May 21, 2009 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 155, Pt. 10 13423 years, the Mill employed 800 people from our ence as a co-campaign coordinator for Bobby I look forward to continuing to work with my community. But it wasn’t just jobs that the Kennedy to lobby then-city councilman Tom friends and colleagues on the Ways and Russell family provided, it was community Bradley on getting permanent structures on Means Committee Subcommittee on Income leadership. They didn’t just live in our commu- the Southwest College campus. Security and Family Support to improve the nities—they were our county commissioners, Professor Dirks knows that ‘‘it takes a vil- experiences of those young people living in Boy Scout leaders, served on town board— lage’’ and over the years he has received nu- and preparing to exit foster care. much of which Mr. Russell did himself. merous accolades and great support from his Madam Speaker, each and every young There were and are Mr. Russell’s in every community. He is deserving of commendation person has a right to a childhood. During Na- community across our District. We all know for his tireless campaign to secure adequate tional Foster Care Month, I hope that commu- how our communities have been affected by higher education in the northeast San Fer- nities around the country really come together the loss of the textile industry. It was not only nando Valley. With a combination of union and think of ways to improve the lives of the loss of jobs which we still struggle to re- backing and political tenacity, Professor Dirks young people in the child welfare system. place, but it was the loss of leadership as well. was able to secure a budget for Mission Col- f These families provided so much leadership in lege from then Governor Deukmajian. As one our community, and it was all gone so quickly. of the founding faculty members of Mission A PROCLAMATION HONORING One of the things I will always remember College, he was instrumental in organizing the STAFF SERGEANT JOSEPH about J. Paul Russell was his spirit. He was faculty into a union and putting together sup- SOLVEY FOR RECEIVING THE an amazing person, one that attacked life with port for a permanent site and buildings. The SILVER STAR MEDAL CITATION gusto, not just in his work but when he was Chancellor and both the California State Sen- FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION having fun as well. He lived his life to the full- ate and Assembly have named Professor est. Dirks ‘‘The Faculty Father of Mission College.’’ HON. ZACHARY T. SPACE This is a chance for me to honor, not only Madam Speaker and distinguished col- OF OHIO Mr. Russell and his family for their contribu- leagues, I ask you to join me in saluting Pro- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tions, but to all of those people who make a fessor Dirks for his impressive career and Thursday, May 21, 2009 difference in our community. dedication to the people of the San Fernando Those special people are scattered through- Valley, and to congratulate him on the occa- Mr. SPACE. Madam Speaker: out our District. They spend their time doing sion of his retirement. Whereas, Staff Sergeant Solvey was as- things they know will better their community f signed as a Private First Class to Infantry and make a difference in the lives of the peo- Company E, 104th Infantry Regiment, US ple around them. It is the best legacy we can RECOGNIZING NATIONAL FOSTER Army; and hope to leave. It is the legacy that J. Paul CARE MONTH Whereas, Staff Sergeant Solvey was in- Russell has left. Mr. Russell will dearly be volved in a morning attack near Bettborn, Lux- missed by his family, friends, and community, HON. JOHN LEWIS embourg on December 22, 1944; and and his contributions made to our community. OF GEORGIA Whereas, Staff Sergeant Solvey refused an f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES evacuation order and, though injured, put him- self at substantial personal risk to eliminate a Thursday, May 21, 2009 PROFESSOR CHARLES E. DIRKS German tank threatening to break the Amer- Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ican position; and HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN rise today in proud support of H. Res. 931, a Whereas, Staff Sergeant Solvey enabled his OF CALIFORNIA resolution recognizing National Foster Care company to accomplish its objective by mov- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Month. I thank my friend and colleague on the ing in the face of fire and showing great per- Ways and Means Committee, Chairman sonal courage and valor; now, therefore, be it Thursday, May 21, 2009 McDermott, for sponsoring this important reso- Resolved, that along with his friends, family, Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I am hon- lution. and the residents of the 18th Congressional ored to pay tribute to my good friend Pro- During National Foster Care Month, we pay District, I congratulate