E700 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 27, 2012 COMMEMORATION OF THE 64TH tions within the VA. He served as Co-Chair, Commissions. I’m very proud of the work of ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL’S Chair, Acting Director, and eventually Director the Tennessee Holocaust Commission, much INDEPENDENCE of several national taskforces and healthcare of which is educating Tennessee teachers so systems, including the VA National Workload they can teach children about the Holocaust. HON. AL GREEN Realignment Taskforce, the CARES Livermore The Commission has been very successful and has benefitted from great leadership. OF TEXAS Realignment Taskforce, and the federal med- Then Commission Chair Reverend Beverly As- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ical disaster stations during Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, and Gustav. bury, also Chaplain at Vanderbilt University, Friday, April 27, 2012 Under his management, the VA Central worked tirelessly to get the Commission off Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the California Healthcare System was widely rec- the ground and current Chairwoman Felicia State of Israel is the premiere functioning de- ognized. In 2003, the VA Central California Anchor, born in the Bergen-Belsen camp, mocracy in the Middle East and has been a Healthcare System received the ‘‘Central Cali- uses her passion and personal experience to steadfast ally of our great nation since its in- fornia Excellence in Business Award’’ from the continue to do great things. ception. I would like to congratulate the state Fresno Chamber of Commerce and the Fres- I wear a button to honor Raoul Wallenberg, of Israel on the 64th anniversary of its inde- no Bee. In 2006, they received the VA Sec- a great diplomat who helped save 100,000 pendence. The citizens of Israel have per- retary’s Annual Labor-Management Partner- Jews. This morning HRH Princess Madeleine and Swedish Parliamentary Leaders met with severed in the face of great adversity to estab- ship Award and were recognized by the VA the Congressional Swedish Caucus and talked lish and maintain a free and democratic nation Under Secretary with the Annual Diversity about the efforts of Swedish Diplomats to en- in their homeland. Award. They also received the Robert W. gage the United States to help save lives. Israel was founded on the principles of a Carey Performance Achievement Award and U.S. Treasury Secretary Morgenthau and shared destiny of the Jewish people and their were ranked among ‘‘America’s 100 Most two people in his administration, Mr. Pehle cultural heritage. Despite the acts of violence Wired Hospitals’’ in 2009, 2006, and 2004. In and Mr. DuBois, implored our President to and wars that have ensued, Israel has per- 2010, they received the Robert W. Carey Per- help rescue Jews, and the United States cer- sisted in its pursuit of its right to exist in the formance Achievement Award. tainly helped. Unfortunately, many lives were Middle East. Israel has also played the impor- Mr. Perry’s longstanding commitment to lost because we didn’t get involved soon tant role of a refuge for the Jewish people, as U.S. veterans is truly a reflection of his char- enough. We should never meet evil with si- well as African peoples, who have suffered acter and has not gone unrecognized. He is lence. great atrocities. the recipient of numerous awards and honors, Yom HaShoah is about remembering. As I speak from my heart, having personally including the OPM ‘‘HERO’’ Award for Com- we remember the lives lost, we should also re- witnessed the beauty and majesty of Israel munity Service in the Federal Non-Military Di- member those who survived and, also, the and its people. I have prayed before the Wail- vision the Presidential Rank ‘‘Meritorious Ex- military that liberated the camps and the hun- ing Wall and gazed at the skyline of Jeru- ecutive’’ Award, the ‘‘Distinguished Executive’’ dreds of thousands of righteous gentiles who salem. Let us today reaffirm our unwavering Award, and the 2011 Veterans Health Admin- risked their own lives to save Jews. commitment to our great friend and ally, Israel. istration Certified Mentor of the Year Award. I urge all Americans visiting Washington to f Mr. Perry has been a true champion for vet- visit the U.S. Holocaust Museum and I urge all erans of the Central Valley. He and his team Tennesseans and those visiting Nashville to A TRIBUTE TO THE SERVICE OF have consistently and effectively partnered go to the Memorial on the State Capitol AL PERRY with local elected officials in efforts to better Grounds, situated alongside six cedar trees serve and care for Central Valley veterans. representing six million people, to remember HON. JIM COSTA We applaud Mr. Perry for his many years of and to understand why we must always re- OF CALIFORNIA work on behalf of our nation’s veterans and member. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES their families. His retirement marks a bitter- f Friday, April 27, 2012 sweet milestone for the VA Central California IN RECOGNITION OF ISRAEL’S 64TH Healthcare System. We wish him the best of INDEPENDENCE DAY Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with success as he begins the next chapter of his my colleague Mr. DENHAM to pay tribute to the life. service of Mr. Al Perry on the occasion of his Mr. Perry is looking forward to enjoying HON. STEVE ISRAEL retirement from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Cen- more time with his wife, Susan-Jean Perry, OF NEW YORK tral California Healthcare System. His years of and his daughters and son in-law, Amanda IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES dedicated service to United States veterans Perry, Meredith Kohl, and Kristoffer Kohl. Friday, April 27, 2012 exemplifies his reverence for our country and Mr. Speaker, Mr. DENHAM and I ask our col- Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, this week Israel demonstrates the best of what America has to leagues to join us in congratulating Mr. Al celebrated its 64th Independence Day. Since offer. Perry on his successful career as a leader in its founding on May 14, 1948, Israel has be- After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Veterans Affairs Central California come America’s greatest ally in the Middle Political Science from Middlebury College in Healthcare System, and honoring for his life- East and our commitment to the U.S.