Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman from Michigan. I thank him for all of his guidance and his advice in this institution, one of which is being that on these swampy, humid, hot days, a son of Detroit can wear seersucker to beat the heat.

The other that I wish to thank him for is his constant reminder to us, through his example, that we work for the people who send us here, and that in very difficult times it is crucial that we look past our perceived differences and be able to come together on behalf of the people who have entrusted us with office to help solve problems for them.

We in Michigan went through this when we saw an entire cherished way of life endangered, and we united to come together to help solve that problem. The crisis has not passed. It continues to this day, but we are on the road to recovery.

Former president of the United Auto Workers, Ron Gettelfinger is a man who understands positions of trust, a man who understands the need to do everything he can to honor that trust. As a democratically elected president of the United Auto Workers, he did everything within his power, in an exceedingly difficult time, to ensure the union's survival, to ensure the survival of the auto industry, and to help ensure Michiganders' cherished way of life as a manufacturing State and as the former arsenal of democracy.

And I think that this is critical not only for us to remember in Michigan as we go forward, but as an example that I hope is set for many others in this country and in this Chamber that in a great and good country we learn more and show our true measure not by being merely able to see the character of our allies, but to see the character and virtues of our now erstwhile opponents.

Ron Gettelfinger's integrity and devotion to the people who trusted him with his position is something that he would not talk about because he is a humble, honest, hardworking man. It is left to us to do it for him, and in some

ways despite him. Having been on the other side of Mr. Gettelfinger, and at times being on the same side, I assure you it is more fun to be his ally than his opponent. But I will tell you this: That from this strange bedfellow, I wish former UAW President Ron Gettelfinger well in his future endeavors, and I have no doubt that whatever the Lord holds in store for him, Mr. Gettelfinger will be up to the challenge, and our country will be the better for it.

I can truly say that I am honored to have known him, and I am glad that he has done his duty to his union and our Nation.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Reverend Mary Margaret Eckhardt, Pastor of St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Livonia, Michigan, upon her retirement after more than 30 years of service in ministry.

Reverend Eckhardt became an ordained minister in 1979 after having obtained her bachelor of science and master of science degrees from the University of Tennessee, going on to pursue her Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary in Ohio. Reverend Eckhardt has served in four United Methodist Churches in Michigan, spending the last 8 years at St. Matthew's as an exceptional preacher, adult Bible Study leader and mission trip leader. She serves on the UMC district level as a Hunger Coordinator and at the conference level as an UMCOR Disaster Coordinater.

Serving her church as well as her community, Reverend Eckhardt has been an active supporter and member of the Rotary Club of Livonia and currently holds the position of Secretary. She avidly enjoys the outdoors as a hiker and bicyclist. Reverend Eckhardt has proven to be a woman of dedicated and irreproachable service. She will be missed by the members of her congregation as she pursues the next chapter of her life.

Madam Speaker, for more than 30 years Reverend Mary Margaret Eckhardt has faithfully served her congregation, her church, her community and her Lord. As she enters the next phase of her life, she leaves behind a legacy of dedication, integrity, and excellence. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Reverend Mary Margaret Eckhardt upon her retirement and recognizing her years of loyal service to our community and country.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the Division 1 State Champion Golf team from my alma mater, Detroit Catholic Central High School. On June 12, 2010 the Catholic Central Shamrocks raised the MHSAA championship trophy after besting defending champion Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central by 14 strokes.

Under the tutelage of Coach Bill Hayes, the Shamrocks tied for second place in the Catholic High School League and seemed to get stronger with every step toward the finals of the state tourney. After securing a place in Division 1 District 7 on May 28, CC moved on to regionals on June 3, finishing behind top ranked Birmingham Brother Rice and Hartland.

The 8th ranked Shamrocks took to the links after round one with a slim 4-shot lead over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and summarily set a new state final round record of 281. More impressive yet, CC set a new state tournament record of 569 besting the old record by 13 strokes. Remarkably, all four starters broke par, a feat no veteran golf coach at the course could recall ever seeing in a state final.

This championship marked the 2nd state golf title of the decade for Catholic Central. Indeed a remarkable accomplishment for this close knit group of young men, the hard work and dedication it took epitomizes what it means to be a Shamrock. By the teaching of our Basilian Fathers through goodness, discipline and knowledge the entire Catholic Central family, including this alumnus, shares in this unprecedented 6th Division 1 Championship brought home to Catholic Central during the 2009-2010 school year.

