June 6, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E773 IN RECOGNITION OF DR. As a tolerant and secular Muslim-majority Bishops lobbyist for the poor and unborn. CHRISTOPHER J. QUINN nation, Azerbaijan is dedicated to religious plu- Mark was a quiet but extraordinarily powerful ralism and ensuring the right of religious free- force. While the full reach of his impactful life HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR. dom. Azerbaijan is home to a thriving Jewish can only be known to God, those of us who OF NEW JERSEY community and since the early 1990s, bilateral were blessed to know him witnessed the many IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES relations between Azerbaijan and Israel have ways his persevering work made a positive Tuesday, June 6, 2017 grown in the fields of intelligence sharing, se- difference for the lives of the weakest and curity coordination and economic develop- most vulnerable. Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ment. First hired by the National Committee for a congratulate Dr. Christopher J. Quinn on his I commend Azerbaijan for their participation Human Life Amendment in 1974, Mark for- selection as President-Elect of the American in the international community as a member of mally took up the cause just one year after Optometric Association (AOA). Dr. Quinn will the United Nations (UN), North Atlantic Treaty Roe v. Wade stripped the unborn child of all be installed as the AOA’s 96th President dur- Organization (NATO) and the Organization for legal protection. He eventually represented the ing the 120th Congress of the House of Dele- Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as their gates this year. Azerbaijan is a strong partner of the United lead lobbyist until his retirement in 2007. Over Dr. Quinn’s long-standing involvement with States in a strategically important and complex the course of those three decades, Mark the AOA exemplifies his dedication to the as- region of the world. I ask my colleagues to join played an integral role in every pro-life effort sociation and the greater medical community. me in congratulating the Azerbaijani people on in Congress. He has served on the Board of Trustees since their National Republic Day. He educated an entire generation of law- 2008 and is a liaison trustee to the Accredita- f makers on the arguments for protecting the tion Council on Optometric Education and the unborn, at a time when few others could be RECOGNIZING ‘‘MARY A. WHALEN’’ American Academy of Optometry. Throughout found on Capitol Hill with this expertise. his career, Dr. Quinn has also been a member ´ Mark’s skillfulness and serene demeanor of the AOA Federal Relations Committee, the HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ was critical to the enactment of and defense AOA State Government Relations Committee, OF NEW YORK of the Hyde amendment—the landmark and has also served as an AOA representa- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES amendment preventing federal funding of tive to the American Medical Association’s Re- Tuesday, June 6, 2017 abortion that has saved the lives of at least source Based Relative Value Upstate Com- two million people. Two million people who mittee—Health Care Professionals Advisory Ms. VELA´ ZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, on the oc- casion of the launch of the NYC Ferry South have been aborted instead survived because Committee. public funds were unavailable to effectuate In addition to his experience with the AOA, Brooklyn route, I rise to recognize the 79th their violent demise. Dr. Quinn is past president of the New Jersey birthday of the tanker Mary A. Whalen (The Mark was as concerned about the plight of Society of Optometric Physicians, a Fellow of Mary). women facing an unplanned pregnancy as he the American Academy of Optometry and is The Mary was launched in May of 1938, was about their unborn children. A former an adjunct professor at the Pennsylvania Col- and now serves as a vital community land- worker for U.S. anti-poverty programs like lege of Optometry, State University of New mark and asset in Red Hook, Brooklyn. As Catholic Charities, he was happy to take part York, New England College of Optometry, Uni- home to PortSide NewYork, a nonprofit orga- in efforts to pass the Family and Medical versity of California at Berkeley and The Ohio nization, the tanker is a vessel for arts, edu- Leave Act and the Refundable Child Tax State University. He is also the owner and cation and vocational programs as well as Credit. president of Omni Eye Services in New Jer- public access to the waterfront. By recognizing the importance of a life of A brilliant strategist for the causes he sey. served, Mark was always selfless and self-ef- Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that my col- continued learning, PortSide NewYork devel- facing. Thanks to Mark’s mastery of intricate leagues will join me in congratulating Dr. oped Red Hook WaterStories. As a digital mu- details of the rules of Congress, all the legisla- Quinn as President-Elect of the American Op- seum, WaterStories is a resource for both tive recommendations of the Meese Report, tometric Association and thanking him for his locals and visitors to learn about the history i.e. the Attorney General’s commission to commitment