives of countless students. Celebrating more than 40 years in Catholic Education, Sister Mary Ann Smith has been a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice for 44 years. As she receives this much deserved award for her tireless efforts on the behalf of the youth of our metropolitan area, 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 recognize the Joint Baltic American National Committee, an organization founded 50 years ago to advocate for democracy in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and to foster a strong relationship between those countries and the United States.

Founded at the height of the Cold War on April 27, 1961, the Joint Baltic American National Committee has been a powerful advocate for democracy and independence for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. After years of oppression and occupation by the Communist regime in the Soviet Union, the Baltic countries finally restored their sovereignty and regained independence in the early 1990s. Since that time, the Committee has worked to strengthen the relationship between those nations and the United States and to scrutinize Russian policy towards its neighbors in Eastern Europe.

Importantly, the Joint Baltic American National Committee was and continues to be a strong proponent of membership for Eastern European nations into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU). When the Baltic countries became members of both organizations in 2004, the Committee focused more of its attention on promoting democracy in Belarus, where Alexander Lukashenko continues to cling to power and oppress his people. Moreover, because of Russia's use of its energy resources as a weapon against its neighbors and the violation of Georgian sovereignty by the Russian military, the Committee has reinforced its work in support of a resilient security partnership between the countries of Eastern Europe and the United States. Today, the Committee continues to advocate for a strong U.S. role in the region, to promote democracy and human rights worldwide, and to bear witness to the legacy of communism.

Mr. Speaker, the Joint Baltic American National Committee has served the Baltic countries and their citizens with distinction. As we

congratulate the Committee on reaching its 50th year in existence, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering and honoring its work on behalf of the free people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the American citizens of Baltic heritage, and democracy for all of those still yearning to be free.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life of Paul Scupholm and mourn him upon his passing at the age of 76.

Born on January 8, 1935, Paul Scupholm attended Detroit Cooley High School and graduated in 1953. Paul served as a Congressional Aide to Representative Jack McDonald from 1967 through 1973, was Executive Director of Friends of Detroit Public Library and a board member of the Redford Library. He was the founder of the Redford Soccer Club. Paul Scupholm spent many hours making wooden toys to be donated to several children's hospitals.

Regrettably, on April 30, 2011, Paul Scupholm passed from this earthly world to his eternal reward. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lois, and his children, Brad, Jeff, Greg and Jennifer. A devoted brother to sister Rosemary, Paul leaves a legacy in his grandchildren Lindsey, Stephanie, Vicki, Barbara, Beth, Mackenzie, Lexi, Trevor, Tessa, Brady, Olivia, Kaden and Ava. A courageous and honorable man, Paul will be sorely missed.

Mr. Speaker, Paul Scupholm is remembered as a dedicated husband, a compassionate father, devoted brother, concerned leader and a friend. Paul was a man who deeply treasured his family, friends, community and his country. Today, as we bid Paul farewell, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and honoring his unwavering patriotism and service to our country and community.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Dominic J. Ciaramitaro, a courageous Marine and noble soldier, who died on April 23, 2011 at the age of 19. Lance Corporal Ciaramitaro laid down his life while bravely conducting combat operations In the Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Ciaramitaro was an antitank missileman assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was a 2009 graduate of South Lyon High School who as a member of the football team. Lance Corporal Ciaramitaro enlisted in the Marines the day after his high school graduation and began his career as a Marine in November 2009. Lance Corporal Ciaramitaro deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December 2010 and

was promoted to lance corporal on Jan. 1, 2011. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

A hard worker, a proud and brave American, and a loving son, Lance Corporal Dominic Ciaramitaro leaves behind his beloved mother, Debbie Beaupre and his treasured father and stepmother, John and Lynn Ciaramitaro. He is survived by his adored brother Salvatore and dearly loved sisters Holly, Lucy, Elizabeth and Grace. His grandparents, Marie and Sam Ciaramitaro, his grandmother Susan Boston and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends will long remember him.

Lance Corporal Dominic Ciaramitaro made the ultimate sacrifice for his country in Operation Enduring Freedom. To his fellow soldiers, his family and friends, and to everyone who knew and loved him, he was a dedicated member of his community who answered the higher calling to serve his country.

Mr. Speaker, during his lifetime, Dominic Ciaramitaro enriched the lives of everyone around him by employing energy, leadership, and courage in everything he set out to do. As we bid farewell to this exceptional individual, I am reminded that freedom does indeed exact a heavy price and I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering and honoring his contributions and years of devoted service to his community and our country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Abraham (Abe) Breehey, a devoted husband, father, son, and brother and to mourn him upon his sudden passing at the age of 34. Abe was the Government Affairs Director of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. Born in Binghamton, New York in 1976, Abe Breehey graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from Sienna College in Loudonville, NY. He earned a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University of Albany and went on to serve as a Legislative Assistant during the 107th Congress and 108th Congress. He joined the IBB legislative staff in 2004. Abe was a sagacious voice for labor, widely respected on Capitol Hill and throughout the ranks of his union for his intellect, passion and commitment. He had the innate ability to build consensus across political and ideological lines.