Madam Speaker, the 2010 Catholic Central Shamrocks deserve to be recognized for their dedication, achievement and spirit and I am very proud of their determination and effort. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Shamrocks for obtaining yet another title as well as for their devotion to our community and country. Live and die for CC High!

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Valassis Communications Inc., located in my hometown of Livonia, Michigan, upon the 25th anniversary of their Have You Seen Me? Program founded by Vince Guliano with the support of CEO Al Schultz.

For a quarter of a century, Valassis has demonstrated unwavering support and commitment to the recovery of missing children. Steadfastly dedicated to the core principles of finding missing children, raising public awareness in regard to missing children, deterring potential child abductors and insuring that no missing child is forgotten, Valassis reaches in excess of 100 million people each week. Their partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, NCMEC, and the United States Postal Service has featured more than 2,000 missing children and has led to the recovery of over 1,200 of our most vulnerable.

On May 24, 1985, inspired by the heartbreaking story of the abduction and murder of Adam Walsh, Valassis saw a social need and became a good corporate citizen. Their Herculean effort generates 87 percent of all photographic leads given to law enforcement in missing child cases.

Madam Speaker, Valassis Communications Inc. deserves not only recognition but heartfelt gratitude for having profoundly changed the way America searches for missing and exploited children. I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Valassis for its devotion to the children and families of our community and our country.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

You bring up a very sore point for the people of Michigan: we have the highest unemployment rate in the country. We've suffered greatly in what many people believe has been our longest lasting recession. And at present, they are very concerned that not only will we not see an immediate recovery or one in the near future, but instead what we will see is another dip down into the recession with inflation following it due to, as the gentleman has pointed out, the massive borrowing by the Federal Government. This would be akin to the stagflation that Michigan experienced in the late seventies and early eighties, which was a very severe

blow to our economy and to the families and the workers that rely upon a strong manufacturing base in this country.

When you talk about the budget, when you talk about the transportation bill, these are essential items of the Federal Government. Not being able to bring forward a budget, as the gentleman has rightly pointed out, leaves individuals who could make investments and who could help grow the economy to feel that the fiscal discipline and fiscal integrity in the United States is absent. This will then preclude them from stepping forward and trying to help grow the economy, to help people find jobs, especially in my home State of Michigan.

We talk about transportation, which is something that has generally been very bipartisan. This is not an ideological debate. We understand there is a Federal role. As Republicans, we know this from starting with Abraham Lincoln's support for internal improvements, and yet for whatever reason we have not seen a bill come forth.

As the gentleman has also rightly pointed out, the people of Michigan--who would be interested in such a bill, I assure you--are hearing that there will instead be a listening tour. Well, if you haven't heard them by now, they want jobs, they want the opportunities, they want to see the economy grow, and they want to see the Federal Government actually taking responsible steps to help facilitate economic growth.

I think that as we continue to go through the list of items that the gentleman has put forward, we do not criticize colleagues for voting on what's put in front of them. People have long talked about the bills or the resolutions that Congress passes. There are constituencies who like them. There are very few, as has been pointed out, very few individuals who oppose them. But if you look at it like a meal, on the blue charts that the gentleman from Ohio has put forward are what I would call the fixings, and what is on the white board that is missing is the actual meat and potatoes.

This Congress has to understand that there are families worried about their finances, they're worried about their futures, they're worried about what next meal they will put on the table if they lose their job or if their unemployment runs out, or if we go into a double-dip recession with the prospect of stagflation.

It is up to this Congress not necessarily to say that all the fixings are irrelevant, but we should be able to put a full meal forward of legislative priorities, pass them, and help to get us out of the situation that we're in. I know that in a State with 14 percent unemployment, that would be a most welcome change to what we're experiencing now.

I yield back.

I thank the gentleman for yielding on your point about how the proponents of the tax increases going up, tax rates going up, will say that they really didn't do anything, that they just simply let the tax relief expire.

This is akin to coming upon an accident scene and saying, ``Well, I did not help the victim. I merely let them expire.''

I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I rise too, as the gentleman from Ohio did, to be grossly off message.

The bill in question is H.R. 3936. What it does is good government. It allows employers the space they need to make sure they meet the pension obligations that they have to their workers.

