December 8, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2137 Legislative leaders from 20 nations, includ- extending thanks for his many efforts on be- The Federation’s accomplishments extend ing Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, half of south Alabama. beyond the borders of the United States. On Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, f Chios, the Chian Federation has financially the Philippines, and the host Taiwan are ex- aided nursing homes, environmental groups pected to participate. It is unfortunate that, be- PAYING TRIBUTE TO WALTER for reforestation of the island, the Korais Li- cause of our legislative schedule, no member CASEY brary and the Office of the Repatriated Chians of this House or of the other body are able to Organization, in addition to making substantial attend. HON. JON C. PORTER donations to the educational and health sys- However, Mr. Speaker, I did want to take OF NEVADA tems of Chios. note of this important meeting that will focus IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Chian Federation established the Ho- meric Award in 1977, with the idea of recog- on the role of Congress in the various demo- Wednesday, December 6, 2006 cratic governing models, such as the par- nizing individuals who have made exceptional liamentary system and the presidential sys- Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to contributions to the Hellenic community. Am- tem. Another important set of discussions will honor Mr. Walter Casey for his numerous con- bassador Vassilakis earned this honor through focus on the issue of legislative elections in tributions to his community. his outstanding service to Greece as a dip- various democracies, how they are conducted, Walter moved to Las Vegas, NV in 1951 lomat, and as a friend to the Hellenic commu- and how they are financed. under the advice of his doctor. He started out nity in New York. I congratulate Taiwan’s political leaders who working for a maintenance company and Ambassador Vassilakis was born on the is- were instrumental in creating the DPU and the eventually started a water conditioning and pu- land of Chios on June 13, 1942, where he Pacific Congressional Caucus. Taiwan’s Vice rification company called Walt Casey Water grew up and received his basic education, President Annette Lu was the prime mover in Conditioning and later Walt Casey’s Culligan graduating from the Commercial High School bringing the DPU into existence and the in the 1950s. Walt Casey’s Culligan is now of Chios. He then attended the Free University Speaker of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, Wang known as the largest water conditioning com- of Brussels, Belgium earning a Licence in Po- Jin-Pyng, was instrumental in establishing the pany in the state. litical and Diplomatic Sciences. Pacific Congressional Caucus and in orga- Walter also dedicated his life to enriching Mr. Vassilakis entered the Ministry of For- nizing such meetings as the one this week- the lives of others in the community. He was eign Affairs in 1972 as Embassy Attache´, and end. a founding board member of the Boys & Girls was appointed Third Secretary of Embassy at This effort in Taiwan has been truly bipar- Club of Las Vegas and served as the vice the Greek Embassy in Tirana, Albania in tisan, with Vice President Lu a member of the chairman of the Colorado River Commission. 1975. In 1977, he moved to the Foreign Min- ruling Democratic Progressive Party, and According to his son, Walter’s optimism istry’s First Department of Political Affairs, he Speaker Wang a key leader of the Nationalist helped him to devote his time and effort to de- was Head of Section for the U.S.S.R. and Party, known as the KMT. veloping promising ideas into large successes. Eastern Europe. He served as a member of Because Taiwan is one of Asia’s most dy- November 30, 2006, just 2 days after Walter various Greek delegations visiting Eastern Eu- namic democracies, it is fitting that Taiwan and his wife, Peggy, celebrated their 60th ropean countries and was a participant in the has been instrumental in forming the DPU and wedding anniversary, Walter passed away North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Caucus and in organizing this symposium. from a heart attack. He was 88 years old. Common Market political experts meetings. I congratulate Taiwan and wish all the partici- Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rec- In 1985, Mr. Vassilakis was made Consul pants a rewarding series of meetings. ognize Mr. Walter Casey for his outstanding General of Greece in San Francisco, Cali- f efforts to improve the state of Nevada. He will fornia, where he was promoted to First Coun- be greatly missed by the entire community. sellor of Embassy. In 1989, he was appointed RECOGNIZING ALABAMA STATE f Head of Section for Bilateral Greek-United REPRESENTATIVE F.P. ‘‘SKIPPY’’ States, Iranian, Turkish and Arab Countries in IN RECOGNITION OF THE CHIAN WHITE FOR OVER THREE DEC- the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Bilateral FEDERATION AND ADAMANTIOS ADES OF PUBLIC SERVICE Economic Relations. In 1990, Mr. Vassilakis (DIMIS) TH. VASSILAKIS PERMA- entered the Department of European Commu- NENT REPRESENTATIVE OF HON. JO BONNER nity Affairs. In 1991, he was named Deputy GREECE TO THE UNITED NA- OF ALABAMA Permanent Representative in the Permanent TIONS, RECIPIENT OF THE 29TH Mission of Greece to the United Nations, and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ANNUAL HOMERIC AWARD Wednesday, December 6, 2006 in 1994, he became Charge´ d’Affaires. In 1998, he was promoted to Minister Pleni- Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY potentiary (1st class). From 1999, Mr. pride and pleasure that I rise today to recog- OF NEW YORK Vassilakis served as Director General for Eu- nize Alabama State Representative F.P. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ropean Affairs and Director of the Centre for ‘‘Skippy’’ White for his dedicated, faithful pub- Wednesday, December 6, 2006 Analysis and Planning in Greece’s Ministry of lic service to the citizens of Baldwin and Foreign Affairs. In 2002, he was appointed to Escambia Counties. Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay his present position. Representative White has been a tremen- tribute to the Chian Federation, which is pre- Ambassador Vassilakis is married to Fay dous advocate for all of south Alabama for senting its 29th annual Homeric Award to Malouf-Vassilakis and they have two children, over three decades. He began his public serv- Adamantios (Dimis) Th. Vassilakis, Permanent Theodore and Athena. ice career as a councilman for the city of Pol- Representative of Greece to the United Na- Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me lard, AL, and served for 7 years. In 1982, he tions. Their gala event has been organized in recognizing the Chian Federation and its was elected to the Alabama House of Rep- under the leadership of the Chian Federation’s honoree, the Honorable Adamantios (Dimis) resentatives and served in that capacity for 24 President, George Almiroudis, and the Event Th. Vassilakis. Chair, who is also First Vice President of the years. f During his career in the Alabama State Leg- Chian Federation, Alexandros Doulis. islature, Representative White worked tire- The Chian Federation was founded in 1974. TRIBUTE TO JERRIS LEONARD, A lessly on behalf of south Alabama. He was Since then it has educated and empowered GREAT AMERICAN distinguished as an outstanding legislator and the Hellenic American community to exercise served on the House Rules Committee. their rights and fulfill their obligations as Amer- HON. RALPH M. HALL Mr. Speaker, the faithful service of out- ican citizens. The Chian Federation has a OF TEXAS standing Americans like Skippy White has strong record of advocating human rights and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES aided in an immeasurable way to the well striving to promote democratic ideals. In addi- being of our community. I would like to offer tion to its political objectives, the organization Wednesday, December 6, 2006 my congratulations for his many personal and sponsors a dance group; cultural events; a Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today professional achievements. I know his wife, Web site; a magazine; business card ex- to pay tribute to a great American, outstanding Clara; his children, Todd, Hugh, and Sarah changes; food, clothing and toy drives; a Sen- public servant, and an esteemed colleague Anne; and his family and many friends join ior Citizens’ breakfast; and lectures on topics and good friend, the Honorable Jerris Leon- with me in praising his accomplishments and ranging from archaeology to health care. ard, whose sudden passing on July 27, 2006,

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:52 Dec 10, 2006 Jkt 059061 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A06DE8.121 E08DEPT1 jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with REMARKS E2138 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 8, 2006 was mourned by his family and countless Kathleen (Kate) Leonard, Francis Leonard and able electricity and curbing demand for power friends whose lives he touched. Jerris’s life wife Kelly, and Daniel Leonard and wife Kelly, transmission equipment. Given this impor- was devoted to God, family, country, and his 16 grandchildren, and four great-grand- tance, we must continue to support initiatives fellow man, and he leaves a legacy of integrity children. He was greatly loved. to improve transmission, increase generation and service that will long be remembered and Mr. Speaker, many of our colleagues in the nationally and encourage renewable energy appreciated. House of Representatives knew and admired and conservation. Jerris received his undergraduate and law Jerris Leonard. I valued his friendship and ad- Effective renewable energy policy must in- degrees from Marquette University, where he vice, as did so many others, and we will great- clude the significant invested energy available was president of the Marquette student body ly miss him. It is impossible to fully grasp the through greater recycling. Manufacturing recy- and was elected to Alpha Sigma Nu, the Na- breadth and depth of a life of someone like cled products requires, on average, 17 times tional Jesuit Honor Society. Following gradua- Jerris, who gave every project or responsibility less energy than manufacturing the same tion from Marquette University Law School in his very best effort and who lived his life with products from virgin materials. In addition to 1955, Jerris began his career in Wisconsin. boundless enthusiasm and compassion. He the traditionally understood benefits of recy- He was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in was a role model and mentor to so many, and cling as a conservation and waste manage- 1956, representing the North Shore suburbs of he leaves a powerful legacy that will last for ment tool, recycling is becoming increasingly Milwaukee. In 1960 he was elected to the generations to come. As we adjourn today, let understood as an energy source available to state Senate and became Senate majority us do so in tribute to this great American, combat the Nation’s growing energy crisis. For example, recycling aluminum cans leader in 1967. In 1968 he was the Repub- dedicated public servant, and truly great saves 95 percent of the energy required to lican nominee for the U.S. Senate, but lost to man—Jerris Leonard. make the same amount of aluminum from its incumbent Senator Gaylord Nelson. f In 1969 Jerris moved his family to Wash- virgin source. The amount of lost energy from ington, DC, when he was appointed by Presi- HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF throwing away aluminum and steel cans, plas- dent Nixon and confirmed by the U.S. Senate MIAMI COUNTY COMMISSIONER tic PET and glass containers, newsprint and as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. ANN BAIRD corrugated packaging was equivalent to the He served in that capacity until 1971, when annual output of 15 medium sized coal power President Nixon appointed him the first Admin- HON. JOHN A. BOEHNER plants. Increasing the recycling rate of these istrator of the Law Enforcement Assistance commodities by 10 percent would save OF OHIO enough energy annually to heat 74,350 million Administration, a position he held for the next IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2 years. Jerris remained in