to his patients and the field of op- and present of the Red Hook Waterfront. combat pornography, were enacted into law. tometry. PortSide NewYork received a 2013 Cham- Beyond living out a Christ-like care for the f pions of Change White House Award for their Superstorm Sandy preparations that protected vulnerable in the political realm, Mark also la- NATIONAL REPUBLIC DAY OF the Mary followed by creating a pop-up aid bored for souls, becoming a permanent dea- AZERBAIJAN station to ensure recovery efforts for the com- con in the Catholic Church in 1996. munity after the storm. Someday soon, America will protect the HON. DONALD M. PAYNE, JR. The Mary is listed on the National Register weakest and most vulnerable. And into eter- OF NEW JERSEY of Historic Places, and is the only oil tanker nity Mark Gallagher played a critical part in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES cultural center in the world. On June 1, 2017, this all-important human rights struggle. We are grateful for the gift of his life and pray for Tuesday, June 6, 2017 the NYC Ferry will make its maiden journey to Red Hook, pulling up right beside the Mary. his family in their time of grief. Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to I applaud PortSide NewYork for their dedi- f recognize the National Republic Day of Azer- cation to serving the communities ashore and baijan commemorating Azerbaijan’s 99th year INTRODUCTION OF A JOINT RESO- afloat, the Red Hook community and the mari- of independence and democracy. In 1918, LUTION COMMEMORATING THE time community of this port. On this joyful day, Azerbaijan became the first democratic and BRAVERY OF RICK BEST, I wish them many more years of continued secular Muslim country in the world. However, TALIESIN MYRDDIN NAMKAI- learning and success. in 1920, the country was absorbed into the MECHE, AND MICAH DAVID-COLE Soviet Union. After seven decades, Azerbaijan f FLETCHER prevailed over the forces of communism to re- MARK GALLAGHER’S ENDURING store the country’s independence in 1991, fol- LEGACY HON. EARL BLUMENAUER lowing the collapse of the Soviet Union. Azer- OF OREGON baijan’s National Republic Day highlights the HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nation’s significant contributions to global sta- OF NEW JERSEY Tuesday, June 6, 2017 bility, and religious tolerance. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES As an unwavering U.S. ally, Azerbaijan has Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today I, provided vital resources for U.S. and NATO Tuesday, June 6, 2017 with Representatives SUZANNE BONAMICI, forces and fought side-by-side with U.S. Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, to- PETER DEFAZIO, KURT SCHRADER, and GREG troops in Afghanistan. The United States is morrow the Gallagher family will lay to rest a WALDEN and the support of Sens. WYDEN and grateful for Azerbaijan’s security contributions beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather MERKLEY, am introducing a resolution com- in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq as well as the and great grandfather—Mark Gallagher. memorating the bravery of Rick Best, Taliesin country’s commitment to global nonprolifera- I worked with Mark for many years in his ca- Myrddin Namkai-Meche, and Micah David- tion efforts. pacity as the key U.S. Conference of Catholic Cole Fletcher. These courageous heroes

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:31 Jun 07, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A06JN8.045 E06JNPT1 E774 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks June 6, 2017 stood up against hate and injustice. Rick, CONGRATULATING THE BROOKLYN growing Asian-American community. Their Taliesin, and Micah make us proud to be Or- CHINESE-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION daycare programs nurture children and their egonians. This resolution is to honor these he- senior centers give the elderly a chance to roes, help our community heal, and allow for HON. NYDIA M. VELA´ ZQUEZ meet, socialize and stay active. introspection and broader discussion. As we OF NEW YORK Through adult educational programs, BCA helps immigrants adjust to their new commu- begin the process of healing, we must all con- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nities. Further, by providing naturalization as- tinue to protect one another, help one another, Tuesday, June 6, 2017 sistance, BCA aids applicants in the process and work for peace and justice. I urge the Ms. VELA´ ZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is my of becoming an American citizen. House to pass this resolution. honor to congratulate the Brooklyn Chinese- BCA is committed to preserving and revital- American Association (BCA) on its 29th Anni- izing local neighborhoods, supporting clean-up versary Celebration. BCA offers life-changing campaigns and fighting for crime prevention services to numerous communities that have and victim’s rights. become collectively known as ‘‘Brooklyn Thanks to the hard work of the staff and Chinatown’’. community at BCA, Brooklyn’s communities Since its establishment in 1988, BCA has are a better place to live, work and celebrate helped to meet the needs of Brooklyn’s rapidly a diverse cultural heritage.

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