2738 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS March 1, 2001 from 1961 to 1963. He was longtime chairman HONORING EDWARD Colleagues, please join me and all the of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. In M. EGAN members of the Archdiocese of in the 1980s he led the drive to build the eques- congratulating the Most Reverend Edward M. trian center at the Will Rogers complex that is HON. FELIX J. GRUCCI, JR. Egan upon his elevation to the dignity of Car- now named in his honor. John Justin, Jr’s OF NEW YORK dinal. most lasting contribution to Fort Worth will IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f undoubtably be his drive to promote the city’s Thursday, March 1, 2001 western heritage. There is no question that he IN COMMEMORATION OF HELEN will be deeply missed within the Texas civic Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great STIRLING GILL community. pleasure that I rise today to congratulate the Most Reverend Edward M. Egan, Archbishop HON. PETER DEUTSCH Again, my heart goes out to Mr. Justin’s of New York upon his elevation to the dignity OF FLORIDA family and to all those who are grieving his of Cardinal. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES passing. He gave unselfishly to the city he The Most Reverend Edward Egan is only loved so much. John Justin, Jr. was a Texas the seventh Archbishop of New York to be Thursday, March 1, 2001 icon and his contributions to our community named a Cardinal in the last one hundred and Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor will never be forgotten. twenty five years. He was born on April 2, the lifetime achievements of one of Davie, 1932, in Oak Park, Illinois. Having earned his Florida’s most active and charitable volun- f Bachelor’s in Philosophy from Saint Mary of teers. Helen Stirling Gill, daughter of Davie’s the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, he first mayor Frank Stirling, died Saturday, Feb- SOCIAL SECURITY GUARANTEE was sent to to complete his seminary ruary 17, 2001, at the age of 78. Mrs. Gill was ACT studies at Pontifical North American College in an active philanthropist for several decades, Vatican City. In 1958, he received a Licentiate giving countless hours of service to her com- in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Grego- munity. She will be dearly missed by the city’s HON. WALTER B. JONES rian University. residents. OF NORTH CAROLINA After ordination in Rome, he returned to the Born on July 10, 1922, in Gainesville, Mrs. where he was assigned to the Gill moved to Davie with her family in 1924, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES staff of Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago and where her father was elected the town’s first Thursday, March 1, 2001 the following year was named Secretary and mayor. She married William ‘‘Billie’’ Gill in Master of Ceremonies to Cardinal Albert 1945, and the couple settled in Davie where Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Meyer. He was also named Assistant Chan- they established their family business, Gill Re- I rise today to introduce legislation to protect cellor. alty. the Social Security benefits of our senior citi- From 1960 to 1965, Cardinal Archbishop Charming and attractive, Mrs. Gill was cho- zens. With the prospect of Social Security re- Egan was Assistant Vice Rector of the North sen as a Davie Orange Blossom Queen in the form looming in the not so distant future, it is American College in Rome. early 1940’s. Devoted to the joy which local important that we assure seniors that their In 1972 he was appointed an auditor of the pageantry brought to her community, Mrs. Gill benefits will not be cut to expedite Social Se- Sacred , which is the ordinary continued to help with the Orange Blossom curity reform. Seniors have worked too hard court of appeals for canonical cases appealed festivities throughout her life by organizing Or- for a secure retirement, to see it jeopardized to the Vatican, particularly regarding the valid- ange Blossom bake sales and events for chil- by a short-sighted effort to ensure future So- ity of marriage. He served as a judge of the dren. In recognition of Mrs. Gill’s contribution cial Security solvency. Tribunal of the Rota from 1973 to 1985. to the town of Davie, the Davie Chamber of He was named Auxiliary Bishop of New Under current law, have no prop- Commerce dedicated the 64th Orange Blos- York on April 4, 1985, and served as Vicar of som Festival Parade held February 24, 2001 erty right to their Social Security benefits. Education for the New York archdiocese. He Many Americans have paid Social Security to Mrs. Gill. was appointed Bishop of Bridgeport on No- Mrs. Gill was also a devoted member of the taxes over their working lifetimes and are vember 8, 1988. Since coming to the Davie United Methodist Church where she planning for retirement with the expectation of Bridgeport, Bishop Egan has overseen the taught Sunday School and played the piano that they will receive these Social Security regionalization of diocesan elementary during church services. Always a generous benefits. However, at any time, Congress schools, established active Hispanic and Hai- caretaker of her community, she visited the could eliminate or reduce these benefits in the tian Apostolates, founded the Saint John Fish- sick and prepared many meals for church name of Social Security reform. er Seminary Residence for young men consid- community dinners. The Social Security Guarantee Act would ering the priesthood, reorganized diocesan In a collaborative effort with her husband eliminate concerns over benefit reduction by healthcare facilities, and initiated the inner-city and other Davie citizens, Mrs. Gill donated seeking to give seniors a property right to their Foundation for Charity and Education. four acres for the creation of the Sheridan retirement benefits. Specifically, it would re- It’s most fitting that Cardinal Egan is the House for Girls in Southwest Ranches. The quire the Secretary of the Treasury to issue to successor of the late John Cardinal O’Connor. Sheridan House is a group home for girls and each recipient of Social Security retirement New York’s new Cardinal is well aware of the young women whose parents are unable to benefits a certificate that includes a written legacy left by his predecessor and he is well care for them. Mrs. Gill’s generous contribu- guarantee of a fixed monthly benefit, plus a prepared to continue and strengthen that leg- tion and care for those young women is testa- guaranteed annual cost-of-living increase. By acy. He too is dedicated to the dignity of all ment to her kind spirit and love for her com- doing so, we hope to eliminate the use of sen- peoples and to caring for those who are most munity. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, Helen Stirling ior scare tactics that have doomed Social Se- scorned or ignored by society. Cardinal Egan Gill has left a lasting legacy for the people of curity reform prospects in the past. has the wonderful ability to nurture and de- Davie, Florida. She will be fondly remembered velop a sense of social justice among his fel- and dearly missed. I believe this is an important first step to- low Catholics. As was the case with Cardinal ward meaningful Social Security reform. We O’Connor, he understands and deeply re- f as members of Congress have a duty to our spects the values inherent in a multi-cultural CELEBRATING PEACE CORPS 40TH seniors to ensure their retirement security will and multi-religious community. He has a deep ANNIVERSARY not be jeopardized. At the same time, we can- and abiding respect for and dedication to edu- not lose sight of the overall goal of reforming cation. the Social Security program so that today’s HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA As he assumes his leadership role in the OF CALIFORNIA workers will have the retirement that they de- great Archdiocese of New York, it is right for IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES serve as well. us to wish him success in making this great Please join me in supporting this legislation community a more human, more caring and Thursday, March 1, 2001 as the beginning of meaningful discourse on more believing community of Brothers and Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, today I speak in Social Security reform. Sisters. recognition of the dedication and commitment

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