E1608 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks June 26, 2009 RECOGNIZING FRANKIE BRETHE- also appropriate for Congress to recognize all the more personal when my cousin, a New RICK HONORING AMERICA’S and honor the service of the WASP with the York City fireman, died during the September FIRST FLY GIRLS Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional 11, 2001 attacks trying to help people out of Gold Medal is the highest and most distin- Tower 2 at the World Trade Center. HON. guished award that the U.S. Congress can What happened on September 11th can OF award to a civilian. Finally, these women will never happen again, and that is what the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES receive that long-overdue recognition now that UASI program is about. The grants go to cities the House and the Senate have passed the and states under the greatest threat of attack. Friday, June 26, 2009 bill granting these women. In New York City, the grants have been used Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam This Congressional Gold Medal honors to train and better equip first responders, and Speaker, Women Air Force Service Pilots mothers, grandmothers, teachers, office work- provide them with better communication sys- (WASP) were the first women in American his- ers, nurses, business women, photographers, tems to assure preparedness, in addition to tory to fly military aircraft. Between the years dancers, one was even a nun. But before that, improved monitoring of critical infrastructure. 1942–1944, women were recruited to fly non- they were pilots for the US Army Air Corps Late last month, four men were arrested in combat missions, so that every male pilot during World War II. Finally, this Congress has a plot to bomb two Bronx synagogues. Ac- could be deployed in combat. These women recognized their sacrifice and considers them cording to authorities, they had planted bombs piloted every kind of military aircraft and all heroes because these trailblazers and true in cars outside the two synagogues, and were logged 60 million miles flying missions across patriots served our country without question planning to shoot down military planes at an the . They were never awarded and with no expectations of recognition or Air National Guard base in upstate New York. full military status and were not eligible for offi- praise. That is what being a true hero is all New York’s Office of Homeland Security later cer status. It was not till 1977 that the WASP about! The Congressional Gold Medals will be provided Urban Area Security Initiative Non- pilots were granted veterans’ status. Of the awarded to all 1,102 pilots and/or their sur- profit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funds in 1,102 WASP pilots, just under 300 are living viving family members. order to resolve the vulnerabilities of the syna- today. One of these living legends resides in To the brave and selfless women like gogues. Additionally, it was Federal homeland the Third Congressional District, Frankie Frankie, our nation owes them a debt of grati- security dollars that assisted the New York Bretherick. I’d like to thank her personally for tude for their service and sacrifice. I am so Police Department in their excellent investiga- her service to this great nation for being a pio- very proud of them. God bless them and God tive work to stop this act of terror before it oc- neer of flight. bless America! I salute them one and all. curred. Madam Speaker, the threat of terrorism re- Frankie Lovvorn was born September 19, f 1914, in Cranfils Gap, Bosque County, Texas. mains very real, making it essential for cities Her parents were Francis Marion Lovvorn and DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SE- that face the greatest risk to have the tools Primrose Smith. She graduated from high CURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, and resources necessary to stop attacks be- school in Meridian, Bosque County, Texas. 2010 fore they occur. Cities, like New York, remain She graduated from Providence Hospital Nurs- a major target for terrorists, and programs like ing School in Waco, Texas, in 1937. She SPEECH OF UASI help us fight terrorism and ensures that worked for five years at various veteran’s hos- HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY our first responders have the equipment they need to protect the American people. pitals in Texas and Louisiana. She began fly- OF NEW YORK ing lessons at an airport south of Dallas, I would like to thank the gentleman from IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Texas. North Carolina, Chairman of the Homeland By the time she applied and was accepted Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Security Appropriations Subcommittee, for his into the WASP program, Class of 44W–6, she The House in Committee of the Whole leadership, hard work, and dedication to the had acquired a commercial pilot’s license and House on the State of the Union had under urban area initiative and I urge adoption of the had logged over 200 hours of flying time. consideration of the bill (H.R. 2892) making bill. While stationed in Greenville, Mississippi at appropriations for the Department of Home- f Greenville Army Air Base until deactivated on land Security for the fiscal year ending Sep- tember 30, 2010, and for other purposes: HONORING THE MILITARY SERV- December 20, 1944, she flew BT–13s and ICE OF THE LOTHSPEICH FAM- Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Chair, I rise in sup- UC–78s and slow-timed repaired aircraft. ILY After deactivation, Frankie was asked to join port of H.R. 2892, the Department of Home- the Army Nurse Corps in May 1945. She was land Security Appropriations Act of 2010. sent to Mitchell Field, New York where she The Department of Homeland Security Ap- HON. EARL POMEROY OF NORTH DAKOTA worked at a hospital for three weeks. She was propriations bill makes fundamental invest- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES then sent to Randolph Field in San Antonio, ments that are vital to our