E1592 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 4, 2015 hard work resulted in a series of promotions; ering the difference in the size of its tax base, Mr. Bordeaux says that his ticket to living in culminating with her tenure as President. the District should certainly contribute no more the Savannah area is to be involved, and that While leading South Seattle Community Col- than the New York City contribution to Med- is exactly what he intends to do. lege, Jill oversaw the development of leading- icaid. Therefore, my bill would raise the fed- Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to join Mr. edge programs and upgrades to campus facili- eral contribution to the District’s Medicaid pro- Tom Bordeaux’s colleagues, family and friends ties. gram to 80 percent, equal to that of New York in honoring his many years of hard work and Upon being named Chancellor of Seattle City. dedication to our community. Colleges, Jill’s focus shifted to increasing the Under the National Capital Revitalization f number of four-year degrees available and and Self-Government Improvement Act of leading a district-wide initiative to promote 1997 (Revitalization Act), Congress recog- ACKNOWLEDGING MARTIN VAN green and sustainable programs. She also fa- nized that state costs are inappropriate for any BUREN SASSER, JR. cilitated numerous grants and initiatives that city to shoulder. To address this unfairness to supported both student success and retention, the District, the Revitalization Act transferred HON. JEFF DENHAM such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s certain, but not all, state responsibilities from OF CALIFORNIA Pathway to Completion and the City of Se- the District to the federal government, includ- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES attle’s Pathways to Careers grants. Her suc- ing the cost of prisons and courts, and in- Wednesday, November 4, 2015 cess as Chancellor was quickly recognized creased the federal Medicaid reimbursement throughout the Seattle area when she was to the District from 50 to 70 percent, partially Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to named a 2010 Woman of Influence by the relieving this burden. The city continues to acknowledge Mr. Martin Van Buren Sasser, Jr. Puget Sound Business Journal, and later as carry many state costs, however. of Tracy, for his outstanding military service as one of 2012’s Most Influential People by Se- In 1997, a formula error in the Medicaid Dis- a World War II Bomber Crewman and his ex- attle Magazine. proportionate Share Hospital allotment re- ceptional dedication to Southern Pacific Trans- Jill has devoted her time and expertise to duced the 70 percent Federal Medical Assist- portation Company as a longtime employee. other higher education organizations as well, ance Percentage share, and, as a result, the The beloved husband, father, and community including service on multiple boards for Seattle District received only $23 million instead of the member passed away on October 27, 2015. University and as President of the League for $49 million it was due. I was able to secure a In Beatrice, Nebraska on June 9, 1924, Innovation at SSC. Furthermore, she has technical correction in the Balanced Budget Martin Sasser, Jr. was born to Martin and served on the National Advisory Committee of Act of 1999, partially increasing the annual al- Leota Sasser. At the age of four, Martin and Presidents for the Association of Community lotment to $32 million from fiscal year 2000 his family moved to Tracy, California, which College Trustees and a variety of other boards forward. I appreciate that in 2005, Congress became their lifelong hometown. He attended that focused on not only improving higher edu- responded to our effort to get an additional an- school in Tracy throughout his youth and grad- cation, but the general well-being of people nual increase of $20 million in the budget rec- uated from Tracy High School in 1942. After throughout Washington State. onciliation bill, bringing DC’s Medicaid reim- his high school graduation, Martin became an After six years of amazing work, Jill an- bursements to $57 million, as intended by the employee of the Southern Pacific Transpor- nounced earlier this year that she would retire Revitalization Act. However, this amount did tation Company, which has played a vast role in June. Upon her retirement, Jill leaves be- not reimburse the District for the years the in railroad transportation since 1865. hind a lasting legacy as the district’s first fe- federal error denied the city part of its rightful After working on behalf of Southern Pacific, male Chancellor. Despite her departure, Jill is federal contribution. Martin enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He confident in the foundation that has been cre- I urge my colleagues to join me in sup- held numerous personnel positions, including ated for Seattle Community Colleges in edu- porting the bill. that of tail-gunner and belly-gunner for the cating