Floor Statements

I rise in support of the rule that I think for two reasons that are very important. The first is so that we can continue to discuss what happens when you bury prosperity beneath Big Government. But second is because we also need to be reminded that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

It seems to me that when you have an impasse on the budget, it is borne of the difference very fundamentally that one side wants less spending and one side would like more spending, and there are a bunch of Members who wind up in the middle.

Now, I think we can all concede, whatever our positions, that reducing Federal spending is hard. Certainly past precedent proves that. Past precedent also proves something else: that, historically, the way you break a log jam in Congress is to logroll. That is the process whereby Members who have differences split that difference and

spend more money to make each other happy and to serve their constituents as they think best.

What we have done in this bill is to incentivize spending, because I want you to think of the situation we are in. You are now telling a politician that you will get no money in your pocket until you spend money from someone else's pocket. You are telling them that the fastest way to end an impasse is to settle. And you are making it harder for those who would seek more spending reductions to stand their ground and fight for it.

So that is why I support the rule and why I oppose the underlying bill, because I will not pave the fiscal road to hell with good intentions or your money.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the Michigan Class D State Champion Girls' Basketball team from Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes High School. On March 19, 2011, the Lakers sealed a 53-35 victory over the Bark-River Harris Broncos, clinching their second consecutive Class D State Championship under Head Coach Steve Robak.

After winning the East Division of the Detroit Catholic High School League and claiming their third consecutive CHSL C-D Division Championship, the Lakers began district play by crushing West Bloomfield Frankel Jewish Academy's Jaguars 72-4. Our Lady of the Lakes rolled over the Clarkston Everest Collegiate Lady Mountaineers in the district final, 64-20.

Moving on to regional match-ups, Our Lady of the Lakes slipped by Marine City Cardinal Mooney by a score of 43-41. The Lakers shut down Southfield Christian, 51-43 in the regional final to move on to state quarterfinals where they defeated the Bay City All Saints Cougars 61- 36. The Trojans of Central Lake fell to the Blue and White 52-41 on March 17 to clear the Lakers path to the Class D Final. Facing Bark- Harris in the final game of the season, the Our Lady of the Lakes press held the Broncos in check giving the Lakers the right to raise high the Class D State Championship trophy.

Mr. Speaker, with a season record of 23-5-0, the 2011 Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Girls' Basketball team deserves to be recognized for their determination, achievement, spirit and effort. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Lakers for obtaining this spectacular title and in honoring their devotion to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life of Edgar Hagopian and to mourn his passing at the age of 80.

Born on August 16, 1930, to Haroutun and Cariana Hagopian, Edgar dedicated his life to serving our community and our country. He was an exemplary citizen with an incredible work ethic who held an absolute love for his ancestral Armenia.

After graduating from Detroit's Cass Tech High School in 1948, Edgar studied at the University of Michigan and valiantly served in the United States Army during the Korean war. After being honorably discharged on December 7, 1954, Technical Sergeant Hagopian joined his father's business, where he had frequently worked since childhood.

Thus began a long and storied career, establishing himself not only as a successful entrepreneur but as an ardent advocate and activist for our community and Armenian causes.

Edgar served on the board of directors of the Armenian Assembly of America, the board of governors of the Michigan Design Center, the Detroit chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, and the Michigan chapter of the Seeds of Peace. He was an associate in the Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts, and was involved with the Armenian Library. Edgar also founded the Detroit chapter of the Armenian American Business Council.

Edgar was named ``Man of the Year'' by the Canadian Armenian Business Council in 1995. In 2002, he was inducted into the International Institute Heritage Hall of Fame, and Edgar was awarded the 2005 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. This prestigious award was created to honor ancestral groups who, through struggle, sacrifice, and success, helped build this great Nation.

Edgar Hagopian deeply loved his community, and his community loved him. Always mindful of his humble roots, Edgar always endeavored to better our world. He was a mentor to many and an avid patron of the arts. A pensive philanthropist, Edgar led Hagopian Companies to donate in excess of $70 million in goods and services to local charities.

Sadly, on March 27, 2011, Edgar passed from this earthly world to his eternal reward. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Sarah, and his children Suzanne, Edmond, and Angela. Yet Edgar's legacy will continue in the lives of his grandsons Alexander, Adam, and Nicholas. As he joins his brother Arthur in eternity, Edgar is also survived by sisters Mary and Ilene and his brother Steve.