It is not a government bailout. Taxpayer funds are not involved unless, of course, these institutions, these unions and their pension plans, fail. It is a wonderful idea by my colleague, Pat Tiberi. It is endorsed by many, many business groups, and I would hope that over the course of the coming hours the truth will out.

Again, you can't always believe what you see on TV, except that it was a very handsome likeness of Congressman LaTourette that appeared on Fox News.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 5051, designating the United States Postal Service building located at 23 Genesee Street in Hornell, New York, as the Zachary Smith Post Office Building. Funny. Dedicated. Hardworking. These are but a few of the words of praise that arise when friends and family speak of the memory of Lance Corporal Zachary Smith.

Zachary Smith, a native of Hornell, New York, was born on April 2, 1990. A graduate of Hornell High School, he loved sports and played on the football and golf teams. After graduation, Zach followed his lifelong dream of serving our country and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was assigned to the 2nd Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, and deployed to Afghanistan on December 17, 2009. Tragically, after only serving in Afghanistan for 1 month, he gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country in combat on January 24, in the Helmand province. Zach was only 19 years old.

Described by his childhood friend as someone who always lifted everyone's spirits, Zach served his family, community, and country with selfless devotion. He leaves behind his wife, Anne Smith; parents, Chris and Kim Smith; brother, Nate; and sister, Grace. I rise today in honor not only of a tremendous patriot but an outstanding citizen.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution in honor of a valiant life that should not, and will not, soon be forgotten by a grateful Nation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown- Waite).

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly associate myself with the remarks of my distinguished colleagues, Ms. Brown-Waite and Mr. Towns. I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 1294.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 268, supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week. National Women's Health Week begins on Mother's Day each year. During this week, individuals, families, communities, businesses, government, and other groups work together to encourage women and their families to increase their awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and medical checkups. Hopefully others will follow their lead, with children and spouses learning the benefits and fun of regular exercise, good nutrition, and other preventive measures which really do have lifelong positive consequences. I urge my fellow Members to join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 268.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Michigan (Mrs. Miller).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, they say that youth is wasted on the young, and in many ways it is. As a kid growing up in Michigan who loved baseball, going through those deep winters was very difficult. We would wait for the first signs of spring, and one of the surest signs that spring was here was the voice of Ernie Harwell. As I was growing up, our Tigers were not always at the top of their game. They had some very tough years there. But somehow that didn't matter when you listened to Ernie Harwell's voice on the radio. When you heard him describe the game of baseball, you could understand the majesty and the lore that runs through generations. And what was going on on that field to us who were listening was very important. And as a child, you tend to think that some of the things you inherit or are fortunate enough to happen upon will stay that way forever. And in some ways Ernie tried his best. His long, distinguished career allowed a kid like me to think that somehow that voice would go on forever through that radio, reminding us of the joys of what is really a child's game.

And now Detroit has lost him, the baseball community has lost him, but we have not lost the resonance of his voice in our hearts. And every time spring comes, we will be reminded not only that the joy of the national pastime is back, but we will be reminded of the joy of listening to and being with Ernie Harwell.

Mr. Speaker, I would urge all Members to support the passage of H. Res. 1328.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reserve the balance of my time so we may hear from the sponsor of the resolution, Mr. Moran.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1187, which increases public awareness to help prevent future attacks against Federal employees while engaged in or on account of the performance of their official duties. Truly, we must do all we can to prevent Federal workers from being victims of violence because of their public service.

Every year, hundreds of Federal workers are victims of cowardly acts of violence. In 2008 alone, the Department of Justice filed 303 cases against people who attacked Federal workers. And tragically, in 2010, we have already witnessed such instances of violence.

Mr. Speaker, our civilian Federal employees must not become victims of violence because of their jobs. Civilian Federal employees must feel safe while doing their jobs and serving our country.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution so we may raise public awareness of these attacks and to prevent future attacks. Thus, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H. Res. 1187.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Donna Bednarski of Canton, Michigan at the culmination of her term as President of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association.

Throughout her career, Donna has served our community through her work as a nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist at Harper University Hospital in Detroit. She is well respected in the health care profession and has been published in Nursing 2008 Critical Care, the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, and OstomyWound Management.

