October 26, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10731 MERKLEY for cosponsoring the Expe- He is survived by his parents, Jeffery provides encouragement for those in dited CARD Reform for Consumers Act. and Barbara; his three brothers, Josh- need, and generously supports research In addition, along with Senate Banking ua, Jeremiah and Jared; his paternal efforts in Kentucky. And while efforts Committee Chairman DODD, today I co- grandparents; maternal grandmother; by I Have Wings and other breast can- sponsored a bill that would imme- and a community of friends and family cer foundations often go unnoticed in diately freeze interest rates on existing members. Like two of his brothers, the ongoing battle against this deadly credit card balances. This is an impor- Jacob followed in the footsteps of his disease, we must remember that they tant bill that will allow consumers to father, an Army veteran. His brother play an important role as an activist pay off their credit card debt at the in- described Jacob as his father’s best and educator in our communities. terest rate they consented to when friend. Again, I commend the efforts of the I they took on that debt. It is a matter A native of Farmland, IN, Jacob en- Have Wings foundation as our Nation of fairness. I look forward to working listed in the National Guard after grad- continues to spread breast cancer with Chairman DODD and colleagues uating from Monroe Central High awareness.∑ from both parties to pass these impor- School in 2006. He served his first tour tant bills as quickly as possible. in Iraq with the Winchester guard unit f f as a humvee driver. Upon returning home, he continued to serve his coun- REMEMBERING DANIEL MELNICK FIREARM DEATHS try by training other military humvee ∑ Mr. DODD. Madam President, I wish Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, ac- drivers and keeping charge of weapons to speak in honor of a good friend and cording to the latest data from the and ammunition at Camp Atterbury. a friend to American cinema, Daniel Centers for Disease Control and Pre- More recently, he was deployed near Melnick, who passed away recently at vention, CDC, 3,184 children and teens Kabul, Afghanistan, where he was de- the age of 77. died from a firearm in the United scribed by his superiors as a model sol- Those who know Hollywood will re- States in 2006, a 6 percent increase dier with good morale and an excellent member Daniel as a successful pro- from 2005. This breaks down to the life sense of humor. ducer of film and television, and as a of an American child being taken every While we struggle to express our sor- studio executive who believed in audac- 2 hours and 45 minutes by someone row over the loss of Jacob, we can take ity and creativity—a filmmaker’s stu- wielding a gun. More than five times as pride in the example he set as a soldier, dio executive, if you will. many, or nearly 17,500 children and a son, a grandson, and a brother. Today He was a prodigy, becoming the teens suffered a nonfatal gun injury and always, he will be remembered by youngest producer at CBS Television that year, a 7 percent increase from the family, friends, and fellow Hoosiers as at the age of 19, where he worked on previous year. a true American hero, and we cherish such series as the legendary ‘‘Get The 2009 Children’s Defense Fund’s the legacy of his service and his life. Smart,’’ and producing his first feature report ‘‘Protect Children, Not Guns’’ il- It is my sad duty to enter the name film at MGM, the thrilling ‘‘Straw lustrates the problem even more point- of Jacob William Sexton in the record Dogs,’’ before he turned 40. Over the edly. The report, which provides key of the Senate for his service to this next decade, he played a role in the de- findings on children’s gun deaths, country and for his profound commit- velopment of films ranging from ‘‘Net- states that more preschoolers were ment to freedom, democracy and peace. work’’ to ‘‘Kramer vs. Kramer’’ to killed by firearms in 2006 than were law I pray that the Sexton family can ‘‘The China Syndrome,’’ while serving enforcement officers in the line of find comfort in the words of the proph- as head of production at both MGM and duty. et Isaiah who said, ‘‘He will swallow up This type of violence is preventable. death in victory; and the Lord God will Columbia. As a film producer, Daniels’s credits It only requires action. The Children’s wipe away tears from off all faces.’’ include ‘‘All That Jazz,’’ ‘‘Altered Defense Fund’s report makes a number f States,’’ ‘‘Footloose,’’ ‘‘Roxanne,’’ and of recommendations about how to pro- ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ‘‘L.A. Story.’’ Fittingly, his work as a tect children from gun violence. producer was bold and vibrant—just Among other things, they recommend the sort of films he encouraged as a schools provide nonviolent conflict res- RECOGNIZING THE I HAVE WINGS BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION studio executive. olution courses for all students and In all, Daniel’s films were nominated ∑ Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, communities create positive activities for more than 80 Academy Awards, and today I would like to recognize the I for children and teenagers to reduce won more than two dozen Oscars. the influence of gangs and drugs. They Have Wings breast cancer foundation I will remember Daniel as a warm, also recommend passage of such com- in Erlanger, KY. October is National funny, breathtakingly creative friend mon sense gun safety legislation as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I whose beautiful house in Utah was the closing the gun show loophole, Have Wings has dedicated its efforts to site of many wonderful get-togethers. strengthening the Brady background the ongoing battle against breast can- We are poorer for the loss, but richer check system and reauthorizing the as- cer. for all he gave to our country and the According to the American Cancer sault weapons ban. arts.∑ We cannot afford to sit and watch as Society, this year over 190,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be so many young lives are irrevocably f destroyed by gun violence. Passage of diagnosed in our Nation and an esti- commonsense legislation would help mated 40,000 Americans will lose their TIRBUTE TO LIEUTENANT end these types of tragedies. fight with breast cancer. At the same COLONEL MICHEL G. JONES f time, today there are millions of women in our country who have been ∑ Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, REMEMBERING SPECIALIST JACOB treated for breast cancer. today, I recognize the service LTC WILLIAM SEXTON Throughout my tenure as a U.S. Sen- Michel ‘‘Shel’’ G. Jones, on the occa- Mr. BAYH. Madam President, I rise ator, I have supported legislation to in- sion of his retirement from active duty today to honor the life of Army SPC crease awareness, prevention, and fund- in the U.S. Army. Lieutenant Colonel Jacob William Sexton. A member of ing for breast cancer. Too often we Jones is an exceptional officer who has Company A, 2nd Battalion 151st Infan- hear about a case of breast cancer that served our great Nation for more than try of the Indiana National Guard, is caught at a late stage, leaving the 28 years, including 22 years on active Jacob was only 21 years old when his patient and families with little hope. duty and 6 years in the Iowa Army Na- life came to a tragic end on October 12, These stories remind us why we must tional Guard. 2009, while on leave from active deploy- continue to support and expand Na- I have personally come to know and ment in Afghanistan. tional Breast Cancer Awareness Month respect Lieutenant Colonel Jones over Today, I join Jacob’s family and efforts. the 21⁄2 years he served as an Army con- friends in mourning his untimely The I Have Wings foundation is a gressional liaison for the Army’s weap- death. Jacob will be remembered as a leader in the fight against breast can- ons and tracked combat vehicles pro- loving brother, son and friend to many. cer. It strives to educate individuals, grams, to include the Army’s Future

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