Mr. Speaker, Edgar Hagopian will be long remembered as a compassionate father, a dedicated husband, a passionate champion of Armenian causes, a philanthropist, a community leader, and above all, as a friend. Edgar was a man who deeply treasured his family, friends, community, and his country.

Today, as we bid Edgar Hagopian farewell, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and in honoring his unwavering patriotism and legendary service to our community and our country.

I would also ask us to reflect on what is perhaps the most poignant part of Edgar's legacy: We are not enriched by what we do for ourselves but by what we do for others within the short span of time God grants. Truly, Edgar Hagopian used the time he was given to leave us all better off; and now, in honor of him, let us return the favor to our fellow human beings.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the Division 1 State Champion Ice Hockey team from Novi High School. On March 12, 2011 the Novi Wildcats won the first state championship in the team's 13 year history with a 4-0 shutout over the Orchard Lake St. Mary's Eaglets.

Following a successful regular season in the Central Division of the Kensington Conference in the Kensington Lakes Athletic Association the Wildcats claimed both the division and conference titles before narrowly dropping the KLAA crown to the Lakes Conference champion, Howell by a slim 4-3 margin.

Novi's first pre-regional game, played at Plymouth's Compuware Arena, produced a 6-0 win against South Lyon and paved the way to play long time rival Detroit Catholic Central in their 2nd pre-regional matchup. The Wildcats squeaked by the Shamrocks in a hard fought contest, winning 4-3. Moving on to regional competition the Wildcats savored the chance to avenge the earlier loss KLAA nemesis Howell. This time Novi iced the Highlanders 3-0, happy to let Howell have the KLAA trophy as the Wildcats pursued the bigger prize.

Head Coach Todd Krygier's skaters advanced to quarterfinal action at Perani Arena in Flint. This matchup pitted brother against brother as Todd Krygier's Wildcats decimated younger brother Bryan Krygier's Clarkston Wolves, 9-1. Coach Krygier along with Assistant Coaches Jim Lewis and Travis Malott brought the Green and White back to Compuware to face off against Lake Orion in the semi-final round. The Wildcats didn't allow the Dragons a goal and came away with a 3-0 win.

Advancing to the championship, Novi met the storied Orchard Lake St. Mary's on the ice for the first time ever. The Wildcats convincingly rose to their final challenge and soared to a 4-0 victory raising the Division 1 trophy in triumph.

Mr. Speaker, with a regular season record of 24-5-1, the Wildcats carried an astounding 171 goals while giving up only 61 and a playoff run of 6-0 with 29 Goals compared to 4 for their opponents, the 2011 Novi Wildcats deserve to be recognized for their determination, achievement and spirit and I am very proud of their effort. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Wildcats for obtaining this spectacular title and honoring their devotion to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Division 1 Ice Hockey Coach of the Year, Todd Krygier. A native of Chicago Heights, Illinois and resident of Novi, Michigan, Coach Krygier led his Novi High School skaters to their first state championship in the team's 13 year history.

As a left winger with the University of Connecticut, Todd Krygier was selected to the 1987 NCAA East Second All-American Team after scoring 48 points in 28 games for the Huskies. He was drafted by Hartford in the 1988 Supplemental Draft and played parts of two seasons with the Whalers before being traded to the Washington Capitals in 1991 and then to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1994. Having been reacquired by the Capitals during the 1995-96 season, Coach Todd Krygier brings the unique perspective of having closed out his 543 game NHL career by playing in the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals. Krygier went on to play two seasons with the Orlando Solar Bears of the IHL before retiring in 2000.

This season Coach Krygier and the Wildcats reached the pinnacle by dethroning perennial contender Orchard Lake St. Mary's, 39-24, earning their first state championship. Todd Krygier led his team to a 30-5-1 record including a 6-0 playoff run that saw the Wildcats score 29 goals to their opponents' total of 4. Five of Coach Krygier's players were selected to All State teams, four First Team and one Second Team, while another player was selected for Honorable Mention.

It is worth mentioning Coach Todd Krygier also earned family honors this year by leading his Novi Wildcats to a 9-1 win over younger brother, Bryan Krygier's Clarkston Wolves in the state quarterfinals; also, Bryan Krygier's assistant coach is their father, Roman Krygier.

