May 21, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E931 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS INTRODUCTION OF THE FIRE SAFE and elderly individuals from perishing in ciga- waste waster facility. Port Austin now has the CIGARETTE ACT OF 1998 rette related fires. distinction of having the best tasting water in f the state. It is no wonder that other surround- HON. JOHN JOSEPH MOAKLEY ing communities would like to tie into the Port A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO MIKE AND Austin system. Although he will not seek re- OF MASSACHUSETTS JOELLA KERSCHNER ON THE OC- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES election, I am sure he will remain a strong in- CASION OF THEIR TWENTY- fluence and continue to support efforts to im- Thursday, May 21, 1998 FIFTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY prove the lives of the citizens of Port Austin Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker. Today, I am and Huron County. introducing the Fire Safe Cigarette Act of HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR Edwin is astutely optimistic that there will be 1998, which would direct the Consumer Prod- OF OHIO strong development in the Port Austin area uct Safety Commission to promulgate a fire IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES over the next ten years and he plans to con- safety standard for cigarettes. tinue to remain a key player. His leadership in Each year thousands of innocent people are Thursday, May 21, 1998 brining a major breakwall and harbor develop- killed, maimed or permanently disfigured by Mr. GILLMOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ment effort to Port Austin goes directly to the carelessly discarded cigarettes. Under a typi- pay special tribute to an outstanding couple recognition that this is a leading fishing, boat- cal cigarette fire scenario, the smoker falls from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District, Mike ing, and recreation destination in Michigan. asleep in a bed or sofa with a burning ciga- and Joella Kerschner. I extend my best wishes He could not have had such a successful rette, the ash smolders for hours, then bursts to Mike and Joella, who will be celebrating career and fulfilled life without the support of into flames in the middle of the nightÐa time their Twenty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary on his wife, Doreen, and their four children, 11 when everyone is least prepared. Saturday, May 23, 1998. grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. His loy- Cigarette related fires are not rare or freak Mr. Speaker, Mike and Joella exemplify alty and dedication is evident through his job occurrences. In 1995, 1,122 individuals per- what a loving, strong, healthy marriage should at Mayes IGA Foodliner where he has worked ished and 2,667 individuals were seriously in- be. For as long as I have known them, Mike for 40 years and is now manager. jured from these fires. One third of the victims and Joella have been the best of friends and Mr. Speaker, if we want to teach our citi- were innocent children. Furthermore, cigarette the closest of companions. Through their mar- zens to be driven by the concept of commu- related fires caused more than $500 million in riage vows, they have dedicated their lives to nity and family, we need only introduce them property damage in 1995. each other, to share in the joy of marriage. As to individuals like Edwin Korn. I ask you and I first became involved with this issue when we celebrate the Twenty-Fifth Wedding Anni- all of our colleagues to join me in wishing a family of seven perished in a cigarette relat- versary of Mike and Joella's wedding, let us Edwin Korn the best of luck in all his future ed fire in my Congressional District. Five chil- reflect on their lives, their love for one another, endeavors. drenÐall under the age of tenÐwere burned and wish them a happy and healthy marriage f to death. This tragedy occurred on Memorial in the years to come. CONGRATULATING ALBERT Day Weekend in 1979. Mr. Speaker, as Mike and Joella Kerschner COURNOYER ON 40 YEARS OF Now, almost twenty years later, I am still celebrate this very special occasion, I wish SERVICE AT THE PUBLICK fighting to give the CPSC that authority to pro- them, their children, Karl, John, and Chris, and HOUSE HISTORIC INN mulgate a fire safety standard for cigarettes. all of their families many years of love and Two technical bills, the Cigarette Safety Act happiness. I hope my colleagues will join me and the Fire Safe Cigarette Act, have been in congratulating Mike and Joella Kerschner HON. RICHARD E. NEAL passed and enacted into law. on their Twenty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary, OF MASSACHUSETTS As a result of the legislation, we now know and in wishing them the very best in the fu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that a cigarette can be slightly altered to sig- ture. Thursday, May 21, 1998 nificantly reduce the number of cigarette relat- f Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I ed fires. The key characteristics of a fire safe am privileged today to honor one of my con- THANK YOU, EDWIN KORN, JR. cigarette are: a filter tip, a smaller diameter, stituents, Mr. Albert Cournoyer, as he cele- less porous paper, more expandable tobacco, brates his 40th year of hard work and dedi- and no citrate additive. By simply modifying HON. JAMES A. BARCIA cated service to the Publick House Historic Inn these characteristics, cigarette manufacturers OF MICHIGAN in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. could significantly reduce the number of ciga- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Publick House has been successfully rettes related fires each year. Thursday, May 21, 1998 operating and thriving in Sturbridge for 227 All the technical work required to develop a years. I have to think that part of the reason fire safety standard is completed. The CPSC Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, our communities for the Inn's long and prosperous presence in is ready and willing to do it. We just need to grow and succeed when there is strength in this area of Massachusetts is due to the work give the CPSC the authority to promulgate a community and strong leaders. I rise today to of fine employees such as Albert Cournoyer. fire safety standard and the Fire Safe Ciga- pay tribute to one individual, Edwin Korn, Jr., Mr. Cournoyer first began assuming respon- rette Act of 1998 does just that. who has been the backbone of Port Austin for sibility at the Publick House in 1958, at the After twenty years of work on this issue, I almost 40 years, serving 36 of those years as young age of 14. His work ethic and positive am frustrated that the victims of cigarette relat- the President of the Port Austin Village Coun- attitude were quickly manifested and noticed ed fires continue to be the innocent. Too often cil. as he performed the duties of handyman and the victim is the child asleep in the upstairs Edwin was born in Detroit and moved to dishwasher. Mr. Cournoyer's commitment and bedroom, or the elderly neighbor in the apart- Port Austin in 1950. He left Port Austin only skill allowed him to move on from these jobs ment next door. Study after study has proven twice; once to attend college and again to to other facets of the Inn's operations so that that it is technically and economically feasible serve his country in the Army. Since then, he by age 21, he was promoted to Head Chef. to develop a fire safe cigarette, clearly Con- has been a strong presence in Port Austin and Albert Cournoyer's career in the culinary gress needs to weigh in and require cigarette an important leader of the community. arena continued to grow until he was made manufacturers to develop fire safe cigarettes. Appointed clerk in 1962, he served one term Executive Chef and later to the point where he No more children should fall victim to cigarette as Trustee before becoming President. He has was entrusted with the duty of overseeing food related fires that are preventable. overseen some amazing changes in Port Aus- service operations at Old Sturbridge Village. Let's pass the Fire Safe Cigarette Act of tin including the switch from well water to lake One of Mr. Cournoyer's greatest achieve- 1998 and save thousands of innocent children water and the construction of a world-class ments, the fruits of which we witness today, · This ``bullet'' symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. E932 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks May 21, 1998 came when he served in the capacity of Direc- However, current data indicates that only enth and eighth grade junior high school, tor of Maintenance in the early 1980's. At this 51.8% of today's nephrologists will still be in Shepherd strives to maintain excellence, effec- time he directed and supervised all renova- practice in the year 2010. tiveness and equity in the education of young tions and construction to the Country Motor Most primary care physicians are not trained people in the ``middle grades.'' This school of Lodge and adjoining restaurant. to treat the complex multi-symptom medical 513 students serves both regular and special In June of 1997, however, Albert problems typically seen in ESRD and are un- education students. Shepherd was recognized Cournoyer's accomplishments, experience, familiar with particular medications and tech- for its ability to combine these two populations consistent maintenance of the highest quality nology prescribed for such patients.