October 2, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10479 Community School District. In par- cilities. In many cases, this Federal after serving with the United States ticular, I would like to recognize the funding is used to leverage public and/ Army for 2 years. He continued his leadership of the board of education, or private local funding, so it often has service in the National Guard for 18 president Harm Eggena III, vice presi- a tremendous multiplier effect in a more years, retiring in 2005. Lynn has dent Angie Johnson, Bea Volk, Tim local school district. served in various positions within the Trettin, and Wendy Fullerton, and The West Des Moines Community VA system, most recently as the Vet- former members, Rick Demaray, Scott School District received two Harkin erans Service Center Manager at the Woodruff, Gary O’Connor, Terri Engels, fire safety grants totaling $332,011 Sioux Falls VA Regional Office. Ann Sullivan, Bill Dolan, Lisa Paulus, which it used to make fire safety re- During his tenure with the VA, Lynn and Pat Rooney. I would also like to pairs at the Walnut Creek Campus and has been an invaluable resource for recognize superintendent Steve Ward, at Fairmeadows Elementary School. veterans and their families. He has pro- former superintendent Gary Schwartz, The Federal grants have made it pos- vided important counsel and advice to director of buildings and grounds Norm sible for the district to provide quality VA officials, veterans service officers Kelly, board secretary Janice Kuhlers, and safe schools for their students. and congressional members and their Neil Fullerton, and Neil Wedeking. Excellent schools do not just pop up staff on a range of issues. Throughout As we mark the 10th anniversary of like mushrooms after a rain. They are his time with the VA, he has seen the Harkin school grant program in the product of vision, leadership, per- many changes in the system and was Iowa, I am obliged to point out that sistence, and a tremendous amount of able to address the ever changing needs many thousands of school buildings collaboration among local officials and and concerns of veterans and their fam- and facilities across the United States concerned citizens. I salute the entire ilies. are in dire need of renovation or re- staff, administration, and governance I have appreciated Lynn’s willingness placement. In my State of Iowa alone, in the West Des Moines Community to take the time to answer questions according to a recent study, some 79 School District. In particular, I would and concerns from my staff members. I percent of public schools need to be up- like to recognize the leadership of the commend his dedication and commit- ment to making sure every veteran’s graded or repaired. The harsh reality is board of education—president Mark case or question was always handled in that the average age of school build- Lyons, vice president Terry Tobin, Bar- a timely manner. Lynn can take great ings in the United States is nearly 50 bara Burnett, Jill Hansen, Susan pride in his work during his Federal years. Moritz, Tom Suckow, and H. Milton Too often, our children visit ultra- Cole, and former board members Jim service career. In his retirement, he will spend more time fishing at his modern shopping malls and gleaming Aipperspach, Jane Fogg, Curt Lack, lake home in Big Stone. I wish Lynn, sports arenas on weekends but during Pete Leo, John Paule, Jeanne Taylor, his wife Debbie, and their family all the week go to school in rundown or John Ambroson, Gretchen Tegeler, and the best in retirement. It is with great antiquated facilities. This sends ex- Deb Thomas. I would also like to recog- honor that I share his impressive ac- actly the wrong message to our young nize superintendent Tom Narak, complishments with my colleagues, people about our priorities. We have to former superintendent Les Omotani, and I thank him for his service to this do better. former associate superintendent Galen Nation and its veterans.∑ That is why I am deeply grateful to Howsare. As we mark the 10th anniversary of the professionals and parents in the f the Harkin school grant program in Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Commu- BLUE WATER CREEK MASSACRE Iowa, I am obliged to point out that nity School District. There is no ques- many thousands of school buildings ∑ Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today tion that a quality public education for and facilities across the United States I wish to speak in regards to the Blue every child is a top priority in that are in dire need of renovation or re- Water Creek Massacre of 1855. On Sep- community. I salute them and wish placement. In my State of Iowa alone, tember 3, 1855, while camped near the them a very successful new school Blue Water Creek in present day Ne- ∑ according to a recent study, some 79 year. percent of public schools need to be up- braska, a group of Lakota were at- f graded or repaired. The harsh reality is tacked by COL William S. Harney and WEST DES MOINES COMMUNITY that the average age of school build- his troops. According to Army records, EDUCATION ings in the United States is nearly 50 86 Lakota were killed and 70 captured. The Battle of Blue Water Creek is also ∑ Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, in Iowa years. Too often, our children visit ultra- known as the Battle of Ash Hollow or and across the United States, a new modern shopping malls and gleaming the Harney Massacre according to the school year has begun. As you know, sports arenas on weekends but during Nebraska State Historical Society, Iowa