nation’s security. It Texas to attend the School of Aviation Medi- tightens our nation’s borders, allows for instal- Friday, June 26, 2009 cine where she received training to become lation of the latest explosive detection systems Mr. POMEROY. Madam Speaker, I rise an air evacuation nurse. After World War II, at airports nationwide, protects our ports and today to honor the military service of the she went to business school and attended critical infrastructure, and provides grants to Lothspeich family of North Dakota. North Da- Southern Methodist University in Dallas, meet the needs of our first responders. It also kota has a proud military tradition and has Texas. She also worked part-time as a nurse increases funding for the Urban Areas Secu- sent many of its sons and daughters into the while in school. rity Initiative, which is very important to my service of their country. Amongst this proud Frankie met Joseph Harry Bretherick while home city of New York, by almost $50 million, history and tradition the Lothspeich family is both were stationed in Greenville, Mississippi. matching the President’s request, for a total unique. Edward and Rose Lothspeich were They married in 1949 and lived in Philadel- allocation of $887 million. the parents of nine boys and one girl. From phia, Pennsylvania for 19 years. Frankie con- In the months following the September 11th this family all nine of the Lothspeich brothers tinued working as a part-time nurse after their attacks, I spearheaded the creation of the have bravely answered the call of a grateful marriage. High Threat Urban Area Account Program, nation when it was sorely needed. They moved to Sarasota, Florida in 1968. which later became the Urban Area Security These brave men served across several After moving to Sarasota, Florida, Frankie be- Initiative (UASI). I undertook this effort be- critical periods in our nation’s history. Eugene, came involved with the Sarasota Garden Club. cause, at the time, there were no Federal do- Harold and Edward served at the height of She also acquired her Real Estate license. mestic security grant programs that provided World War II. Donald, Gerald, Lyle, Marlin Frankie’s husband, Joe, died in 1999. About funding solely on the basis of threat and risk. served during the Korean War and the begin- three years ago Frankie moved to Plano, While I recognize that the threat of terror lin- ning of the Cold War. Franklin and Leon Collin County, Texas, to be close to family. gers everywhere, there are, unfortunately, sev- served in Germany during a period in which Through their actions, Women Air Force eral cities and areas that are more vulnerable the Soviet Union was increasing the isolation Service Pilots were a catalyst for revolutionary to attack. New York, my home city, is one of of East Germany. reform in the integration of women pilots into them. Next week as we gather to celebrate the the U.S. Armed Services. Just as the Navajo This is not a distinction we are proud of, but birth of our nation, the City of Park River, Code Talkers served with distinction and were it is a reality we face. Al-Qaeda has already North Dakota will be celebrating its 125th an- awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, it is attacked my city twice. And, for me, it became niversary. As a part of that celebration, Park

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OF TEXAS World War II and kept watch during the cold- We also sought funding funding for a a six- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES est nights of the Cold War. year Capital Improvement Project that will re- The sacrifices of the Lothspeich brothers Thursday, June 25, 2009 habilitate and upgrade the City of Baytown, are worthy of our highest respect and I can The House in Committee of the Whole Texas’s wastewater and water infrastructure to think of no greater duty of a member of Con- House on the State of the Union had under comply with federal and state regulations, gress than to honor our nation’s heroes. I consideration the bill (H.R. 2996) making ap- maintain its condition and reliability and save stand today to honor their service as the city propriations for the Department of the Inte- costs. The City has implemented an asset of Park River will next week. rior, environment, and related agencies for management program to assess equipment f the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and condition, optimize work practices and ensure for other purposes: RECOGNIZING RICHARD F. MELL funding remains in place to sustain infrastruc- Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, ture improvements over time. I rise today in support of H.R. 2996, the Inte- The funding we requested under the State HON. MIKE QUIGLEY rior, Environment, and Related Agencies Ap- and Tribal Assistance Grant would help reha- OF ILLINOIS propriations Act for FY2010. bilitate portions of the Central District Waste- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES This legislation provides a 17% increase water Treatment Plant to include elevation of Friday, June 26, 2009 over FY09 levels for critical programs that pro- redesign of critical components to reduce the Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today tect our public health and environment. storm surge impacts suffered during Hurricane to recognize the long and distinguished career Among other provisions, the legislation pro- Ike. These include the influent lift station, of Richard F. Mell. Alderman Mell, who is vides $605 million for the Superfund program blower building, administration/laboratory celebrating his 35th year of service, is a vital which will assist sites across the country clean building, and grit removal process. The inter- part of the Chicago community. up hazardous substances, including potentially nal piping needs to be replaced to improve en- Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Dick Mell the San Jacinto River Waste Pits site. ergy and operating efficiency, along with the began his career in public service shortly after It also provides $3.3 million to