January 24, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S277 community volunteer whose contribu- Veterans Back to Work Act of 2013 will and documents from Federal employees tions will have long lasting impacts in ensure we provide them with much and agencies in order to carry out in- the Greater Cincinnati community, needed support. vestigations related to USERRA. and beyond. This legislation would reauthorize Mr. President, there are a number of Born and raised in Hillsboro, OR, Mr. several of the transition, retraining, great training and employment pro- Gardner was the only child of Vesey and employment services created by grams available to veterans. This legis- Gardner, a prominent community lead- the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. lation would strengthen such programs er and a lumber company owner, and That legislation is making a real im- and make certain that veterans have Ruth Gardner, a popular singer. He is a pact in the lives of countless veterans and maintain access to those programs. graduate of Oregon State University. by providing them with the training That is what our veterans are entitled A proud and decorated veteran of opportunities they need in order to se- to and that is what we must deliver. World War II, Mr. Gardner withdrew cure meaningful employment. from college to serve in the U.S. Navy Too often I hear from veterans that f the day after the attack on Pearl Har- the government provides great re- ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS bor. He survived one of the largest and sources for them to find training and most brutal battles in history—The employment opportunities, but they Battle off Samar—earning his unit are not sure where to start in order to RECOGNIZING MARILYN AND ALAN aboard the USS Kalinin Bay the Presi- tap into those resources. Those Depart- BERGMAN dential Unit Citation, one of the ments charged with helping to provide ∑ Navy’s highest honors. veterans with employment assistance Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, the Ted was an active member of the U.S. must make certain that they are con- great song lyricists Alan and Marilyn Navy League, The Hornet Foundation, ducting appropriate outreach so that Bergman are being honored by the New and was a member of the advisory veterans know where to turn when West Symphony with its Bravo Award board of the Warbird Museum. He was they need help. for their extraordinary leadership, passionate about the importance of Assisting in this effort, the Putting their contributions to the Visions of oral history and personally interviewed Our Veterans Back to Work Act would America multimedia project, and their over 150 World War II veterans and re- also provide veterans with a new, uni- deep and longstanding commitment to corded and videotaped their stories for fied, online employment portal for vet- music education and the performing the Cincinnati Public Library and for erans seeking information regarding arts. I look forward to paying tribute the U.S. Library of Congress. employment and job training re- to them at the New West Symphony’s Following his graduation from Or- sources. This online portal would make event in Los Angeles. egon State University, Mr. Gardner got it easier for veterans to take advantage Alan and Marilyn Bergman are two a job with a lumber distributor in Co- of the services and opportunities avail- of the world’s best-known and best- lumbus, OH and then later moved to able to them. loved lyricists. From the 1950s calypso Cincinnati, where he and his wife, At a time when 85 percent of law en- hit ‘‘Yellow Bird’’ and Frank Sinatra’s Naomi, raised their three children. Mr. forcement agencies were forced to re- ‘‘Nice ’n’ Easy’’ to Oscar-winning lyrics Gardner changed careers in the 1970s duce their budget, according to a 2011 for ‘‘The Way We Were’’ and ‘‘The and worked as a local art dealer until survey by the International Associa- Windmills of Your Mind’’ to themes for he retired. tion of Chiefs of Police, answering the many of America’s favorite television Ted was a 30-year member of the Cin- Nation’s public safety needs is also a series, the Bergmans have been con- cinnati Rotary Club, where he was in- priority. That is why this legislation tributing to the Great American Song- volved in programs to welcome inter- would provide potential employers book for more than 50 years. They have national students studying at area uni- with additional grants for first re- won three Academy Awards (including versities and where he participated in sponder hiring and re-hiring needs. one for the score of Yentl), four events benefiting children with disabil- This legislation would also direct Emmys, two Grammys, and two Golden ities and youth in government. agency heads to favorably consider Globe Awards. A talented musician, Mr. Gardner contractors that employ a significant They have also worked tirelessly to shared his vocal talents as a member of number of veterans for all contracts promote the arts and champion our the Rotary chorus, the choir of the over $25 million. This provision would creative community. Marilyn served Church of the Redeemer and the Cin- ensure that contractors, who are doing for 15 years as President and Chairman cinnati May Festival Chorus, where he their part to help veterans find good of the Board of the American Society served as a board member. For 25 paying jobs, have a competitive advan- of Composers, Authors and Publishers years, he sang all four verses of ‘‘Taps’’ tage when doing business with the Fed- (ASCAP), the world’s foremost per- in his rich bass voice on Veterans Day eral government. forming rights organization. In 2002, at the public library. Finally, the Putting Our Veterans she was appointed the first chairman of Ted was an historian, a lover of art Back to Work Act would strengthen the Library of Congress National and literature, a musician and an avid our commitment to protecting the em- Sound Recording Preservation Board. sports enthusiast. He is greatly missed, ployment rights of servicemembers and Alan serves as a member of the Li- and his extraordinary legacy and giv- veterans. These commonsense provi- brary of Congress National Film Pres- ing spirit will not be forgotten.∑ sions would build upon existing law by ervation Board, the Johnny Mercer f providing the government with addi- Foundation Board, the Artists’ Rights tional tools to carry out its obligation Foundation Board, and the Jazz Bak- PUTTING OUR VETERANS BACK TO to safeguard veterans’ employment ery Board of Directors. WORK rights. This legislation would enable And together, Alan and Marilyn Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, as in- the Attorney General to investigate serve on the executive committee of coming chairman of the Senate Vet- and file suit against a pattern or prac- the Music Branch of the Academy of erans’ Affairs Committee, one of my tice in violation of the Uniformed Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. top priorities will be to evaluate and Services Employment and Reemploy- They are also strong supporters of improve the training and employment ment Rights Act and to issue limited music education, including the New programs afforded to our Nation’s serv- civil investigative demands for rel- West Symphony’s outstanding efforts icemembers and veterans. evant documentary material. It would to provide quality outreach and edu- Every day, far too many young vet- also allow Federal agencies to suspend cational opportunities for our commu- erans face the harsh realities of unem- and debar contractors who repeatedly nities and our schools. ployment. These are brave men and violate the employment and reemploy- Mr. President, I know that you and women who have put their lives on the ment rights of members of the uni- all our colleagues will join me in salut- line defending our country who now formed services. Finally, it would pro- ing two great American artists and struggle to find employment and pro- vide the Special Counsel with author- this year’s Bravo Award winners, Alan vide for their families. The Putting Our ity to subpoena attendance, testimony, and Marilyn Bergman.∑

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