public schools have an excellent the week go to school in rundown or which maintains a historical marker, reputation nationwide, and Iowa stu- antiquated facilities. This sends ex- along U.S. 26, 11⁄2 miles west of dents’ test scores are among the high- actly the wrong message to our young Lewellen, NE. est in the Nation. people about our priorities. We have to There are several historical accounts I would like to take just a few min- do better. of what transpired that day in 1855 and utes today to salute the dedicated That is why I am deeply grateful to the Little Thunder Tiospaye contacted teachers, administrators, and school the professionals and parents in the me because they seek to commemorate board members in the West Des Moines West Des Moines Community School and to preserve for future generations Community School District and to re- District. There is no question that a the history surrounding Mni To port on their participation in a unique quality public education for every Wakpala—Blue Water Creek. They are Federal partnership to repair and mod- child is a top priority in that commu- the direct lineal descendants of ernize school facilities. nity. I salute them and wish them a Wakinyan Cikala—Little Thunder—a This fall marks the 10th year of the very successful new school year.∑ man who was amongst the leaders of Iowa Demonstration Construction f that Lakota camp destroyed 153 years Grant Program. That is its formal ago. Additional leaders who survived name, but it is better known among RETIREMENT OF LYNN that morning include Iron Shell, Spot- educators in Iowa as the program of CARPENTER ted Tail, and Red Leaf, each of whom Harkin grants for Iowa public schools. ∑ Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today also bore lineal descendants living Since 1998, I have been fortunate to se- I recognize and commend the service of upon Sicangu territories today. cure a total of $121 million for the Lynn Carpenter of South Dakota. Mr. According to the family, oral history State government in Iowa, which se- Carpenter is retiring from the Depart- passed down through generations tells lects worthy school districts to receive ment of Veterans Affairs after over 34 the story of the younger Little Thun- these grants for a range of renovation years of honorable service to the agen- der, a boy who survived the Massacre and repair efforts—everything from up- cy. and subsequently journeyed to join his dating fire safety systems to building Lynn began his career with the De- relatives once again. Without his sur- new schools or renovating existing fa- partment of Veterans Affairs in 1974 vival, the Little Thunder Tiospaye

VerDate Aug 31 2005 06:33 Oct 03, 2008 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02OC6.012 S02OCPT1 rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with SENATE S10480 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 2, 2008 would not exist today. I would like to City and New York City would lose out Looking at the face of an Alaska Na- recognize their work as they seek to on a strong and dedicated labor pool of tive Elder is like looking at the con- honor their ancestors by collecting his- New Jersey workers. George garnered centric rings in the trunk of a tree. torical accounts, and locating impor- critical early support for the new tun- Every line on that face represents a tant artifacts from this time in his- nel project from both sides of the river, precious slice of Alaska history. tory. Accordingly, the Lakota lan- a feat acknowledged by many experts It would be a vast understatement to guage includes an expression that fits as vital to the project. characterize the Elders as witnesses to their mission: Hecel lena Oyate kin George Warrington also listened to Alaska history. They are the living em- nipi kte, so that our people may live.∑ passengers and employees, a critical bodiment of Alaska’s history. They f feature of any successful organization. were the first generation of Alaskans He considered their input in new rail to experience and adapt to the chal- TRIBUTE TO GEORGE car designs, such as the popular new lenge of living in two worlds. They WARRINGTON multilevel cars. These rail cars elimi- have come to embrace the traditional ∑ Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, in nate the dreaded ‘‘third seat,’’ while world of subsistence and the modern light of today’s historic vote on the adding to the overall number of seats world of the Internet in the same Amtrak reauthorization legislation, I in the car. breath. Some like the individual I wish to honor a great transportation For several years, George also served speak about today have devoted their leader and a son of New Jersey George as executive director of the Delaware lives to preserving Alaska Native lan- Warrington, who passed away at his River Port Authority, which governs guages as spoken and written lan- home in Mendham, NJ, on December the Delaware River port system, four guages for all eternity. 