help EPA chlorine contact basin and plant pumping/ moving to Chicago, starting as a precinct cap- monitor air toxics outside schools, which I transfer systems. Installation of post-storm tain with the 33rd Ward Regular Democratic hope will ultimately include schools in our dis- emergency power systems are also a part of Organization and working closely with a vari- trict in East Houston, as well as $5 million to this effort. ety of neighborhood organizations. Knowing fund four new centers of excellence to study This is an important project to help Baytown he could do more to help the community by toxin and chemical impacts on children. recover from damage caused by Hurricane Ike taking on a larger role, in 1975, he ran to be Madam Speaker, I would also like to high- and overall to upgrade their wastewater sys- Alderman of the 33rd Ward and won. A year light two important projects I requested fund- tem, and I look forward to working the Chair later, he became the Ward Committeeman ing for in this bill, but did not receive funding. as we move forward to find assistance for this and took his seat on the Democratic Central The first is the Mickey Leland National project. Committee of Cook County, representing his Urban Air Toxics Research Center to continue I do have some concerns, however, with community on Chicago’s Northwest side. air quality public health research on air toxics provisions of the bill and report language. Alderman Mell has continued to take on im- in urban areas as directed by the U.S. Con- The bill defers $50 million in funding from portant and influential roles throughout his gress. The Center is a 501(c)(3) institution au- the Ultra-Deepwater Research Fund that was successful career. He held the office of Vice thorized by Congress in the Clean Air Act a part of the 2005 Energy Policy Act of 2005. Mayor of the City of Chicago for eight years Amendments of 1990. The ultra deepwater fund provides $50 million and currently serves as Chairman of the Com- Americans want to know whether they are annually for research for recovering oil and mittee on Committees, Rules and Ethics. He is at risk from pollutants in the air that they gas from ultra-deepwaters in the Gulf of Mex- also a member of the Committees on Budget breathe. People who live near sources of air ico. and Governmental Operations, Finance, toxics such as major roadways, industrial fa- It also includes report language urging EPA Health, Housing & Land Acquisition, Human cilities, or small businesses, are often espe- to ‘‘review the risks that hydraulic fracturing Relations, and Traffic Control and Safety. cially concerned about their risk. poses to drinking water using the best avail- As Alderman, Mr. Mell has always put his The purpose of air quality regulation and re- able science, as well as independent sources community first, remaining accessible to his search is to protect public health. High quality of information.’’ constituents with an open door policy and fre- air toxics research is the only way to assess I understand the concerns and desire to quent attendance at community meetings. He peoples’ risks and give policymakers the tools adequately protect the environment when de- celebrates his multi-ethnic, multi-racial com- they need to protect public health. The Center veloping our domestic resources, but hydraulic munity and understands that diversity stimu- develops and manages air toxics research fracturing is a well-tested technology that has lates growth in all of its residents. He consist- with a focus on understanding the air toxics been used to develop energy for over 60 ently strives to protect his entire community that people are exposed to in their daily activi- years. and has helped make possible social pro- ties, and how those compounds may impact First used in 1947, hydraulic fracturing has grams to assist the less fortunate. their health. become a standard practice for improving the Alderman Mell’s list of accomplishments is The Houston Exposure to Air Toxics Study process of natural energy extraction. The longer than this statement will allow and in- (HEATS) is an on-going project designed to practice involves the pumping of fluid into cludes setting new ethic codes for elected offi- study the relationship between personal expo- wells at high pressure to create fractures in cials, fighting absentee slum landlords in sures—the air people breathe as they go rock formations that allow for complete pro- housing courts, initiating an Adjacent Neigh- about their daily activities—and fixed site mon- duction of oil. Hydraulic fracturing is respon- borhood Program that rids the city of vacant itored concentrations of air toxics by meas- sible for about 30 percent of our domestic re- lots, and fighting to decrease graffiti in the city uring personal, residential indoor, and outdoor coverable oil and natural gas. About 90 per- by banning spray paint and passing an ordi- concentrations. cent of currently operating wells use this tech- nance that allows judges to sentence graffiti HEATS studies residents who live in the nology. Hydraulic fracturing, as used to vandals to community service work. 29th district of Texas, in close proximity to an produce natural gas from shale formations, Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join industrial neighborhood near the Houston Ship has created new opportunities for clean en- me in recognizing Alderman Richard Mell and Channel and a comparison group with similar ergy and employment without causing environ- his extraordinary career, and thank him for his demographics in Aldine. Because it has been mental damage. many outstanding contributions to the City of conducted according to rigorous statistical Recent studies on fracturing conducted by Chicago and its citizens. His commitment to principles, study results will be applicable to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2004 public service stands as an example to us all. the study participants, their neighborhoods, found no confirmed evidence of contamination

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