Congressional Record—Senate S1158
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S1158 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 15, 2018 days, the nurses on the floor mixed up their yond the statistics, however, for she would never be officially inducted into the own IV’s, it didn’t come out of the phar- understood that the organization’s NASCAR Hall of Fame, I had my doubts. macy,’’ she explained. ‘‘We didn’t have IV strength comes from the voices of Squier had just returned home from a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he and teams or drip machines. Now that seems like those who believe access to healthcare ancient history.’’ Barney Hall were presented with the first an- She retired from Manchester Memorial for all women is a right. Those who up nual Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Hospital in Manchester, Connecticut, in 1987 until recently believed that there was Excellence, an honor for which they were co- at age 62, when her husband became ill and nothing they could do or say that namesakes. He felt at the time that he had required constant care. She and Bill moved would make a difference. Those who reached the pinnacle of his career. to Putney, Vermont, and when he passed she simply went on with their lives as if NASCAR had just unveiled an exhibit in moved in with her children. She only re- they had no other options. It is those its Hall of Fame museum that featured audio cently stopped volunteering for her church, from his famous broadcast of the 1979 Day- same people who have taken to the tona 500. Each year since then, a media visiting the sick and washing alter linens. streets—in Washington, in Vermont, Murphy stays fit and spry with daily walks member has been honored with an award on a treadmill, healthy diet, reading books and across the world—to let their named after him. and playing board games with her eight voices be heard. Cecile’s unwavering Last weekend, Ken Squier returned to the grandchildren. She enjoys keeping up with passion and commitment to advocating Hall of Fame in Charlotte—this time to ac- health science news and reading scholarly for these voices is one of her greatest cept an even more prestigious honor: being articles online. She’s honored to represent strengths as a leader. the first journalist ever inducted into the the first generation of college-educated NASCAR Hall of Fame itself. While Planned Parenthood is strong- ‘‘Because the panel is made up of a major- nurses, and delighted to watch the profes- er than ever, Cecile leaves a legacy ity of drivers and media guys, there were two sion’s evolution and progress. that will be hard to follow. Her ability or three who said, ’You just have to be ‘‘I follow nursing and the sciences. There there.’ So there I went,’’ Squier said. are so many things in my life now that peo- to lead with grace and courage has Around Vermont, as the former owner of ple speak of so routinely, that didn’t exist given hope to those who need it most. WDEV Radio and Thunder Road, Squier has before. I’ve done it all, from prenatal to old She has truly been inspiration to us been a prominent public figure. But at people’s homes, and I’ve had a ball,’’ she re- all. NASCAR events, fans worship the ground he flected. ‘‘Nursing is what I am. I’m proud to Marcelle and I wish Cecile Richards walks on. Why? see the young women who work in labs or go all the best as she moves into the next It’s simple: NASCAR wouldn’t be the sport into other countries and use their edu- chapter. it is today without him. cation.’’ As auto racing rose in prominence during f f the 1960s and early ’70s, the sport began ap- TRIBUTE TO KEN SQUIER pearing on television. But it was never given TRIBUTE TO CECILE RICHARDS the treatment that baseball, basketball, Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, it is my football or hockey got: live, start-to-finish like to take a moment to recognize the honor and privilege to recognize the coverage. In 1979, Squier changed that. inspiring and dedicated work of Cecile achievements of a great Vermont broadcaster and friend, Ken Squier. At the direction of NASCAR co-founder Richards, who has recently announced Bill France Sr., Squier convinced skeptical she is stepping down as president of Ken recently became the first jour- CBS–TV executives to air flag-to-flag cov- Planned Parenthood after 12 years. nalist ever to be enshrined in the erage of the Daytona 500. Throughout her tenure as president NASCAR Hall of Fame. While his roots It was a smashing success—literally. The of Planned Parenthood, Cecile has been are at WDEV Radio in Waterbury, VT, race ended in thrilling fashion, with Cale Ken is known nationally as the coun- Yarborough and Donnie Allison spinning out a passionate advocate for healthcare and getting in a fistfight