the workforce of tomorrow. f Boeing B–17 Flying Fortress during its World Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rec- War II deployment. Martin completed thirty-five ognize and congratulate Jill Wakefield on her HONORING MR. TOM BORDEAUX bombing missions out of England, towards tar- retirement and outstanding work as the Chan- gets residing in France and Germany and was cellor for Seattle Colleges. HON. EARL L. ‘‘BUDDY’’ CARTER involved in the first United States raid over f OF GEORGIA Berlin. Martin also participated in one of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES most notorious events of World War II, assist- THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DIS- ing in the D-Day bombing missions in support TRICT OF COLUMBIA MEDICAID Wednesday, November 4, 2015 of the Normandy Landings. REIMBURSEMENT ACT OF 2015 Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise At the end of World War II, Mr. Sasser re- today to recognize Savannah Alderman Tom turned to Tracy after passing through Fox, HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON Bordeaux and his dedicated service to the Sa- Oklahoma. During this passage through Okla- OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA vannah City Council. homa, he met his wife, Alice, whom Martin IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES About seven months away from the end of would return to Tracy with. his four-year term, Savannah Alderman Tom Once home in Tracy, Mr. Sasser returned to Wednesday, November 4, 2015 Bordeaux announced that he will not run for Southern Pacific Transportation Company, Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I intro- re-election. Mr. Bordeaux is serving the final where he resumed working as a crew-dis- duce the District of Columbia Medicaid Reim- year of his first term after defeating two oppo- patcher. After numerous years of diligent work, bursement Act of 2015 as open enrollment be- nents in 2012. As an alderman at-large, Post Mr. Martin Sasser retired as a Southern Pa- gins this week for the Patient Protection and 2, Mr. Bordeaux’s district covers all of Savan- cific agent in 1984. Martin also developed and Affordable Care Act. That important legislation, nah. When he announced his candidacy in marketed a recreational balance board called among other things, expands eligibility for 2011, Mr. Bordeaux said his priorities included the ‘‘Tilt-O-Bord.’’ This device was not only Medicaid to reduce the number of Americans building unity and focusing on sound fiscal creative, but highly enjoyable. without health insurance. My bill increases the oversight. Martin’s dedication to his community and federal government’s reimbursement for a por- Mr. Bordeaux grew up in Savannah and fellow brothers and sisters in arms, both tion of the District’s Medicaid costs from 70 to graduated from Savannah High in 1971. He former and current, was evident through the 80 percent. In 2012–2013, New York City, the then attended the University of Georgia where work he did throughout Tracy. Mr. Sasser was jurisdiction that powers the economy of New he received his bachelor’s degree in 1975 and an avid member of the James McDermott Post York State, contributes a 20 percent share for his law degree in 1979. Following school, Mr. 172, the American Legion, Tracy Post 1537, Medicaid costs, while the state pays 33 per- Bordeaux returned to Savannah to practice and of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Martin cent, less than the District’s federally man- law, and has continued to practice ever since. also participated in a vast number of Memorial dated 30 percent contribution. Before joining the council, he served eight Day and Veterans Day Services. Medicaid is financed mostly by the federal terms from 1991 to 2007 in the Georgia For a number of years, Mr. Sasser enjoyed government and the states. However, the Dis- House of Representatives. Mr. Bordeaux was his time entertaining hospital and rest home trict, a city with no state to contribute to it, also elected dean of the Chatham County leg- patients, as he was a skilled guitar, harmonica must alone absorb the state portion of Med- islative delegation. Although Mr. Bordeaux has and mouth-harp player. Mr. Sasser was com- icaid. Thus, the District pays for 30 percent of decided to not seek re-election, he hopes to mitted to his faith. He served as a charter Medicaid, more than any U.S. city. Consid- continue serving the community in other ways. member of the Grace Baptist Church and held VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:51 Nov 05, 2015 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A04NO8.021 E04NOPT1 emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with REMARKS November 4, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1593 many positions within its congregation. Martin income families, children, seniors, or persons as an Assistant United States Attorney where and his wife were able to invest their time living with disabilities.