E198 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- Extensions of Remarks February 4, 2009
Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in commending Thomas Lee Knopp for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout.
f TRIBUTE TO MS. MYRA MORGAN HON. GEOFF DAVIS OF KENTUCKY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate one of my constituents, Ms. Myra Morgan of Sparta, Kentucky.
On December 9, 2008, Ms. Morgan was awarded the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award for excellence in education.
Ms. Morgan was notified of her win by Former Kentucky Commissioner of Education Jon Draud, who made the announcement during a surprise assembly at Gallatin County Lower Elementary School. Ms. Morgan has been a teacher at the elementary school for twelve years and is currently the department chair and team leader for the school's kindergarten team. She was one of eighty national winners of the 2009 Milken Educator Award and the only winner from Kentucky.
In May, Ms. Morgan will attend the Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference in California, where she will receive a $25,000 reward. The Milken Family Foundation was established in 1985, and the first awards were given in 1987. Since 1993, fortynine Kentuckians have won the award.
Ms. Morgan has inspired countless children, and has been an exceptional leader in the communities of Gallatin County. We are all extremely proud that Ms. Morgan has received the recognition she deserves.
Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in commending Ms. Myra Morgan for her outstanding service to Kentucky's youth.
f TRIBUTE TO MARTHA FLORES HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART OF FLORIDA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the work and accomplishments of a distinguished radio journalist and community activist, Martha Flores. Mrs. Flores fled Cuba 50 years ago, on January 17, 1959, and immediately started advocating for her country's freedom as a member of the first anti-Castro organization in exile ``La Rosa Blanca''. She has since lived and worked in Miami, Florida and is also celebrating her 50th anniversary in journalism.
Mrs. Flores began her radio career as the host of a program on WMIE, the only station at the time that broadcast some programs in Spanish. Throughout the years, she has hosted radio shows on La Fabulosa, Ocean Radio, and WRHC Cadena Azul and for the past 18 years, has produced and hosted a nightly Spanish radio program, ``La Noche y Usted'' on WAQI Radio Mambi.
Mrs. Flores embodies the American dream and is testament of what can be accomplished
tect workers from discrimination, and I was proud to cite the work of AFSCME, Barbara Kraft, Sarah Starrett and the women custodians of the U.S. Congress as the best evidence of the need for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
f PERSONAL EXPLANATION HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, on February 3, 2009, I was absent for three rollcall votes. If I had been here, I would have voted: ``Yes'' on rollcall vote 47.
``Yes'' on rollcall vote 48.
``Yes'' on rollcall vote 49.
f TRIBUTE TO TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH HON. JOHN SHIMKUS OF ILLINOIS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an important community institution in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Trinity Episcopal Church this month celebrated its 100th anniversary. Since the first service was held at 1100 Harrison Street in Mt. Vernon on January 3, 1909, thousands of people have visited Trinity Episcopal to share a worship service with their neighbors. Generations of families in Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County have been welcomed into the congregation at Trinity Episcopal.
Today, Trinity Episcopal is an important part of the spiritual fabric of the community and also serves as a good neighbor to families in need throughout the area. Through a century of the congregation's generosity, many have found a helping hand, warm embrace, and comfort in times of despair.
I want to congratulate Father Gene Tucker of Trinity Episcopal, all members of the congregation, and the extended Trinity Episcopal family on 100 years of service and thank them for the important role they play in our community.
f HONORING THOMAS LEE KNOPP HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 4, 2009 Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Thomas Lee Knopp of Platte City, Missouri. Thomas is a very special young man who has exemplified the finest qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 351, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout.
Thomas has been very active with his troop, participating in many scout activities. Over the many years Thomas has been involved with scouting, he has not only earned numerous merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community.
Washington Post and ABC News, 84 percent of Americans support requiring utilities to increase their use of wind, solar and other renewable sources of power.
President Obama understands the importance of increasing our use of renewable energy to unleash a clean energy revolution that will get our economy moving again. The States all across the country that have already put similar policies in place understand the need for action. The overwhelming majority of the American people understand it. Now it is time for the Congress to take action to unleash the clean energy revolution by adopting a national renewable electricity standard.
f LILLY LEDBETTER FAIR PAY ACT OF 2009 SPEECH OF HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, January 27, 2009 Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, in my earlier remarks on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, I highlighted the first-rate work of AFSCME Council 26, affiliated with the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, in a sex discrimination lawsuit brought by female custodians against the Architect of the Capitol, which is another way of saying the Congress of the United States of America. The women custodians were being paid one dollar less than their male co-workers. I referred to the female custodians' lawsuit in my remarks because without AFSCME's representation, this discrimination right here in Congress might never have been uncovered, just as Lilly Ledbetter did not discover the equal pay violations until after she retired.
The women's Equal Pay Act lawsuit was historic as well because it was the first classaction under the Congressional Accountability Act that holds Congress to the same employment laws as our constituents. The class was expertly represented by lawyers Barbara Kraft and Sarah Starrett. By getting the women class certified, AFSCME and its lawyers were able to exert maximum leverage and, therefore, negotiate a just settlement with the Architect of the Capitol. The case underscores the importance of undoing the Supreme Court's Ledbetter decision and restoring the longstanding interpretation of the Equal Pay Act.
The Congress, the body representing the people, had been systematically and shamefully discriminating against its own workers.
I had been a strong supporter of these women since they first filed their lawsuit. As a former chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, who had responsibility for enforcing the Equal Pay Act, I felt at the time that it was my obligation to bring the female custodians' case to the attention of other Members, and I spoke on the floor about the case in March 2000. I joined AFSCME and the women at a press conference on Equal Pay Day on May 10, 2000, to push for equal pay for these women as well as all other women in the workforce. After the women settled with the government, I was delighted when I was invited to help hand-deliver their settlement checks.
The Ledbetter decision undermined the ability of unions like AFSCME to uncover and pro
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