Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on June 12, a friend to all my community, Mr. John Dinan, passed away following a courageous fight with cancer, but his unique achievements as a developer will long stand as a testimony to his vision and innovation.

After graduating from the University of Detroit High School in 1944, John went off to serve in the Navy during World War II, and returned to earn a degree in civil engineering.

John began his career in public service, becoming Farmington City Manager, where he garnered experience and recognition by leading the city's successful downtown redevelopment project, despite difficult fiscal conditions. Upon leaving his post, John formed his own development firm, committed to an architectural style, incorporating and complementing the community's natural aesthetics.

During his rise and tenure at the pinnacle of his profession, John always gave back to the neighbors in the communities he developed.

Thus, on behalf of us all, I extend my deepest condolences to his wife Jean, and his entire family, for their loss.

Mr. Speaker, 100 years ago today an innovative man named Henry and 11 pioneering entrepreneurs signed the articles of incorporation of the company destined to revolutionize the entire world. The innovative man was Henry Ford. And the company, an employer of 300,000 Americans, a global automotive leader and a cherished symbol of our Nation's entrepreneurial spirit and manufacturing might is, of course, the Ford Motor Company.

This past weekend, more than 1 million people from across the globe gathered on the grounds of the Ford Motor Company headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, to celebrate the storied achievements of the first 100 years of the Ford Motor Company and its founder, Henry Ford, and to commence the company's next 100 years of unparalleled economic vitality under its current leader, William Clay Ford, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, let us, too, add our voices to those voices across America and the entire world and wish the Ford Motor Company a hale and heartfelt ``Happy Birthday.''

Mr. Speaker, last week my district lost two beloved members of our community so, with sadness, I pay them posthumous tribute today.

Local attorney, civic activist, and despite the fact I was the worst law clerk he ever hired, my friend, Charles ``Chuck'' Tangora will truly be mourned and missed. While practicing law in Livonia for over 35 years, he raised a fine family and still found time to help improve the quality of life in our community, including being instrumental in ensuring the city of Livonia elected its first female City Council President, a quiet, mild-mannered schoolteacher named Georgia Joan McCotter.

Of course, Chuck's natural leadership abilities were recognized by all involved. He was the president of the Italian American Club, past president of Livonia Rotary and of the American Diabetes Association. And, most importantly, he was known as the one person who could always bring opposing sides to a consensus in the community's best interests. Most recently, Chuck was instrumental in raising the sizable reward which helped police solve the Marco Pesce family murder case.

And for all his benevolent works, Chuck, true to his fine, kind character never asked for anything in return but the smiles of those whose lives he touched. And once the immediate pain of his passing wanes in the winds of wistful recollection, as he, himself, would earnestly wish, there will again be smiles upon the faces of all who remember his life's legacy.

Mr. Speaker, the second pillar of our community to fall was the Honorable Jack Kelley, who gave 19 years of distinguished public service to the city he loved as a member of the Detroit City Council. If one word were used to sum up the man, no, it would not be one of the colorful words he often used, it would be the word ``honest.'' And if two words were used, they would be ``brutally honest.''

It was his innate, intense honesty which led him to be a fast friend and fair foe, a colorful Celt who understood the brevity and the levity of our frail, flawed existence and felt compelled to help his fellow human beings in the short, sweet time God allowed.

And he did. After graduating from St. Francis DeSales High School, he joined the Navy and served his country for 30 months in the Pacific arena during World War II. Upon his return home, he commenced a career of public service by being appointed deputy director of the Building and Safety Engineering Department by then-Mayor Cavanagh, a post he held for 30 years. Then he was elected to his council seat in 1974, and even now his legacy continues as his son, Kevin, the Redford Township supervisor, followed in his Democratic footsteps and continued the father's noble tradition of public service.

Yes, a staunch Democrat, proud union man, and devout Irish Catholic, Jack Kelley's greatness was, to me, best expressed by another staunch Democrat, proud union member, devout Irish Catholic, and boyhood friend of Jack Kelley's, my late father who said, ``Jack Kelley was the only person I ever voted for who tried to break my nose. He is good people.'' Truly, we will never see the likes of Jack Kelley again, and truly we are all the lesser for his loss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute today to a true and trusted ally, the Netherlands. It is a relationship that predates our Republic's founding and prospers into our Republic's future.

