E1302 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 12, 2011 HONORING THE LIFE OF LEONARD ards and Bridgette Craddock and Grand- Where is this body’s courage? Where is the EARL ROBERTS, SR. children Tealor Chanel Mason, Jeraud, Jere- belief that America can still do and build great miah Jr. and Jehman Williams, Carl Quincy things? Do we still have the desire to be the HON. LAURA RICHARDSON Clay, II, Lauren, Sydney and Brandon Talbert, best, or will we let China lead the way on OF CALIFORNIA Rameses Earl Roberts Richards, and Marcus when it comes to manufacturing and high IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Sebastian Mason. speed rail in the 21st Century? Leonard, Sr. will be lovingly remembered by I for one believe America can, and must, be Tuesday, July 12, 2011 his sister Dottie and his nieces Cheri, Donna a leader when it comes to investing in our Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise and Shanel, along with a host of other rel- country’s economic future. I urge my col- today to honor the life of Leonard Earl Rob- atives and friends. leagues to reject this defeatist bill and em- erts, Sr., a public servant and community lead- He recently imparted the profound state- brace a 21st century transit system. er, whose impact has been felt not only in ment to his loved ones, a motto which he lived f Southern California but throughout the coun- by, ‘‘Everything is manageable in a family.’’ try. On July 5, 2011, Mr. Roberts passed Leonard, Sr. lived his life by anticipating the COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND away, leaving a legacy of service and patriot- outcome of an effort before beginning the CONTRIBUTIONS OF FORMER ism. He will be dearly missed by all who knew task. It mattered not how straight the gate or FIRST LADY BETTY FORD him, but his example lives on in all of the lives how charged with punishment the scroll, Leon- that he touched. ard Sr. was the master of his fate, he was the HON. MARY BONO MACK Leonard Earl Roberts, Sr. was born in captain of his soul. OF CALIFORNIA 1925—at the height of the Harlem Renais- My thoughts and prayers are with the Leon- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sance—to Mary Queen Dorsey in Vidalia, Lou- ard E. Roberts family. His passing is an enor- Tuesday, July 12, 2011 isiana. mous loss for my district, Southern California, Leonard, Sr. was no stranger to meeting and the Nation as a whole. Mrs. BONO MACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise and overcoming adversity. In his desire to today to pay tribute to one of the most influen- f serve his country, he joined the Civilian Con- tial and transformative First Ladies of our time, servation Corps (CCC) at the young age of ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOP- Betty Ford. sixteen, where he participated in the efforts to MENT AND RELATED AGENCIES Born Elizabeth Ann Bloomer on April 8, rebuild our Nation’s infrastructure during the APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012 1918, Betty grew up in Michigan and studied economic recovery efforts from the Great De- dance, which ultimately helped lead her to the pression. Later that year, Leonard, Sr. stepped SPEECH OF city of New York where she found work as a forward to defend our country following the HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR. model and taught children to support her stud- events of Pearl Harbor, despite being under ies. In 1948, Betty married Gerald R. Ford, the OF MICHIGAN age, and quickly advanced to the rank of staff future President of the United States, shortly sergeant. Leonard, Sr. was in the first wave to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES before he began serving the first of his 13 land on Omaha Beach during the Normandy Friday, July 8, 2011 successful terms in the U.S. House of Rep- invasion on June 6, 1944, as part of Operation The House in Committee of the Whole resentatives. Mrs. Ford made it clear early on Overlord, now known to most of the world as House on the State of the Union had under that her first priority was her family, but, it D-Day. He successfully led his platoon in consideration the bill (H.R. 2354) making ap- soon became apparent that would not be her many battles until his honorable discharge on propriations for energy and water develop- only role in public life. December 7, 1945 at the close of the war. His ment and related agencies for the fiscal year As First Lady during a particularly turbulent entire outfit received the Bronze Indian Arrow- ending September 30, 2012, and for other pur- time for our Nation, Mrs. Ford spoke plainly head for Assault Trooper, the Cor-De- poses: and openly about the challenges confronting Guerre—France’s highest military honor—and Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Chair, today I rise in op- all Americans; and the people loved her for several other medals and honors. position to the H.R. 2354, the Fiscal Year her candor and common sense. The Ford Upon his return home after military service, 2012 Energy & Water Development Appropria- family reflected the core values of the Amer- he sought out and married his childhood tions Bill. In particular, I oppose the provisions ican people, but, they were also not afraid to sweetheart, Dessie. Leonard, Sr. and Dessie of this legislation that would rescind all re- let the Nation see that their family was not moved to Boston, Massachusetts, taking ad- maining unobligated high-speed rail American perfect simply because it resided in the White vantage of the GI Bill and attending the Mas- Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The House. Mrs. Ford spoke openly about the sachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), rescission would eliminate rail funding for the struggles their family faced and became one where he received an Engineering degree. In high-speed Chicago to Detroit line, eliminate of the first women in public life to discuss her the following years, Leonard and Dessie wel- thousands of jobs, and provide fewer travel own battles with breast cancer and prescrip- comed three children to the family—Donna, options for my constituents. tion drug addiction. Sharing her story raised Janet, and Leonard, Jr. Well over $492 million is cut from three the level of public consciousness and under- Leonard, Sr. soon moved his family to Los projects, which are critical components of this standing of these important issues and made Angeles, California—where children Jac- high speed rail line. Even worse, these cuts it ‘‘OK’’ for people to seek treatment and re- queline and Keith were born—to begin his life- would eliminate more than 13,000 jobs in a covery. long career in the Aerospace industry which community where good paying jobs are few Although her actions as First Lady had an was his civilian way of continuing his service and far between. immediate and profound impact on American to our country. He designed a four axis ma- High speed rail would give my constituents culture, her work after she left the White chine for specialized production of precision a viable and green commuting option in the House may have had the biggest impact on oversized aircraft parts which revolutionized Midwest. Having the ability to travel from De- ensuring her lasting legacy as a leader in the the industry. In 1972, Leonard, Sr. established troit to Chicago with the speed of a plane flight recovery movement. Roberts Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering would open the doors to new business invest- Following their time in the White House, Corporation (RAMEC), and continued to re- ments in the Metro Detroit area and connect President and Mrs. Ford relocated to Rancho ceive coveted government contracts, as a re- major markets in the Midwest. It would be a Mirage, California and Vail, Colorado. As full- sult of his expertise in precision manufacturing win-win for consumers and business. time residents of Rancho Mirage, they resided for nearly four decades until the time of his Mr. Chair, it is appalling that this body in the Congressional District which I would passing. Equally of note, Mr. Roberts was well seems to lack the courage to strive for great- come to have the honor of representing, and known in the industry as a man of integrity. ness for America. I was incredibly proud to call the Fords con- Leonard, Sr. valued God, Country and, Franklin Coolidge had that courage. He stituents and dear friends. The Fords were fix- above all else, family, which is demonstrated worked with Congress to create the Hoover tures in our desert community and many local by his marriage to Dessie for sixty-five years Dam. residents counted them as friends. President and his commitment to his children. His love Dwight Eisenhower had that courage. He and Mrs. Ford contributed greatly to countless will live forever in the hearts of his Grand- worked with Congress to create the National worthwhile causes and generously shared that children Allen Talbert, Kellie Clay (deceased), Highway System. most precious of commodities, their time. In Chanel Troy-Thompson, Danielle Benoit-Wil- John Kennedy had that courage. He and 2008, I proudly authored a bill designating liams, Natalie Roberts, Raquel Roberts-Rich- Congress sent our country to the moon. their neighborhood post office as the ‘‘Gerald

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