Mr. Speaker, after earning his first state championship and being selected as the Michigan High School Athletic Association's 2010 Division 1 Ice Hockey Coach of the Year, Todd Krygier deserves to be recognized for his dedication to the young men of Novi High School. In recognition of his effort and the honor bestowed upon him, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Novi Hockey Coach Todd Krygier, his wife Kim and their children Brock, Natalie, Grace, Cole and Christian on Todd's accolades and in honoring his devotion to our community and country.

I thank the gentlelady. I thank her for her kind words and her attempt to draft me.

In this age of hope and peril, today we all assemble with earnestness and sincerity to discuss matters of liberty and tyranny, matters of life and death.

What we see in Afghanistan is a counterinsurgency operation being led by the United States. It is the most difficult and painful type of military operation to witness because it does involve working with the population, winning hearts and minds, and helping to build the institutions of democracy and liberty at the community and national levels, which have been nonexistent for decades.

Yet because the cause is difficult, it does not mean we can turn away from it, because the Afghan people cannot turn away from it.

In 2006, I was fortunate to be on a CODEL with many of my colleagues, and we had the opportunity to meet women who were serving in the Afghan National Assembly. Despite the difficulties in translation, it was very clear that they wanted to accomplish two things: they wanted to serve the Afghan people, who had entrusted them with their positions; and they wanted to honor the men and women of the United States military, who had risked and given so much for them to have that opportunity.

As I said, I deeply appreciate the sincerity and earnestness of this debate today because, in this instance, clearly, it is not one based upon partisan division, but one based upon the dictates of conscience. I think it is very important that we look into this situation and see that it is not simply the United States that is involved here and that it is not simply a question of leaving without consequence. If we leave now, if we back this resolution, there will be consequences to the female Afghan National Assembly parliamentarians, who are trying to build freedom within that country.

In my discussion with those brave women, they brought up how difficult it was for them: how hard it would be to build a sustainable democracy; to build an economy; to build, in many ways, what we here take for granted.

I said to them that it was very important to remember that the United States, itself, was not always a great national power and a beacon of hope and freedom and that in our darkest days after the Revolution there were many who thought this free Republic would fail, and there were enemies who sought its destruction. Yet, at the founding time, the people of the United States and their leaders were able to take this Nation's democracy and turn it into one that not only secured freedom for itself but one that expanded it to others.

I said that it was within the Halls of the United States Congress, within the Halls of our institution, that you could see the pictures of the Founders, like Jefferson and Madison, hanging from the walls, which remind us of what we have endured, what we enjoy, and what we must return.

I told the Afghan National Assembly women that one day their daughters and granddaughters would look up and see on the walls their portraits hanging in a free Afghanistan that was allied with the Free World against terrorism and that was a beacon, itself, to those who were oppressed--because they will be free, because we will honor our duty not to seek miserly to hold our own freedom for ourselves, and because we will follow what Lincoln said:

In seeking to extend freedom to the enslaved, we ensure freedom for ourselves.

We will continue to stand with the Afghan people. We will continue to honor the commitment to the solemn word of the United States as she gave to that country; and one day, we will look back, and we will be proud of the votes we cast today.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Thomas Patrick O'Rourke, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son and brother and to mourn him upon his passing at the age of 75.

Born on February 22, 1936, Thomas O'Rourke was the younest of six children born to James and Mary O'Rourke and attended both Detroit Catholic Central and St. Cecelia before graduating from St. Cecelia in 1954. Having honorably served this great nation as a member of the United States Army, SPC 4 Thomas O'Rourke was honorably discharged on September 30, 1962. Thomas married the love of his life, Mary Ellen on May 3, 1974. A dedicated and loving father to their four children, Thomas embodied the truest spirit of the Irish enjoying the boundless conversation and camaraderie the Gaelic League and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was affectionately known as ``Mr. Notre Dame'' among his friends at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post where he was an active member.

On March 7, 2011, Thomas O'Rourke passed from this earthly world to his eternal reward. Thomas will be deeply missed by his wife of 36 years, Mary Ellen. He will long be remembered as a father devoted to his beloved children Katie, Molly, Tom and Erin. Thomas O'Rourke leaves a legacy in his grandchildren, Ella, Aidan, Jack, Megan, Danny, Colleen, Maggie and the impending James, due in July. He is survived by his sister, Marge. Preceded into eternity by his parents, James and Mary as well as his brother James and his sisters Marie, Dorothy and Jane, Thomas was a wonderful man, kind to all he encountered. He will be truly and sorrowfully missed.