On April 14, 2011, Abe passed from this earthly world to his eternal reward. He will long be remembered as a husband devoted to his beloved wife, Sonya and his treasured young daughter, Abigail. He is survived by his parents, Ray and Carol, his sister Rachel, three nieces, a nephew, and his loyal dog Kesey. Abe leaves behind a legacy of many friends whose lives were bettered for having known him. Mr. Speaker, during his lifetime, Abe enriched the lives of everyone around him. As we bid farewell to this vibrant man, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and honoring his unwavering patriotism and legendary service to the working men and women of our community and our country.

Mr. Speaker, today we do not revel over the death of bin Laden, the butcher; we rejoice in the triumph of justice. We thank our citizen soldiers, the intelligence community, and the Obama administration for finishing this mission; and we forever remember the fallen and comfort the families who so grievously suffered on September 11, 2001.

Now let us press our efforts against al Qaeda and their terrorist cohorts, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the tyrannical Iranian regime. For while our world has witnessed justice, our world remains dangerous; and we must be ever vigilant against such clear and present threats to our liberty and security.

We have dispatched a murderer, not his movement. We have won a battle, not our struggle. But in so succeeding, we have served notice to every terrorist, tyrant, and tyrannical regime that we will win.

I too would like to join in the chorus we've heard today to thank Father Coughlin for bearing the cross that is Congress.

Mr. Speaker, as we hear the debates that will continue on into today on the budget, we will hear much hue and cry; but when we look at the reality, the Ryan House Republican proposal is really a very modest attempt to sustain the welfare state, and I believe it is an important one.

When history looks back after the momentous changes in which we find ourselves, it will view the Ryan House Republican budget as but a baby step in escaping Big Government's implosion. It is a responsible course; it is a responsible choice because it is between bankruptcy or prosperity; and I and the American people will choose prosperity.

I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for yielding.

We have heard from the minority party that their budget seeks to harness the American people. Why? They have already saddled the American people with record spending deficits and debt. Just say ``neigh.''

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Colonel John Lazar, upon his retirement after having served this great Nation since 1981, most recently as Director of Operational Contracting Support and Policy with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army.

In 1981 John Lazar enlisted in the United States Army. Upon his graduation with a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1986, he was commissioned as an Armor officer. Colonel Lazar went on to serve as a Tank Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader and Assistant Battalion Operations Officer in the 1st Battalion 68th Armor Regiment at Wildflecken, Germany. He commanded Alpha Troop 5th Squadron 12th U.S. Cavalry at Fort Knox, Kentucky, served as an Assistant Professor as a member of the faculty at West Point, as Chief of the Joint Contracting Center in Hungary and as a Brigade Operations Officer for the United States Army Contracting Command Europe. Colonel Lazar commanded the Defense Contract Management Agency of both Canada and Central Iraq. He also served as Military Deputy to the Director of Acquisition Resources and Analysis in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

Colonel Lazar has earned several graduate degrees including a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Indiana University in 1994, a Master of Arts in Procurement and Acquisition Management from Webster University in 2000, and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College in 2007. He has a vast military education consisting of Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College as well as the aforementioned United States Army War College. Colonel Lazar holds acquisition certificates of Level II in Program Management and Level III in Contracting.

Highly decorated and awarded in his career, Colonel John Lazar has earned the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the NATO Medal with Yugoslavia Bar.

Mr. Speaker, since 1981 Colonel John Lazar has faithfully served the citizens of the United States. As he enters the next phase of his life with his beloved wife Renee and their three children Erika, Jacob and Matthew, he leaves behind a legacy of dedication, integrity, and excellence. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Colonel John Lazar upon his retirement and recognizing his years of loyal service to our community and country.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

We've seen throughout our lifetimes the argument put forward that the way out of a fiscal mess is to raise taxes. And we've learned one thing: if they tax it and take it, they spend it. Over and over and over again the same siren song: government must increase revenues, that revenues are the problem. In short, the hardworking American people are the problem because they don't pay through the nose for the Federal Government's overspending.

I think the American people understand that we have not a revenue problem but a spending problem. So as we go forward, I think it is wise to remind many of our colleagues that if taxation is the road to prosperity, why do they not have 100 percent taxation? Because they know that it does not work. They know that it is a short-term expedient that has long-term damaging consequences to the economy. And as you go forward and you try to punish productivity, you produce unemployment, you produce poverty. In short, the cycle continues anew. As productivity drops, revenues drop. Then the calls for more revenue come in because the spending never stops, because the spending as we saw with the stimulus and other legislation of the past Democratic majority is that they will then spend even more money to try to get their way out of a crisis.

