February 11, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- Extensions of Remarks E241
Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on each.
f TRIBUTE TO DAWN REMSBURG HON. TOM LATHAM OF IOWA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellence in education in the 4th Congressional District of Iowa, and to specifically congratulate Dawn Remsburg of Ames Community School District, who earned the National Board Certification-the highest level of certification in the teaching profession.
National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers. National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. Certification is offered in 25 different subjects, covering 97 percent of the subjects taught in K-12 schools.
I congratulate Dawn Remsburg on her welldeserved certification, and I'm certain that she will continue to touch the lives of many youth in her community. It is a great honor to represent Dawn in the United States Congress, and I wish her continued success.
f EXPRESSING REGRET FOR AUSTRALIA'S LOSSES AS A CONSEQUENCE OF WILDFIRES HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS OF FLORIDA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deep regret for the loss of life and destruction of property that is occurring in Australia as a consequence of wildfires, and to extend my condolences to the Australian people.
Although wildfires are common during the Australian summer, strong winds, extreme temperatures and dry conditions have combined in recent days to fuel fires, which have ravaged Australia's southern State of Victoria with unparalleled force. Despite the prompt and earnest efforts of rescue crews and firefighters, 181 deaths have been confirmed and, according to yesterday's edition of Australia's Sydney Morning Herald, police fear that as many as 300 people have already passed.
More than 750 properties spanning 350,000 hectares of land have been destroyed. Whole communities have been decimated; in the town of Marysville, which was hit by a 60-milelong fire front, it is feared that 100 of the 519 residents have been killed. Tragically, these numbers are likely to deteriorate further, there being approximately 23 fires which remain uncontained.
Encouragingly, the size of the tragedy has been matched by the size and speed of the response. I extend my sincere appreciation to the emergency rescue crews, firefighters and Australia's Federal and Victorian Governments for their well-coordinated response to this calamity. The loss suffered would have been far
on the Sonoma community, and on his many friends and family. He was an inspiration to me, and I will miss him so much. Thank you, Andy, for all your wonderful work and commitment and for your friendship.
f HONORING THE NAACP ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY SPEECH OF HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.
OF GEORGIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 10, 2009 Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, this historic year marks both the inauguration of this country's first African-American president, Barack Obama, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's (N.A.A.C.P.) 100th anniversary. February 12, 1909 was chosen as the founding date of the N.A.A.C.P. to commemorate President Abraham Lincoln's 100th birthday, with the hopes of realizing his vision of a unified nation overcoming racial and ethnic hatred and discrimination.
The following decades have seen the emergence of new challenges along America's journey towards equality. Yet the N.A.A.C.P. has persisted and has overcome these obstacles.
It currently bears witness to numerous advancements that may have never taken place had it not been for the collective will of the many N.A.A.C.P. members who were willing to Without the N.A.A.C.P., it is hard to say where this country would be if it never fought for African-Americans to have increased access to the ballot box.
Without the N.A.A.C.P., it is hard to say where this country would be if it never fought against discrimination-from schooling to housing, and from marriage to employment.
After all, the NAACP's Legal department, headed by Charles Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall, undertook a campaign spanning several decades to bring about the reversal of the ``separate but equal'' doctrine enshrined in the Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson.
Without the N.A.A.C.P. and the courageous men and women who risked their lives and livelihoods in order to promote the rights of ev eryone, regardless of the color of their skin, it is hard to say where this great country would be.In fact, it is hard to imagine an America without the N.A.A.C.P. My life and the life of this nation would be much different if it were not for the organization's efforts to tear down the barriers of racial discrimination and hatred.
The N.A.A.C.P.'s work, however, is not yet finished. If the last century is any indication though, as long as there is an N.A.A.C.P., all Americans will continue to have a powerful advocate for fairness, equality, and justice.
f PERSONAL EXPLANATION HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY OF NEVADA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I was unable to vote on rollcall Nos. 54 through 59.
longtime executive with Exchange Bank who devoted himself to his family, his community, and his fly fishing.
Born in Chicago in 1924, Andy grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and Pebble Beach, California. He joined the Army in 1943 and distinguished himself fighting in France where he won numerous honors including the Combat Infantryman's Badge 1st Award and the Bronze Star. After his discharge in 1946, Andy attended Stanford University, graduating in 1949 with a degree in Economics. He soon joined Exchange Bank as a teller, working his way up to CEO in a career that spanned 60 years.
By 1969, Andy was appointed CEO and President of the bank, a position he held until 1991 when he was named Chairman of the Board. Upon his retirement in 2003, Andy served as Chairman Emeritus and continued to visit his office until a few months ago, despite being debilitated by a bone marrow disorder.
Andy was known as a banker's banker, and his years of leadership at Exchange Bank were marked by solid investments that assured good dividends combined with innovations such as being one of the first banks in the community to introduce ATMs and drivethrough tellers. He also set a priority on personable customer and employee relations, which he exemplified with his own ready smile and kind words. During his tenure the bank grew from three offices to 19, with a focus on small account-holders.
But it is his promotion of Exchange Bank's . fight for what they believed was right.
Doyle Scholarships-that truly marked Andy's banking career. The scholarship program, founded by Frank Doyle almost 60 years ago, provides bank dividends for a fund which assists students at Santa Rosa Junior College.
Over the years, $78 million has been awarded to more than 112,000 students. Unfortunately, the bank has recently had to suspend these dividends, but Andy was confident that, with the bank's long-term stability, they will be restored. He also founded and-or served on the boards of numerous community organizations such as the Community Foundation Sonoma County, Santa Rosa Symphony, Memorial Hospital, Heart Association of the Redwood Empire, and United Way.
Andy also had active leadership roles in two key banking organizations, the California Bankers Association and the American Bank ers Association as well as the Independent Bankers of Northern California, the American Institute of Banking and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. Among his numerous awards are the California Human Development Corporation Aztec Award, Pacific Coast Banking School Hall of Fame, Santa Rosa Junior College Floyd Bailey Award and President's Medallion, and the Junior Chamber of Commerce Boss of the Year.
In 1993, Andy married Mardi Casebolt who shared his passions for golf and fly fishing.
Andy was proud of his chairmanship of the Ladies Professional Golf Association and enjoyed his time at a fly fishing lodge he cofounded in Colorado which has been featured on national television fishing shows. In addition to Mardi, Andy is survived by daughters Marcy Lyons and Susan Ball, stepdaughters Debbie Bird and Trece O'Donnell, four grandchildren, and five step grandchildren.
Madam Speaker, Andrew Shepard's life leaves a deep imprint on the banking industry,
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