March 5, 2012 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 158, Pt. 2 2905 PERSONAL EXPLANATION COMMEMORATION OF MARIA D. Ruth Willner, who passed away on February FERNANDES 28, 2012, after a lengthy and valiant battle with cancer. My heart goes out to her two chil- HON. HON. , JR. dren, Paul and Julia; her granddaughter, Eryn; OF NEW JERSEY and her many friends and family members. OF WASHINGTON IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ruth was an extraordinary citizen, an advo- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, March 5, 2012 cate for her community, and a good friend and loyal supporter. I first got to know Ruth’s Monday, March 5, 2012 Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strength and passion in the 1980s, when she commemorate the life and legacy of Maria D. Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on was the Chairperson of the Committee for Fernandes of Sea Bright, New Jersey. Mayor Harmony in Monterey Park, which was formed Monday, February 27, 2012, I was unable to Fernandes served the constituents of Sea be present for recorded votes. Had I been to defeat a proposed English-only and anti-im- Bright for 16 years and retired in January migrant ordinance in our hometown. Thanks to present, I would have voted ‘‘yes’’ on rollcall 2012. She passed away on Sunday, February Ruth’s tireless efforts we succeeded in defeat- vote No. 73 (on the motion to concur in the 26, 2012 at the age of 59. Throughout her il- ing that ordinance. lustrious career, the Mayor continued to pre- Senate amendment to H.R. 347). A native of East , Ruth attended serve and enhance the quality of life for Sea Roosevelt High School and earned degrees Bright residents. Her service is truly worthy of f from Los Angeles Community College and TIC this body’s recognition. Berkeley. A widower, she was married to her HONORING NORMAN L. HENRY Maria Fernandes served as Sea Bright Bor- ough Mayor from 2008 until 2011. She was husband Irv for 56 years and lived in Monterey proud to be the first Portuguese-American fe- Park for 52 years. HON. male Mayor in the state of New Jersey and Ruth truly loved her community. She was in- the third in the United States. Before becom- volved in too many community groups, com- OF TEXAS ing Mayor, Ms. Fernandes was elected to the missions and organizations to name here, in- cluding the city’s Blue Ribbon Budget Com- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Sea Bright Borough Council in 1997 and served in this capacity through 2007. She was mittee, the School District Formation Com- Monday, March 5, 2012 appointed Sea Bright Council President from mittee, Friends of the Library, Concerned Citi- 2003 through 2005 and was an active partici- zens, and the anti-casino and anti-billboard Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. pant and member of the Sea Bright Planning committees, to name a few. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of and Zoning Board from 1996 through 2011. As As a 35-year member of the Pasadena Mr. Norman L. Henry, President and Executive a member of the Borough Council, she imple- League of Women Voters, Ruth played an in- Director of Builders of Hope CDC. Builders of mented a program to add the North and South tegral role in educating and informing our local Hope CDC is a Community Housing Develop- Beach areas to the monthly street cleaning electorate. As program chair she shed light on ment Corporation in Dallas that has dem- schedule. Sea Bright now has regularly sched- issues as varied as NAFTA, Environmental onstrated its commitment to revitalizing com- uled street cleaning services once a month as Justice, Immigration and Welfare Reform, and munities through the construction of energy-ef- a result of Mayor Fernandes’ initiatives. Her as a member of the Speakers’ Bureau for 25 ficient, environmentally-friendly homes that are leadership abilities also led to her appointment years she presented pro and con forums on also accessible to low and moderate-income as Chair of the Sea Bright Public Works Com- countless ballot issues and moderated scores families. mittee in which she assisted in consolidating of candidate forums. services and improving the accessibility and A true believer in the political process, Ruth Under Mr. Henry’s leadership, Builders of cleanliness of the local beaches. As Public was a member of the Monterey Park Demo- Hope CDC has led the way in quality afford- Works Committee Chair, she also managed cratic Club since 1967, where she served as able housing in the Dallas area. Since accept- the Sea Bright Downtown Infrastructure Im- past president and ran the club’s newsletter ing the position as President in 2000, Mr. provement Project (DIIP), addressing the for 20 years. She also was an elected mem- Henry has overseen a fourfold increase in the flooding in downtown Sea Bright. Other ber of the L.A. County Democratic Party for 12 output of affordable homes across several projects during Mayor Fernandes’ tenure on years and served as corresponding secretary neighborhoods throughout West and South the Borough Council have included the imple- for the party. Dallas. Utilizing over 21 years of experience in mentation of the free parking system and the She was a tireless campaigner, walking pre- the non-profit management and affordable negotiation of multiple shared services con- cincts and phone banking for George Brown housing field, Mr. Henry has built, remodeled, tracts with neighboring towns. for Assembly, serving as the San Gabriel Val- and sold over 224 affordable homes. Mayor Fernandes is predeceased by