May 14, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E845 the President’s Award, a recipient of the Chief RECOGNIZING ASIAN AMERICAN her mother taught 10th grade and her grand- Engineer’s Award, and a two-time recipient of HERITAGE MONTH father Professor Charles Guice served as prin- the Fire Fighter of the Year Award. cipal for 50 years. Her latter years were spent Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join HON. HILDA L. SOLIS at St. Joseph Catholic School where she grad- me today to recognize Robert Stephens’s OF CALIFORNIA uated 8th Grade. Upon completing elementary dedication to volunteer work and the East IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES school, she attended Holy Rosary High School Norriton Fire Engine Company and the con- in Lafayette, Louisiana and graduated with tributions he has made to the East Norriton Thursday, May 13, 2004 honors. community and the Commonwealth of Penn- Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Joan attended college at Tuskegee Univer- sylvania. honor and recognize the month of May as sity with a major in Nursing Education. How- f Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to ever, when her mother moved the family to Brooklyn, New York, she enrolled at Medgar REGARDING H.R. 4280, THE pay tribute to the 120,000 individuals of Asian Evers College and completed her education in H.E.A.L.T.H ACT descent I represent in California’s 32nd Con- gressional District. I am fortunate to represent Business Management. She later attended an ethnically diverse district that has experi- New York University and received a certificate HON. MARK UDALL enced first hand the economic and cultural as an Administrative Assistant. OF COLORADO contributions of the Asian Pacific American Joan worked with the United Negro College IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES community. Fund as an Employee Associate where she Thursday, May 13, 2004 Although less than 4 percent of the U.S. began to develop a format that would bring to- Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I’m population is Asian, I am proud that 19 per- gether all graduates of other black colleges to holding my nose and voting against H.R. cent of the congressional district I represent is participate in a job market. This has now 4280, which would limit medical malpractice of Asian descent. Some cities in my congres- evolved as a site on the Internet for job place- awards. I am not pleased that we are voting sional district have a well-established Asian ments. on this bill again, since an identical bill is lan- Pacific American community. Monterey Park, Joan later met and married hometown guishing over in the Senate and I doubt that for example, is home to a vibrant Asian Amer- friend, David Peterson, Jr. From their union, by passing it today we will jolt the Senate into ican community and has a City Council that is two children, Danielle and David Peterson III, moving on the bill. I think the vote today has majority Asian. Other cities in the congres- were born. The children attended St. Paul more to do with politics than with policy. sional district I represent, like West Covina, Community Christian School where Joan be- I think we’re beating a dead horse. Both have experienced an increase in their Asian came very involved in her children’s education sides have dug in and aren’t willing to com- population in more recent times. From 1980 to and participated in all fundraising activities. promise. In the meantime, we aren’t doing the present, West Covina’s Asian Pacific When the children transferred to P.S. 308, anything to reform our medical liability system American population has grown from 4 per- Joan continued to be active and was the Fi- and we aren’t doing anything to make health cent to 23 percent. nancial Secretary for the P.T.A. until her care more affordable and accessible for Amer- Asian Pacific Americans bring diversity to daughter Danielle graduated. Joan joined the icans. Our system is inherently adversarial our community and also contribute to our Concerned Women of Brooklyn in which she and we’ve continued this fingerpointing game economy and to our advancement as a nation. is still an active member. In 1997, Joan’s hus- and done nothing to improve patient safety Asian Pacific Americans have made vast con- band became ill and passed away. Subse- and health care access, which is what we’re tributions in the fields of medicine, technology, quently, Joan bought a house and moved to really talking about here. and agriculture that benefit all Americans. Fur- Bedford-Stuyvesant, where she immediately I think we need a system that is non-puni- thermore, throughout times of heightened na- joined the Block Association where she now tive and encourages openness and improve- tional security, Asian Pacific Americans have serves as Financial Secretary. ment so that doctors can report medical errors fought to protect democracy in every war Joan presently works for the Health and without fear of being sued. This will help us since the Civil War. For example, despite the Hospital Corporation as a Senior Systems An- understand medical errors and improve proce- disturbing racism toward Japanese Americans alyst. In her sixteen years of service, she has dures and patient safety. Fewer medical errors during World War II, Japanese Americans vol- worked in several areas, Office of Affiliations, will result in fewer medical malpractice suits, unteered to serve in the armed forces as part Construction Management, Kings County Re- which in turn will help keep malpractice insur- of the 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat construction Project, Elmhurst Modernization ance rates and health care premiums down. Team. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team Project, Accounting Department and presently That’s why I voted for H.R. 663, the Patient remains the most decorated unit in U.S. mili- she is in the Receiving Department at Queens Safety and Quality Improvement Act, which tary history. Not only did these Japanese serv- Hospital. would create a voluntary medical error report- icemen show their loyalty to the United States, As a recipient of several awards as an Out- ing system under which patient safety organi- but they also earned more than 18,000 indi- standing Leader in her community and school, zations would receive, on a confidential basis, vidual decorations in less than 2 years. These Joan is interested in developing a program and analyze information on reported errors. noble service members deserve our recogni- that would address young males, ages 10–18 They would then be expected to develop and tion. years. Joan is a member of St. Paul Commu- disseminate evidence-based information to In closing, I would like to commend organi- nity Baptist Church, where Rev. Johnny Ray help providers implement changes in practice zations in California’s 32nd Congressional Dis- Youngblood is the senior pastor. Mr. Speaker, Joan Peterson has actively patterns that help to prevent future medical er- trict that exemplify and promote Asian diversity participated in improving her community rors. In addition to this legislation, I think we during Asian American Heritage Month. through various volunteer positions. As such, should explore ideas like alternate dispute res- f olution, no-fault systems, and medical courts. she is more than worthy of receiving our rec- I also want to make it clear that I am not op- A TRIBUTE TO JOAN PETERSON ognition today and I urge my colleagues to posed to capping damages because I think it join me in honoring this truly remarkable per- helps keep health care costs down and keeps HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS son. doctors accessible, like in my home State of OF NEW YORK f Colorado where we have caps. However, I IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRIBUTE TO THE 21ST SPACE think H.R. 4280 sets low and arbitrary limits WING GUARDIAN CHALLENGE 2004 on damages, which will hurt those at the bot- Thursday, May 13, 2004 tom of the income scale the most. Also, I don’t Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of think we should be shielding large and power- Joan Peterson in recognition of her substantial HON. MARILYN N. MUSGRAVE OF COLORADO ful HMOs and drug companies from liability. contributions to her community. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Speaker, ultimately this issue is about Upon gazing on their beautiful baby girl, health care access and patient safety. If we parents Emily Cole and John Stafford named Thursday, May 13, 2004 aren’t going to compromise, I hope we’d start her Joan, celebrating the namesake of both Mrs. MUSGRAVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today thinking outside the box on how to end the grandmothers. to honor the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air logjam on tort reform. I offer these ideas as a Joan spent her early years of elementary Force Base in Colorado. way to get there, because we aren’t going to education at Clio Public School where her The 21st Space Wing, under the Command get there from where we are today. grandmother, Joan Guice taught first grade, of Brigadier General Richard Webber, also

VerDate May 04 2004 01:55 May 15, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K13MY8.011 E14PT1 E846 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 14, 2004 under Air Force Space Commander General IN RECOGNITION OF INDIANA lished a scholarship fund for Colorado Amer- Lance W. Lord, recently participated as cham- STATE TROOPER SCOTT PATRICK ican Indians to attend a college or university pions in the 37th annual Guardian Challenge DURING NATIONAL POLICE ME- within the state. competition and won the coveted Aldridge Tro- MORIAL WEEK Suzanne’s efforts to better her community phy for Best Space Operations include extensive involvement with civic orga- Guardian Challenge is the only national HON. JULIA CARSON nizations. She currently sits on the Colorado competition for Air Force Space Command OF INDIANA Special Education Advisory Board and the professionals and has a history of competi- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Colorado Medicare Consortium, and she has served on the board of directors for Aurora tions dating back to 1967. It allows nearly 200 Thursday, May 13, 2004 best-of-the-best competitors from various Air Sister Cities, D.A.R.E. Colorado and the Force Space Wing Teams around the nation Ms. CARSON of Indiana. In recognition of United Cerebral Palsy Association. The Colo- to test their skills against each other in tough National Police Memorial Week and the ulti- rado Chapter of American Mothers, Inc, recog- competition and rigorous evaluation. The com- mate sacrifices given by police officers across nized her outstanding commitment to commu- petition helps them better perform their mis- the nation, I wish to recognize the service and nity service in 1996 when she received the sions by increasing their overall capabilities. memory of Indiana State Trooper Scott Pat- Colorado Mother of the Year Award. Teams qualify by competing at their home sta- rick. Mr. Speaker, it is quite clear that State Rep- tions against difficult criteria set in a competi- Trooper Scott Patrick, a three-year veteran resentative Suzanne Williams is a person who tive environment. By qualifying, teams com- of the department, was shot by a driver he has demonstrated an exceptional level of dedi- pete at the national Guardian Challenge com- had stopped to help on an exit ramp of Inter- cation and commitment to her life long pursuit petition where they demonstrate their capabili- state 80/94 in Gary, IN. He died December 22, of public service. It is her incredible devotion ties. In this case, Team 21 from Peterson Air 2003 at the age of 27. along with her passion for contributing towards Force Base came home with high honors, se- Trooper Patrick’s name and service will be the betterment of her community and the State curing the coveted Aldridge Trophy, which is among 362 fallen officers, killed in the line of of Colorado that I wish to bring before this awarded to the Best Space Operations Wing. duty in the past year and added to the Na- body of Congress and this nation. It is my dis- tional Police Memorial here in Washington tinct pleasure to honor Suzanne here today, I extend congratulations to the top-notch during National Police Memorial Week. and wish her and her husband Ed all the best competitors in Guardian Challenge who Our mere words, even our sincere thanks in their future endeavors. earned the Aldridge Trophy for the 21st Space cannot add to the life of this young husband, f Wing. From Space Operations this includes: father, son and brother. Trooper Patrick has Captain Michael Bruno, Crew Commander, paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to the RECOGNIZING GORSKI Technical Sergeant Kenneth DeFeo, Space people of Indiana. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Operator, Captain Jennifer Berger, Crew Com- We can ensure the life and sacrifice of mander, Staff Sergeant Robert Widrick, Crew every officer slain in the line of duty is never HON. JIM GERLACH Chief, Airman First Class Jennifer McCord, forgotten. We can try to assure the survivors OF PENNSYLVANIA Space Console Operator, Flight Lieutenant that his sacrifice was not in vain, and we must IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Jay Garratt, Crew Commander, Flight Ser- do what we can as citizens to increase the Thursday, May 13, 2004 geant Ken Callaghan, Space Operator, Ser- public’s appreciation for law enforcement, es- geant Stewart Williamson, Operations Team pecially the dangers faced on our behalf to Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Trainer, Corporal Andrew Leckie, Space Oper- protect us. recognize the Gorski Construction Company ator, Corporal Gary Wright, Space Operator, To the Patrick family, grateful Hoosiers and as it celebrates 50 years of excellence in the SAC Kristopher Cochrane, Space Operator. a grateful nation say thank you. construction industry. From Communications: Staff Sergeant David f Caesar J. Gorski, Sr. started the Gorski Kisner and Senior Airman Jon McCullar, both Construction Company in 1954 with a $75 sur- Communications competition. From Security PAYING TRIBUTE TO SUZANNE plus pickup truck from Peco Energy Company Forces competition: Staff Sergeant Duane WILLIAMS and carpentry and masonry tools that he had Blackmon, Staff Sergeant Jon Scott, Airman gathered during a four-year apprenticeship First Class Steven Israel, Airman First Class HON. SCOTT McINNIS with Mecca Construction. In the beginning, Thanongsack Phanda and Staff Sergeant Mat- OF COLORADO Gorski constructed stone chimneys and re- thew Tussey. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES paired barns. From 1954 until 1974, Gorski Construction built three to four custom homes In addition, I extend special congratulations Thursday, May 13, 2004 to Staff Sergeant Matthew Tussey of 137th each year. In the late 1960s, Gorski Construc- Space Warning Squadron, Air National Guard Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to tion took on the new task of building commer- in Greeley, for earning the Top Gun Trophy take this opportunity to pay tribute to Suzanne cial properties. and medal for overall best marksman in all of Williams and thank her for her extraordinary Gorski Construction earned a first-place Air Force Space Command. contributions to the State of Colorado as a award from Associated Builders and Contrac- member of the Colorado General Assembly. tors for the design and construction of the I would also like to honor the entire Team As a four-term member of the State House of Gorski headquarters building. The 16,200 21 Wing Staff: Command Chief Master Ser- Representatives, she will always be remem- square-foot, two-story brick building won the geant for the 21st Space Wing, Vance Clarke; bered as a dedicated public servant and lead- ‘‘Excellence in Construction’’ Eagle award for Colonel Gary Pond, 21st Maintenance Group er of the community. As she moves on in her pre-engineered buildings costing less than 2 Commander; Lieutenant Colonel Bryant An- career, let it be known that I, along with the million dollars. The $1,640,000 building was derson, 21st Operations Group Deputy Com- people of Colorado, are eternally grateful for built in 7 months and was occupied in Novem- mander; Colonel Al Kemmet, Jr., 21st Space all that she has accomplished in her tenure in ber 2002. The Company uses the corporate Wing Guardian Challenge Project Officer; Staff the Colorado House of Representatives. headquarters to showcase their construction Sergeant Jason Hand who was ‘‘Iron Mike’’— Representing Arapahoe and Denver coun- prowess for prospective clients. the Team Mascot; Major Matthew Carroll, ties for District 41, Suzanne has worked in In 2003, the Company completed three Guardian Challenge Project Officer Advance neighborhood schools for twenty-two years as major construction projects with a 17-person Team; Mr. Dick DuBose and Mr. Mel Thiel, a special education teacher. Suzanne’s inti- crew and several subcontractors. For exam- both Guardian Challenge Advance Team and mate knowledge with education has served ple, they designed and built the $3.5 million, Technical Sergeant Roger Kelley, Transpor- her well as a member of the Education Com- 30,000 square foot food processing facility for tation Support. mittee, sponsoring legislation to implement Don’s Salads in Skippack Township, Mont- Mr. Speaker, I take great pleasure today in funding for full-day kindergarten in low-per- gomery County, Pennsylvania. Gorski Con- congratulating the 21st Space Wing for their forming school districts. Other legislation Su- struction also built the $1.4 fire station for outstanding achievements in this year’s zanne has sponsored includes the Child Care Goodwill Fire Company in West Chester, Guardian Challenge. They are true profes- Loan Forgiveness Program that assists Pennsylvania. The Company also completed a sionals in our United States Air Force and are childcare professionals in attending community five-bedroom, 6,000 square foot Mediterra- part of the best space and missile team in the college to gain more skills, and the American nean style home in Limerick Township, Mont- world. Indian Scholars license plate, which estab- gomery County, Pennsylvania.

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