Mr. Speaker, during his lifetime, Thomas O'Rourke enriched the lives of everyone around him. There is no doubt that Thomas was a beacon of joy, hope and inspiration to those who knew him. As we bid farewell to this exceptional man, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and honoring his life and his service to our community and our country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life of Patrick Riney, Sr. and to mourn upon his passing at the age of 73.

Born on April 9, 1937, Patrick Riney, Sr. was a man dedicated to his family, his community and his country. He admirably served as a defender of this great nation as a member of the United States Navy.

Regrettably, on February 14, 2011, Patrick Riney, Sr. passed from this earthly world to his eternal reward. He leaves to celebrate his life his beloved wife of more than 48 years, Patricia. Patrick is survived by his children Patrick, Jr., Shaun, Kelly and Kevin and also leaves the legacy of 12 grandchildren. As he departs this life to join his brothers, the late Raymond and the late Tom in eternity, Patrick Riney, Sr. will deeply missed by his treasured sister Joan. A benevolent and honorable man, Patrick leaves a lasting imprint on the lives he has touched.

Mr. Speaker, Patrick Riney, Sr. is remembered as a compassionate father, a dedicated husband, an author, a soldier and a friend. Patrick was a man who deeply treasured his family, friends, community and his country. Today, as we bid Patrick Riney, Sr. farewell, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and honoring his unwavering commitment to his family and his legendary service to our country and community.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone upon her retirement from the Michigan National Guard after 34 years of dedicated and meritorious service.

In 1971, Carol Ann Fausone graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown., Ohio. After earning a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Michigan in 1975, Carol Ann received her commission as a medical officer in the United States Air Force in 1977. She went on to earn the first of two master of science degrees from Madonna University, the first in administration in 1985 and the second in nursing in 1995. Brigadier General Fausone completed numerous compliments to her vast education in the interim and also attended Capstone National Defense University in 2003.

Brigadier General Fausone has been the recipient of numerous military awards and commendations including the Air Force Legion of Merit, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Force Achievement Medal. She has also been decorated with the U.S. Air Force Senior Nurse and Chief Nurse Badges. In addition, Brigadier General Fausone was honored as the Air National Guard's Medical Readiness Officer of the Year in 1988. In 1994, she received the Nightingale Excellence in Nursing Administration Award from Oakland University and the 191st Airlift Group Commander's Trophy. The Brigadier General earned the highest award given by the National Guard Association of Michigan in 1995, the Major General John A. Johnston Award for Excellence.

Truly a pioneer of service women, Carol Ann Fausone was the first to be Michigan medical officer to achieve the rank of a general officer and on March 1, 2002 became the first woman in the Michigan National Guard to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. After having spent the last 8 years of her illustrious career as Assistant Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs for the State of Michigan, Brigadier General Fausone was pinned with the Distinguished Service Medal and praised for her dedication and service upon her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, as Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone begins a new chapter in her life with her beloved husband Jim, there is no doubt that she will continue to advocate for the rights of our nation's veterans. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone and in recognizing her years of loyal service to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Dr. Gary Jeffers as he concludes his term of service as President of the Michigan Dental Association.

After receiving an Artium Baccalaureatus degree from Malone College in 1969, Gary Jeffers went on, in 1971, to earn a Master of Science degree in Physiology and Pharmacology at Ohio University. He earned a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at the University of Pittsburgh in 1975. Dr. Jeffers pursued graduate training at the United States Navy Regional Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, the Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia and at Emory University.

Dr. Gary Jeffers was a member of the United States Navy Dental Corps from 1972 until 1979. He was employed as a Resident Instructor at Emory University and then as a Clinical Instructor at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Jeffers built a private practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in North Canton, Ohio before joining the staff of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in July 1985 where he continues to be a Tenured Associate Professor.

Prior to being elected as President of the Michigan Dental Association, Dr. Jeffers served on the MDA Board of Trustees as the trustee of the 18th district before serving as MDA president-elect and as vice president. Having completed his term as President, he will continue to serve the MDA Board as past president.

Dr. Jeffers' extensive involvement with the MDA and organized dentistry is evident in the numerous committees and task forces on which he has served. These include the Reference Committee on Membership, Bylaws and Dental Practice; Board Committee on Finance, Board Planning Work Group for Strategic Planning, and the Washington VIsitation team. In addition, Dr. Jeffers chaired the Committee on Governmental Affairs; MDA Insurance & Financial Group Endorsed Services Committee; and the MDA/MDAA and the MDA/MDHA task forces. He is also a past president of the Detroit District Dental Society and has served the American Dental Association in various capacities.