24, 2007. During a public service career major vehicle bridges in the region, Today I pay tribute to a most re- that spanned more than 30 years, Mr. and the PATCO rail system. He is cred- spected Tlingit Elder, the Reverend Warrington held an influential and de- ited with speeding up project delivery Doctor Walter Soboleff, who will cele- cisive role in the development and con- times and managing the conversion to brate his 100th birthday on November tinued success of public transportation collecting tolls in just one direction on 14, 2008. Walter Soboleff was born on a systems not just in our State of New the bridges. small island called Killisnoo near Ad- Jersey but throughout the entire re- George Warrington must also be rec- miralty Island in Southeast Alaska. gion. His role in the early development ognized for his significant contribu- His father was the son of a Russian Or- of NJ Transit helped make the agency tions to national transportation as thodox priest serving in Southeast what it is today one of the largest and Amtrak’s corporate president and CEO Alaska. His mother, a Tlingit Indian. most successful transit agencies in the and chief executive of its Northeast Four languages were spoken in his country. corridor. He was instrumental in the home: Russian, German, English, and George Warrington’s contributions to launching of Acela Express, the na- Tlingit. public transportation cannot be over- tion’s first high-speed rail line, as well Walter Soboleff was educated at a US stated. His work to secure funding for as carrying out the completion of the Government Indian school on his island NJ Transit in the 1970s was crucial to electrification of the entire Northeast and subsequently at the Sheldon Jack- the creation and early development of corridor rail line between Boston and son School in Sitka. Several years the agency. He later served as vice Washington, DC, another project I was after graduating from Sheldon Jackson president and general manager of NJ proud to secure Federal funding for. with a high school diploma he enrolled Transit’s rail operations and brought a The Northeast corridor now offers the at Dubuque University in Iowa, receiv- necessary focus on customer service, country’s premier high-speed rail serv- ing a bachelor’s degree in education in ontime performance, and repairing the ice and carries more passengers than 1937 and a divinity degree in 1940. rail system’s infrastructure. He worked all of the airlines combined between Ordained as a Presbyterian minister tirelessly to expand regional rail ca- key northeastern cities. George will al- he returned to Southeast Alaska to pacity by adding additional seating in ways be remembered as an important take the pulpit at the Memorial Pres- cars and parking spaces at stations advocate of a strong national rail sys- byterian Church in Juneau. The across the State. He also promoted the tem. church, which was built to minister to development of new rail lines, such as Mr. President, while George War- the Tlingit people, opened its doors to the Midtown Direct Montclair service rington passed away on December 24, all. Its congregation included Cauca- and Newark Light Rail extension, and 2007, his legacy lives on through his sians and African Americans, and Fili- he spearheaded the addition of key rail family and through his lasting con- pinos as well as Haidas and stations such as Hoboken Terminal and tributions to the rail industry both in Tsimshians. Secaucus Junction. These initiatives New Jersey and throughout the Nation. We take diverse congregations like were central in creating and maintain- On behalf of the people of New Jersey, this for granted in 21st Century Alas- ing a successful public railroad trans- I am proud to commemorate his many ka. It must be remembered, though, portation system in New Jersey and achievements to make New Jersey and that Jim Crow racial segregation laws the surrounding region, and I was our Nation a better place and convey and practices were quite prevalent in proud to secure Federal funding for our best wishes to his family and pre-World War II Southeast Alaska. these efforts. friends.∑ Reverend Soboleff emerged a key George’s efforts on one project, in f player in the maintaining and enhanc- particular, will help secure the eco- ing the Tlingit culture, serving seven nomic future of the New Jersey-New HONORING REV. DR. WALTER terms as President of the Alaska Na- York region and that is the new Hud- SOBOLEFF tive Brotherhood and broadcasting son River Rail Tunnel. Also called the ∑ Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, church services in Tlingit on the radio. Trans-Hudson Express, THE, Tunnel, when Americans think about what From 1962–1970 he took his ministry to part of the Access to the Region’s Core, they most admire about my home the water traveling on mission vessels ARC, Project, this new rail tunnel will State of Alaska, the breathtaking sce- to Native villages, logging camps and ensure that travel between New Jersey nery first comes to mind. What I most Coast Guard facilities in the archi- and Manhattan by rail will be available admire about my home State of Alaska pelago of islands that make up South- well into the future. Existing tunnels are the people, and in particular our east Alaska. are already at capacity during peak Native Elders. In 1952, Reverend Soboleff accepted a hours, with trains moving through Our Elders are the bearers of our commission in the Alaska Army Na- them at a rate of one every 21⁄2 min- uniquely Alaskan culture. They have tional Guard, serving as Chaplain for 20 utes. Without this new tunnel, our re- accepted the responsibility of ensuring years, retiring with rank of Lieutenant gion’s economy will suffer. New that succeeding generations know Colonel on February 1, 1973. Jerseyans would lose out on a conven- where they came from. They preserve In 1970, Walter Soboleff founded the ient and environmentally friendly way and transmit the traditions that make Alaska Native Studies Department at to commute to work into New York Alaska different from anyplace else. the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He

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