For the past 20 years, Donna has been an active member of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association and has served in various leadership roles. Notably, since May 2009, she has served as President and worked to implement initiatives which will improve care for patients dependent on dialysis and other kidney replacement treatments.

Madam Speaker, Donna Bednarski is a committed advocate for nephrology patients in Michigan and across the country. As she concludes her term as President of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring her dedication and recognizing her years of devoted service to our community and our country.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Ms. Jean Telep, upon her receipt of the 2010 Suburban Republican Women's Tribute to Women Award.

A registered nurse employed by Providence Hospital Senior Wellness Center, Jean holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, a Master of Science in Administration and a Business Certificate in dementia care, all from Madonna University.

Jean has been actively involved in promoting the conservative principles of the Republican Party in Michigan. She has supported and worked diligently on several campaigns of conservative candidates and as a poll worker during the November 2008 election.

More than 3 years ago, Jean became a member of the Suburban Republican Women's Club where she serves as Americanism Chairman. Actively recruiting for and reporting regularly to the general membership, Jean is a deserving recipient of the Suburban Republican Women's Club's highest honor, the 2010 Tribute to Women Award. Importantly, Jean is one of the founding members of Martha & Caty Tea Ladies, a group dedicated to providing a meeting place for conservative women to network while learning about the foundation of our country and empowering them to actively promote the conservative agenda to all levels of elected officials. Jean is also in the process of applying for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Madam Speaker, Jean's leadership and courage of convictions are an inspiration to her peers in the Suburban Republican Women's Club and our entire community. Thus, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ms. Jean Telep for her selfless service to our community and our country.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge Awrey Bakeries, upon its 100th anniversary. Awrey Bakeries stands in my hometown of Livonia, Michigan, as a true model of the American Dream and the persevering spirit of those bent on attaining that dream. From its humble beginnings as a one woman shop Awrey's has grown to a more than 200,000 square foot facility employing 400 people, grossing $90 million in sales.

As Canadian farming foundered in the early 1900s, Fletcher Awrey chose to immigrate to Detroit, Michigan, in hopes of finding work in the burgeoning auto industry. To supplement the family income Fletcher's wife, Elizabeth, baked breads and pastries in her wood-fired stove and sold them to her neighbors. As demand for the baked goods grew, her sons sold them door to door.

The Awrey family opened a retail outlet in 1914 and installed mechanized baking equipment in 1929. In 1930 the company operated 32 stores. Expansion was not slowed by the Great Depression but the sugar shortage due to rationing during World War II put growth on hold. However, by 1950 Awrey's expanded to 120 locations and operated a home delivery service. The company introduced a line of frozen baked goods aimed at the food service market in 1968 and continued to experience growth for several decades after moving its present location in Livonia in the 1970s. In 2002, Awrey's was one of the first companies in the United States to receive the prestigious Bakers Seal Award from the American Institute of Baking.

After 95 years of family ownership, Awrey's Bakeries was purchased by Hilco Equity and Monomoy Capital Partners who have taken great pride in continuing the tradition of high quality baked goods that have placed the Awrey's name among Detroit's homegrown favorites.

Madam Speaker, for 100 years Awrey Bakeries has stood as a tribute to the hard work of Fletcher and Elizabeth Awrey and their family. As the company celebrates this enormous milestone, it personifies a legacy of excellence, ingenuity, and the irrepressible spirit of the American entrepreneur. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Awrey Bakeries and recognizing their years of loyal service to our community and country.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and mourn the extraordinary life

of Gerald Gajewski upon his passing at the age of 68.

Born on October 12, 1941, Gerry Gajewski dedicated his life to serving his community and his country. After honorably serving his country as a member of the United States Air Force, Gerry came home to serve Redford Township as Recreation Commissioner and Township Trustee. He also was an active member of the Redford Township Rotary Club, serving as president five times.

Regrettably, on April 8, 2010, Gerry Gajewski passed from this earthly world to his eternal reward. He is survived by his beloved wife, Gloria and his son, Jeffrey. A devoted brother to sisters Gloria Jean and Christina, Gerry leaves a legacy of 17 nieces and nephews. A courageous and honorable man, Gerry will be sorely missed.

Madam Speaker, Gerald Gajewski is remembered as a compassionate father, a dedicated husband, a leader, a soldier and a friend. Gerry was a man who deeply treasured his family, friends, community and his country. Today, as we bid Gerry 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.