January 5, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E7 by the Washington, DC based Leapfrog file, because of the need to secure Milliken’s demands by repeatedly passing legislation lib- Group. The Leapfrog Survey, which launched support. eralizing the rules governing the importation of in 2001, focuses on four critical areas of pa- He invested in the educational life of this pharmaceuticals. However, implementation of community. Wofford and Converse colleges this provision has been blocked by the federal tient safety: the use of computer physician would not be the institutions they are today order entry to prevent medication errors, without his generous support. He helped bureaucracy. It is time Congress stood up for standards for doing high-risk procedures, pro- found Spartanburg Day School. the American consumer and removed all un- tocols and policies to reduce medical errors Milliken recognized that this region would necessary regulations on importing pharma- and other safe practices recommended by the need first-class air transportation to com- ceuticals. National Quality Forum and adequate nurse pete with other areas and attract industry. The Prescription Drug Affordability Act also and physician staffing. In addition, hospitals He helped establish Greenville-Spartanburg protects consumers’ access to affordable med- are measured on their progress in preventing International Airport, and the airport com- icine by forbidding the federal government mission, for the first time in its more than infections and other hospital-acquired condi- from regulating any Internet sales of FDA-ap- 50-year history, now has to look for a new proved pharmaceuticals by State-licensed tions and adopting policies on the handling of chairman. It would be appropriate for the serious medical errors, among other things. airport to be renamed in Milliken’s honor. pharmacists. Inland Hospital has displayed a tremendous He also left his mark on Spartanburg in a As I am sure my colleagues are aware, the commitment to providing the best quality very visible way. He was passionate about Internet makes pharmaceuticals and other health care for their patients. I am proud to trees, creating arboretums at his research products more affordable and accessible for congratulate the employees, providers, board center and on the Wofford campus. His Noble millions of Americans. However, the federal members and volunteers for their dedication to Tree Foundation has helped to improve the government has threatened to destroy this op- environment in many cities. tion by imposing unnecessary and unconstitu- providing the best care to our rural commu- One of Spartanburg’s most popular parks is nities. Their skills, compassion and dedication tional regulations on Web sites that sell phar- not a public park at all. It is the grounds of maceuticals. Any federal regulations would in- make this hospital a well-deserved award re- the Milliken Research Center, a beautiful cipient. landscape planted with a multitude of di- evitably drive up prices of pharmaceuticals, Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing verse trees. It has been open to the public so thus depriving many consumers of access to Inland Hospital for their devotion to ensuring that generations of Spartanburg families affordable prescription medications. that patients and families receive the best pos- have been able to enjoy feeding ducks at the In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge my col- sible health care. pond or walking the sunny grounds. leagues to make pharmaceuticals more afford- Many wealthy businessmen focus on build- able and accessible by removing barriers to f ing their companies, their wealth and their the importation of pharmaceuticals and pro- A TRIBUTE TO ROGER MILLIKEN power. Milliken was accomplished in these tecting legitimate Internet pharmacies from areas, but he also focused on building this community and region. needless regulation by cosponsoring the Pre- HON. JOE WILSON His legacy includes the education and scription Drug Affordability Act. OF SOUTH CAROLINA transportation systems we rely on today, an f economic climate that enabled Spartanburg IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to weather the loss of the textile industry MARDEE XIFARAS: SOUTHCOAST Wednesday, January 5, 2011 and even much of the beauty of this commu- WOMAN OF THE YEAR Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speak- nity. Milliken left instructions that his epitaph er, South Carolina has lost a titan of industry HON. would read simply, ‘‘Builder.’’ It is accurate. OF and a visionary to establish the modern Re- More than anyone else in the previous cen- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES publican Party with the loss of Roger Milliken tury, Roger Milliken built Spartanburg. Wednesday, January 5, 2011 of Spartanburg. f On this historic day of swearing-in the larg- Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, est number of Republican Congressmen from INTRODUCING THE PRESCRIPTION the New Bedford Standard Times, an excellent South Carolina is more than 130 years, it is fit- DRUG AFFORDABILITY ACT newspaper, regularly recognizes leaders of the ting to recognize the benefactor of establishing community that it serves by designating a the two-party system in our state with an edi- HON. RON PAUL SouthCoast Woman of the Year and a torial from The Spartanburg Herald-Journal OF TEXAS SouthCoast Man of the Year. This year’s published December 31, 2010. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SouthCoast Woman of the Year is an extraor- ROGER MILLIKEN LEFT HIS IMPRINT ON MOST Wednesday, January 5, 2011 dinary person, who is a leader in so many ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THE UPSTATE fields of endeavor that I think the Standard ENDURING LEGACY Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce Times must have been tempted to call her No one in the 20th century had the impact the Prescription Drug Affordability Act. This ‘‘Women of the Year.’’ on Spartanburg that Roger Milliken did. legislation ensures that millions of Americans, MarDee Xifaras is an able attorney, who The businessman, philanthropist, political including seniors, have access to affordable has been a leader politically, economically, mover and conservationist, who died Thurs- pharmaceutical products. My act removes educationally, and in civic affairs in general. day, affected most aspects of life in the Up- needless government barriers to importing Most recently she has been a spearhead in state. pharmaceuticals and it protects Internet phar- Spartanburg has the business climate it getting the State of Massachusetts to take enjoys today because of Milliken. He saw the macies, which are making affordable prescrip- over the Southern New England Law School, potential in this area and brought his cor- tion drugs available to millions of Americans, creating for the first time in Massachusetts a porate headquarters and his research center from being strangled by federal regulation. state university law school, to the great benefit here. Milliken’s presence and leadership led The Prescription Drug Affordability Act of the population of that area, and I believe to to the tremendous investment that European brings competition to the market for pharma- the practice of law in Massachusetts, by pro- textile equipment manufacturers made in ceutical products by allowing anyone wishing viding a source of socially-conscious grad- Spartanburg, and that international pres- to import a drug to simply submit an applica- uates for years to come. ence helped bring BMW here. tion to the FDA, which then must approve the MarDee Xifaras is an extraordinary force for Milliken doggedly fought to protect the nation’s textile industry and American jobs drug unless the FDA finds the drug is either a wide range of good causes, and I am de- from foreign competition. At the same time, not approved for use in the U.S. or is adulter- lighted that she has been recognized by the he rebalanced his own business to adjust to ated or misbranded. This process will make New Bedford Standard Times, but not sur- world markets, finding new areas in which to safe and affordable imported medicines afford- prised. I’ve had the benefit of her advice, compete. His foresight included knowing able to millions of Americans. Mr. Speaker, counsel and friendship, as did my late and when to step down from the leadership of his letting the free market work is the best means much-missed predecessor, Gary Studds, company and paving the way for it to con- of lowering the cost of prescription drugs. whose work in this body benefitted enor- tinue without him. I need not remind my colleagues that many mously from her input, as has mine. Milliken was a political leader, supporting candidates in local, state and national poli- Americans impacted by the high costs of pre- Mr. Speaker, as an example of what citizen- tics. Long before South Carolina enjoyed its scription medicine have demanded Congress ship is at its best, at a time when we very early spot in the presidential primary sea- reduce the barriers which prevent American much need that, I ask that the New Bedford son, national candidates came to consumers from purchasing imported pharma- Standard Times article about Woman of the Spartanburg, raising the community’s pro- ceuticals. Congress has responded to these Year MarDee Xifaras be printed here.