It was disappointing to see the President buy into the logic that your prosperity comes from the government rather than from the fruits of your own hard work, and that somehow the government is entitled to whatever of your money it deems necessary to continue its wasteful spending habits. Again, this is rejected.

As the gentleman from New Mexico understands, we live in a very difficult period of time. We are making the transition from an industrialized society to a globalized, consumer-driven economy. We have seen families across America and businesses across America make the difficult decision to survive, to compete. They have not only had to discard things that they wanted, but things that at times they felt they needed. And yet one entity, one entity above all has failed to emulate the difficult decisions made by men and women across America, and that entity is Big Government. And the reason is very simple: You can only spend what you make, but Big Government can spend what it takes from you.

And so today, we saw the President again make the argument that if we just took more from the American people or a certain segment of the American people--disregarding his rhetoric that we were all in this together. Evidently that is now as pass as some of his other pronunciations. The reality remains that we have to grow our way out of this. We have to adapt to a consumer-driven economy. We have to have a citizen-driven government, one that understands that the founding principles of this country are there for a reason; that now that we have reached the height of the zenith of the industrial welfare state that fosters dependence of individuals upon it rather than fostering and facilitating self-government and liberty and prosperity, that the day will come when this government and its fiscal recklessness proves unsustainable.

The question before us now is a very simple one: Will we responsibly and constructively address this crisis by performing our constitutional responsibilities and fulfilling the promises we made to our constituents, or will we go on with the same tired tax-and-spend policies that didn't work in the seventies, which in many cases were known quite simply as ``soak the rich; spend the bread''? Bad idea.

So to the gentleman from New Mexico, I thank him for his time and point out that the fiscal debate which will continue here tomorrow is a very simple one: You can protect the Big Government policies of the past or you can look forward to a self-government, a citizen-driven government, a consumer-driven economy that unleashes the entrepreneurial genius of America and the diligence of workers and allows families to move into a future of liberty and prosperity. Or, in short, you can support the President and the politics of the past, or bankruptcy; or we can look forward and let the American people lead us into a new era of liberty and prosperity.

Ah, the new civility.

I would like to start, Mr. Speaker, by thanking my Democratic colleagues this morning for disabusing me of an affliction. When I woke up, I found that I had a hankering to listen to Led Zeppelin, and I couldn't figure out why. This has happened before, usually when I leave the TV on at night and they run one of those Rolling Stones '70s buy it now before it's more expensive or in the dustbin ads. So I was walking over here and I'm thinking, wow, is it because there's been a communication breakdown between the parties? It's possible. It's possible. I said, Is it because one of the nice Senators is wearing a cashmere sweater? It's possible. But, no, I was sitting here today when I realized why I wanted to listen to the melodious strains of Page, Plant, Jones, and John Bonham. It's because for the Democratic Party, the song remains the same.

Once again, seniors and children wake to the hysterical, frightening visage of specters of gloom and doom--Democrats. Once again, we are regaled with the Democrats' entitlement reform plan. It is called do nothing, spend everything, go bankrupt, benefits bye-bye.

We continue to see a party that does not understand you cannot lift an economy when it is crushed beneath the weight of Big Government. We continue to see a party ideologically zealous in spending your tax dollars on Planned Parenthood to the point where they would shut down the Federal Government to do it. And we continue to hear the fundamental crux of the issue of a potential government shutdown. The Democratic Party will shut down the government so they can spend more of your money. The Republican Party is committed to keeping the government open and spending less of your money.

In fairness, it is not just Led Zeppelin they remind me of, because the reason we stand here today on the precipice of a government shutdown is because they did not do their work when they had total control of the United States Congress last year. They could not even pass a budget, let alone finish these appropriations which we are still dealing with well into April, let alone lay out a coherent strategy to do so when the parties changed power in this House.

The song remains the same, but the American people recognize the song and dance. They will not be fooled. They know that the major change that we see before us today in the fight over government spending is a very simple one, and a very simple choice. It is the difference between bankruptcy and solvency; and the Republican Party stands for solvency and for liberty.

Mr. Speaker, as we are all very well aware, we are on the verge of a potential government shutdown over the critical issue of spending. For those who are confused by the caterwauling that they hear from this Chamber as to where the parties stand in relation to spending your money and the future deficits and debt of this country, let me put it as clearly as I can.

The Democrats support shutting down the government for more spending. The Republicans support keeping open the government with less spending. I trust your wisdom to determine which you prefer and which you deem in the interests of this country.