CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E883 CONGRATULATING SENATOR deeply about those in his community and does has always treated them accordingly. In a re- all in his power to improve life in the State of cent article in the Providence Journal, Mrs. . Ponticelli remarked that she loves children and HON. f wishes she ``could take care of more.'' I stand in awe of this woman and her incredible gift of OF NEW JERSEY A TRIBUTE TO THOMAS J. DOYLE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES unconditional love and acceptance to these children, who undoubtedly struggled through Thursday, May 6, 1999 HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI difficult family situations until finding the secu- Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to con- OF ILLINOIS rity provided in the Ponticelli home. gratulate state Senator Gerald Cardinale on IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES At one point, Mrs. Ponticelli had nine chil- receiving the prestigious Lincoln Award from dren staying in her house in Johnston, many Thursday, May 6, 1999 the Woodcliff Lake Republican Club in rec- placed by the Rhode Island Department of ognition of his many years of service in the Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to Children, Youth, and Families. She took in en- and service to the pay tribute to Mr. Thomas J. Doyle, a valuable tire families of children so that siblings would community. This award is given to officials principal in my district who is retiring. Thomas not be separated; she gave up her own bed- who epitomize the spirit of Abraham Lincoln Doyle is retiring after 42 years of dedicated room for the children and slept on a couch and the ideals of the Republican Party. Sen- service to the Chicago Public Schools. near one of her physically-disabled charges; ator Cardinale meets that test and clearly de- Mr. Doyle has been the principal at Byrne she cooked big Italian dinners and maintained serves this high honor in recognition of his Elementary School since September of 1989. three sheds, four freezers, and three refrig- hard work and dedication. Whether he is rais- He has administered the Chicago Board of erators; all the while, she showered them love, ing money for the Boy Scouts, attending to his Education since 1957, where he started his practiced discipline, and provided them with a dental practice or giving a speech on the Sen- career at the Graham Elementary School as a stable, caring home. Mrs. Ponticelli is now ate floor, he is one of New Jersey's finest pub- physical education teacher. In addition to Mr. eighty years old, suffering from cancer, voice- lic servants. Doyle's work with the Chicago Board of Edu- less because of sickness, and small and frail, I have known Gerry Cardinale for many cation, he was also an instructor at other edu- yet she remains a figure larger than life. Her years and can tell you he is a gentleman of in- cational institutions. He worked summers from capacity for love knows no bounds, and her tegrity and character. It has been a pleasure 1967 to 1970 at the Pirie School Teacher children reflect that same sense of caring and to work with him on projects of mutual concern training Workshops as an instructor for Audio- devotion, visiting her often and caring for her in our home county of Bergen. He has been Visual Techniques. Mr. Doyle worked part time in her illness. a source of sound advice and counsel. He has as an instructor for various institutions, includ- We often decry cases in which our foster done much to make our community a good ing Chicago State University and Daley City care system has run awry and allowed inno- place to live, work, and raise a family. College. Mr. Doyle is committed to numerous cent children to fall through the cracks. Trage- Senator Cardinale has been a member of professional affiliations and activities including dies such as the recent shooting in Littleton, the state senate since 1981, following two serving as a member of the State of Illinois Colorado, force us to reexamine and reevalu- years in the state assembly. He is currently Reading Subgoals Committee, International ate what we are teaching our children, at deputy majority leader and, as chairman of the Reading Association, the State Evaluation home and at school. As often as we lament powerful and influential Senate Commerce Team for the Illinois Office of Education, and these tragedies, however, we must celebrate Committee, presides over all legislation deal- the Chicago Area Reading Association the occasions in which the system and strong ing with the business community, labor, insur- (CARA). parenting work. We must recognize that when ance, industry and professions. Legislation he Mr. Doyle's fairness, generosity, and posi- the system does provide children with the sta- has sponsored to promote business and job tive attitude generate a strong respect from his ble home they so desperately need, it is peo- development has included unemployment and staff and students. Mr. Doyle is attentive to the ple like Diane Ponticelli who make those suc- automobile insurance reforms, lawsuit reform, needs and concerns of the students and par- cesses a reality for the children. We cannot tax relief for money market mutual funds, a ents. As the leader of instructional activities, underestimate or understate the importance of 30-year rent control moratorium for new con- Mr. Doyle gives student recognition for aca- instilling positive values in our children and struction and government incentives for forma- demic achievement in the classroom. His posi- teaching them to love and respect others. tion of corporate day care centers by the pri- tive reinforcement has boosted the morale of Please join with me in the appreciation of vate sector. both the teachers and students of Byrne Ele- Diane Ponticelli and other caring parents like Senator Cardinale has been involved in poli- mentary School. her. We owe much to these individuals for tics since he was elected to the Bergen Coun- Mr. Speaker, Thomas Doyle's forty-two their significant and continuing contributions to ty Republican Committee in 1962. He served years of commitment to our youth is certainly our communities and nation as a whole by as mayor of Demarest from 1974 to 1979 be- worthy of recognition. I know that the commu- raising children with love and dedication. fore being elected to the state assembly. He nity joins me in thanking Mr. Doyle for his f has been a delegate or alternate delegate to dedication to our children. every Republican National Convention since f TRIBUTE TO REVEREND J. 1980 except 1996 (when illness kept him from DELNOAH WILLIAMS AND THE attending). He sought the Republican nomina- RECOGNITION OF DIANE SILVER PARK PLAZA tion for Governor in 1989. PONTICELLI, MOTHER TO 1,022 Senator Cardinale is a true citizen legislator, CHILDREN HON. HAROLD E. FORD, JR. operating his own dental practice in Fort Lee OF TENNESSEE since 1959. He is a graduate of St. John's HON. ROBERT A. WEYGAND IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES University and the New York University Col- OF RHODE ISLAND Thursday, May 6, 1999 lege of Dentistry. In addition to his political IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and professional careers, he has been active Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay with many community organizations, including Thursday, May 6, 1999 tribute to Reverend J. Delnoah Williams, a the Knights of Columbus, UNICO, the Sons of Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highly respected community leader and Pub- Italy, the Columbians and the Elks Club. A na- recognize Diane Ponticelli, an eighty-year-old lisher of the Silver Star News, a weekly news- tive of , he discovered the charms of resident of Johnston, Rhode Island who re- paper in the Ninth Congressional District. New Jersey and moved to Fort Lee in 1960. cently receivedÐfor the second timeÐthe key Since the newspaper's establishment in 1986, He has lived in Demarest since 1964 and he to her hometown, in commemoration of her Reverend Williams has sought to make it and his wife, Carole, have raised five wonder- thirty-five years of service and dedication to more than just an outlet for the dissemination ful children in New JerseyÐMarisa, Christine, more than 1,000 children for whom she cared of news. The Silver Star News plays an inte- Kara, Gary, and Nicole. over the years. gral role in improving our community. On its I ask my colleagues in the House of Rep- This selfless, big-hearted woman has been, pages are important local and national issues. resentatives to join me in congratulating my and still is, a mother to these children, and the Reverend Williams and his professional staff good friend Gerald Cardinale on this occasion adults they have become, in every positive always work to ensure that the activities of im- and wishing him success in the future. He is sense of the word. She considers each and portant local institutions like churches, small a truly dedicated public servant who cares every one of them to be her own child and businesses, associations, sororities and non- E884 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 6, 1999 profits are given prominent attention. As the week, I read with great pleasure an article on He spent his early years visiting employ- newspaper's masthead states, the Silver Star Mr. Ball's achievements in the New York ers, trying to straighten out wage records News is ``Building Bridges For A Brighter Fu- Times. The article which I include for the and, along the