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:09 Jan 06, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A05JA8.015 E05JAPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REMARKS E8 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 5, 2011 [From SouthCoastToday.com, Jan. 2, 2011] And they convinced them that the most Xifaras said the SNESL board had been in- MARDEE XIFARAS: SOUTHCOAST WOMAN OF cost-effective way to do it was by accepting spired by the establishment of the state med- THE YEAR SNESL’s existing Dartmouth campus as a ical school in Worcester 40 years ago, also for donation. students of limited means. And in 2009, the (By Jack Spillane) ‘‘If there’s anything we were over the time was ripe for making an argument that A bogus study pretending to be an inde- years, it was determined,’’ said Xifaras. Massachusetts needed an affordable, public pendent report. Last-minute telephone calls THE STUDENT FACTOR law school, a school that, like UMass Med- from an incumbent governor twisting arms. Xifaras and the UMass and SNESL boards ical, would train lawyers to dedicate at least The smearing of a small law school’s rep- had one more huge asset: the SNESL stu- part of their careers to public service. utation by people on the boards of competing dents themselves —the primarily working- Already, the new public law school has larger schools. and middle-class students who had risen up awarded 35 scholarships for that purpose. And ultimately, the slurring of an entire 25-odd years ago, and with the help of inter- ‘‘It was up to MarDee to rethink the ra- region of the state as not having enough of a ested area lawyers, created a fledgling law tionale of going forward,’’ Ward said. talent pool to merit a public law school. school out of little more than their own ‘‘There has to be someone to find the right Margaret ‘‘MarDee’’ Xifaras dealt with imaginations and desire. note. And that, again—because of her polit- every conceivable insult and underhanded After being victimized by the 2005 stealth ical savvy—that’s what happened,’’ he said. political tactic when it came to the unsuc- political campaign, the SNESL Student Bar UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean cessful 2004–2005 fight to merge the Southern Association hired one of the school’s most MacCormack said that while it was clear New England School of Law with the Univer- successful graduates, Lee Blais, and sued that SNESL’s $23.5 million campus and expe- sity of Massachusetts Dartmouth. But she Suffolk University, along with a onetime of- rienced law-school faculty offered an oppor- did not get down into the gutter with her op- ficial of the Romney administration. tunity to the university, the university ponents. They sued for nothing less than public cor- brought to SNESL the size and the resources Instead, Xifaras, the then-chairman of the ruption. necessary to win accreditation. SNESL board of trustees, went hack to work They charged that Suffolk and a former But Xifaras’ charisma and political skills, running the small, private Dartmouth law Romney official turned lobbyist, Charles MacCormack said, allowed the vision to hap- school in the same determined way that it Chieppo, had colluded to try to keep the pro- pen. ‘‘She’s incredibly optimistic in the face had operated for more than two decades. posed UMass law school from competing with of huge obstacles,’’ she said. She also went to work leading the effort to a lower-priced public school. And the dividends of the state law school meticulously document the legal and finan- And though the case was never settled, the being located in Southeastern Massachusetts cial case that would make a 2009–2010 effort Board of Higher Education as much as ad- will be even more apparent in the future, to absorb the school into UMass Dartmouth mitted wrongdoing in the merger application MacCormack predicted. unassailable. process. It agreed to write a ‘‘letter of under- ‘‘This is going to be a legacy activity,’’ she MarDee Xifaras’ leadership achieved what standing’’ pledging the state to a fair, rig- said. ‘‘You’re going to see more people com- very few SouthCoast political or public offi- orous and documentable process when, and if ing to the South Coast. Already, of these stu- cials of any kind have done over the last half SNESL and UMass ever tried to unite again. dents, 50 percent of them come from out of century. She went up against the state’s Bos- ‘‘They succeeded because of the basic un- state.’’ ton-centric power establishment and won. fairness, and violation of due process that A PERSONAL BATTLE And she won hands down. occurred,’’ Xifaras said. For her efforts coordinating the campaign And because of the tenacity of the students Winning the battle to establish a state law to establish a state law school in Massachu- and their lawyer. school was impressive under any cir- setts, a school that has now been located in ‘‘We didn’t allow ourselves to get out-liti- cumstances, but few knew that Xifaras won Southeastern Massachusetts, Margaret D. gated,’’ Xifaras said. it while beating back a flare-up of the breast Xifaras is the 2010 Standard-Times ‘‘Lee Blais, at every turn was doing deposi- cancer she first defeated some 14 years ago. SouthCoast Woman of the Year. tions, fighting back motions to dismiss, Xifaras, 65, is amazingly matter-of-fact Nominations for the award came from the fighting back motions for dismissal for lack about her life-or-death battles. community and members of the newspaper of standing.’’ Although she admits to some personal, pri- staff. Recipients were selected by a news- Blais may have been taking the deposi- vate moments of emotion, in the end, she room committee. tions, but it was Xifaras, according to Blais, said she simply didn’t want to waste time or who was the general planning the battle. energy feeling sorry for herself. LEARNING LESSONS ‘‘She’s someone who can plot out a strat- She just did what needed to be done with ‘‘Out of the ’04, ’05 negativity and bad expe- egy and implement a strategy,’’ he said. the cancer—on the first round she had chem- rience, came some lessons,’’ Xifaras remem- ‘‘She’s one of the most effective leaders I’ve otherapy, radiation therapy and a stem-cell bered of that first law school fight. ever met.’’ transplant—and last year, she bad two more The impulse of some might have been to Blais also credited Xifaras with having the nodes removed. sue the private law schools—Suffolk Univer- necessary political skills and vision. Xifaras maintains a busy work schedule sity and New England School of Law—that She understood the politics of the state of that’s complemented not just by her effort coordinated the effort to prevent UMass Massachusetts—who could help and who to establish the law school, but by her long- from competing with them. couldn’t, what would work and what time work as a sought-after political opera- Instead, Xifaras waited for an opportune wouldn’t, he said. tive for the Democratic Party. time when the numbers worked for the es- Further, she understood the great ration- She has played key campaign management tablishment of a state law school. And then ale for a public law school itself in Massa- roles in the presidential efforts of everyone she coordinated with SNESL Dean Robert chusetts—a school that could focus on the from Ted Kennedy to John Kerry to Barack Ward and UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean need for lawyers to devote some segment of Obama, not to mention local political efforts MacCormack to devise a new financing plan their careers to public service. like the congressional campaigns of Paul and under which the state law school would be a ‘‘Her skills, not only in the area of politics, . self-sustaining arm of the university, need- but in the area of public policy, are just in- On top of all that, Xifaras works in a busy ing no assistance from the government. credible,’’ Blais said. law practice (she’s one of Mayor Scott Both savvy and practical, Xifaras hired THE POLITICAL MAVEN Lang’s law partners), and fills in as grandma O’Neil & Associates, the state’s best-wired Robert Ward, the longtime dean of SNESL, for her daughter Amy, a law school student P.R. firm to help her navigate the state’s no- said Xifaras recommended a key change in with a four-month old. toriously provincial political waters. She approach for the second application. By the way, that’s a throwback to Xifaras’ also kept an eye on her own governing board, It would be all about UMass and the need own career when back in the mid-1970s she re-documenting for them once again the case for a public law school, and not about ad- used to put in 10–plus hour days traveling as to why SNESL donating $23.5 million dressing SNESL’s need for American Bar As- back and forth to University law worth of its own assets to the state made sociation accreditation (a process that usu- school, while she had two children still in sense for the school’s development in the ally demands the resources of a larger diapers and one who was in pre-school. long run. school.) ‘‘That subtle twist is the kind of ‘‘I think back on it—if this alternative (a Xifaras’ skill in coalition-building ulti- thing that really good lawyers do,’’ said local law school) had been available to me at mately helped UMass and SNESL build an Ward. ‘‘You look into the dominant nar- that time, clearly I would have gone,’’ she iron-clad case that convinced Secretary of rative and, you sort of find a way to tell your said. Education Paul Reville, Commissioner of story in a way that resonates.’’ Xifaras said she didn’t need to attend a Higher Education Richard Freeland, and fi- At the time of the second merger applica- big-name school for the public-service career nally Gov. Deval Patrick himself that a tion, the nation was consumed by a large de- she had in mind. She needed a school like UMass law school was the right thing to do. bate over health insurance, Xifaras noted, UMass Law. In effect, they convinced the powers-that- and whether there should be ‘‘a public op- ‘‘My orientation was always more of a be to give access to legal education to tion’’ for health insurance. In the same way, community-based orientation. Doing regular middle- and working-class students pre- she decided, UMass would argue for a public work for regular folks in a terrific, down-to- viously disenfranchised in Massachusetts. option for an affordable legal education. earth setting,’’ she said.