Our commodious ties span from Henry Hudson's 1609 Dutch East India Company voyage to today's annual trade of more than $18 billion. And in our pursuit, protection, and promotion of peace, the Dutch and the American people have always been and always will be the bravest of friends.

Recent notable examples of our common courageous bonds include Afghanistan, where the Dutch sent their own brave soldiers to eradicate terror networks, and in Iraq where they yet again lent their manpower and now pledge their aid and support to help the newly liberated people of Iraq to grow their Nation.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in extending our sincerest gratitude to our Dutch friends for all they have done for us and for all the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 517 and thank the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) for introducing this bill.

Since 1945, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bramble has protected passengers in ports in the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Arctic, before finally coming home to the Great Lakes in 1962. Here, for over 40 years, with her crew of the Coast Guard's finest, the Bramble met every mission be it attending our waters, servicing navigation aids, guarding against ice, and most importantly protecting human life.

Today the proud Bramble has reached the sunset of her sailing days, as the Coast Guard's ever-evolving mission requires newer vessels.

Mr. Speaker, we can assign the Bramble one final mission: that of an educator and goodwill ambassador at the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History. There is no finer way to honor the Bramble and the brave men and women who boarded her.

I respectfully ask the House to support this legislation.

Mr. Chairman, one of our Nation's seminal principles holds that all human beings have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Inherent in this principle, in this promise, rests the belief that to truly and fully live, every human heart needs hope.

National borders neither define nor diminish this need. And today, millions of our fellow human beings throughout the world have no hope, for they suffer under the perceived certainty of an AIDS death sentence. For years they have done so with no hope for relief or reprieve until our Nation brought them this proposal's promising ray of hope.

Due to this historic legislation, millions of ravaged bodies have hearts beating with hope. And thus, it is morally imperative that we pass this historic legislation, continue tending and kindling the sick and sufferings' faint rays of hope and, as Americans, reaffirm and retain our revolutionary role as a herald of hope for all humanity.

Mr. Speaker, since its founding in 1946, members of the Paralyzed Veterans of America have visited public forums ranging from the halls of Congress to high schools and scout troops to relate their personal experiences and raise the public's awareness of their cause. In sum, the PVA's efforts ever remind us human suffering is the horror of war and no one more intensely experienced this horror more than our citizen-soldiers who uniquely endure its pains. Thus we, who are free because of these brave citizen-soldiers' sacrifices, must do everything in our power to alleviate and accommodate the pain they bore, and bear, for us.

Mr. Speaker, members of the PVA like my constituent Michael Harris have been grievously wounded during their armed service for our country, yet still they nobly continue their altruistic service to our country. They are a source of pride and inspiration to our entire Nation. Let us, therefore, join with my home State of Michigan and the PVA and commemorate the week of April 13-19 as Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Week. They deserve much more but certainly no less.

Mr. Chairman, in my Michigan district, the best workers in the world make the best autos in the world; but if this amendment passes, my district's economic vitality will become ancient history. By arbitrarily altering market forces in an already struggling economic sector, a new hike in CAFE standards will endanger the already far-too- tenuous jobs of our autoworkers, manufacturers, parts suppliers, and car dealers, and the livelihood of all our citizens.

During these difficult economic times, when both parties are striving to help American workers and their families, we must not subordinate science to speculation and in the process subject our auto industry, America's economic engine, to governmentally mandated extinction.

For the sake of American workers and their families, we must defeat this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman Empire systematically murdered more than 1.5 million innocent Armenian men, women, and children; and 500,000 Armenians were compelled to flee their homes and escape into exile. This crime constituted a heinous milestone in modern evil. It was the 20th century's first recorded instance of genocide. This tragedy, this crime against humanity, must be remembered by all people of good conscience, lest only evil men remember and be tempted to repeat this horrific lesson of history. For in fact, while most of the civilized world resisted acknowledging this mass murder, one barbarian at the gate did not; and that is why on the eve of his own paroxysm of mass murder, Adolph Hitler blithely remarked: ``Who today remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?''

Mr. Speaker, on the 88th observance of one of human history's greatest tragedies and most savage crimes, we have the vile Herr Hitler's answer. We remember the murdered Armenians. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.

We in America inhabit the bosom of freedom. Yet, scant miles, though a lifetime away from our shores, suffering and dying under an antiquated Communist tyrant, the Cuban people yearn to breathe free. By passing this resolution, we in the citadel of freedom

say to the Cuban people, we hear you and we will help you. For if we do not, we will betray our own cherished democratic principles and our refusal will constitute a mute chorus of deafening silence in the face of human suffering. I urge adoption of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mr. Fred Hill, as he was recently inducted into the Plymouth, Michigan Hall of Fame.

