E1504 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 19, 2014 RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS ship and partnership on the many issues that California’s County Law Library Statute was OF BOB DICKERSON we both face. a direct result of the progressive movement in f the late 20th century when disparity in wealth HON. ADAM SMITH resulted in armed clashes between the work- IN RECOGNITION OF THE SAN ing and moneyed classes. Lawyers were con- OF WASHINGTON MATEO COUNTY LAW LIBRARY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sidered tools of the rich and the law libraries were tools for the common man to be his own Friday, September 19, 2014 HON. JACKIE SPEIER lawyer. Justice Conrad Rushing wrote: ‘‘The Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I OF CALIFORNIA establishment of law libraries was not by any rise to honor Bob Dickerson of RESULTS, a IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES means the most important feature of what grassroots organization dedicated to creating Friday, September 19, 2014 grew out of the progressive movement, but it the political will to end poverty in the U.S. and Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor nevertheless spoke strongly to the idea of abroad. Mr. Dickerson has contributed im- the San Mateo County Law Library, a unique equality under the law.’’ measurably to the local and international com- California resource that provides public access Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Represent- munity over the last twenty-five years as a vol- to justice. The law library in Redwood City, atives to honor the important role the San unteer leader. founded in 1916, houses a wealth of informa- Mateo County Law Library continues to play After working as an attorney in Seattle for a tion not available at other public libraries and today by providing access to legal support number of years, Mr. Dickerson left his law is used by some 9,000 individuals a year. In services and justice. May it be saved for all practice and began working nearly full-time as addition to attorneys, legal professionals and San Mateo County residents as a symbol and a RESULTS volunteer. His passionate and students, ordinary citizens use the library to manifestation of ‘‘equality under the law.’’ ever present voice for the powerless—espe- get assistance with landlord/tenant complaints, f cially children—is truly remarkable. In 2005, marital and child custody disputes probate THE 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF his work was recognized with the Thomas C. questions, entrepreneurial pursuits, safety TRANSFIGURATION ROMAN Wales Foundation Award for Civic Engage- issues and a broad range of other legal CATHOLIC PARISH OF WILLIAMS- ment and Passionate Citizenship. issues. In fact, last year the general public BURG, BROOKLYN, NY As the RESULTS Seattle Group Leader, Mr. constituted 26 percent of all library users. Dickerson has developed deep partnerships Individuals without legal training are not left with powerful coalitions, elected leaders and to their own devices to find and interpret legal HON. NYDIA M. VELA´ ZQUEZ the media. His work inspired Members of Con- literature. Librarians help everyone find an- OF NEW YORK gress and volunteers across the country on swers to their legal questions, regardless of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES both sides of the aisle to serve as vocal their educational background or financial cir- Friday, September 19, 2014 spokespersons in support of the Global Pov- cumstances. The appreciation for this service ´ erty Act, the Education for All Act, the Global is best expressed by the public users them- Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, and the Glob- selves. One patron said, ‘‘The best legal librar- tribute to Transfiguration Roman Catholic Par- al Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, ians in the Bay Area. Superior kindness, ish of Williamsburg, Brooklyn as it celebrates among many others. knowledge and patience.’’ Another said, ‘‘The its 140th anniversary. The church is com- Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration that staff here have made my life better, and for memorating this special year by hosting a se- I recognize Bob Dickerson for twenty-five that I feel compelled to dole out some kudos ries of events celebrating the parish and com- years of excellence. I wish him the best of to them.’’ munity’s rich history. luck in all his future endeavors. The idea for law libraries was born in the A church of humble beginnings, Trans- figuration originated to serve Irish Catholic im- f Bay Area. In 1870, the San Francisco Law Li- brary Act required the City and County of San migrants. Its first Mass was celebrated in 1874 TAIWAN NATIONAL DAY Francisco to provide facilities and services at by Friar John Fagan in a carpenter’s shop on REMEMBRANCE no charge and mandated access to county Hooper Street. In 1875, Transfiguration R.C. citizens. In 1891, the California Legislature Church was dedicated. As the congregation HON. KURT SCHRADER adopted this practice at the state level requir- and diversity grew, so did the needs of the pa- OF OREGON ing each county to have a law library. The li- rishioners. In 1912, the Sisters of St. Joseph IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES braries were not connected as a system, in- established a parochial school that educated stead each county library rendered services thousands of students until 2006 when it Friday, September 19, 2014 according to the needs of its communities and closed its doors. Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, our ally and was funded by the filing fees generated by the In the late 1900’s there were 500 Puerto friend in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, will celebrate court system. Ricans living in New York City, and by the their 103rd National Day on October 10th. Because the state law does not provide any 1930’s the population increased to more than Known as Double Ten Day, it celebrates the financial support to maintain the law collec- 45,000. Many of these families moved to Wil- start of the Wuchang Uprising which ultimately tions or services, the San Mateo County Li- liamsburg and settled in the Southside/Los led to the formation of Taiwan as we know it brary is now at risk. Filing fees have dropped Sures community near the Transfiguration par- today. dramatically. ish where they lived among Irish Catholics, Double Ten Day has the same significance Before the San Mateo County Law Library Italians and Jews. Transfiguration embraced to Taiwan as Independence Day does to us opened at its current location at 710 Hamilton the Latino community and adopted changes to here in the United States. It is a day that peo- Street in Redwood City, it used to consist of its ministry and services to meet the spiritual, ple are able to celebrate and remember the two branches to serve the entire peninsula, social and educational needs of its new pa- sacrifices that led to creation of Taiwan. Both one in San Mateo’s Superior Court and the rishioners. In 1956, after his ordination, Mon- the U.S. and Taiwan are relatively new; in July other in South San Francisco’s courthouse. signor Bryan J. Karvelis, a then young priest we celebrated our 238th anniversary and Tai- Due to funding cuts, support for the law collec- came to the parish and saw first-hand the con- wan is celebrating their 103rd. tion at San Mateo’s Superior Court had to be ditions and social needs of the families it On this occasion, I would like to note how discontinued many years ago and then the served. important Taiwan is to my home state of Or- courthouse was closed. Similarly, support for Transfiguration, under the leadership of egon. Last year, Oregon exports to Taiwan the law collection at the South San Francisco Monsignor Karvelis, worked to improve the reached $825.6 million. Taiwan became our courthouse was discontinued in 2011 due to lives and social and economic status of the 5th largest trading partner in Asia and the 7th cutbacks and then the courthouse was closed. poor and refugee community it served. It largest in the world. From agriculture to ma- This created a Catch 22: as the courts closed founded and helped create organizations like chinery, Oregon products serve a large part of and filing fees increased, fewer law suits were the Southside Mission, the Transfiguration Taiwan’s industries. There are more opportuni- filed, more members of the general public Parish Federal Credit Union, Southside Immi- ties to capitalize on and I look forward to used the law libraries to solve their legal gration Services, Nuestros Ninos Daycare working to grow investments and exports to issues, and the funding for the library dropped. Center, a men’s shelter and food pantry and help both our peoples. The popularity of the San Mateo Law Library Casa Betsaida, a hospice residence opened Again I wish a happy National Day to Tai- has ironically contributed to its threat of extinc- during the AIDS crisis for individuals infected wan. We look forward to continuing our friend- tion. with the virus. Monsignor Karvelis served

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