on the infield. Ken for women and men across the country. try’s most recognizable voice of auto racing. Without question, Ken’s voice and color commentator David Hobbs vividly Despite the constant attacks leveled at captured the excitement and delivered a live Planned Parenthood in recent years, and calls of the most memorable auto broadcast to 15.1 million viewers, many of the organization managed to grow races were key to the rise in promi- whom were snowed into their homes after a stronger with Cecile at the helm. nence of the sport. blizzard buried the Northeast. Today Planned Parenthood has more Still, with all of the national rec- That date—Feb. 18, 1979—was when racing volunteers, supporters, and donors than ognition, Ken has always made went from being a Southern fringe-sport to a nationwide phenomenon. it ever has had before. None of that Vermont his home. His radio station, WDEV, is strongly committed to com- Squier served as the lap-by-lap commen- would have been possible without tator for the next 20 Daytona 500s. He fa- Cecile’s exemplary leadership. munity service and serves the people of mously nicknamed the event ‘‘The Great Millions of Americans depend on his hometown and the greater Vermont American Race.’’ Planned Parenthood for their community with distinction. Ken ‘‘The beaches of Daytona, in Ormond— healthcare, and for many, Planned Par- Squier is, without question, a Vermont that’s the history of American motorsports,’’ Squier said. ‘‘They were racing there over 100 enthood is their only source of care. As treasure. In honor of Ken’s induction into the years ago. This wasn’t just another president, Cecile maintained Planned race—this was Daytona.’’ Parenthood’s mission, and she never NASCAR Hall of Fame and his contin- Squier expresses hesitation about being in stopped fighting for the millions of ued outstanding service to Vermont, I the same Hall of Fame as the racing legends American women and men—including ask unanimous consent that the article who he covered. tens of thousands of Vermonters—that by Jasper Goodman, from the January ‘‘There was still that catch in my throat,’’ he said. ‘‘Guys like Neil Bonnett and Tiny have trusted and depended on Planned 24, 2018 edition of the Barre Montpelier Times Argus, ‘‘Profile: Squier a living Lund and so many of those guys who were so Parenthood for their basic healthcare good—they all died doing what they wanted legend,’’ be printed in the RECORD. needs, including annual health exams, to do, which is not the same as any other cervical and breast cancer tests, and There being no objection, the mate- sport. If you are dedicated to racing, it can HIV screenings. Because of her dedica- rial was ordered to be printed in the cost you your life. I just felt they needed to tion to helping low-income women, she RECORD, as follows: be represented far more than announcers or worked to ensure free birth control [From the Times Argus, Jan. 24, 2018] promoters or sponsors.’’ Squier’s hesitation is unsurprising. Unlike coverage was included in the Afford- PROFILE: SQUIER A LIVING LEGEND many modern-day broadcasters who enjoy di- able Care Act. Cecile is leaving as (By Jasper Goodman) recting the spotlight at themselves, Squier president when the teen pregnancy rate ‘‘Guys like Neil Bonnett and Tiny Lund has never been one to place himself at the is at a historical low and unintended and so many of those guys who were so center of attention. Vermont Governor and pregnancies overall are at a 30-year good—they all died doing what they wanted three-time Thunder Road track champion low. None of that would have been pos- to do, which is not the same as any other Phil Scott noted last Friday that in the first sible without Cecile’s relentless deter- sport. If you are dedicated to racing, it can draft of Squier’s acceptance speech, there mination to her mission of helping cost you your life. I just felt they needed to was ‘‘not one single mention of himself.’’ be represented far more than announcers or ‘‘He’s been telling us the great American those that do not have the resources to promoters or sponsors’’—Ken Squier. story his whole life,’’ Scott said in his intro- help themselves. Seldom is Ken Squier wrong in his prog- duction of Squier at the Hall of Fame induc- The true measurement of Cecile’s nostications about the motorsports industry. tion ceremony. ‘‘But we never hear his work at Planned Parenthood goes be- But when he told me five years ago that he story.’’ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Feb 16, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A15FE6.045 S15FEPT1 February 15, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1159 The line about Squier not wanting to talk The same can be said of Squier, an ordi- 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of BBEDCA.