Washington, where American homes, provide the required elec- he has been actively engaged in the practice Wednesday, December 6, 2006 tricity for 2.5 million Americans, and save about $771 million in avoid costs for barrels of of law and advocacy. Most recently, in 2005, Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recog- crude oil. As a result, recycling should be an he launched The Leonard Group to focus on nize the retirement of Mrs. Ann Baird, County integral component of our Nation’s energy effi- legislative and lobbying activities. He also Commissioner of Miami County, OH, and to express my appreciation for her dedication ciency strategy. served on the Bush-Cheney Transition Depart- The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 ac- and commitment to public service. For more ment of Justice Advisory Committee, which knowledged the high invested energy content than 40 years, Mrs. Baird has contributed her helped the Administration find key candidates of recyclables. Section 1353 mandated the talents to the betterment of Miami County, and for the agency. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation In recognition of his considerable accom- for this, I offer her my utmost congratulations with the Secretary of Energy, to conduct a plishments, Jerris was the recipient of the Life- and thanks. study to determine and quantify the energy time Achievement Award from Marquette Uni- Her love of Miami County is unmistakable. savings achieved through the recycling of versity Law School in 2000. In 1969 he re- During her long career in public service, Mrs. glass, paper, plastic, steel, aluminum, and ceived the Belle Case Lafollette Outstanding Baird has served on countless community electronic devices, and to identify tax incen- Professional Award from the Wisconsin Law boards and organizations in various roles in- tives that would encourage recycling of such Foundation. He is the author of numerous arti- cluding: Director of Community Services at materials. As chairman of the House Energy cles and was frequently invited to speak to Upper Valley Medical Center, Past President and Commerce Committee, I was deeply in- groups throughout the United States. of the Miami County Chapter for the American volved in the creation of this legislation, which Jerris was one of the original true conserv- Cancer Society, Past President of the United I am proud to say was achieved with strong atives, who championed core conservative val- Methodist Women, Past President of the Troy bipartisan participation and support. ues throughout his career and through his United Fund, member of the Edison Commu- The Environmental Protection Agency has service in various organizations, such as Free nity College Board of Trustees, and of course shown that recycling saves billions in energy Congress. His intellect and experience were serving as the first female Miami County Com- costs and hundreds of millions of tons of raw invaluable to advancing the conservative missioner for the past 12 years. materials. American companies that engage in agenda, and his engaging personality and en- Mrs. Baird’s record—as an elected official, a the use of renewable resources and recyclable thusiasm for policy and politics were con- church leader, and as a good neighbor helping materials are already contributing countless tagious. Jerris was a true statesman who those in need—will leave an enduring legacy billions of dollars per year to our Nation’s en- made friends on both sides of the political in Miami County. Her leadership will be ergy grid. These companies are engaging in aisle. missed, but the footprint she has left will in- practices that are environmentally friendly and His friendships extended well beyond the spire many to emulate her good works. energy conservative. realm of politics and career, however. He Mrs. Baird, I offer my congratulations and By harvesting the invested energy in recy- made friends in all walks of life. ‘‘He treated gratitude for your long and successful career cling, this country saves tens of millions of everyone the same, and that is what I think in public service. I wish you well in your future tons of ore, coal, trees and billions of dollars made him special,’’ said his daughter Kate retirement, and I hope you continue to achieve in energy costs. Recycling programs offer a Leonard. On the day he was to be sworn in happiness and success wherever your life means to conserve natural resources, ease by President Nixon as an assistant attorney journey may lead you. the burden on the grid, reduce excessive mu- general, Jerris gathered his children and in- f nicipal waste, protect the environment, create structed them that they were going to meet jobs, and save energy. the President, but they were to remember that SAVING ENERGY THROUGH Like the energy drawn from wind or from the man who parks the car is just as important RECYCLING water behind a dam, recyclable materials con- and just as deserving of respect. tain a vast amount of energy that is available Jerris was devoted to his wife, Mariellen, to HON. JOE BARTON to be harvested. Recyclables possess in- whom he was married for 52 years, and to his OF TEXAS vested energy, and in order to remain com- family. He took an active interest in the lives IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES petitive, we must focus on capturing the en- of his six children and attended countless ergy that is already invested in recycling. sports events and other activities in which they Wednesday, December 6, 2006 Through recognition of these policy objectives, were involved. In addition to Mariellen, he is Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise we will create the most efficient market-based survived by his children, Mary Leonard Ral- today to call attention to the energy security solutions to ensure a safe, abundant, and sta- ston and husband David, Gib Leonard and issues we face and to highlight the important ble energy supply to our citizens for years to wife Joni, John Leonard and wife Jeannine, role renewable energy plays in producing reli- come.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:52 Dec 10, 2006 Jkt 059061 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06DE8.125 E08DEPT1 jcorcoran on PRODPC62 with REMARKS