E2032 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 1, 2007 Never one to shy away from the tough ices to those in need, it also is ‘‘a wonderful National Flood Insurance Program to include questions, Paul earned his reputation as being place for the community to come together and coverage for wind damage. a tough but fair interviewer, whose only moti- connect,’’ says executive director Deanna Multi-peril coverage, or the coverage of both vation was to provide his listeners with the Euritt. wind and flood risk in one policy, has proven most up-to-date information available. Novato has a very strong sense of commu- especially important in the aftermath of Hurri- He has given back to the Kearney commu- nity, she explains, and it is because of the canes Katrina and Rita as survivors continue nity in so many ways—as an instructor, a vol- community’s support that the center exists and to struggle to receive fair compensation for the unteer, and a member of many local commu- continues to operate. ‘‘We’re very grateful to damages they experienced. Private insurers nity boards—yet I fully expect this service to the City of Novato and all the residents who have used anti-concurrent causation clauses continue. live here who have been very generous not to deny payment for damages on the grounds I wish him well in his retirement and I hope only with their financial contributions, but with that the damages occurred as a result of he knows how much he will be missed. their time.’’ flooding, which is covered by the Federal gov- f As one donor said, ‘‘God’s been really good ernment. Multi-peril coverage would shield SALUTE TO NOVATO HUMAN to me and I feel this need to be good to some- consumers from these arguably deceptive NEEDS CENTER one else who might be in dire circumstances.’’ practices, protecting consumers in the ab- And that, Madam Speaker, is what makes sence of a solution to this controversy. the center a valuable member of the Novato Again, I express my full support for this im- HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY community—neighbors helping neighbors. portant piece of legislation. OF CALIFORNIA Congratulations to the Novato Human Needs f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Center on its 35th anniversary, and to the Monday, October 1, 2007 people of Novato for supporting such a worthy TRIBUTE TO BISHOP GREGORY MANSOUR Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise organization. today to ask you to share with me in saluting f the Novato Human Needs Center on its 35th HON. DALE E. KILDEE anniversary of serving the low-income people FLOOD INSURANCE REFORM AND OF MICHIGAN of Novato and helping them move towards MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2007 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES self-sufficiency. Monday, October 1, 2007 The Novato Human Needs Center began in SPEECH OF 1972 when three people—Gene Quinones, a HON. AL GREEN Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise to day Catholic priest, Bob Stockwell, a Protestant to honor the Most Reverend Gregory John OF TEXAS Mansour on the 25th anniversary of his ordi- businessman, and Mary Banks, a black wel- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES fare mom—came together that Thanksgiving nation. Bishop Mansour will be honored at Di- season with the desire to help those in need. Thursday, September 27, 2007 vine Liturgy and festivities on Sunday, October 7th in my hometown of Flint, Michigan. With $50 and a heart full of good intentions, The House in Committee of the Whole they gave birth to the Holiday Share program, House on the State of the Union had under After graduating from Western Michigan allowing those who have to give what they can consideration the bill (H.R. 3121) to restore University in 1977, Gregory Mansour entered to those in need. Since then, the nonprofit has the financial solvency of the national flood Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary in helped thousands of residents, has increased insurance program and to provide for such Washington, D.C. and attended Catholic Uni- program to make available multi-peril cov- its services to provide year-round assistance, versity of America. Graduating with a degree erage for damage resulting from windstorms, in Theological Studies in 1981, he was or- and has grown to operate on a budget of and floods, and for other purposes: more than $1.4 million. dained a priest on September 18, 1982 by Such is the power of the organization’s phi- Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I Bishop John Chedid at St. Michael Church in losophy that those who come for help—sen- am honored to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 3121, Flint. He celebrated his first Divine Liturgy at iors, immigrants, the disabled, those in unex- ‘‘The Flood Insurance Reform and Moderniza- Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church