E10 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 5, 2007 House Science Committee. As a professional Congregational Memorial Church at Main and that politics should unite people. They both staffer on the Energy Subcommittee, Charlie’s Plainfield Streets became available. The were firm believers that in public life one could expertise on the issues of energy production, Greek Community took advantage of this op- disagree without being disagreeable. energy research and development, and energy portunity and purchased the Memorial Church This is a credo I continue to believe in, and conservation have been unmatched. and its spacious parish house on October 7, I commend the memory of both good men to Charlie has been working on energy issues 1940. This magnificent Gothic Church, built in this House, an institution they loved. since the 1960s, when he was a staffer for the 1866, was designed by the noted architect, Coloradans, especially those in the Vail Val- Texas State Legislature. In the 1970s he Richard Upjohn, with a high vaulted ceiling ley, have come to think of him as the first moved to to work with the Federal and priceless stained glass windows. President from because he was a Power Commission. He represented Southern By 1975 the Church began looking at new great ambassador for the State, who estab- California Edison in its Washington office in sites for a community center and by June lished long ties to the people of Colorado. the late seventies. From 1979 to 1985 he was 1977 it was decided that St. George would ex- As a dedicated public servant, President a principal in a consulting firm that rep- pand and stay in Springfield. A General As- Ford served honorably in his years in Con- resented Texas interests in Washington and sembly approved plans for a parish center by gress and in the . Most important, Austin. purchasing the old Memorial Square Library when America needed someone to reassure Charlie came to Capitol Hill in 1985, first as Building. The St. George Greek Orthodox their trust in government after Watergate, he a legislative assistant to Rep. RALPH HALL Church Cultural Center was opened in 1978 filled that leadership role with authenticity. (TX) and then as staff of the Committee on and to the present time it houses administra- I believe President Ford’s special relation- Science. In 1990, Charlie went back to work tive offices, classrooms for Sunday and Greek ship and legacy in Colorado should be appro- for Southern California Edison on energy re- Schools, a gymnasium and facilities for social priately recognized by naming the postal facili- structuring, telecommunications, electric trans- functions. A Chapel was added to the building ties in Vail, Colorado, in his honor. portation, and tax issues. After leaving Edison, in 1986. f he joined the EOP Group, an energy and envi- The first Greek immigrants in Springfield ronmental consulting firm, and then returned brought with them their history, their philoso- IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND to the Hill in 1998 to serve as Special Assist- phies, their democratic ideals, their courage, SOCIAL SECURITY PROTECTION ant to Congressman HALL, working on utility their culture and traditions, their Greek lan- ACT restructuring. Finally, in 2000 Charlie returned guage and customs, their festive celebrations, to the Science Committee as a professional their foods, music and dance and most of all HON. DAVID DREIER staff member with responsibility for energy their Greek Orthodox faith which they have OF CALIFORNIA issues. handed down from one generation to the next IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Before switching to the political science all of which we celebrate this Centennial Year. field, Charlie began his early studies in elec- Thursday, January 4, 2007 f trical engineering, and his engineering training Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, in the last comes through, both in his approach to prob- INTRODUCTION OF THE GERALD R. two Congresses we have spent considerable lems and in his passions: home improvement FORD, JR. POST OFFICE ACT time on the extremely important issue of immi- and landscape architecture. He has been an gration and homeland security. In the 108th active volunteer in planning the House botan- HON. Congress, we passed the National Intelligence ical gardens and on the Advisory Board of the OF COLORADO Reform Act, a landmark piece of legislation to Landscape Architecture Department at the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES overhaul our intelligence agencies. But, as I University of Texas. noted at that time, the bill unfortunately did not Charlie’s easy going personality, issue ex- Thursday, January 4, 2007 go far enough in addressing the major security pertise, and his talent for making great Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I vulnerability presented by the porous nature of barbeque will be long remembered on this rise to introduce legislation to name the post our borders. Committee. The Science Committee’s Mem- office in Vail, Colorado, after our Nation’s 39th Seeing that need, in the 109th Congress we bers and staff wish him well as he moves on President, Gerald R. Ford, Jr. debated immigration extensively and even to new endeavors and a relaxing retirement. I believe this legislation is appropriate as passed H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Thank you, Charlie, for your many years of another means of honoring the legacy of Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control dedicated and loyal service. President Ford, in large part because of his Act of 2005. Regrettably, the Senate failed to f special connection to Colorado and the Vail act on this important piece of legislation. That Valley. is why I rise to ask for the support of my col- TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST GREEK In 1968 then-Congressman Ford and wife, leagues for an illegal immigration control plan ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SPRING- Betty, first came to Colorado with their chil- that I am pleased to introduce today. This pro- FIELD, MASSACHUSETTS dren to celebrate Christmas and to ski in the posal, the Immigration Enforcement and Social mountains at Vail. Like many other visitors, Security Protection Act, is designed to elimi- HON. RICHARD E. NEAL President Ford was inspired by the beauty of nate up to 98 percent of the illegal border OF MASSACHUSETTS the area and found a connection to the land crossings into the . IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and to the surrounding community. I believe that in order for any proposal to Thursday, January 4, 2007 The Fords later owned a home and contin- stop illegal immigration to be successful, it Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Madam Speak- ued to vacation in Vail. When he became must get at the root cause of what attracts ille- er, it is my privilege to pay my respects to the President, his vacations in Colorado helped in- gal immigrants to our country—and that is the First Greek Orthodox Church in Springfield, troduce the world to the Town of Vail, and in lure of economic opportunity and the ease Massachusetts upon the occasion of its 100th fact, the family home was dubbed ‘‘the West- with which illegal workers can find jobs. Under anniversary ern White House.’’ the Immigration Enforcement and Social Secu- In 1907 an old house was acquired on Au- Vail residents knew President Ford and his rity Protection Act, we will dramatically in- burn Street, converted into a place of worship family as neighbors and friends and are proud crease the enforcement of laws which prohibit and it was here that the rapidly growing Greek of their long association with them. Gerald American businesses from employing illegal community held their first church services. Ford was beloved in Vail, where he was immigrants. Regrettably, too many employers By 1920 the Greek population had grown so known to be a good neighbor, an avid golfer have been unwilling to comply with the law. large that the Auburn Street building no longer and a lover of the outdoors. The growing availability of counterfeit identity could accommodate the members of St. President Ford will rightly be remembered documents has also undermined the current George’s Greek Orthodox Church. A building for his personal warmth, his decency, his inter- system because employers are increasingly fund campaign was soon inaugurated to raise est in bridging the many divisions in America unable to establish the authenticity of docu- the funds to buy a new church. A building was during the 1970s. My father, Mo Udall, served ments presented by job applicants. purchased on Patton Street which provided in Congress with , and while they Our legislation adds new features to the So- adequate facilities for church services, a were often on different sides in political mat- cial Security card to deter counterfeiting and Greek School and administrative offices. ters—so much so that my father hoped to run make it easier for employers to determine By 1940 the Greek population had again in- against President Ford in the famous election whether a card is genuine by including a creased greatly. It was at this time that the of 1976—they were united by a common view digitized photo of the cardholder on the card.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:33 Jan 06, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A04JA8.034 E05JAPT1 jcorcoran on PROD1PC65 with REMARKS