her ley Coordinator to End the War in Vietnam, Father Ernest Fernandes and her Maternal and volunteering for Hubert Humphrey and With the housing market collapse in 2008, Grandmother, Jesuina Diaz. Surviving is her George McGovern, among many others. countless Americans have either lost their Mother, Adelina Fernandes of Sea Bright. I urge my House colleagues to join me in homes entirely or now find the value of their Mr. Speaker, Mayor Maria Fernandes dedi- honoring Mrs. Ruth Willner for her record of homes to be less than the amounts they owe cated her life to serving the people and the civic activism, her indomitable spirit and her on a mortgage. Norman Henry, through the town of Sea Bright New Jersey. Her actions remarkable service and contributions to her work that he has done with Builders of Hope touched the hearts and minds of countless community and to our nation. men, women and children throughout Sea CDC, has contributed to keeping the American f Dream alive through the construction of these Bright and Monmouth County. Her legacy has homes. Quality and affordable housing should served as an inspiration to us all and she will HONORING CLARA SIMS not be out of reach for any American with the truly be missed. desire to purchase a home, and Mr. Henry f HON. HENRY C. ‘‘HANK’’ JOHNSON, JR. has helped to bring the pride of home owner- HONORING LONG-TIME MONTEREY OF GEORGIA ship to even more Americans. PARK RESIDENT AND COMMU- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Speaker, Norman Henry has helped to NITY ACTIVIST: MRS. RUTH Monday, March 5, 2012 WILLNER breathe new life into many West and South Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I Dallas communities through his revitalization submit the following Proclamation. efforts. His vision to revive otherwise decrepit HON. JUDY CHU Whereas, one hundred years ago a virtuous OF areas across Dallas will benefit countless peo- woman of God, Clara Bryant was born in Ox- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ple through expanded access to housing and ford, Georgia on March 1, 1912 to Charlie and improved quality of life. It is with great pleas- Monday, March 5, 2012 Lula Bryant; and ure that I honor the work of Mr. Norman Henry Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to rec- Whereas, she was raised up in Rockdale for his contributions. ognize a great loss to our community, Mrs. County, Georgia and she married Mr. J.C

VerDate Sep 11 2014 12:20 Mar 22, 2017 Jkt 019102 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR12\E05MR2.000 E05MR2 rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD 2906 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 158, Pt. 2 March 5, 2012 Sims and she has one daughter, Ms. Lula P. land to continue nurturing and celebrating our courage now give hope to countless other Goodson, three grandchildren, ten great- long-standing relationship as friends and al- women. It is with great admiration and appre- grandchildren and twelve great-great grand- lies. ciation that I congratulate Mrs. Geenebaum on children; and To this end, I will continue pushing for Po- her well-deserved recognition and wish her Whereas, this phenomenal Proverbs 31 land’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program. many more years of good health and happi- woman has shared her time and talents as a I hope that by making it easier for Polish ness. Wife, Mother and Motivator, becoming a Geor- citizens to visit their loved ones here in Amer- gia citizen of great worth, a fearless leader ica, even more Polish families in my district f and a servant to all by always advancing the will be able to celebrate next year’s Casimir lives of others; and Pulaski Day together. CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF RAUL SOLIS Whereas, Ms. Sims has been blessed with f a long, happy life, devoted to God and credits it all to the Will of God; and HONORING MARLENE GREENEBAUM HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY Whereas, Ms. Sims along with her family OF CALIFORNIA and friends are celebrating this day a remark- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES able milestone, her 100th Birthday, we pause HON. C.A. to acknowledge a woman who is a corner- OF MARYLAND Monday, March 5, 2012 stone in Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia; IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to and Monday, March 5, 2012 celebrate the life of a man who truly embodied Whereas, the U.S. Representative of the the American Dream, who came here with Fourth District of Georgia has set aside this Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Mrs. Marlene nothing and built something, whose ethic of day to honor and recognize Ms. Sims on her sacrifice and responsibility represents a life to birthday and to wish her well and recognize Greenebaum, who will be honored at the Cen- tennial Celebration of Hadassah for her many be emulated. her for an exemplary life which is an inspira- Raul Solis of La Puente, California died last tion to all; contributions to medical, communal and Jew- ish causes in Baltimore and beyond American Wednesday at the age of 88. He was born on Now therefore, I, HENRY C. ‘‘HANK’’ JOHN- February 27, 1924 in Tucson, Arizona, but he SON, JR. do hereby proclaim March 1, 2012 as borders. Mrs. Greenebaum is one of Baltimore’s spent most of his youth in Veracruz, Mexico. Ms. Clara Sims Day in the 4th Congressional He returned to the United States as a teen- District of Georgia. most well-known and well-respected philan- thropic leaders. Her civic endeavors include ager, as a part of