February 16, 2005 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 2629 reinstating them in their jobs. During the Beef Cook-Off and with the help of fellow CELEBRATION OF THE 80TH BIRTH- period of mobilization, many of you did more members the Cook-Off was held in Kern DAY OF CONGRESSMAN LOUIS than was required by law by voluntarily of- County that year. STOKES fering continued benefits, pay differentials, and additional, creative forms of family sup- Ramona’s efforts have been exhaustive. port which made the period of separation so Throughout her tenure as a member and offi- HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES much easier to bear. I know of no other time cer of the Cattlewomen’s Association she has OF OHIO in our nation’s history when so many em- been instrumental in nearly every aspect of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ployers have voluntarily offered this level of the organization. This award is reflective of Wednesday, February 16, 2005 support and benefits. I recognize that these generous actions her dedication. Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, it gives have not been without sacrifice. Each of you me great pleasure to rise today to commemo- has earned the deepest appreciation of this f rate the 80th birthday of a living legend here Department and the United States Govern- in the United States Congress and a man who ment for your unswerving support of our na- IWG 2-YEAR EXTENSION is revered and respected throughout this coun- tion’s military. Without this continued sup- port, we could not maintain a strong mili- try, my predecessor, Congressman Louis tary or sustain the current effort to over- HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY Stokes. come the international terrorist threat di- Born February 23, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, rected at our country, our citizens, and all OF NEW YORK Louis Stokes was educated in the Cleveland who love freedom. Public Schools, graduating from Central High You have my deepest thanks. Your direct IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES School. He went on to serve honorably in the contributions and support are another illus- Wednesday, February 16, 2005 United States Army during the Second World tration of America’s greatness as a nation. War. After 3 years of service he returned to Sincerely, Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today, I, Cleveland where he attended Western Re- DONALD RUMSFELD, Secretary of Defense. along with 12 of my bipartisan colleagues, in- serve University and later earned his doctor of cluding Chairmen DAVIS and HOEKSTRA and laws degree from Cleveland Marshall Law f Ranking Members WAXMAN, HARMAN, and School in 1953. DEDICATED TO THE ‘‘COWBELLES’’ CONYERS, introduce a bill that will extend the On November 6, 1968, Louis Stokes was term of the Nazi War Crimes Interagency elected to the United States Congress, be- HON. JIM COSTA Working Group by 2 years. This is the com- coming the first African American Member of Congress from the State of Ohio. He served OF CALIFORNIA panion bill of S. 384, a bill introduced by Sen- ator DEWINE and passed in the Senate today. 15 consecutive terms in the U.S. House of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the history Representatives, ranking 11th overall in House Wednesday, February 16, 2005 and the impact of this legislation. I would like seniority. Louis Stokes played a pivotal role in Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to to thank Senator DEWINE and his staff for their the quest for civil rights, equality and social honor and congratulate Ramona Snow, of Ba- tireless work and for the energy they have put and economic justice throughout his tenure in kersfield, California. Ramona has been des- forth to ensure that we know as much as we the United States Congress. He served on nu- ignated the Kern County ‘‘Cattlewoman of the can about our Government’s past involvement merous committees throughout his tenure in- Year’’ by Kern County Cattlemen and with Nazi War criminals. cluding the House Select Committee on As- sassinations, the Ethics Committee, and the Cattlewomen Associations. In 1998, Congress passed the Nazi War House Intelligence Committee. Ramona was born into a family of nine sib- Crimes Disclosure Act, a law that was enacted He was the dean of the Ohio Congressional lings and attended schools in Bakersfield until to explain the relationship between the U.S. Delegation and a founding member of the her senior year in high school when she trans- Government and former Nazis. The act re- Congressional Black Caucus. His work in the ferred to Ventura. Shortly thereafter the family quired the release of all previously classified area of health led to his appointment as a returned to Bakersfield, Ramona married Rob- information on the topic to the Interagency member of the Pepper Commission on Com- ert Snow, and began her life as a cattle- Working Group on Nazi War Crimes, IWG. prehensive Health Care, and he was the woman. The documents provided thus far to the IWG founder and chairman of the Congressional She became adept at pulling calves and have revealed that there was a closer relation- Black Caucus Health Braintrust. His resume in doctoring ailing stock, as well as everyday ship between the U.S. Government and Nazi its entirety is too lengthy to be recorded in this ranch chores. Between raising her four chil- war criminals than previously known, a revela- resolution as it is adequately recorded in the dren and ranch chores, Ramona found time to tion that is crucial to the understanding of his- CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. become active in 4–H as a sewing and cook- tory. This significant knowledge would not ing leader. In 1964 Ramona was asked to be- On behalf of the people of the 11th Con- have been possible without the cooperation of gressional District, I join with his wife Jay, chil- come a member of CowBelles, which led to a many agencies including the Department of long and active career within what is now dren, Shelley, Angela, Louis and Lori, grand- Justice, Department of Defense, and the Fed- children, family and friends in wishing Con- known as the Cattlewomen’s Association. eral Bureau of Investigation. Upon joining, Ramona became highly in- gressman Louis Stokes a very happy and volved and chaired many committees. Such Until recently, the CIA had not complied with blessed 80th birthday. You have been a trail- committees included, ‘‘Beef for Father’s Day,’’ the law and did not release the documents blazer for so many who have followed in your and ‘‘Beef for Mother’s Day.’’ Ramona served needed to complete the IWG’s task, as de- footsteps. I thank you for your continued sup- as Vice President in 1976 and was elected fined by law. Fortunately, after discussions port and guidance throughout my career. May President the following year. She was elected with Senator DEWINE and myself and under you have many, many more. as President again in 1991. the leadership of Director Porter Goss, the f CIA agreed to release the requisite docu- Mrs. Snow has been an inventive member DEDICATED RANCHER of CowBelles. She came up with the idea of ments. With the term of the IWG set to expire a children’s cookbook to be handed out at the at the end of March 2005, we are now at a HON. JIM COSTA Kern County Museum. Ramona was respon- critical juncture. OF CALIFORNIA sible for prize winning fair booths including the This bill is simple. It extends the term of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘‘Best Dressed Table’’ that promoted beef at IWG so that it can complete its work, write a the Kern County Fair for over 30 years. In the comprehensive report, and send it to Con- Wednesday, February 16, 2005 1950s the CowBelles started awarding leather gress. We hope to move this quickly in the Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to halters and now silver buckles to the winners House, as they did in the Senate, to avoid a honor and congratulate Fred David Lavers II, of the Reserve Champion Steers at the Fair. lapse in this important work. History, and the of Glennville, California. Mr. Lavers is being Ramona designs these buckles each year so memory of the millions who perished in the recognized by the Kern County Cattlemen and they are always different. While Ramona was Holocaust, deserve nothing less than full dis- Cattlewomen Association as the ‘‘Cattleman of vice president she introduced the idea of a closure. the Year.’’

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