E870 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks June 9, 2016 States economy, and H. Con. Res. 112—Ex- in Biochemistry. Brealand is a shining example IN MEMORIAM OF MICHAEL pressing the sense of Congress opposing the for Terry High School and her community as RATNER President’s proposed $10 tax on every barrel she works to make it a better place. of oil. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR. Yes on H.R. 3826—Mount Hood Cooper in recognizing a remarkable student, leader OF MICHIGAN Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act. and community volunteer, Ms. Brealand Pen- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f dleton, for her hard work and dedication at Thursday, June 9, 2016 PERSONAL EXPLANATION Terry High School and throughout the commu- nities of Mississippi. Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, with my colleague Congresswoman BARBARA LEE, to pay tribute to Attorney Michael Ratner, HON. VIRGINIA FOXX f OF NORTH CAROLINA a fearless champion for justice and peace, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN RECOGNITION OF THE HEROISM who passed away on Wednesday, May 11, OF CPL. PHILIP E. LOUR 2016 at the age of 72. Thursday, June 9, 2016 For nearly half a century, the talented and Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 271, tenacious Michael Ratner brought cases with I am not recorded. HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK the Center for Constitutional Rights in U.S. Had I been present, I would have voted aye. courts related to war, torture, and other human OF VIRGINIA f rights violations. Throughout his decades of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES legal service, he was and remains a giant in PERSONAL EXPLANATION the field on Constitutional law and the law of Thursday, June 9, 2016 war. HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today He was born in on June 13, OF NEW YORK to recognize the incredible heroism of one of 1943. His father, Harry, was a Jewish immi- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES my constituents, Cpl. Philip E. Lour, a veteran grant from Russia, and his mother, the former Anne Spott, helped resettle refugees after Thursday, June 9, 2016 of World War II, a leader, and an American patriot. Mr. Lour first began serving our nation World War II, during which numerous family Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. immediately after graduating from high school members of the couple were killed. After grad- Mr. Speaker, yesterday I inadvertently voted at the age of 17. He enlisted in the U.S. Army uating in 1966 from , Mi- ‘‘nay’’ on Roll Call No. 279, on Representative Air Corps, in 1942, where he quickly devel- chael Ratner earned his juris doctorate from POLIS’ amendment to H.R. 4775 that would oped an interest in communications, and . He took a year off of adopt the text of H.R. 1548, the BREATHE eventually an expertise in Morse code. How- law school to work for the NAACP Legal De- Act, which would amend the Clean Air Act to ever, life had different plans for him. fense and Educational Fund on a Baltimore repeal the prohibitions against aggregating school desegregation case. He then clerked in emissions from oil and gas sources. As an After he was accepted into the Army Spe- Manhattan for Judge Constance Baker Motley, original cosponsor of H.R. 1548 and a strong cialized Training Program, Mr. Lour soon the first African American woman to serve on supporter of policies to protect the public and found himself heading to the front lines due to the federal bench. our environment from the dangers of Hydraulic the program being shut down. Mr. Lour fought In 1971, Ratner joined the Center for Con- Fracturing, or fracking, I duly intended to vote in one of the war’s most infamous battles, the stitutional Rights, a nonprofit organization ‘‘yea’’ on this amendment and appreciate this Battle of the Bulge, where he survived the sur- headquartered in Manhattan. From 1984 to opportunity to note my support. prise Nazi assault that incurred the highest 1990, he served as the Center’s legal director casualties for any operation in World War II in f and became the Center’s president in 2002 Europe. In January, 1946, Mr. Lour retired serving until 2014. He was also president of HONORING BREALAND PENDLETON from the Army as a hero and patriot with the the National Guild and of the Euro- thanks of a grateful nation. pean Center for Constitutional and Human HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON Mr. Lour’s service to our nation did not end Rights. OF MISSISSIPPI upon returning home. After graduating from Ratner brought cases for war crimes and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES with a degree in engineering, other violations all over the achieved through the GI Bill, he went on to world. Seeking to hold Bush administration of- Thursday, June 9, 2016 work for the National Advisory Committee of ficials accountable for torture, he filed cases Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speak- Aeronautics (NACA). His work at NACA con- under the Universal Jurisdiction principle in er, I rise today to honor a remarkable student, tinued for eight years before he transitioned to international courts, including in Germany, Ms. Brealand Pendleton. operational analysis at Langley Air Force Base Spain, Canada, Switzerland, and France. Brealand Pendleton is the daughter of Mr. in Newport News, Virginia. He eventually re- Ratner also oversaw litigation that success- Christopher and Aubrey Pendleton of Terry, tired as Deputy Director for the Concepts fully challenged ’s stop-and-frisk MS. She is one of four siblings: Chris, Analysis Agency in the Department of the policing tactic. Braydon and Aubrey Pendleton. Currently, Army. Under his leadership, the Center for Con- Brealand is a Senior of Terry High School Mr. Lour’s long career of service to our na- stitutional Rights was the first human rights or- where she will be graduating 6th out of a class tion speaks volumes of his character. He ex- ganization to stand up for the human rights of of 320. emplifies hard work, leadership, bravery, and Guantanamo detainees. Ratner was a found- Brealand Pendleton is a very outgoing ambition in all aspects of his life, from his edu- ing member of the Guantanamo Bay Bar As- young lady that has served in several capac- cation to his service abroad His dedication to sociation which grew to include more than 500 ities in her school; showing great leadership the United States serves as a model for all attorneys. This Association provided pro bono skills and the qualities of a great team mem- Americans. representation to prisoners at Guantanamo— ber. Brealand has been a member of the one of the largest mass defense efforts in U.S. Band, Flag Team (Senior Captain), Tennis I am honored to recognize Mr. Lour today history. Michael acted as counsel in the land- Team (Senior Captain), Beta Club (Senior for his selfless contributions to our great na- mark case Rasul v. Bush, which was the first Secretary), National Honor Society (Junior tion. Whether it has been fighting on the front successful Guantanamo case in the United Treasury, Senior Vice-President), Interact Club lines in WWII, or by making his neighborhood States Supreme Court. (Senior Secretary) and the National Society of more beautiful with his extraordinary azalea He is survived by his wife, Karen Ranucci, High School Scholars. Brealand has over 40 garden, it is clear that Mr. Philip E. Lour has a video producer; his children, Jake and Ana; hours of community service which varies from dedicated his life to improving the lives of his sister Ellen and his brother Bruce. local school participation, helping at the Food those around him. He is respected and loved Mr. Speaker, we ask that all our colleagues Network, serving at Stewpot, working with the by many. join us in honoring the life and work of Attor- school blood drive, contributor to the Angel Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join ney Michael Ratner. He will truly be missed, Tree and other various community projects. me in saluting Philip E. Lour for his lifetime of but he will live on through the work of the Brealand will further her education at Xavier service to the United States of America. I wish countless social justice lawyers and activists University of Louisiana, where she will major him all the best in his future endeavors. he inspired.

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