the Bracero program to ad- Proclaimed, this 1st day of March, 2012. dress labor shortages caused by World War II. f serving as president of the Oheb Shalom Sis- terhood as well as president of Miriam Lodge. Mr. Solis worked in both the fields and the HONORING GENERAL CASIMIR In addition, since her diagnosis with breast factory—as a farmworker, on the railroads, in PULASKI DAY cancer more than 20 years ago, Mrs. a battery recycling plant and eventually as a Greenebaum has dedicated each and every Teamster shop steward. He was a proud HON. MIKE QUIGLEY day to helping treat and research life-threat- union man. He eventually settled in southern California, where he met Juana in an Amer- OF ILLINOIS ening disease so that others can enjoy the gift ican citizenship class. She survives him after IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES of good health. In 1994, Mrs. Greenebaum and her hus- 58 years of marriage. Together, they had Monday, March 5, 2012 band, Stewart, created a scholarship program seven children—Irma, Raul Jr., Hilda (our Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, today, Chicago for University of Maryland School of Medicine former House colleague and current U.S. Sec- remembers the great Polish General Casimir students who are residents of Maryland. They retary of Labor), Victor, Beatriz, Anna and Pulaski in annual celebrations surrounding are also the founding donors of the Children’s Leticia. Their family would grow to include 10 General Casimir Pulaski Day. House at Johns Hopkins, helping to build an grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Chicago is home to one of the largest popu- 18-bedroom facility that provides lodging for The Solises lived modestly but happily. lations of Poles in the world outside of War- families of children being treated for life-threat- Their riches came in the form of love, family saw, so today marks a special day for many ening illnesses. The couple was recently rec- and faith; humility, self-respect and hard work. of my constituents who observe this holiday ognized for donating more than $1 million to Raul Solis cared about politics, the law and and remember General Pulaski’s enduring and the American Cancer Society since 2007. social justice. He was a Teamsters shop stew- lasting contributions to our nation. Mrs. Greenebaum has served on the Uni- ard at a battery recycling plant. Secretary Born in Poland in 1745, Pulaski joined the versity of Maryland Medical System’s Cancer Solis tells of her father coming home from fight for Polish liberation from Russian influ- Center Board of Advisors since its inception in work and pulling scraps of paper with Spanish ences and later fought for American independ- 1993. Along with her husband, she donated writing out of his pocket. He wanted her to ence from Britain. $10 million to the School of Medicine, the larg- translate these notes from his co-workers, out- After meeting Pulaski in France, Benjamin est private contribution in its history. In rec- lining concerns about safety conditions at the Franklin wrote to George Washington that Pu- ognition, the couple is the namesake of the plant. And now his firsthand experience in- laski was ‘‘an officer renowned throughout Eu- University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart forms the wisdom and the decision-making of rope for the courage and bravery he displayed Greenebaum Cancer Center, where new life- his daughter, as she meets her mandate to in defense of his country’s freedom.’’ saving drugs and groundbreaking clinical trials improve the lives of workers around the coun- Arriving in America in 1777, Pulaski assisted have attracted national and international rec- try. Washington’s Continental Army in the Revolu- ognition. In fact, its lab and clinical research Mr. Solis was also an outdoorsman who tionary War, at the behest of Franklin. facility are ranked among the Nation’s top 25 passed along to his children important lessons Pulaski distinguished himself as a gifted cancer centers by U.S. News and World Re- about the beauty of the natural world and the military tactician and became known as the port. imperative of environmental justice. Secretary ‘‘Father of the American Cavalry,’’ often using Mrs. Greenebaum was also the driving force Solis’ career and priorities in public service his own finances to provide his forces with the behind the creation of the Multidisciplinary have been driven by the experience of living finest equipment when allocations from Con- Breast Center at the Hadassah University around polluted landfills while nearby affluent gress were limited. Medical Center in Jerusalem that bears her communities experienced little environmental He valiantly gave his life in 1779, fighting for name. Her gift is ensuring that Israeli women degradation. the freedom he so believed in, and has been can benefit from the best diagnostics, treat- It was my pleasure to meet this extraor- remembered since that day by both Americans ment and research possible. dinary man and to see the quiet strength of and Poles for his dedication to liberty and jus- Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me his character. Raul Solis, laid to rest today, tice for all. today to honor Mrs. Marlene Greenebaum. leaves behind an impressive legacy of honesty My recent trip to Poland reminded me how Her dedication to quality healthcare for all and dignity. Please join me in extending my important it is for the United States and Po- people is an inspiration. Her strength and condolences to his entire family.

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