21768 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 152, Pt. 16 September 29, 2006 return, and to the families of those who will However, Howie’s record of success goes and a man who understood completely the not. beyond wins and losses. Thanks to the supe- unique culture of the Rio Grande Valley and That said, we should find a way to express rior facilities that were built under Howie’s the culture of Capitol Hill. our condolences for the large number of While his expertise was in agriculture, Iraqis incarcerated, tortured, incapacitated, leadership, West Branch had the honor of or killed in recent years. This may seem a hosting the minor-league state tournament for Chairman de la Garza made a legendary les- difficult gesture to many Americans. It may 9- and 10-year-old boys last year. In hosting son of how food was integral to our military strike them as weak, or as a slur on our pa- the tournament, West Branch organized major warfighters. He famously asked the chairman triotism. Americans do not like to admit parties and giant picnics for teams visiting of the House Armed Services Committee so that they have done wrong. We take comfort across the state. Some have described the long ago, ‘‘How long can a submarine stay in the notion that whatever the mistakes of celebrations that Howie organizes in conjunc- under water?’’ the war and occupation, we have done Iraq a tion with tournaments as a ‘‘carnival.’’ As sev- After listening to a long and detailed dis- great service by ridding it of Saddam Hus- eral local residents in West Branch have course on the capabilities of submarines from sein’s dictatorship. Perhaps we have, but in the Armed Services Committee Chairman, the process many people’s lives have been noted, Howie’s hard work benefits not only the disrupted, damaged, or senselessly ended. A local little league players, but also the West Chairman de la Garza responded, ‘‘That’s not simple gesture of conciliation would go a Branch area economy. right, sir. A sub can only stay under water as long way toward shifting our relationship Howie’s deep connection to the sport of long as the food supply lasts.’’ with Iraq from one of occupation to one of baseball goes back to his childhood. When he Kika de la Garza is a giant in the history of friendship. It would be a gesture without was only 8 years old, Howie began playing lit- the United States Congress, of South cost but of immense and everlasting value— tle league baseball. During high school, Howie and in the hearts of all of those of us who and would do more to assuage the sense of umpired younger kids while also working as a know and love him. It is a fitting tribute that hurt in the world than all of the actions this courthouse will bear the name of Kika de above. game announcer. Howie took a break during his freshman year of college from coaching la Garza. f and umpiring. However, every year after that, f HONORING HOWARD HANFT he returned to coach and assist whenever he BATTLE AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUG was needed. TRADE HON. BART STUPAK In 1988, Howie became President of the OF MICHIGAN West Branch Little League. The West Branch community has benefited from his leadership, HON. GREG WALDEN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF OREGON commitment and passion for baseball ever Friday, September 29, 2006 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES since. Running a baseball program with nearly Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 600 participants is both labor-intensive and ex- Friday, September 29, 2006 honor a constituent of mine who has dedi- pensive. Howie has therefore had to spend a Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise cated significant personal time towards helping great deal of time raising money and recruiting today to share with you my pride and deep mentor and lead young people in his commu- volunteers. All of the money and manpower gratitude for a group of people who have truly nity. Howard Hanft, or ‘‘Howie’’ as he is known that Howie is able to marshal comes from the made a difference in our battle against the ille- locally, has led the West Branch Little League local community. In many ways, Howie’s ef- gal drug trade that threatens the very fabric of for 21 years. forts have helped rally the West Branch com- American society. As President of the West Branch Little munity together, engaging local citizens and As you know, Mexican drug cartels have re- League, Howie has helped grow the league local businesses to support the town’s base- cently been operating large scale marijuana tremendously. Today, the league serves 588 ball tradition. growing and processing operations in our Na- Ogemaw County youngsters who play on 46 Mr. Speaker, is a tional Forests, National Parks, and Bureau of teams. Under his leadership, the league has uniquely American tradition. For over 100 Land Management lands. Growing marijuana built five new fields, bringing the total number years, American towns, villages and commu- and conducting illegal drug activities on our of fields to seven. Five of those fields are nities have come together during the summer public lands is nothing new. What is new is under lights and groomed with irrigation, which to watch young people partake in America’s the extremely large scale of the operations, speaks to the sophisticated care the league pastime. Howard Hanft has helped continue the heavily armed growers, and the aggres- puts into its fields for the players. and strengthen that great tradition in part of sive resistance toward law enforcement. With Howie’s efforts to build a world class little my district. I ask the U.S. House of Represent- assault rifles and booby traps, these criminals, league program have yielded big results for atives to join me in congratulating and thank- the majority of whom are in this country ille- the West Branch Little League. In 2005, West ing him for these accomplishments. gally, are fearlessly intent on protecting a col- Branch sent four teams to the state champion- f lective enterprise that grosses billions of dol- ship finals—two teams of girls and two teams lars each year. They have made parts of our of boys. The boys’ senior league clinched the THE KIKA DE LA GARZA public lands, traditionally used for recreation state title and finished second in the national COURTHOUSE and hunting, unsafe to visit. regional playoffs, one game away from the Lit- Because of sophisticated growing tech- tle League World Series. This year, the same HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ niques which employ drip irrigation, chemical team won the state championship and the re- OF TEXAS fertilizers, and lethal pesticide compounds, gional playoffs qualifying them to play in the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES these operations inflict serious damage on the Big League World Series in Easley, South environment. Furthermore, these operations Friday, September 29, 2006 Carolina. At the end of the World Series, are intertwined with the trade and manufacture Howie’s team was ranked 11th in the world, Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to com- of other illegal drugs such as meth, heroin, co- truly an astounding accomplishment. What is mend my colleague from Texas, Mr. DOGGETT, caine, and ecstasy. equally impressive is that this group of young for his work in getting the McAllen courthouse Mr. Speaker, these criminal operations are men won the state championship in a division named for my dear friend, our former col- attracted to public lands not only because of that generally has 17–18-year-olds. Howie’s league, Kika de la Garza. their remote locations, but also because our team is comprised of 16–17-year-oIds. It is fitting that after a long and distinguished federal land agencies have very small law en- I congratulate Howie and his players: Pete career as a lawmaker, the McAllen court- forcement forces. They were never designed Jackson, Troy Lambert, Rickie Dodridge, Cur- house, which dispenses justice in the Rio to combat crime on such a massive scale. tis Lyons, Kyle Wangler, Matt Faiman, Calvin Grande Valley, will bear the name of the Who then can draw a powerful line in the sand Page, Aaron Kihn, Ryan Bragg, Robbie former Chairman of the House Agriculture and both force the invading cartels away from Goulette, Kyle Weber, Anthony Betancourt Committee. Kika de la Garza was instrumental our public lands and protect the public from and Mike Noffsinger. I also salute the team’s in passing many of the laws under which them and the scourge of drugs they produce? manager Mark Weber and coaches Mark many people will be judged. In my district, this challenge has been taken Dodridge, Sr., Mark Dodridge, Jr. and Mike The former Chairman of the House Agri- up by a coalition of local law enforcement pro- Noffsinger, Sr. culture Committee is a son of South Texas fessionals who have voluntarily formed task

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