way, proselytizing for a pro- gram that seemed quite revolutionary at the ture'' in Memphis. RECORD, eloquently describes his long-stand- time. On the wall of his office at home, he In that tradition, Reverend Williams has un- ing commitment to the Social Security pro- has a picture of that Newark field staff, ear- dertaken a new venture. On May 15th, Rev- gram, and gives me hope that we will continue nest young foot soldiers of the New Deal. erend Williams will open the new Silver Park to benefit from his wisdom for years to come. There are other pictures on that wall: Plaza, a multi-service complex, for public and [From the New York Times, May 3, 1999] President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the law creating Medicare, which Mr. Ball helped put private events, including conferences, ban- A GREAT DEFENDER OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY into effect. The Presidential commission, quets, receptions, weddings, parties, meet- BATTLES ON signed by John F. Kennedy, that named Mr. ings, seminars, recitals and concerts. The cen- (By Robin Toner) ter will also serve as the newspaper's new Ball head of Social Security. (Mr. Ball noted The conventional wisdom these days is that it mentioned more than once that he home. What's significant about this new com- that any major change to Social Security is served at the pleasure of the President.) A plex, Mr. Speaker, is that it not only rep- unlikely before next year’s elections, but picture of the Balls with President Richard resents a new beginning for the paper, it rep- Robert M. Ball remains ever vigilant. In the M. Nixon in 1973, when Mr. Ball was leaving resents a new beginning for the Orange unending debate over the nation’s pension office. The newspapers at the time said he Mound community, the area of Memphis system, Mr. Ball stands as the great defender was ‘‘pushed out.’’ Mr. Ball says: ‘‘I was per- where the Silver Star News has had its offices of traditional Social Security, the genius of fectly happy to go, but I couldn’t have its basic principles, the soundness of its since its founding. Through Reverend Williams stayed if I wanted to. I lasted for the first basic approach. term.’’ vision and leadership, the Silver Star Park ‘‘Though I feel good about our position,’’ Along the way, the Balls brought up two Plaza will serve as a catalyst for economic he said in a lull in the struggle on a lazy children: their son is a psychotherapist; growth in the Ninth District. spring afternoon, ‘‘people who think like I do their daughter, an art therapist. The Silver Park Plaza venture is part of a better be very careful, and we better have Mr. Ball acknowledges that his retirement larger national trend of capitalizing on the un- good proposals and we better be alert. Or has been less than restful. He does a lot of tapped social and economic assets in our something may happen that we don’t like.’’ reading, and not just on social insurance under-served and rural areas. Michael Porter, Mr. Ball comes by his passion honestly, issues, he said a trifle defensively. Mostly having been at the Social Security wars for a Professor of Business Administration at the novels and Romantic poetry. a very long time. He went to work for Social But the care and tending of Social Secu- Harvard Business School and founder and Security in 1939, ran the program as Com- rity keeps pulling him back. Chairman of the Initiative for a Competitive missioner from 1962 to 1973, and has since ‘‘There was a time when I felt a lot of pres- Inner City, believes that a new vision of eco- played a principal role on some of the impor- sure on the basis that there wasn’t anybody nomic development is needed to accelerate tant advisory commissions. He is a regular else really working on it very much,’’ he business growth in these areas. Sustainable source of advice for leading Congressional said. ‘‘Now there’s a whole group. They’ll economic progress, according to Professor Democrats, has sent a series of memoran- carry on whether I die tomorrow and do as Porter, must be based on drawing on our un- dums on the issue to the White House over good or better job.’’ the last few years and, yes, is a Social Secu- That was the idea behind the National tapped competitive economic advantages rity beneficiary himself. Academy of Social Insurance, a nonprofit or- which already exist in our central cities. Con- Mr. Ball, who is 85, said he had no com- ganization that does research on social in- sider that more than 54 percent of the work- plaints about life on the other end of the So- surance and tries to ‘‘enhance public under- force growth over the next ten years will come cial Security check. ‘‘They do a good job,’’ standing’’ of the issues; Mr. Ball was one of from workers in central cities. Moreover, our