January 3, 2001 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 57 The primary reason why any action short of overlooked. Promises were made to those CHIEF PHILLIP MARTIN—CHAM- the repeal of laws authorizing privacy viola- who served in the Uniformed Services. They PION OF PEACE AND PROS- tions is insufficient is because the federal gov- were told that their health care would be taken PERITY ernment lacks constitutional authority to force care of for life if they served a minimum of citizens to adopt a universal identifier for twenty years of active federal service. HON. TOM DeLAY health care, employment, or any other reason. Well, those military retirees served their time OF TEXAS Any federal action that oversteps constitutional and expected the government to hold up its IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES limitations violates liberty because it ratifies end of the bargain. They are now realizing Wednesday, January 3, 2001 the principle that the federal government, not that these were nothing more than empty the Constitution, is the ultimate judge of its Mr. DELAY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to in- promises. Those who served in the military did troduce to the RECORD the following editorial own jurisdiction over the people. The only ef- not let their country down in its time of need fective protection of the rights of citizens is for that appears in Indian Country Today. As the and we should not let military retirees down in piece points out, Chief Phillip Martin of the Congress to follow Thomas Jefferson’s advice theirs. It’s time military retirees get what was and ‘‘bind (the federal government) down with Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has for promised to them and that’s why I am intro- more than a quarter of a century used the free chains of the Constitution.’’ ducing this legislation. Mr. Speaker, those members who are market as a tool to better the lives of his fel- unpersuaded by the moral and constitutional low tribe members and neighbors. f Self-reliance and not government depend- reasons for embracing the Identity Theft Pre- ency is the secret to prosperity. But there is vention Act should consider the overwhelming HONORING JUNE PINKNEY ROSS no need to tell Chief Martin that fact. He has opposition of the American people toward na- lived his life promoting the economic vitality of tional identifiers. The overwhelming public op- his people and they have reaped the benefits position to the various ‘‘Know-Your-Customer’’ HON. NICK LAMPSON of his progressive thinking. I salute Chief Mar- schemes, the attempt to turn drivers’ licenses OF TEXAS tin for all he has done to further the cause of into National ID cards, the Clinton Administra- freedom—for his people and for our nation. tion’s Medical Privacy proposal, as well as the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES numerous complaints over the ever-growing [From Indian Country Today, Dec. 27, 2000] Wednesday, January 3, 2001 uses of the Social Security number show that MISSISSIPPI CHOCTAWS: THE BENEFITS OF PEACE CHIEFS American people want Congress to stop in- Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, today I salute vading their privacy. Congress risks provoking If a people are going to strive to achieve and honor the indomitable June Pinkney Ross economic prosperity, the reduction of con- a voter backlash if we fail to halt the growth of Galveston, Texas. flict, the acceptance and understanding of of the surveillance state. I was recently honored to have contributed peace, is a most useful strategy. Mutual un- In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I once again call to the ‘‘Book of Letters’’ being presented next derstanding, common cause and unity of ac- on my colleagues to join me in putting an end week to Ms. Ross in celebration of her twenty- tion become possible. Little ever improves to the federal government’s unconstitutional from virulent conflict and nothing moves seven year career as Executive Director of the use of national identifiers to monitor the ac- forward in war. Leadership with vision often Galveston County Community Action Council. tions of private citizens. National identifiers works actively to reduce conflict while put- threaten all Americans by exposing them to The residents of Galveston County, particu- ting its major efforts toward the positive building of fair community governance and the threat of identity theft by private criminals larly the disenfranchised and the children who could not speak for themselves, have been efficient enterprises. At this moment of and abuse of their liberties by public criminals. shifting political climates, when the future In addition, national identifiers are incompat- well served by June Ross’ unselfish acts of of Native nations is clouded by uncertainties ible with a limited, constitutional government. I, caring, sharing, kindness and understanding of on the national level, it seems proper to sa- therefore, hope my colleagues will join my ef- their plight. lute a consistent peace chief, one who led his forts to protect the freedom of their constitu- It is well known that June Ross will literally own people from severe poverty and obscu- ents by supporting the Identity Theft Preven- fight to the bitter end for the right thing, is rity to sustained prosperity and regional po- tion Act. litical prominence. bluntly and sometimes frighteningly honest He is Phillip Martin, long-time chief of the f about how to address the needs of the poor Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. A man and does not mind sharing her unedited opin- INTRODUCTION OF THE MILITARY of great perseverance, the 75-year-old Martin ion on any subject that is placed on the table. has led and guided his 6,000-member Choctaw RETIREE HEALTH CARE TASK We who know her and have been privileged to tribe since 1959. Periodically, yet consist- FORCE ACT work with her always knew that we could ently reelected to the tribe’s highest office count on her to go after grants for which her for more than 40 years, Phillip Martin is uni- HON. JO ANN EMERSON agency qualified and, once the money was re- versally credited for the success of the Choc- taw, who are well posed to enter the 21st cen- OF MISSOURI ceived, to disburse it where it was most need- tury as a self-determined people. While IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ed. I have enjoyed working with June Ross other, more conflictive tribes have deepened Wednesday, January 3, 2001 and always felt that she would make a fair as- their economic dependencies and allowed spi- sessment of any situation that she was con- rals of violence to weaken their body politic, Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I am here fronted with and react accordingly. the Mississippi Choctaws have built steadily today to introduce the Military Retiree Health for more than 30 years. A well-entrenched Care Task Force Act of 2001. This legislation My one regret during our relationship is that tradition remembers the attitude of histor- will establish a Task Force that will look into I never got a chance to sample her cooking. ical chief, Pushmataha, who in 1811 reasoned all of the health care promises and represen- Ms. Ross’ radio cooking class was quite suc- against war with their neighbors while Te- tations made to members of the Uniformed cessful and listeners would bombard the sta- cumseh appealed to the Choctaw warriors to Services by Department of Defense personnel tion for her recipes. I am sure that she ap- join his war parties. While he had been a great warrior as a young man, Pushmataha and Department literature. The Task Force will proached that job with the same diligence and commitment that she has given to the State of opted for peace as he aged as a chief. submit a comprehensive report to Congress While Tecumseh has come down through which will contain a detailed statement of its Texas and Galveston County throughout the the history as the greater leader, and findings and conclusions. This report will in- years. I want to also take this opportunity to Pushmataha is the lesser known. Interest- clude legislative remedies to correct the great let her know that I am grateful for her service ingly, the response of Pushmataha, who cool- injustices that have occurred to those men to our great nation as a member of the United ly analyzed the horrible suffering war would and women who served their country in good States Military. bring, was actually quite sophisticated and just as completely dedicated to the preserva- faith. Mr. Speaker, I salute June Ross for all she tion and survival of his people. He pointed Let us not forget why we are blessed with has done to make the community better out how his own tribe had painstakingly freedom and democracy in this country. The (United Way, one of the original founders of worked out friendly relations with their sacrifices made by those who served in the Hospice) and hope she knows how much she white neighbors. Their relations were recip- military are something that must never be is respected and loved. rocal and as a result, things were going well.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 10:29 Feb 28, 2007 Jkt 029102 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR01\E03JA1.000 E03JA1 erjones on PRODPC74 with SENATE 58 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS January 3, 2001 To start killing their neighbors with whom ereignty from taxation. In particular, the that the overflow of almost 300 people had to they had such relations did not seem a good Choctaw initiative convinced the country’s be accommodated in the church basement to idea to Pushmataha, who kept his people out major anti-tax organization—Americans for watch the service on large screen television. Tax Reform, whose 500-plus organizations of the war and guided them for another 14 Senior Pentecostal Ministers from around the years. network and 90,000 activists supported the Like Pushmataha, Phillip Martin came Indian case as an anti-tax strategy. country spoke in praise of Marky’s life and leg- home from war to embark in a career that Politics is the art of achieving your acy. The eulogy was performed by a family would build education and civic action and group’s self-interest, and it certainly makes friend, Bishop Norman L. Wagner, President economic opportunity for his people. He was for diverse bedfellows. But always the proof of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. one of those from what has been called ‘‘the is in the pudding. The Choctaw strategy, pre- Bishop Wagner delivered a powerful, uplifting greatest generation.’’ A World War II Air cise and proper for their geopolitical con- sermon from the Second Book of Kings of the Force combat veteran who lost a brother in text, is pragmatically brilliant. In the hold Bible. He compared Marky with the prophet the war, Martin served in the military until of the old South, this Mississippi tribe pro- vides a welcome signal, an example of where Elisha and ended his sermon by stating that 1955. When he returned home, his people had ‘‘God had to send a chariot of fire to take him their pride and their language, but little visionary leadership can make a huge dif- else. They were among the poorest share- ference to the future of a people. An appre- out.’’ Those in the congregation as well as the croppers in a poor state, acutely discrimi- ciation and salutation is due Choctaw chief grieving family felt their hearts lifted from sor- nated against. They were basically just hold- and statesman, Phillip Martin, visionary, row to joy knowing that Marky’s greatness ing on a tribal base, having come through a quiet building, steady helm. would not be diminished by death. very dark historical period as a people of f Marky’s memory will live on in all those color in a racially polarized South. Suffering whose lives he has touched. His is a loss felt from 80 percent unemployment, 90 percent TRIBUTE TO MARK TOLBERT, JR. by his family and congregration, and the great- lived in proverty and the tribe averaged a er Kansas City community. Marky’s beacon of sixth-grade education. HON. KAREN McCARTHY light may be extinguished here on earth, but it Appreciably, Martin returned home of OF MISSOURI sound mind and character and applied him- glows brightly in heaven. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES self to the betterment of his people through Mr. Speaker, please join me in expressing self-sufficient enterprise. Martin led an early Wednesday, January 3, 2001 condolence to the Tolbert family for the loss of this very special child, and to paying tribute to fight to construct and operate the first high Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I the service he gave to family friends, church school on the reservation in 1963, beginning a rise today to pay tribute to Mark Tolbert, Jr., trend that has seen consistent improvement and community during his 19 years on this a young man fatally injured in an automobile in the educational level of the reservation earth. population. He began the planning that accident December 22. Affectionately known f would lay out a modern community infra- as ‘‘Marky,’’ he was the oldest son of Bishop structure with good housing. He pursued and Mark Tolbert, Sr. and Mrs. Emelda Tolbert, TRIBUTE TO DON H. COX constructed an industrial park and after 10 pastor and First Lady of Christ Temple Church years of chasing contracts, began a success- in Kansas City, Missouri. Marky was taken to ful 20 years of economic growth. General Mo- HON. DUNCAN HUNTER heaven by a ‘‘chariot of fire’’ one month past OF CALIFORNIA tors, Ford Motor Co., Oxford Speakers and his nineteenth birthday. Although Marky left us other companies have located manufacturing IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES at a young age, he led a remarkable and in- plants in the Choctaw’s 80-acre industrial Wednesday, January 3, 2001 park, which boasts 500,000 square feet of spiring life. manufacturing space. He had recently completed his first semes- Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to By 1994, the year when their enterprises di- ter of college at the University of Kansas in honor a distinguished public servant from my versified and accelerated with construction Lawrence, majoring in Business Administra- district in Imperial County, California. Don H. of a casino and entertainment center, the na- tion. He was looking forward to working during Cox retired on December 1, 2000 after serving tion ran a total payroll topping $84 million. the semester break at a local sporting goods for 12 years as a member of the Board of Di- It had sound management and was ready to store, continuing the work ethic he developed rectors for the Imperial Irrigation District (IID). take on the complexity of gaming. The na- at an early age by working after school and He represented district 4, which includes the tion’s Chahta Enterprises is now one of the during the summer. city of Brawley where he and his family reside. 10 top employers in Mississippi. Its enter- Don was elected to the Board in 1988 and tainment complex receives more than 2.5 Marky had a genuine love for people, espe- million visitors a year and the tribe has cially children. He coached an after school reelected in 1992 and 1996. He served as built more than 1,000 new houses, con- basketball team at Faxon Montessori School Board President in 1991 and 1997, and structed a major hospital, schools, nursing that went undefeated for two years. He was a served as Vice-President in 1990, 1995, and home, shopping center and day care center. tutor at the Lee A. Tolbert Community Acad- 1996. Don also served on the District’s Water, In what used to be the poorest county in emy Saturday School and by his counseling, Budget, EPA, Geothermal, Salton Sea, En- the poorest state in the United States, in one guidance, and initiative served as a role model ergy, and Salton Sea Emergency study of the most conservative states in the union, to the youth of our community. With his strong groups. He was appointed by the Governor of the Choctaws led an economic revolution. California to serve as a director of the Re- Today, with nearly universal employment, work ethic and love of God and family he was only 2.7 percent of household income comes destined to make the world a better place. gional Water Quality Control Board for the from social services and this mostly involves Before Marky could walk, he was involved in Colorado River area and also served as a elderly and handicapped. The tribe’s manu- Christ Temple Church, beginning by making member/director of the Colorado River Board facturing plants, still going strong, consist- ‘‘joyful noises’’ on the drums. He further devel- of California, the IID Water Conservation Advi- ently win high qualify awards. They employ oped his musical talents over the years and sory Board, California Farm Water Coalition, some 8,000 people, mostly non-Natives. played the keyboard at Sunday morning serv- and the Association of California Water Agen- Most interestingly, a stroll down the res- ices even during his first semester of college. cies’ Water Rights Committee. I had the pleas- ervation’s main elementary school will re- He helped serve the homeless during the ure of working closely with Don through his veal a lot of students speaking fluent Choc- taw. church’s annual ‘‘Feed the Multitude’’ ministry. leadership on the Salton Sea Authority since ‘‘Tell the other tribes’’ Martin says, ‘‘we He was President of the New Generation its inception in 1993. can all do this. If you really want to do it, Choir and a member of the Sunday School. Don served in the United States Navy dur- and get your act together, you can do it.’’ Marky was a founding member of the Radical ing World War II and upon returning from the This is a generous thought, but such progress Praise Steppers, a group of youth who war, earned his degree in agriculture econom- will also require vision, and political acu- showed praise to their heavenly Father ics from the University of California, Berkeley. men. To Martin’s credit, when the political through dance routines that encompassed Following his studies, Don returned to the Im- winds turned right in 1994, he was positioned clapping, stepping and stomping in unison perial Valley to farm with his sons, which he to solidify friendships with such Republican powerhouses as Sen. Trent Lott, R–Miss. while singing praises to God. They performed has done for over 40 years. He is a past Hiring quality lobbyists as their new at church, district councils, national conven- member of the Imperial Valley Vegetable wealth allowed, the Choctaw leader per- tions and community events. Growers Association and was involved with suaded a good sector of Republicans to the I attended his funeral December 30 with many cotton boards. Despite his recent retire- righteousness of the Native nations sov- over 800 people. So many mourners came ment, Don remains involved in the farming

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