E294 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 3, 2010 Had I been present, I would have voted I am proud to report that my home District, CONGRATULATING CALHOUN HIGH ‘‘aye’’ on all. California’s 9th Congressional District, can be SCHOOL f called home by 25 current volunteers who have committed themselves to the Peace HONORING TERRY MINOR HON. PHIL GINGREY Corps mission of world peace and friendship OF GEORGIA HON. JIM COOPER through service. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Through volunteer work abroad in fields in- Wednesday, March 3, 2010 OF TENNESSEE cluding health education, food security, local IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES business development, education about HIV/ Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, Wednesday, March 3, 2010 AIDS, and agricultural and environmental im- I am honored to represent Calhoun High provement, the work of the Peace Corps im- School and want to congratulate the students, Mr. COOPER. Madam Speaker, I rise today faculty, and staff on their achievements thus to congratulate my constituent Terry Minor. proves people’s lives while enhancing the credibility of the abroad, fos- far this year. Mr. Minor and his business, Cumberland Inter- Principal Wanda Westmoreland, a 17-year national Trucks, have received the Inter- tering the exchange of ideas, and uniting cul- tures around values of peace, tolerance, and Calhoun veteran, has told me that Calhoun’s national Circle of Excellence Award for 2009, victories in the athletic arena are a direct re- the highest honor a dealer principal can re- prosperity. That is why I have introduced H.R. 336, sult of academic achievements in the class- ceive. which calls for the introduction of a semi-post- room. Principal Westmoreland leads by exam- Cumberland International Trucks is ple and will be greatly missed when she re- headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, where al Peace stamp, which will sell at a slightly higher rate than the normal 44 cents to create tires at the end of this school term. Her lead- it was founded more than 60 years ago. Terry ership is one of the reasons Calhoun was list- became a dealer principal in 2007 and cur- additional revenues for the Peace Corps. In the wake of the recent earthquakes in ed as one of America’s top schools by the rently employs 87 people. The Circle of Excel- U.S. News and World report. Additionally, Cal- lence Award, awarded by Navistar, recognizes Haiti and Chile, we are reminded of the power of the international community to assist and houn’s One Act Plays were the regional cham- truck dealerships that achieve the highest pions this year and placed third overall in the level of dealer performance. empower those who are in need. During National Peace Corps Week, we sa- state of Georgia. Before becoming a dealer, Terry worked for On the athletic side, I’d like to recognize the Cumberland International in a number of key lute past and present Volunteers who self- lessly serve abroad in support of these ideals. following Yellow Jacket teams for their positions, including regional manager for parts, achievements this year: Varsity Football, run- f national account manager for Ryder truck ner-up in the State Championships and nine sales, and vice president of sales for the HONORING THE WORK OF VFW time Regional Champions; Competition Southwest Region. He is active in a number of POST 8946 Cheerleading, the three time State Cham- industry groups, including the American Truck pions; and, Calhoun wrestler—Hunter Knight— Dealers, the Used Truck Association, and the HON. SCOTT GARRETT who won a state championship this year. National Automotive Dealers Association. He Congratulations to Calhoun High School for OF is heavily involved with the Tennessee Truck- their accomplishments on and off the field this IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ing Association, where he serves on the board year. Keep up the great work and go Jackets! of directors. In addition, Terry is very active in Wednesday, March 3, 2010 f community service, including the Chamber of Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam IN TRIBUTE TO REPRESENTATIVE Commerce and the Brentwood Baptist Church. Speaker, today I rise to honor the work of Terry has been married to his wife Kristen for JOHN P. MURTHA OF PENNSYL- VFW Post 8946 in Woodcliff Lake, New Jer- VANIA 20 years. He actively supports Ravenwood sey for their selfless and inspiring deeds to- High School sports teams, including his wards their fellow citizens. For the past few SPEECH OF daughter Calleigh’s volleyball and lacrosse years this group of extraordinary individuals teams and his son Taylor’s rugby team. He is has been traveling to the Walter Reed Medical HON. JOHN B. LARSON also a veteran of the 2nd Battalion, 66th Ar- Center in Washington, D.C. as well as the OF CONNECTICUT mored Division of the U.S. Army out of Fort Walter Reed National Military Medical Center IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Hood, Texas. in Bethesda, Maryland. During their trips the Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Terry’s dedication, strong work ethic, and members of the Post have spent time with community participation make him not only a Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam wounded veterans and their families. They Speaker, I rise today to honor my great friend great representative of Tennessee’s values, have brought items such as clothing, CD play- but our Nation’s values as well. Madam and our dear colleague, John Murtha. America ers, electric shavers and even a large TV for has lost a true hero and patriot and the United Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join the recreation room. me in congratulating Terry Minor for this honor States Congress has lost a giant. Madam After one of their more recent visits to Wal- Speaker, I submit for the record Keith Burris’ and for his many contributions to Tennessee ter Reed Medical Center in Washington, Wil- and our country. column from the Journal Inquirer. The Journal liam Huston, a member of the Post, told a Inquirer is a newspaper serving my home dis- f local reporter that, ‘‘these young men have a trict and is the hometown voice of northern NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK remarkable attitude, we cannot properly ex- central Connecticut. Keith’s words capture the press the admiration we have for them.’’ It is essence of John Murtha, and I ask my col- HON. BARBARA LEE this sense of genuine commitment towards leagues to join with me in honoring the life of helping those who have given so much to our OF CALIFORNIA this humble man, dear friend and great Amer- nation that makes this Post unique in many IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ican. ways. [From the Journal Inquirer, Feb. 13, 2010] Wednesday, March 3, 2010 As I reflect on the deeds they have done I MUCH MAN Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I cannot help but be reminded of the enduring (By Keith C. Burris) words from President Abraham Lincoln’s sec- would like to take the opportunity to honor the In roughly 30 years in journalism I have Peace Corps during this National Peace Corps ond inaugural address. Lincoln challenged his met many politicians. In the beginning, this Week. fellow Americans to ‘‘care for him who shall was exciting. But after a while, you realize On March 1, 2010 the Peace Corps cele- have borne the battle and for his widow and that most of them are persons of exceptional brated its 49th anniversary. It is with the his- his orphan, to do all which may achieve and ambition, not exceptional conviction, skill, toric contributions of this organization in mind, cherish a just and lasting peace among our- or patriotism. Most people in politics are not that I proudly acknowledge the important work selves and with all nations.’’ The men of this very interesting. of nearly two hundred thousand Peace Corps Post are a living testament to these words. But a couple years ago, U.S. Rep. John Larson, himself an exception to the rule, volunteers since the agency’s inception in I want to once again thank this group of ex- brought to the Journal Inquirer Rep. John 1961. ceptional men for their service towards their Murtha, of Pennsylvania. Murtha’s back and California has been and continues to be the fellow citizens. I am proud to represent such forth with editors and reporters here made largest producer of Peace Corps volunteers a fine group of people in the United States for one of the most fascinating hours of con- with 792 people currently serving abroad. House of Representatives. versation I can remember.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 04:54 Mar 04, 2010 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03MR8.019 E03MRPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REMARKS March 3, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E295 Murtha died this week at 77, of a medical Murtha spent his spare time visiting oversaw the Review Office, where all CRS mistake. wounded soldiers at Bethesda Naval Hospital products are reviewed for consistency with the There aren’t many like him in Congress. and Walter Reed. He did not take cameramen dictates of objectivity, non-advocacy and non- There never were. with him. When he traveled to Iraq, it was First of all, Murtha, an ex-Marine officer, not a junket or a photo-op. He would tell the partisanship. Kent and his office also coun- was not the sort of fellow who needed a generals and ambassadors, ‘‘no PowerPoint,’’ seled CRS employees and managers on the ‘‘handler’’ or a ‘‘focus group’’ to calculate none of that stuff. Just talk to me, he would delicate questions surrounding outside speak- the political tides. Instead he used three an- say, and tell me what is going on. And then ing and writing and compliance with CRS and cient tools—study, his mind, and his con- he would go visit with the sergeants and the regulations and policies science. specialists. He took Larson under his wing, designed to ensure that all CRS staff maintain As a fine essay, reprinted from on and to Iraq, early in Larson’s congressional these pages, documented, Murtha was fa- the ability to be seen as impartial and objec- career because ‘‘he goes home at the end of tive in their work for Congress. These are mous for the Washington rituals he did not the day and studies the CIA briefing books.’’ observe. When asked a question, he answered Murtha did not love the military as a con- questions whose sensitivity is matched by it. He did not hang with lobbyists or flacks. cept, but as people. Public servants like him- their importance to CRS and to the Congress. He did not go to parties, but got up early and self. His work for them in Congress was like Kent understood well the absolute necessity of went to bed early. (According to Politico, he his work for the citizens of the 12th District CRS maintaining its reputation for objectivity. would sometimes go home in the afternoon of Pennsylvania. He had a job to do. He was Whether reviewing a report or memo, deter- to listen to the BBC to get a fresh slant on supposed to take care of his people. mining the propriety of an outside activity of a U.S. foreign policy.) He did not court TV He was much man, John Murtha. people or the Washington Post, and didn’t CRS staff member or advising the Director of What a loss to the Congress and the coun- CRS on a policy question, Kent exercised the particularly know or care who those people try. were. good judgment and discretion demanded by And he didn’t back down. f such sensitive questions, questions with po- He wasn’t always right. And he knew that. He had the courage to change his mind. OUR UNCONSCIONABLE NATIONAL tentially profound consequences for the institu- But he was, as the saying goes, a ‘‘stand-up DEBT tion. guy.’’ You could not blow him down with a Mr. Ronhovde’s devotion to CRS’ mission to poll or a David Broder column. HON. MIKE COFFMAN serve Congress and commitment to its values Murtha had the understated self-con- infused his entire career. He joined CRS’ OF COLORADO fidence that the rare greats in politics have. American Law Division after graduation from IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES I met Mike Mansfield, briefly, once, and you Georgetown Law School in 1974, law school felt it from him. Ditto John Stennis. I am Wednesday, March 3, 2010 sure that Eisenhower had it. And maybe Ella having been interrupted by service in Vietnam Grasso. I know I have seen and felt it in the Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Madam Speak- as an intelligence officer. In the American Law presence of Eugene McCarthy, Ernest Hol- er, today our national debt is Division, Kent rose through the attorney ranks, lings, and John Glenn. Some public men $12,519,423,725,485.39. became a section head in 1985 and Assistant seem to shed their vanity as the years accu- On January 6, 2009, the start of the 111th Chief of the division in 1986. During this time, mulate and they settle into their work. They Congress, the national debt was he also earned a Masters of Public Adminis- begin to internalize their love of country. In- tration from American University. Kent became stead of politics being more and more about $10,638,425,746,293.80. them, it becomes more and more about serv- This means the national debt has increased a senior manager in the CRS Director’s Office ice. And they go about their work with con- by $1,869,110,716,567.24 so far this Con- in 1996 and assumed his latest position in centration and power, but minimal fuss. You gress. The debt has increased 2003. His portfolio in that position—in addition felt that with Murtha. There was no pos- $11,887,262,624.26 since just yesterday. to the committee liaison and policy compliance turing in the man. He looked you dead in the This debt and its interest payments we are responsibilities I recounted above—touched on eye and he told you what he thought was passing to our children and all future Ameri- the most important and consequential issues true and needed doing. Murtha was much in the news when he cans. facing CRS. Director Daniel P. Mulhollan stat- came to see us. He was known as the mili- f ed that ‘‘Kent provided exceptional service to tary’s greatest friend in Congress and he had the Congress and to CRS. Colleagues just come out for withdrawal from Iraq. I re- TRIBUTE TO KENT M. RONHOVDE throughout the Library and CRS admired his call him as a big man in a dark blue suit. His careful and deliberate judgment, his insightful hands were the hands of a working man. He HON. ROBERT A. BRADY examination of the question at hand and his might have been a machinist or a farmer in- OF PENNSYLVANIA sense of equanimity and balance. The Service stead of a soldier and statesman. Someone IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and I could not have had a better counsel.’’ here snickered the other day that western Pennsylvania, from whence Murtha came, Wednesday, March 3, 2010 CRS and the Congress have lost a wise was ‘‘not really Pennsylvania, but Ohio.’’ It’s and devoted public servant. We extend our true in the sense that Murtha was from a Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam deepest sympathies to Kent’s wife, Juliet, hardscrabble world where people are still Speaker, I rise today to share with you the life daughters Kristin and Brooke and their fami- close to land and labor and where hard work and mourn the death of a remarkable public lies and to all his friends and colleagues in and professionalism are what matter, not servant who dedicated his career to serving CRS. pretense, not birthright, not wealth or col- the United States Congress. Mr. Kent M. f lege degrees. It does not matter if you have Ronhovde died on February 19 after a valiant a family name and an MBA from Harvard. If struggle with cancer. Kent worked for 36 years COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND you want to invade Iraq, you better study at the Congressional Research Service, start- ACHIEVEMENTS OF FRANKIE the history of Iraq. Yeah, Murtha was against abortion and for ing as an entry-level attorney right after law DRAYTON THOMAS the Second Amendment and he was born in school and rising to senior management posi- West Virginia and he owned a car wash be- tions in the Service. HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS fore he got into politics. But that old Viet- At the time of his death, Kent was Associate OF FLORIDA nam veteran could set Condoleezza Rice’s Director for Congressional Affairs and Coun- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES head spinning and he took no guff from selor to the Director. In that capacity and for right-wing no-nothings. If we had 50 ‘‘Ohio- the last 7 years, he was the liaison between Wednesday, March 3, 2010 ans’’ like John Murtha in the House we would have health-insurance reform today. CRS and its oversight committees in the Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, Murtha liked fellow pros. But pros who House and Senate ensuring that CRS and its I rise today to commemorate the life and were rooted in something. He got on well congressional overseers remained in commu- achievements of my dear friend Frankie with the first George Bush and not at all nication over the critical issues facing the Drayton Thomas, who died on February 27, with the second. He thought Donald Rums- Service. Regardless of changes in congres- 2010, in West Palm Beach, Florida from a feld was nuts and Robert Gates a great man. sional and committee leadership, Kent en- sudden heart attack. She was 81 years old. ´ ´ He was a protege of Tip O’Neill’s and prac- sured that there were no changes in CRS’s My thoughts and prayers go out to her son, ticed O’Neill’s adage that all politics is local (Murtha never got over the old and honor- commitment to its core values of confiden- James Thomas of New Carrollton, Maryland; able idea that a congressman’s first job is to tiality, authoritativeness, non-partisanship and daughter, local attorney Iola Mosley; sister, Lil- provide for his constituents), but Murtha objectivity. lie B. Drayton; brother, James Drayton; and trusted Rahm Emanuel about as far as he This commitment to CRS values manifested the rest of her family and friends at this most could throw him. itself in Mr. Ronhovde’s other duties. He difficult time.

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