November 14, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1577 community that supports its police and fire de- cifically in the Pennsylvania manufacturing Since its founding, the Church has had four partments, and a town in which children re- industry. homes in North Philadelphia. It has been in its spect public safety professionals. f current location since 2007 and has worked to In both the State Legislature and Congress, uplift surrounding residents through numerous it has been my privilege to represent this re- RECOGNIZING LARRY CHEEVES efforts, including the creation of a supermarket markable city, and to interact with Chief to serve the local underserved community. Telford on many occasions. However, none of HON. ERIC SWALWELL From the 63 members it began with, to the my interactions with the Chief were marked by OF CALIFORNIA 5,400 Philadelphians who call this church tragedy until one late afternoon on September IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES home, Triumph Missionary Baptist Church has 9, 2010. Eight precious lives were lost that Friday, November 14, 2014 accomplished much in its forty-five years of fateful afternoon when a natural gas trans- Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, existence. mission pipeline exploded in a residential I rise today to recognize Union City City Man- I invite you and all of my colleagues to join neighborhood of San Bruno. Throughout the ager Larry Cheeves on his retirement. me in commemorating Triumph Missionary night and on through the days to follow, brav- Larry earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baptist Church’s 45th anniversary. May its ery and compassion in the line of duty were Pepperdine University in 1975 and then a success and commitment to helping the City an every-moment event on the front lines. The Master of Public Administration degree from of Philadelphia be an inspiration to all of us in explosion shaped this nation’s laws and prac- California State University at Fullerton in 1977. the years to come. tices on pipeline safety. Since then he has devoted his 38 year career f Chief Telford led his police force through the to serving California cities. fire and the difficult days thereafter with out- CONGRATULATING THE HELIAS Following jobs with the City of Cerritos, City CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CRU- standing compassion, strength and calm. In of Pico Rivera, City of Buena Park, and City those difficult weeks, events that might other- SADERS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL of Norwalk, Larry took over as Director of Pub- TEAM wise have marked decades of experience cas- lic Works for the City of Union City in 1989. caded upon Chief Telford and other public Union City was in a period of growth at this safety professionals, the leadership and the time, and in his role Larry saw the creation of HON. BLAINE LUETKEMEYER residents of San Bruno. Through it all, Chief many new streets, parks, and fire stations. He OF MISSOURI Telford stayed focused on recovery, protection helped Union City win two Helen Putnam IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of public safety, and the preservation of the Awards from the League of California Cities Friday, November 14, 2014 dignity of every resident of San Bruno. While and the 1999 All-America City Award. Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise he has many other notable accomplishments Larry served twice as interim city manager today to ask my colleagues to join me in con- in his career, Neil Telford will always be re- of Union City before earning the position per- gratulating the Helias Catholic High School membered as the Chief who cared when car- manently in 2004. Since assuming this role Crusaders Girls Volleyball team for winning ing counted for everything. Larry has put together balanced budgets in the Class 3 Missouri State Championship. Mr. Speaker, Chief Telford is a graduate of each year for the city council, despite very dif- I ask that you join me in recognizing the the State of California’s Commission on Peace ficult economic circumstances. During this Helias Crusaders for a job well done. Officer Standards and Training (POST), the time Union City also developed the Intermodal Command College program, and he also holds Station District and the Mark Green Sports f Advanced, Supervisory, Management and Ex- Center. SPEECH BY HELMA ADDE ecutive certificates from POST. California law Larry is an active contributor to our commu- enforcement is marked by a high degree of nity. He is a member of the Alameda County professionalism. In truth, Neil Telford could City Management Association, a board mem- HON. STEVE ISRAEL have written the definitive textbook on police ber of the California Redevelopment Associa- OF NEW YORK leadership. tion, and a founding member of the Board of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Please join with me in congratulating Chief Directors of the East Bay Regional Commu- Friday, November 14, 2014 Neil Telford upon the occasion of his retire- nications System Authority. Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to ment after 32 years of public service to the On behalf of the citizens of Union City and residents of San Bruno. He and his wife, draw your attention to a speech given by one the entire East Bay, I want to thank Larry of my constituents, Helma Adde of Huntington, Cindy, have lived for 22 years in the city that Cheeves for his years of dedicated service. I he protects. They have a son, Anthony, who NY, when I visited St. Peter’s Syriac Orthodox wish him good luck in the years to come. Church. Ms. Adde offered me a warm wel- also resides in this special place on the Penin- f sula. We wish the Telford family much happi- come and introduction to the community and I ness in the coming years. A CELEBRATION OF TRIUMPH MIS- would like to share her words. f SIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH’S AN- Congressman Israel, let me start with our NIVERSARY customary greeting. Shlomo, which in the PERSONAL EXPLANATION Aramaic language literally means peace. We are very happy to have you here in our home HON. ROBERT A. BRADY today, so that we may get to know you bet- HON. LOU BARLETTA OF PENNSYLVANIA ter, as our Congressman and man chosen to OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES be our voice in government. And we are also IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday, November 14, 2014 excited for the opportunity to introduce our- selves to you, so that you may know who we, Friday, November 14, 2014 Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I your constituents are, and so that you may Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, this week I rise today to honor Triumph Missionary Baptist understand our concerns as members of this was not able to vote because I was home Church as it celebrates its 45th church anni- community and participants in this democ- recuperating from surgery to remove plaque versary and Pastor James S. Hall, Jr.’s 63 racy. I hope this brief history I will share from my right carotid artery. I missed the fol- years of preaching and teaching as its leader. with you helps you connect with us. So who are the members of this congrega- lowing roll call votes: 516, 517, 518, and 519. Over the past forty-five years, Triumph Mis- tion? The Syriac Orthodox Church is one of Had I been present, I would have voted sionary Baptist Church has endured as the the most ancient Christian Churches tracing ‘‘aye’’ on roll call 516, the Government Re- spiritual home for countless numbers of Phila- its roots to the Church of Antioch where ports Elimination Act (H.R. 4194); ‘‘aye’’ on roll delphia citizens. Strong leaders, like Pastor Jesus’ disciples were first called Christians, call 517, the rule (H. Res. 748) to proceed to James S. Hall, allow institutions like Triumph and Apostle Peter is believed to have estab- the measure to approve the Keystone XL Missionary Baptist Church to thrive and sup- lished the first church. Ethnically and his- Pipeline; ‘‘nay’’ on roll call 518, the motion to port the communities in which they reside. torically, we are indigenous to northern recommit with instructions for H.R. 5682; and Since he was elected Pastor for Life in 1969, Iraq, southeast Turkey, northwest Iran, and northeast Syria, a region encompassing what ‘‘aye’’ on roll call 519, final passage of H.R. Pastor Hall’s wisdom and years of experience was in ancient times known as the Assyrian 5682, the bill to approve the Keystone XL preaching have allowed him to sustain the empire and is often referred to as Meso- Pipeline. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 5682 and church, even in the face of adversity, and pro- potamia, or the land between the two rivers, strongly support its passage, as construction vide a venue for Christians in the North Phila- and we are proud to say that we speak a dia- of the Keystone XL Pipeline means jobs, spe- delphia community to worship their Creator. lect of Aramaic, the language spoken by

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:19 Nov 15, 2014 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A14NO8.005 E14NOPT1 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS E1578 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 14, 2014 Abraham and his sons, and Jesus Christ. Due us to hide our crosses, and even forced us to look forward to the continuing cooperation and to the effects and obstacles brought on by change our names to assimilate into their comprehensive partnership between Mongolia population growth, political shifts and reli- societies and forget where we came from. and the United States based on our shared gious fanaticism, our community has They have even turned our century old evolved like many others and today we have churches to mosques, and some have even be- values and common strategic interests, and I come to be known as the Syriac, Assyrian, come ashes, along with our ancient archae- have every confidence that Mongolia will con- Chaldean people. ological sites. This cycle has been ham- tinue to flourish as a relevant and established As modern day Assyrians/Syriac Chaldean mering away at our people to the point presence in the region. people, we do not have our own country, and where they have realized the need for a safe those of our people that have managed to haven, a place in their ancestral homeland f stay in the homeland, today find themselves that they can call their own again, where referred to as minorities in the land of their they can feel safe and protected, and be who IN RECOGNITION OF JAMES forefathers. Our people are known to be a they are. But their voices in the Middle East VINCENT TASA God fearing, peace loving people, and have are being stifled, so we, their American contributed to Middle Eastern society in a brothers and sisters must be their voice. positive way over the years. But, after years We have undertaken this duty to be their of being the target of religious fanaticism, voice, not only as Christians and members of HON. JACKIE SPEIER many have fled the ancient homeland, and this church, but also as human beings and OF CALIFORNIA sought refuge in the diaspora in the hopes of defenders of human, God given rights. Con- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES providing safety and stability to their chil- gressman, we attempted to voice our con- dren and their families. cerns for our persecuted people outside the Friday, November 14, 2014 Today, The United States constitutes the UN where we rallied for our people back in largest population of Assyrian Christians in August. We also voiced our concerns when Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the diaspora. Our people first started arriv- we wrote to your office pleading for humani- Chief James Vincent Tasa for his 32 years of ing in Western New York in the late 19th tarian aid and help in stopping the barbaric service with the Pacifica Police Department. century, after the Christian massacre in acts of terrorism. And we were so grateful Chief Tasa has been an exemplary leader and Diyarbakir, Turkey. We witnessed another when you replied both to our invitation to confidant for his colleagues and the residents large influx of immigrants after the Chris- the UN rally and reached out to meet with us of Pacifica. tian genocide in 1915 under the sword of the here at our church today. And now that you Ottoman Turks, during which nearly 1 mil- are here, and willing to build a relationship Chief Tasa first joined the Pacifica Police lion Armenians and about 500,000 Assyrians with us, we want you to know that our peo- Department as an officer in 1982. Ten years were killed. As a result, many of our people ple need help, they are asking for their home later he was promoted to the rank of Police left Mardin, Midyat and other cities in Tur- back. We need a safe haven for them, in our Sergeant and in 2002 he was promoted to the key and eventually settled in parts of New ancient ancestral land, the Nineveh plains, rank of Police Captain. He successfully com- York and New Jersey. But after visiting under the protection of the United Nations pleted the POST California Law Enforcement Long Island, it was hard to resist its beau- so that we can break the cycle of constant tiful green pastures, and its relaxing beach- Command College in 2007 and in 2011 he persecution threatening our existence for too was promoted to his current position as es. Eventually, a small group made their way long. Thank you for giving me the oppor- out and settled there, mainly in parts of tunity to acquaint you with our community Pacifica’s Chief of Police. Though he officially Queens, and then later to Nassau County. today. It is our sincere hope that our voices retired in February of this year, he continued These immigrants worked hard, and became will be heard on behalf of our persecuted to serve as Chief until now to allow the City prominent entrepreneurs mainly in the jew- community, namely the hundreds of thou- of Pacifica time to search for his replacement. elry and garment industry, trades brought sands of displaced men, women, and children Chief Tasa has received numerous awards with them from the old country, back in the suffering at the hands of ISIS today. for his exemplary work as a law enforcement early 70s. They built homes, grew families Thank you. officer, including the Police Officer of the Year and raised children who became lawyers, f doctors, teachers, business owners, and up- Award by the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers standing members in the community. Even- COMMENDING MONGOLIA Association, the Captain’s Award, and count- tually, in 1985, this growing community, now less commendations from the community, citi- comprised of immigrants from Turkey, zens and law enforcement professionals. Syria, Iraq, and Jordan, became large HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA OF AMERICAN SAMOA Chief Tasa has approached every aspect of enough to establish a church where they could all congregate and meet regularly with IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES his work with professionalism, integrity and a other Assyrian Americans to preserve their Friday, November 14, 2014 refreshing sense of optimism and humor. He has earned the respect and admiration of his ancient culture and practice their sacred re- Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise ligion. That church was named St. Peter’s fellow officers and residents. I’ve had the Syriac Orthodox Church. The community today to commend the Honorable President honor to work with Jim over the last three thrived and grew and after years of careful Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, His Excellency Ambas- years to combat human trafficking in San planning an opportunity arose that allowed sador Altangerel Bulgaa, the State Great Mateo County. His work and collaboration with them to finally purchase their own church. Hural, and the people of Mongolia for their all other chiefs of police have been essential And in 2001, with the purchase of this church commitment to the development of a stable in Hicksville that we are gathered in today, to find cures for this epidemic of modern day and prospering democracy. Since establishing slavery. we became permanent members of the Long diplomatic relations with the United States in Island community. 1987, Mongolia has successfully conducted During his three decades with the police de- Over the years, our American born genera- partment, Jim has witnessed many memorable tion has begun to assimilate into American six presidential and six legislative elections. Additionally, Mongolia has supported inter- moments. One of them is without a doubt the society and is proud of its American nation- afternoon of August 19, 2011. He accom- ality. But this generation is also proud of its national peace efforts by deploying troops to ancestral roots and works hard to maintain Iraq from 2003 through October 2008, and panied Mayor Mary Ann Nihart and other city a balance between its nationality and ethnic now has approximately 350 troops in Afghani- officials on a mayor’s walk on Palmetto Ave- heritage. We have always been grateful to stan supporting Coalition operations. nue to meet local business owners. Towards our brave people living in our homeland Mongolia has also achieved remarkable the end of the walk, they opened the door of knowing that we rely on them to preserve success over the past two decades as one of a ‘‘flower shop’’ and were met by an unmistak- our ancient culture and language; they are able aroma—the flower shop was a medical the true torch bearers so to speak. God has Asia’s fastest growing economies. Since 2003, Mongolia’s GDP has more than doubled. With marijuana dispensary. Jim had to deliver the somehow given them the strength and cour- bad news to the owner that he had a false li- age to stay rooted in their homeland, a feat one of the world’s largest copper and gold many of us here could not achieve. And we mines, such as the Oyu Tolgoi, which boasts cense and therefore needed to shut his flower have always feared that without them, our one of the biggest metallurgical and thermal shop. dwindling culture would undoubtedly face coal deposits as well, Mongolia is on track to Jim is married to Susan Kae Tasa and they extinction, and our name and language that become a thriving mining center in the Asian have two sons, Nick and Ryan. have survived for centuries would merely be region. Additionally, Mongolia’s trade with the Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Represent- something people hear about in history books. For centuries, it is our ethnic herit- United States has surged in the last few atives to join me in honoring Jim Tasa for his age and religion that have made us seem like years, making the United States Mongolia’s outstanding service keeping the residents of a threat to governments in the Middle East. third largest trading partner. Pacifica safe. His leadership and warmth will Some have forced us to stop speaking Ara- Today the relationship between our two be remembered long after he moves on to the maic in our homes with our children, forced countries continues to grow and strengthen. I next chapter of his life.

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