Dr. Jeffers' work outside the MDA bears acknowledgement. He is a licensing examiner for the North East Regional Board and spent four years serving on the Michigan Board of Dentistry. He also served as assistant to the Dean of Legislative Affairs at UDM and instigated the dental school's legislative activity on both the state and national level. During his tenure at UDM, Dr. Jeffers spearheaded a proposal resulting in an important $2 million HUD construction grant that was used to help relocate the dental school to its current facility.

Mr. Speaker, as Dr. Gary Jeffers concludes his term as President of the MDA I am reminded of the words he spoke to first year dental students. These words bear remembering; ``Ethics is not something that is easily taught or learned. It comes from within your heart and your soul.'' Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Gary Jeffers and in recognizing his years of loyal service to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and celebrate the life of Larry J. Nehasil, a devoted husband, father, brother, son, uncle and Police Officer; and to mourn him upon his tragic passing in the line of duty at age 48.

Larry was born on March 15, 1962. He grew up in Livonia, Michigan and graduated from Winston Churchill High School in 1980. After serving with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, Larry Nehasil joined the ranks of the Livonia Police Department as a Cadet in 1991. He was promoted to Police Officer in 1993 and worked in the Patrol Bureau, the Special Operations Unit and most recently, the Intelligence Bureau. Highly decorated in his 20 year career, Officer Larry Nehasil was a valued brother to his fellow officers and a lover of life whose company brought joy to all he knew. Aside from his diligent work ethic, Larry enjoyed numerous outdoor activities, working out and watching his adored sons play hockey.

On January 17, 2011, Larry Nehasil laid down his life as he pursued a robbery suspect. This dedicated man gave his last breath, his last ounce of courage in service to the citizens he had dutifully sworn to defend and protect. He will be remembered as a father devoted to his family, especially his beloved wife, Linda, and his sons Adam and Aaron. The cherished son of Monica, Larry reunites with his father, the late Richard Nehasil, as he passes to his eternal reward. As a treasured brother to Cheryl, Craig and Lori, Larry Nehasil leaves a legacy in many nieces and nephews. Larry was a wonderful man with a ready smile, kind to all he encountered; and he will be truly and sorrowfully missed.

Mr. Speaker, during his lifetime, Officer Larry J. Nehasil enriched the lives of everyone around him. His End of Watch came far too soon and unexpectedly. As we bid farewell to this brave and wonderful individual, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and honoring his years of loyal service to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and to the underlying bill.

Amidst our tumultuous age of globalization wherein big government's restructuring is not merely desirable but inevitable, the sovereign people's congressional servants must facilitate the conditions for sustainable economic growth so people can work, and preserve and promote America's economic preeminence in the world.

To accomplish these vital tasks, government must adopt deep and enduring tax relief, and spending, deficit and debt reduction. These policies are neither novel nor fashionable. They are necessary.

Therefore, because I oppose raising taxes, increasing deficits and debt, and

worsening the entitlement crisis, I fundamentally object to this compromised tax bill's following provisions:

One, a permanent tax increase in exchange for a temporary tax reprieve is mistaken since any and all tax increases in a recession retard a recovery.

And, two, a raid on Social Security requiring increased Federal debt to fund a temporary tax gimmick that will not increase sustainable employment is also mistaken.

Despite its proponents' best intentions, this bill will not end the suffering of the unemployed and economically anxious Americans. It will prolong it. For we cannot delay the day of big government's restructuring; and, in endeavoring to do so, we make the inevitable more painful, more prolonged, and, because it was unnecessary, more deplorable.

Finally, to those Republicans who claim no choice but to vote for a flawed bill now rather than wait 3 weeks for a better one, I disagree and offer an analogy. Imagine prior to the Battle of the Little Big Horn General Custer looking at his troops and saying: ``We must strike now before there are more of us.''

I disagree with this and urge my colleagues to reject the bill.

The poet John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, ``For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, `It might have been.' ''

Mr. Speaker, given the prevalence of tenebrous sadness in our oft benighted world, tonight on the 30th commemoration of the murder of Mr. John Ono Lennon, I rise not to lament his inestimable loss, but to celebrate his inspiring life.