he said, happily settled for the moment like its founders 11 years ago. central cities represent more than $85 billion any other cardigan-clad retiree in the living Still, it is not at all clear that Mr. Ball is in retail spending potential each year in the room of his ranch house in Alexandria, Va. ready to pass the torch and enter the land of For many Democrats engaged in the issue, . The University of Memphis has retirement he helped create. Mr. Ball is an irreplaceable link with 60 ‘‘My wife and I had dinner with him and documented this untapped economic potential years of history. ‘‘There’s a reason why the Doris two nights ago,’’ said Henry Aaron, an in various sections of our city. Governments program is what it is,’’ said Representative economist at the Brookings Institution. ‘‘I can help spur economic growth, but ultimately, Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota, a Demo- don’t know of any other 85-year-old who’s it's the private, for-profit business enterprises cratic point man on Social Security in the wrestling with what he’s going to do, new. that will transform our communities, create House. ‘‘And Bob Ball can explain it to you.’’ But Bob is wrestling with that. I think he jobs and produce wealth. The Silver Park ven- For the last few years, Mr. Ball’s con- sees the health care issue emerging anew.’’ suming cause has been beating back the ture embodies that philosophy. Mr. Speaker, I forces of privatization: the notion that at f urge all my colleagues to recognize Reverend least part of Social Security should be re- IN HONOR OF THE VENTURA HIGH Williams and the Silver Park Plaza. I know placed with individual accounts that workers that similar, untold success stories exist in could invest as they see fit. SCHOOL WIND ORCHESTRA congressional districts throughout the nation. I He sees privatization as a ‘‘slippery slope,’’ urge my colleagues to take a close look at a dangerous step away from the guaranteed HON. ELTON GALLEGLY benefits of Social Security. He contends that them in order to learn how we can best shape OF CALIFORNIA public policy in recognition of this new direc- the system can be shored up for the next cen- tury by far less radical measures, like rais- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tion of economic growth in America. ing the maximum amount of earnings sub- Thursday, May 6, 1999 f ject to Social Security taxes. Mr. Ball acknowledges that his views are Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to rec- TRIBUTE TO ROBERT M. BALL shaped by a very different world than that of ognize the Ventura High School Wind Orches- the young privatizers. One of three children tra, which earned a near-perfect score at the HON. EARL POMEROY of a Methodist minister, he grew up in north- National Adjudicators Invitational last month in OF NORTH DAKOTA ern New Jersey and graduated from Wes- Virginia Beach, Virginia. leyan University with a master’s degree in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES This group of dedicated musicians walked economics during the Depression. There were away with Outstanding Concert Band Trophy, Thursday, May 6, 1999 no jobs. For help, he turned to his thesis adviser, the Outstanding Percussion Trophy and the Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, this session who happened to have a friend involved in Outstanding Brass Trophy. Piccoloist Karen Congress once again finds itself debating the new Social Security program. ‘‘He said, Magoon won the Outstanding Soloist Trophy, ways to strengthen our most important domes- ‘Well, this program is just starting up. It’s perhaps the most prestigious prize at the com- tic program: Social Security. Like many Mem- going to be a big program. It’s an attractive petition. bers, I have long valued the wise counsel of program and an important social program, As a group, they earned a Performance Tro- one of Social Security's greatest defenders, and it would be a good thing if you got in on phy Superior Rating, scoring 99 out of a pos- Mr. Robert M. Ball. For six decades, Mr. Ball it in the beginning.’ ’’ sible 100 points. So Mr. Ball took the Civil Service exam has worked on behalf of our nation's elderly during his honeymoon (he spent the rest of During the contest, their rivals from schools and the Social Security program. I have found the time on a camping trip with his wife, across the United States gave the Ventura that his long-term perspective and familiarity Doris) and began work as a field representa- youngsters two standing ovations. with the program invariably transcend the tive in the Newark office of Social Security Mr. Speaker, as our nation works in concert whims of today's younger critics. Earlier this for $1,620 a year. to better our education system, it's important