-Israel 1970, Mr. Perry served in the United States long service to the United States of America relationship remains, today, stronger than Medical Service Corps from 1971 to 1973. and its veterans. ever. This service marked the beginning of his un- f Despite years of intermittent war and over- wavering commitment to promoting and pro- whelming odds, Israel has developed into a tecting the welfare and safety of our nation. THE HOLOCAUST thriving democracy representing many of the Following his service, Mr. Perry attended same democratic principles that we enjoy in Northeastern University where he obtained a HON. STEVE COHEN the United States today. Israel’s vibrant de- Master’s Degree in Public Administration, and OF TENNESSEE mocracy includes a very active free press rep- the Medical College of Virginia where he IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES resenting a diverse set of opinions throughout earned a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Ad- Friday, April 27, 2012 society and a robust and fair legal system ministration. guaranteeing citizens’ civil rights. Israel re- During his career with the VA, he has Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, today, there was spects the freedom of religion for all of those served as a friend and counselor to many of a Yom HaShoah service held in the United who worship within her state and is a leader our nation’s service men and women. As a States Capitol as they are being held in State in the protection and promotion of gay rights coach and mentor for the VA’s career and de- Capitals throughout the Nation, to remember in the Middle East region. velopment programs, Mr. Perry served as a the victims of the Holocaust—the loss of six Israel has also become a leader in the fields guide and moral paradigm for countless vet- million lives. It is imperative that we remember of agriculture technology and high-tech, devel- erans by steering and advising them through the loss of those six million people and, also, oping a drip irrigation system used all over the difficult decisions. Prior to this, Mr. Perry the people who survived and those who world and tech devices used in many house- served as adjunct faculty at California State helped them survive. holds and businesses with the same reach. University, Long Beach and Boston University. In 1984, as a young State Senator, I spon- Israel’s medical technologies and military ad- A tireless advocate for all veterans, Mr. sored legislation to create the Tennessee Hol- vancements have also protected U.S. soldiers Perry has held a number of leadership posi- ocaust Commission, one of the first such state on the battlefield and saved many lives.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:16 Apr 28, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A27AP8.053 E27APPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS April 27, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E701 Israel’s many accomplishments are truly in- the West Coast. Kiyo Yoshimura was one of Americans. The law stated that government spiring and I am honored to recognize our the people interned. In 1942 government offi- actions were based on race prejudice, war greatest ally’s 64th Independence Day. cials ordered Yoshimura and her family to hysteria and a failure of political leadership. f board a bus, without telling them where it Japanese Americans received reparations. would take them. They arrived at Tanforan, a Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House of Rep- IN RECOGNITION OF THE 70TH AN- horse stable, where they would live for about resentatives join me in commemorating the in- NIVERSARY OF THE EVACU- six months before being shipped off to a more ternment of Japanese Americans during World ATION AND INTERNMENT OF permanent internment camp in Utah. At War II During this dark period of our nation’s JAPANESE AMERICANS Tanforan they lived behind barbed wire, smell- history fear eclipsed freedom and as national ing the manure from the horses that had pre- leaders, it is our duty to ensure that this never HON. JACKIE SPEIER viously inhabited the same space. They were happens again. OF CALIFORNIA denied the dignity of privacy as they bathed or IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES used the bathroom in public latrines. They f Friday, April 27, 2012 were treated like enemies of the state and de- OUR UNCONSCIONABLE NATIONAL based like animals. DEBT Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to com- The United States government interned memorate the 70th Anniversary of the evacu- 8,000 families at Tanforan, and 120,000 peo- ation and internment of Japanese-Americans ple of Japanese ancestry were sent to intern- HON. MIKE COFFMAN during World War II. ment camps along the Pacific Coast. These OF COLORADO The philosopher George Santayana once Japanese-Americans were hardworking, law- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES said: ‘‘Those who cannot remember the past abiding people. Some of them served in the Friday, April 27, 2012 are condemned to repeat it.’’ Yet, during war- military and fought in Europe. time, our nation repeatedly sacrifices civil lib- Most Japanese Americans chose to remain Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, erties to appease unwarranted fears. As the silent about their experiences at internment on January 20, 2009, the day President United States fought against tyranny abroad, camps, but it had a lasting impact on them. Obama took office, the national debt was our government detained American citizens of The government took their homes and their $10,626,877,048,913.08. Japanese descent, solely because of their possessions. They had to find new jobs, build Today, it is $15,624,347,610,476.87. We’ve race. new communities and pick up the pieces of added $4,997,470,561,563.79 to our debt in In 1942 Franldin Delano Roosevelt signed their broken lives. just over 3 years. This is debt our nation, our Executive Order 9066, calling for the exclusion In 1988 Ronald Reagan signed legislation economy, and our children could have avoided and internment of all Japanese Americans on apologizing for the internment of Japanese with a balanced budget amendment.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:16 Apr 28, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K27AP8.016 E27APPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS