CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E56 HON
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E56 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 13, 2015 For generations, southern and eastern Ken- public has been misled by the pipeline’s advo- our American fabric, and I am honored to rec- tucky has relied upon the coal mining industry cates, who have played down the pipeline’s ognize their vital role in shaping communities for good paying jobs; however, primarily in the potentially devastating effects on our nation’s throughout our great Nation. last decade, we have witnessed a debilitating environment and on the American people. Since the first Koreans arrived on the decline in our Appalachian coalfields. To help For starters, this bill allows a foreign com- shores of Honolulu, Hawaii, on this date in diversify our business portfolio, I have long re- pany to take property from U.S. landowners 1903, they have excelled and shown that the lied upon the expertise of my dear friend Ray through eminent domain. The taking of private American Dream is alive. Whether in military, Moncrief. In fact, he helped form the corner- land for public purposes has always been for education, science, business, sports or the stones of one of the region’s largest job cre- local government or local interests. We cannot arts, Korean Americans proved that with hard ating organizations, the Southeast Kentucky allow a foreign company to take our private work, dedication and zeal for education, they Economic Development Corporation (SKED). property to feed its corporate profits. can thrive and help make America even great- Knowing the challenges of entrepreneurship In addition, the bill exempts TransCanada er. in his own startup companies, Ray has dedi- Corp. and any other company producing, ship- My time fighting in the Korean War gave me cated countless hours to small business own- ping, or refining tar sands oil for this project, an enduring personal connection to Korea and ers and local developers, providing technical from paying into the Oil Spill Liability Trust its people. Since returning home from my and managerial training, guiding them through Fund, which helps to finance the federal gov- service over six decades ago, I have wit- loan opportunities, development costs and ernment’s response to spills. This exemption nessed South Korea’s rise from a war-torn na- contracts, and advocating for community part- essentially reduces the companies’ liability for tion to becoming the world’s 13th-largest nerships and investments. He has taught nu- spills from the pipeline and makes the U.S. economy, a transformation which has been merous innovative individuals how to start, op- taxpayers pay to clean up those spills. That’s largely driven by the resilience and industri- erate and expand successful companies and outrageous, especially when you consider the ousness of the Korean people. Here in Amer- organizations in our region and across the pipeline will go over the underground water ica, Koreans have inspired us with the same country. supply for eight of our states. entrepreneurialism and perseverance toward Ray’s finite business sense has been The legislation also gives this project special building success and wealth for their commu- sought out by countless businesses and non- regulatory treatment by exempting the pipeline nities. profit organizations. His resume includes Ex- from all federal permitting requirements. Our As a native and longtime Congressman of ecutive Vice President and Chief Operating federal permitting process exists to ensure New York City, I am proud of its Korean Officer of Kentucky Highlands Investment Cor- worker safety, and to provide health safe- American community and the greatness they poration, President and Chief Executive Offi- guards and environmental protections for the contribute to our City and State. I applaud the cer (CEO) of Mountain Ventures, Inc., and American people. It is irresponsible to give this services provided by many Korean American Fund Manager for both the Southern Appa- project a blanket exemption from these critical organizations to the Greater New York region, lachian Fund and Meritus Venture. He was safety measures. including free legal and medical help, immigra- previously a member of the NASBIC Board of This is particularly true given that the tar tion workshops, scholarship opportunities, and Governors, and is currently a member of the sands oil to be transported is more destructive various cultural events. Koreans raise strong Boards of Directors of the Community Devel- than any other oil in the world. Converting a families and build successful businesses, ac- opment Financial Institution Coalition, the New barrel of tar sands into synthetic crude oil tive civic associations, churches, and charities Markets Tax Credit Coalition, the National emits three times more greenhouse gas emis- that enhance our local economy and culture. Consumer Cooperative Bank, and NCB Cap- sions than are emitted by producing a barrel I am proud to serve as Honorary Chairman ital Impact. He is also a founding director and of conventional crude oil. If this pipeline leaks, of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, and the founding Chairman of Appalachian Com- the health of thousands of Americans will be join my Colleagues and Korean American munity Capital, Inc. Topping off his long list of at risk—and Americans, not the Canadian friends in celebrating their many milestones credibility, Ray is also a founding member of company, will be held responsible for the cost and triumphs. The Korean people will always the Community Development Venture Capital of the clean-up. have a very special place in my heart. I look Alliance (CDVCA) and is credited for design- Considering this foreign-built pipeline takes forward to the continued friendship I cherish ing the community development venture cap- private property and poses serious economic so much. ital. and safety risks, I stand in firm opposition to f As noted in his biography, Ray is a nation- this bill. ally and internationally recognized speaker f COMMEMORATING MARIO CUOMO and writer on the use of equity as an eco- nomic development strategy, and has provided PERSONAL EXPLANATION HON. NITA M. LOWEY testimony to the U.S. Congress on various OF NEW YORK economic topics. President George W. Bush HON. PETER WELCH IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES appointed Ray to the Community Development OF VERMONT Tuesday, January 13, 2015 Advisory Fund in 2008. He has also received IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Lifetime Achievement Awards from CDVCA Tuesday, January 13, 2015 Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to submit and the National Association of Seed and the text of an op-ed in The Journal News I Venture Funds. Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, because of flight wrote commemorating former New York Gov- I ask my colleagues to join me in applaud- cancellations due to inclement weather, I was ernor Mario Cuomo. ing Ray Moncrief for manifesting the spirit of unable to vote on Roll Call 2, Election of the [From The Journal News, Jan. 2, 2015] Speaker. Had I been present, I would have entrepreneurship that helps run America. His REP. LOWEY: MARIO CUOMO WAS MY MENTOR ANCY ELOSI investment into the practices of small business voted for Representative N P for AND INSPIRATION Speaker of the House of Representatives. owners across southern and eastern Kentucky (By Nita Lowey) will undoubtedly continue to create jobs for f Mario and Matilda Cuomo and their five generations to follow. I wish Ray the very best IN RECOGNITION OF THE 113TH AN- children were our neighbors in Holliswood, in his retirement. NIVERSARY OF KOREAN AMER- Queens. Mario’s parents, Andrea and f ICAN DAY Immaculata, lived around the corner. When Mario, an attorney and law professor KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE ACT who gained prominence by successfully me- HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL diating thorny housing disputes in Corona SPEECH OF OF NEW YORK and Forest Hills, first ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1974, Steve and I IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD promptly jumped into his campaign. He lost. OF CALIFORNIA Tuesday, January 13, 2015 But Gov. Hugh Carey, recognizing Mario’s IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES extraordinary talents, appointed him as Sec- Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is with great Friday, January 9, 2015 retary of State. (His parents famously asked: pleasure that I join the nation in celebrating ‘‘Mario—you’re a lawyer and a teacher. How Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I op- the 113th Anniversary of Korean American come you took a job as a secretary?’’) pose H.R. 3, which grants approval to build Day this January 13, 2015. The Korean Amer- My first job in public service was in 1975 as the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline. The ican community has been an integral part of an assistant to Mario Cuomo, working as a VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:34 Jan 14, 2015 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JA8.002 E13JAPT1 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS January 13, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E57 community relations officer in the New York Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission’s Like Dr. King, these individuals saw chal- metropolitan region. I worked closely with Earth Day Award and PRIDE’s Rogers-Bick- lenges and faced them with unwavering Mario, as he took charge of New York’s anti- ford Environmental Leadership Award. strength and determination. Each one of the poverty programs following their devolution A.L. has inspired an entire generation to by the federal government through block honored guests’ greatness has been found in grants to the states. He pursued housing, take pride in our region by keeping our hill- their willingness to serve with ‘‘a heart full of education, health, community development, sides and waterways clean, by creating inno- grace and a soul generated by love.’’ They set and senior citizen initiatives, among others.