Staff Sergeant Solvey fessor Charles Dirks, on the occasion of his tribute to the half million children presently in on winning the Silver Star for gallantry in ac- retirement from Los Angeles Mission College. the child welfare system and the many others tion. We recognize the tremendous sacrifice, I have had the pleasure of working with him in the network—mentors, volunteers, friends, determination, and courage that he displayed on important issues in our community for more extended families, and organizations who fill in that day in December 1944, and all the days than two decades and know firsthand of his the gaps in Federal and State coverage to of his service to the United States Army. many accomplishments. help these young people find their way. f Professor Dirks comes from a long line lin- In Georgia, there are thousands of children eage of community activists, a lineage that living in foster care. These young people—of HONORING COLONEL SCOTT has helped fuel his tireless fight for Southwest all race, ages, and backgrounds—were victims VANDER HAMM College, Mission College and the entire Los of neglect and abuse. Madam Speaker, as Angeles school system. parents we know that children require stability HON. STEPHANIE HERSETH SANDLIN Upon graduating from Occidental College, and permanency to thrive. Love and security OF SOUTH DAKOTA Professor Dirks got an invitation from R. Sar- help the development of healthy and confident IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES gent Shriver, the Director of the Peace Corps young adults. Sadly, due to circumstances be- to join ‘‘Ghana One’’ and teach in the very first yond their control, foster children are uprooted Thursday, May 21, 2009 Peace Corps group. During this time, he built from their homes and represent the one of Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Madam Speaker, two schools in Ghana and helped build the largest constituencies of displaced people in I rise today to honor Colonel Scott Vander first public library in Liberia. He also set up the United States. In fact, numerous studies Hamm, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing at community development training programs for show the increased difficulties foster children Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, for the Peace Corps in Puerto Rico and helped must overcome, especially the lack of support his commendable record of service to our build flood control dams in Kenya. This experi- for foster care youth as they transition to country. Colonel Vander Hamm is leaving Ells- ence led to his lifelong mission of rebuilding adulthood and independence. worth for a new assignment, but his efforts and working in the Los Angeles education Child welfare services have a shared goal to have left a lasting impact on Ellsworth, my community’s areas of need. find safe, stable, and loving homes for these state of South Dakota, and the security of our By joining the community college district, young people. Unfortunately, this dream is not country. and becoming the Faculty Guild President, always realized. Last year, Congress passed Over the course of a career that has seen Professor Dirks helped erect permanent build- and the President signed the Fostering Con- him earn the Distinguished Flying Cross and ings in the north-east San Fernando Valley, nections to Success Act. This legislation was the Bronze Star, Colonel Vander Hamm has where a college was most needed. A long an important step in improving the nation’s logged more than 4,200 hours as a pilot, time volunteer in politics, he used his experi- child welfare system, but more can be done. which adds up to 167 days in the air. He has VerDate Mar 15 2010 12:05 Sep 19, 2011 Jkt 079102 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR09\E21MY9.000 E21MY9 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with BOUND RECORD 13424 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 155, Pt. 10 May 21, 2009 the flown the B–52, the B–2 and now the B– honored by the late Golda Meir, and had Whereas, PFC Wood saw a fellow soldier 1. He flew a combat mission the first night of earned ‘‘a place of distinction among the fall wounded in an open rice paddy between Operation Iraqi Freedom, a mission Col. Americans who banded together clandestinely his position and the enemy position; and Vander Hamm has referred to as one of his at the end of World War II to help Jews estab- Whereas, PFC Wood completely dis- most memorable flights. As the 7th Operations lish a state in Palestine.’’ regarded his personal safety and immediately Group Commander, Colonel Vander Hamm Last year, several of my colleagues and I moved forward to treat his wounded comrade; also led planes in support of Operation Endur- sent a letter to the United States Justice De- and ing Freedom, and the expeditionary group he partment, asking for a posthumous pardon for Whereas, PFC Wood sustained multiple commanded flew over 900 combat and com- Mr.