E2258 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 14, 2011 school and decreases the amount of electricity fied on many congressional committees and DAVID MARVIN BLUMBERG’S 60TH that must be generated by other means, re- remains extremely engaged in domestic and BIRTHDAY ducing pollution. While serving as a clean en- international trade issues. In his capacity as ergy resource, the photovoltaic system is also chairman of AFBF’s trade advisory committee, HON. KEVIN BRADY used as an accessible, educational resource Steve partook in a trade mission to Cuba and OF TEXAS with students participating in an energy work- Mexico to advocate for advanced trade oppor- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES shop using the new photovoltaic installation tunities between the United States and Latin and online data logger. The system’s connec- America. Wednesday, December 14, 2011 tions to the science curriculum in areas of en- While Steve is retiring as President of the Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker I rise ergy, electricity, and the environment serve as Washington Farm Bureau, he will continue to today to honor the celebration of David Marvin great additions to the school. serve as a vocal leader and member of the Blumberg’s 60th birthday. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join WFB Health Care Trust Board of Directors David was born on December 26, 1951 in me in recognizing the partnership of Rachel and the Board of Directors for Farm Bureau Jacksonville, Florida. He is the fourth of five Carson Middle School and Dominion Power. Bank. He leaves behind an indelible legacy in children born to Marvin Bernard and Mary Together, they have succeeded in taking a the agriculture community and will continue to Louise Blumberg. David obtained his Masters great step towards cleaner energy for the fu- play an instrumental role in the years to come. Degree of Public Administration in 1994 from ture. I extend my congratulations to the school Steve has been more than just a leader for the University of North Florida. and thank Rachel Carson Middle School and the Farm Bureau; he’s been a model for the He was honorably discharged from his serv- Dominion Power for their valuable efforts. state of Washington. When asked how he ice in the USAF in 1974 after having worked f managed his success, he often says, ‘‘I live by as an instrument mechanic on the Minute Man something my dad said a lot: ‘You do the best 1, 2, & 3 missiles at Vandenberg AFB, CA. EASTERN WASHINGTON HONORS David worked alongside his father at Marvin RETIRING WASHINGTON FARM job you know how to do and leave the rest to the man upstairs.’ ’’ I congratulate Steve on his Blumberg and Sons from 1974–1982. He was BUREAU PRESIDENT STEVE certified as an FAA Air Traffic controller and APPEL remarkable leadership and thank him for the profound differences he made—and will con- worked in that capacity from 1982–2006. tinue to make—in the state of Washington. Presently he is serving as an Air Traffic HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS Safety Risk Management Facilitator and In- OF WASHINGTON f structor nationwide. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES David is the proud father of Lauren, Will, IRAN THREAT REDUCTION ACT OF Wednesday, December 14, 2011 Olivia, Nathan and Natalie. He has one grand- 2011 child, Walker Brooks Haas. Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, David plays the drums in a band comprised today I rise to recognize the extraordinary ca- SPEECH OF of other Air Traffic Controllers who raise reer of one of Eastern Washington’s most ex- money for charities and to date they have emplary leaders, Mr. Steve Appel. After devot- HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY raised over $650,000 for local and national ing over 37 years of service to the Farm Bu- OF MASSACHUSETTS charities. reau—the last 17 of which have been as IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES David will be moving to Fort Worth, Texas Washington Farm Bureau’s esteemed Presi- to supplement the Federal Aviation Adminis- Tuesday, December 13, 2011 dent—Steve has decided to retire. His career tration’s Safety Risk Management staff. comes to an end with a long list of distin- Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, let’s start with His band Aire Traffic will be playing future guished accomplishments and a record of suc- what we know: benefit concerts to raise money for the Juve- cess for the state of Washington. First, Iran is actively seeking nuclear weap- nile Diabetes Foundation and for the Joseph As a third-generation family farmer, Steve ons, and the international community has Sam’s School for Special Needs Children in grew wheat and barley in southeast Wash- ratcheted up sanctions to prevent Tehran from Fayetteville, GA. ington state and worked for decades to pro- getting the bomb. Please join me in wishing David Blumberg a mote U.S. agriculture interests at home and Second, Iran is attempting to circumvent very happy 60th birthday. abroad. A Washington State University alum- these sanctions, with Iranian nationals estab- f nus, Steve leaves behind a distinguished ca- lishing front companies in other countries to PIPELINE SAFETY, REGULATORY reer in Washington’s agriculture community. get around U.N. restrictions. Steve was elected as Washington Farm Bu- CERTAINTY, AND JOB CREATION Just this year, a grand jury indicted a firm ACT OF 2011 reau president in 1994 and represents the established by Iranians but operating in longest-serving state President in the organi- Istanbul for allegedly procuring materials for SPEECH OF zation’s history. His vision for the organiza- Iran’s ballistic missile program. tion’s growth was tremendous. In fact, in just Third, we must be vigilant about companies HON. GENE GREEN the last five years, the Bureau experienced an that deliberately hide their ties to Iran. OF TEXAS 85 percent increase in membership alone. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Under his leadership, Washington Farm Bu- But what about companies that don’t even reau pioneered the first-ever association try to conceal their Iranian connections? Monday, December 12, 2011 health plan and industrial insurance safety and In October, this Congress passed H.R. Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker. health program, which provide health insur- 1904, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange I support the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Cer- ance to rural Washingtonians in areas where and Conservation Act. This bill will allow Rio tainty, and Job Creation Act. This bill has such services were previously unavailable. Tinto, a foreign company that does business been improved since it was marked up by the In addition to serving as the Bureau’s Presi- with Iran, to obtain public land in Arizona so Energy and Commerce and Transportation dent, Steve served as Vice President of the that it can mine for copper here in the United and Infrastructure Committees. I know that American Farm Bureau Federation—the States. there are residual issues that some in the in- world’s largest general agriculture organization But when Republicans in this chamber had dustry and some in the environmental commu- with over six million members—from 2001 a chance to join Democrats to ensure these nity still have. No legislation will make every- through 2007. As the Pacific Northwest’s first business ties between Rio Tinto and Iran were one happy all the time, but I think my col- farmer to serve as an officer in the AFBF, he severed as a condition of doing business on leagues Representatives UPTON and DINGELL, directed and implemented the organization’s our land, every single member of the Repub- have worked hard to come as close as pos- grassroots development process. Steve has lican majority voted no. sible with the legislation before us today. I also served on the Whitman County Planning With the threat of nuclear weapons landing thank them for their leadership and I am Commission, Whitman County Soil Conserva- in the hands of Ahmadinejad, the stakes are pleased that they have set an example of bi- tion Board, and the Eastern Washington Advi- simply too high to change the rules when the partisan legislating that we should all follow. sory Committee for the Washington Policy majority sees fit. Pipeline safety is one that is particularly im- Center. Vote yes on H.R. 1905 today, and we must portant to me. I represent parts of Houston But his leadership extends far beyond his insist on strong nuclear nonproliferation condi- and East Harris County, where virtually every- elected and appointed positions. He has testi- tions in H.R. 1904. one either lives on, or in close proximity to, a

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