and pected crisis—are often those who years later tion Act of 2007’’ and I would like to thank then traveled to Rome to continue his studies become the helpers. One anonymous donor, Chairman FRANK. Subcommittee Chairwoman earning his License in Spiritual Theology from once a poor immigrant and now a wealthy WATERS, Representative TAYLOR, and Rep- the Gregorian Pontifical Institute. resident, subsidizes the center’s rental assist- resentative JINDAL for their leadership in re- Returning from a trip to Lebanon in 1983, ance program which allows someone experi- forming a program that plays a vital role in Father Mansour began his work as a parish encing a temporary and unexpected crisis, protecting residents and communities in flood priest. He worked as an administrator at St. such as a medical emergency or job loss, to prone areas. Maron Parish in Philadelphia and served 11 get one-time help with rent or mortgage pay- Flood protection is an important issue in my years as pastor to St. George Maronite Catho- ments. Among those whom this program district and in Texas, a state which has experi- lic Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Bishop saved was an elderly woman left without an enced the greatest number of flood and flash John Chedid tapped him to serve as the income when her husband died. Because of flood deaths over the past 36 years. In 2006, Eparchy’s Protosyncellus, Vicar General, and the donor’s generosity, Novato Human Needs Texas saw an increase of over 20 percent in Chancellor for the newly formed Eparchy of Center was able to cover the widow’s rent new flood insurance policies under the Na- Our Lady of Lebanon in Los Angeles in 1994. until social security checks arrived in her tional Flood Insurance Program. He also served as Advocate/Procurator for the name. I want to thank Chairman FRANK for working Eparchial Marriage Tribunal. ‘‘It really is neighbor helping neighbor,’’ with Congressman HINOJOSA and I in com- His Beatitude Patriarch Nasrallah Peter Car- notes Susan Markavage, a Novato resident mittee to preserve subsidies for those prop- dinal Sfeir nominated him to Chorbishop and who works at the center. erties that serve as affordable rental housing he was ordained on January 21, 1996. When In addition to rental assistance, the center for many families. A measure was included in Bishop Chedid retired his replacement, Bishop has instituted programs for such wide-ranging the bill to acknowledge that the loss of sub- Robert J. Shaheen, with the concurrence of services as providing emergency food, job sidies for properties that serve as primary the Holy See, moved the See of the Diocese training and financial, as well as continuing the homes for rental households could result in from Los Angeles to St. Louis, Missouri. traditional Holiday Share. significantly higher premiums, to the detriment Chorbishop Mansour relocated and assumed In fact, the center—which operates out of of these families. Higher premiums would in- the additional duties as rector of St. Raymond facilities underwritten by the City of Novato— crease the cost of property ownership, a cost Cathedral and began teaching Spiritual The- even provides showers for the homeless, that apartment owners would likely pass on to ology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. many of whom work but simply can’t afford tenants in the form of higher rents. By pro- When Bishop Stephen Hector Douelhi re- housing in Marin County, one of the Nation’s tecting subsidies for these properties, this tired, His Holiness Pope John Paul II named most expensive places to live. measure would ensure their continued afford- Bishop Mansour to succeed him as the head ‘‘One of them,’’ Markavage explains, ‘‘cleans ability at a time when our nation is faced with of the Eparchy of Saint Maron in Brooklyn. Or- our parking lot thoroughly every morning be- a shortage of affordable housing. dained a bishop in Lebanon on March 2, fore coming in.’’ I want to also express my strong support for 2004, he was enthroned in Our Lady of Leb- Although Novato Human Needs Center is a provision in the bill authored by my col- anon Maronite Cathedral in Brooklyn on April unique in that it provides comprehensive serv- league Congressman TAYLOR to expand the 27, 2004. VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:47 Oct 02, 2007 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A01OC8.038 E01OCPT1 bajohnson on PROD1PC71 with REMARKS October 1, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2033 Madam Speaker, throughout his life Bishop memorial known as Dark Elegy, dedicated to legislation in order to secure a permanent lo- Mansour has followed the words of St. Augus- all victims of terrorism. Pursuant to the Com- cation for this worthy and poignant memorial tine, ‘‘With you I am a Christian, for you I am memorative Works Act, my legislation author- to all victims of terrorism.