His passion for Plymouth, Michigan has led him to serve as President of the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce, Plymouth Community United Way, Kiwanis Club of Colonial Plymouth, and Plymouth Downtown Development Authority. Mr. Hill also served on numerous boards and committees including the City Charter Commission, Salvation Army Board, and the Plymouth Jaycees. He is also the founder and leader of the nationally known Fred Hill Briefcase Drill Team.

Mr. Hill is a tremendous ambassador for the Plymouth community, and we at home are indebted to, and grateful for his dedication, passion, and humor--if not his singing.

Mr. Spreaker, I extend my sincere appreciation to Mr. Fred Hill, as he is inducted into the Plymouth, Michigan Hall of Fame, for his fine service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing former Congressman Carl D. Pursell, who was recently inducted into the Plymouth, Michigan Hall of Fame.

Congressman Pursell's career in public service began as a member of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners. He was quickly elected to the Michigan State Senate, and subsequently to eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he held numerous leadership posts.

Congressman Pursell was a national figure in efforts to balance the budget. As Budget Task Force Chairman, he led the authorship of two federal budgets proposing no new taxes and no new spending. As the Ranking Republican on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Education Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman Pursell oversaw funding for all of the nation's job training, labor, health care, biomedical research, and education programs. Congressman Pursell also served on the Appropriations Committee, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, and the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee during his tenure.

Carl, who once graced this chamber with his intellect, wit, and kindness, has been, is now, and always will be a tremendous inspiration to our community back home, and to this Congressman in particular.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my sincere appreciation to former Congressman Carl D. Pursell for his fine service to our country as he is inducted into the Plymouth, Michigan Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated Michigan resident, Firefighter Matthew Maurier, recently named City of Livonia Firefighter of the Year. Firefighter Maurier has served the City of Livonia with great pride and courage since 1995.

On September 16, 2002, Firefighter Maurier answered a call to a pedestrian injury accident. Upon arrival, he found a young male patient lying in the roadway who suffered significant head trauma and multiple fractures requiring immediate attention. Realizing the patient's airway was compromised as a result of his injuries, Firefighter Maurier began aggressive intervention to ventilate the patient. Recognizing the patient would require the services of a Trauma Center for definitive treatment, Firefighter Maurier immediately requested a helicopter for transport. This action saved considerable time the patient would not have otherwise had available.

Mr. Speaker, Firefighter Matthew Maurier is a hero to the people of Livonia, Michigan and the United States. I extend my sincere appreciation to him for making our community a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated Michigan resident, Firefighter Michael Bailey, recently named City of Livonia Firefighter of the Year. Firefighter Bailey has served the City of Livonia with great pride and courage since 1995.

On September 16, 2002, Firefighter Bailey answered a call to a pedestrian injury accident. Upon arrival, he found a young male patient lying in the roadway who suffered significant head trauma and multiple fractures requiring immediate attention. Realizing the patient's airway was compromised as a result of his injuries, Firefighter Bailey began aggressive intervention to ventilate the patient. Recognizing the patient would require the services of a Trauma Center for definitive treatment, Firefighter Bailey immediately requested a helicopter for transport. This action saved considered time the patient would not have had available.

Mr. Speaker, Firefighter Bailey is a hero to the people of Livonia, Michigan and the United States. I extend my sincere appreciation to Firefighter Bailey for making our community a safer place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated Michigan resident, D/Sgt. Everett Torley, recently named City of Livonia Michigan State Trooper of the Year. D/Sgt. Torley has distinguished himself as an outstanding resource for the criminal justice community in southeast Michigan.

His knowledge in his field of service is unsurpassed in this state. He is one of only three persons in the State of Michigan trained and certified in forensic video clarification by the FBI. Those skills have been used to solve numerous crimes, most recently ending a string of local robberies.

As a testament of his expertise, D/Sgt. Torley has been asked to serve as an instructor at the FBI Academy in the Law Enforcement Video Association. As an instructor, D/Sgt. Torley will be instrumental in teaching forensic video clarification to law enforcement officers around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my sincere appreciation to D/Sgt. Everett Torley for making our state and our country a safer place.