February 3, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- Extensions of Remarks E193
He was always active in our community and leaves a legacy of public service and philanthropy. He deeply believed in serving this great Nation and giving selflessly for the greater good. As a member of the United States Navy, he proudly served in World War II. His generosity extended to numerous causes such as the Salvation Army, United Way, Children's Medical Center of Dallas, and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. Mr. Hargrove recognized the courage of our law enforcement men and women and did as much as possible to support them. He was also a passionate advocate of the Texas Rangers, serving as a Director Emeritus for the Texas Rangers Association Foundation.
He cared deeply for his family, friends, and community, and it was evident to all who knew him. I am honored to have known him and called him my friend. He will be greatly missed. May the peace of God be with those he loved and sustain them through this hour of sorrow.
f PERSONAL EXPLANATION HON. BOB ETHERIDGE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, February 3, 2009 Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, my dear friend and former colleague Roger Bone passed away recently, and I needed to travel to North Carolina to pay my respects. Unfortunately, due to these travel arrangements, I was unable to vote on one measure on the House floor.
Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Senate Bill 181, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. Further, I would have voted ``no'' on the motion to recommit the bill.
Had I been present, I would also have voted ``yea'' on the motion to move to consideration of House Bill 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
f HONORING THREE DEPARTING MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS COMMISSION HON. JOHN B. LARSON OF CONNECTICUT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, February 3, 2009 Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, I would like to commemorate the departure of three notable members from Commission, with which I have had the honor of serving. These three individuals have helped promote the preservation and use of America's documentary heritage, helping those in our country and from abroad understand American democracy, history, and culture.
Margaret Grafeld of the Department of State of the United States joined the National Historical Publications and Records Commission in June 1998 and has served with distinction for the past decade. Currently Director of the Office of Information Programs and Services, Ms. Grafeld has been with the Department since 1974, shortly after her graduation from
erature and reports, disseminate reliable scientific information, and help with the development of international drug free standards through The International Taskforce on Strategic Drug Policy and The Drug Prevention Network of the Americas.
In addition to her tireless work against drug abuse, Betty has also found time to serve on the Board of the Florida Holocaust Museum; the Florida Governor's Mansion Foundation; the Florida House in Washington, DC; and the University of Florida Brain Addiction Research Advisory Council.
Betty's non-stop work against drug abuse and in so many other philanthropic efforts have been honored nationally. In May 2005, she was named as an honorary Special Agent of the Drug Enforcement Agency and in March 2008, the Drug Enforcement Agency Museum Foundation presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also been recognized by the Houston Drug Free Business Initiative and in 2000 the Girl Scouts of the Suncoast Council named her a ``Woman of Distinction.'' Madam Speaker, I have known Betty Sembler for many years not only as a constituent but as a dear friend and I can tell you that no one works harder for our community, our state and our nation. She has fought the war against drugs block by block, state by state and nation by nation. She is called upon by medical, government and law enforcement leaders for her advice on combating illegal drugs and on drug education campaigns.
And she has represented the United States with great distinction as the First Lady to Ambassador Mel Sembler. She has been most gracious in forging special relationships with the leaders of some of our nation's greatest and most critical allies.
In all of these endeavors, Betty Sembler has served with a special spirit and energy that has amazed all who have come to know her.
Her greatest passion though, is for her family.
Mel, her husband of 56 years, and Betty are the proud parents of three children and 11 grandchildren. They are special Americans who have always kept their priorities in order-faith, family and country.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in thanking Betty Sembler for her lifelong service to our nation and in congratulating her on being inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.
f TRIBUTE TO RAYMOND L.
HARGROVE HON. PETE SESSIONS OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, February 3, 2009 Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of my dear friend, Raymond L. Hargrove. He was a great American, a believer in the free enterprise system, and a kind and generous man.
Born and raised in Texas, Mr. Hargrove was a proud graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the Schreiner Institute. In 1964, he founded Hargrove Electric Company, which quickly became one of most successful businesses in Dallas. He founded the Greater Dallas Electric League and served as its first president.
definition, Congress will retain jurisdiction over the District of Columbia under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution because the District is not a state. Since, therefore, Congress could in any case make changes in the District's budget and laws at will, it is unnecessary to require a lengthy repetition of the District's budget process here. The redundancy of the congressional appropriations process is its most striking feature, considering that few if any changes in the budget itself are made.
The original Senate version of the Home Rule Act provided for budget autonomy, and 210 years of redundant processing of a local budget and delays occasioned by the extra layer of oversight offer conclusive evidence that the time is overdue to permit the city to enact its local budget, the single most important step the Congress could take to help the District improve managing the city.
Members of Congress were sent here to do the business of the nation. They have no reason to be interested in or to become knowledgeable about the many complicated provisions of the local budget of a single city. In good times and in bad, the House and Senate pass the District's budget as is. Our bill takes the Congress in the direction it is moving already based on its own experience. Congressional interference into one of the vital rights to self-government should end this year with enactment of the District of Columbia Budget Autonomy Act.
f BETTY SEMBLER OF TREASURE ISLAND, FLORIDA SELECTED FOR FLORIDA WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME HON. C. W. BILL YOUNG OF FLORIDA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, February 3, 2009 Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, Mrs. Betty Sembler, who I have the privilege to represent, has been named to the Florida Women's Hall of Fame for her lifetime of work to protect our nation's youth and adults from the scourge of drug abuse.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist selected her to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in recognition of her three decade war on drugs. This is an effort she has taken on with great passion at the local, state and federal level. Betty has been a delegate to the White House Conference for a Drug-Free America and a member of the Governor's Drug Policy Task Force in Florida. She has served on the board of DARE Florida and DARE America, a national organization that provides anti-drug education to elementary and middle school students.
Betty also took her battle worldwide as she served as Vice Chairwoman of DARE International and fought against international drug legalization efforts around the globe while traveling with her husband Mel, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Australia and Italy.
Back home in Pinellas County, Betty was the Founder and President of Save Our Society from Drugs and the Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., nationally and internationally recognized non-profit organizations that promote sound drug policies, drug free workplaces, high school and college drug awareness and education programs, maintain one of the nation's largest libraries of anti-drug lit
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