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:09 Jan 06, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A05JA8.018 E05JAPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with REMARKS January 5, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E9 BELOVED BY HER PEOPLE ert has earned the rank of Assistant Patrol of us made to reduce the deficit and control If you ask the people who’ve worked close- Leader. Robert has also contributed to his the debt by refusing to pay for tax cuts for the ly with MarDee Xifaras how she pulled off community through his Eagle Scout project. wealthiest of Americans and forces future gen- leading the charge for the state law school, Robert aided the City of Kearney, Missouri by erations to foot the bill. Over the cliff like a or any of her other impressive life accom- repainting many of the town’s fire hydrants. lemming; but I suppose there is nothing like a plishments, they’ll tell you she just has this remarkable ability to ‘‘connect’’ with peo- Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in little lemming to go with tea. ple. commending Robert Joseph Pence for his ac- Instead of transparency, this set of rules By the way, Xifaras has also been a Peace complishments with the Boy Scouts of Amer- confers ‘‘King for a Day’’ status to one Mem- Corps volunteer in Africa; a fellow at the ica and for his efforts put forth in achieving the ber of the House of Representatives—allowing Fletcher School of Diplomacy at Tufts; an highest distinction of Eagle Scout. him to set the entire budget for the federal MBA from UMass Dartmouth; a grassroots f government without any public input. political organizer and one of the moving The last time this country allowed that was forces behind Gerry Studds’ first anti-war HONORING A REMARKABLE PUB- never. Only before we were a country did a campaign for Congress. LIC SERVANT, THE HONORABLE king set our budget. And now Republicans are Xifaras is startlingly, and charmingly, TOM VANDERGRIFF straightforward. She seems to understand set to give this authority again to one person, that human beings are not perfect entities, the Chairman of the House Budget Com- and she has the ability to meet them where HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS mittee, a person I admire as a Member of they live and inspire them to be better. OF TEXAS Congress—as a King, not so much. ‘‘It is the privilege of a lifetime to work IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES And, in the next few days, the new House with her,’’ Ward said; ‘‘The quality of my life majority wants to repeal help for seniors on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 improved dramatically when I met her.’’ prescription drugs and take away consumer Jay Lynch, Xifaras’ vice chairman on the Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to SNESL board, said that often it was only protections from families battling insurance Xifaras’ personal connections that kept the remember a remarkable public servant, the problems. This effort will add $143 billion to public law school dream alive. Honorable Tom Vandergriff. Judge Vandergriff the deficit over the next ten years. ‘‘She never gave up on it,’’ he said. began his 55 year long public service career This is all happening while we should be fo- Xifaras succeeds, Lynch said, because she as the youngest elected mayor of Arlington, cusing on the economic recovery that is un- reaches people. She never badmouths folks, Texas. There he made great strides to bring derway thanks to the tough decisions that the even opponents—either in public or in pri- economic opportunity and expansion to the last Congress made. We need to redirect our vate—he noted. area with the luring of a General Motors plant, ‘‘I think it was her unique ability to con- focus to the economy and stop exploding the nect with everyone involved,’’ he said. Six Flags theme park, and by bringing the deficits and debt. Perhaps the most impressive endorsement Texas Rangers to the city. f comes from Michelle Keith, a 2009 graduate These developments were no small task as of SNESL, and one of the mid-life law stu- it took thirteen years to bring Major League INTRODUCING THE SOCIAL SECU- dents for whom Xifaras seems to have fash- Baseball to North Texas and the positive ef- RITY FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS ioned the public law school. fects can be felt through the vitality of Arling- ONLY ACT Keith met Xifaras at a Women’s Bar Asso- ton as well as the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex ciation event, one of the many ongoing com- to this day. munity events that Xifaras has made sure HON. RON PAUL take place at SNESL over the years. Six years later, he went on to become the OF TEXAS Keith, a homemaker who had home- first Congressman of the 26th district of Texas IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES in 1983. Although he only served one term, he schooled her two children; said she went to Wednesday, January 5, 2011 SNESL because she loves both Greater New played a fundamental role in establishing the Bedford and the school’s public service ethic. office and representing the district. Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce She passed the bar on her first try. For more than 25 years, Vandergriff served the Social Security for American Citizens Only She compares MarDee Xifaras to George as County Judge of Tarrant County which in- Act. This act forbids the Federal Government Bailey in the Christmas film classic ‘‘It’s a from providing Social Security benefits to non- Wonderful Life,’’ And she calls SNESL the cludes more than 1.7 million residents and is ‘‘Savings and Loan’’ bank that, in the classic one of the most populous in the . citizens. It also ends the practice of total- movie, granted mortgages to low-income and He retired from his role in 2007. ization. Totalization is where the Social Secu- middle-class people. It is my great honor to recognize Judge Tom rity Administration takes into account the num- Xifaras, Keith said, really looks out for the Vandergriff for his dedication, innovation, and ber of years an individual worked abroad, and school’s students and advocates with them insight that he has contributed to the North thus was not paying payroll taxes, in deter- for public service to the community. Texas region. I will always remember those mining that individual’s eligibility for Social Se- ‘‘There’s a lot of successful people out exciting radio broadcasts when Judge Vander- curity benefits. there, but they go about it without any sense Hard as it may be to believe, the United of honor,’’ she said. griff was ‘‘the voice of the Texas Rangers’’ in MarDee ‘‘has an inherent sense of honor the 1970s. My thoughts and prayers are with States Government already provides Social and that’s rare.’’ his family and friends. He was a great public Security benefits to citizens of 17 other coun- f servant, and all North Texans are thankful for tries. Under current law, citizens of those his servitude. countries covered by these agreements may HONORING ROBERT JOSEPH PENCE f have an easier time getting Social Security benefits than public school teachers or police- HON. SAM GRAVES CREATING JOBS, NOT EXPLODING men. THE DEFICIT OF MISSOURI Obviously, this program provides a threat to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the already fragile Social Security system, and the threat is looming larger. The prior adminis- Wednesday, January 5, 2011 HON. RICK LARSEN OF WASHINGTON tration actually proposed a totalization agree- Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ment that would have allowed thousands of proudly pause to recognize Robert Joseph foreigners to qualify for U.S. Social Security Pence. Robert is a very special young man Wednesday, January 5, 2011 benefits even though they came to, and who has exemplified the finest qualities of citi- Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, worked in, the United States illegally. Adding zenship and leadership by taking an active day one of the 112th Congress and House insult to injury, this proposal could have al- part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 397, Republicans are already violating their cam- lowed the Federal Government to give Social and earning the most prestigious award of paign promises and the needs of the Amer- Security benefits to non-citizens who worked Eagle Scout. ican people. The set of rules they introduced here for as little as 18 months. Estimates of Robert has been very active with his troop, today will explode our debt and deficit, kill our what this totalization proposal would cost top participating in many scout activities. Over the economic recovery and make the House of $1 billion per year. many years Robert has been involved with Representatives less transparent. Despite a major public outcry against ex- scouting, he has not only earned numerous Like a lemming, the set of budget rules con- tending Social Security benefits to those who merit badges, but also the respect of his fam- tained in this package will push us further off entered this country illegally, a version of this ily, peers, and community. Most notably, Rob- the deficit cliff. It breaks the promise so many proposal actually passed the other body in the

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