Perpetually along our earthly journey, we stand at the crossroads of comfort and truth. Imperfect souls, we are mercifully measured not solely by our missteps into numbing comfort but also by our redemptive return to enlightening truth.

As shown in a recently released 1980 interview with Rolling Stone's Jonathan Cott, Mr. Lennon understood this. ``I've never claimed purity of soul. I've never claimed to have the answers to life. I only put out songs and answer questions as honestly as I can. But I still believe in peace, love, and understanding.''

Striving for honesty is how, in his family life, Mr. Lennon ultimately fulfilled his most challenging and rewarding role, that of devoted father and loving husband. Striving for honesty is how, in his music, Mr. Lennon met the artistic challenge expressed by Andre Bazin, namely, to ``have the last word in the argument with death by means of the form that endures.''

Thus, because truth is beauty, beauty is truth, and the most beautiful truth is love, I thank Mr. Lennon for striving through his enduring art to reveal the immutable human truths that eternally unite us in our mortality, our frailty, and our beauty when we love.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the life of John Ono Lennon, and in extending our heartfelt sympathy to his widow and sons, to all whom he loved, and to all who love him. May he, and we, all shine on.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary life of Richard John Pastor and mourn him upon his passing at the age of 79.

Born on June 22, 1931, Richard Pastor dedicated his life to serving his community and his country. After honorably serving his country as a member of the United States Army, Richard came home to proudly become the second generation owner of his family's three generation Michigan based construction business, George H. Pastor and Sons.

Regrettably, on November 27, 2010, Richard Pastor passed from this earthly world to his eternal reward. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Carol and his children, Craig, Mahala, John, Tim, and Sharon. Preceding him in death was his son Keith. Richard leaves a legacy of 12 grandchildren and was a devoted brother to Jean and Robert. A courageous and honorable man, Richard will be sorely missed.

Madam Speaker, Richard Pastor is remembered as a compassionate father, a dedicated husband, honorable soldier, caring business owner, involved leader, and a true friend. Richard was a man who deeply treasured his family, friends, community and his country. Today, as we bid Richard John Pastor farewell, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and honoring his unwavering patriotism and legendary service to our country and community.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge the distinguished career of Mike Cox, Michigan's 52nd Attorney General.

Born on December 29, 1961, the son of Irish immigrants, Michael Anthony Cox graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School in 1980 and went on to serve his country as a Marine from 1980 until 1983. Serving with distinction, Mike Cox rose to the rank of Corporal and earned the Navy Achievement Medal and Command Marine of the Year Designation.

Mike Cox graduated from the University of Michigan in 1986, before earning his Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School in 1989. Mike worked in the Oakland County Prosecutors' office from 1989-1990. Mr. Cox joined the Wayne County Prosecutors' Office from 1990-2002, serving as Director of the Homicide Unit from 2000-2002. With tireless devotion to the citizens of Michigan, Mike Cox was elected Attorney General of the State of Michigan in 2002 and again in 2006.

During his tenure, Attorney General Cox has recovered a record $3.2 billion for Michigan consumers while also saving taxpayers more than $1.7 billion in defense of state lawsuits. Fighting utility rate increases, Attorney General Cox has saved families and businesses more than $2.4 billion. He diligently fought rate hikes for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan enrollees and implemented a website allowing consumers to find the fairest price on prescription drugs.

As a father of four and a Little League coach, Mike Cox has set the protection of children as a top priority. By establishing the nation's first Child Support Unit, Attorney General Cox has helped more than 60,000 of

Michigan's youngest citizens receive the child support owed them and the unit is on track to collect over $100 million by early 2011. His expanded efforts to keep children safe while online have resulted in the arrest of 258 internet sexual predators, making Michigan's Internet Predator Unit one of the most productive in the country. Cox's office developed the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative. This innovative program has reached more than a half million.

With his unwavering commitment to all citizens, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has actively sought to protect our vulnerable senior citizens from unscrupulous caregivers, testified before Congress in defense of the embattled auto industry and led the fight to keep dangerously invasive Asian Carp from destroying our bountiful Great Lakes.

Madam Speaker, during his distinguished career, Attorney General has bettered the lives of countless Michiganders. As he embarks upon the next chapter of his life with his beloved wife Laura and his children Lindsey, Sinead, Conor and Rory, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding his legendary leadership, and in thanking him for his unfaltering service to our community and our country.