E1710 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 12, 2016 Safety Training Center and served with the STATES AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING When Sheriff Gage was sworn in on New Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and Plains Po- ACT OF 2016 Years’ Day in 2005, there were just over 450 lice Department. In addition to serving with employees at the sheriff’s office. Today, that Georgia Southwestern’s Department of Public HON. STEPHEN LEE FINCHER number has nearly doubled in an all-out effort Safety, he was a student at the University. He OF TENNESSEE to protect and serve. From starting the coun- was known for being friendly and energetic IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ty’s first motorcycle traffic unit, which now in- and was a huge fan of the Atlanta Braves. cludes seven motorcycles, a canine unit now Monday, December 12, 2016 Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with seven canines, to an aviation unit that in- with the more than 730,000 people of the Sec- Mr. FINCHER. Mr. Speaker, on May 31st, cludes a Cessna 210 aircraft and two Aeryon ond Congressional District honor these four 2015, two 17 year old girls from Tennessee’s Sky Ranger unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) brave officers for their dedicated service and 8th District, Maddie Kruse and Rachel Lynch, fully licensed by the FAA, Sheriff Gage’s for making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of were killed when struck by a drunk driver. The MCSO has set a high bar. I know our local duty. I ask my colleagues in the House of man behind the wheel was out on bond for his events are the safest, friendliest congressional Representatives to join us in extending our sixth DUI charge when he struck the van car- gatherings in the country in no small part due deepest sympathies to their families, friends rying Maddie and Rachel. Each of the five to our sheriff. and loved ones during this difficult time. We local courts where the driver had pleaded For a sheriff known for his white hat and pray that they will be consoled and comforted guilty for DUI failed to report his conviction to colorful Texas neckties, his changes to the by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the State or Federal criminal databases. Had they local uniforms led to the Montgomery County days, weeks and months ahead. reported his convictions to the National Crime Sheriff’s Office being named a best dressed Information Center (‘‘NCIC’’), a database ac- agency in United States. f cessible by law enforcement officers all over While our sheriff is quick to give credit to his the country, the driver would have faced much stellar team, numerous awards and personal CONGRESSMAN SAM FARR stiffer penalties for his additional offenses. honors would not have been possible without To address some of the inherently mobile his servant leadership. Sheriff Gage has often and cross-jurisdictional nature of driving, I said ‘‘there is no greater honor than to finish HON. BARBARA LEE have introduced the States against Drunk my law enforcement career as a Texas sher- OF CALIFORNIA Driving Act of 2016. The SADD Act of 2016 iff.’’ In making his mark here in Montgomery would incentivize states to require all court County, he has honored all of us. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES clerks to report convictions for offenses involv- A life member of the Montgomery County Monday, December 12, 2016 ing driving under the influence to the NCIC Fair Association, East Montgomery County and any applicable state-run crime information Fair Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to cele- database. The benefits of information sharing Post 4709, Texas Jail Association, the Na- brate and honor a truly dedicated public serv- are apparent in this particular case. A court tional Rifle Association, 100 Club, and Sheriffs ant and friend, Congressman SAM FARR. prepared with a complete record of a repeat Association of Texas, our beloved sheriff is a I have had the honor of working alongside criminal offender would be better prepared to Chartered Member of Montgomery County Congressman FARR for 17 wonderful years. keep those drivers off the road. Search and Rescue and a valued member of Throughout these many years, I have person- As my term comes to an end with the 114th the Texas Police Association, Fraternal Order ally seen his passionate advocacy for the Congress, I have shared this story and the of Police, National Association of Chiefs of Po- beautiful central coast, the great state of Cali- legislative language with my successor, Rep- lice, the American Legion Post Number 618, fornia, and our nation. resentative-Elect David Kustoff. It is my hope local civic groups and chambers, and the Har- As many of us know, Congressman FARR that Mr. Kustoff will continue to work on this ley Owners Group—Cut & Shoot Chapter. joined the Peace Corps in 1964 and brought important issue so that tragic events like this In their more than three decades of mar- his passion for social and economic justice are less likely to happen in the future. riage, Tommy and Ollie Nell Gage have been and world peace with him to Congress. Since f blessed with 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 1 then, he has never shied away from fighting great grandchild—all who have an amazing HONORING TOMMY GAGE for what is right and what is just. role model of how to be a servant leader. As our Ranking Member of the Agriculture On December 31, 2016, Sheriff Gage is re- Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman HON. KEVIN BRADY tiring after finishing his third term. I know Ollie FARR is a fierce and strong advocate for pro- OF TEXAS Nell is going to be glad to have him home grams serving low-income populations, rural IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES safely from over 46 years of law enforcement infrastructure and development, and food safe- Monday, December 12, 2016 service. f ty and nutrition. Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, if ever As longtime advocates to normalize rela- a public servant deserved a peaceful, happy IN RECOGNITION OF MARY tions with Cuba, we had the pleasure of wit- retirement, it is our sheriff and my dear friend, CAMELI, CHIEF, MESA FIRE AND nessing history together as President Obama Tommy Gage. Tommy may have been born MEDICAL DEPARTMENT; PAST met with President Raul Castro and became across the border in Arkansas, but we are PRESIDENT, PROFESSIONAL the first president to visit Cuba in the last 81 glad he got to Texas as quickly as he could. FIRE FIGHTERS OF ARIZONA; years. In the more than half-century since grad- EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, Representative FARR has supported me— uating from Galena Park High School, Tommy UNITED PHOENIX FIRE FIGHT- and so many of our colleagues—in this very Gage has been about service. After serving ERS ASSOCIATION chamber and outside of our offices. aboard the Heavy Cruiser USS St. Paul during He has been a true friend and I will miss the Vietnam War, seeing both the world and HON. KYRSTEN SINEMA him dearly. action, my friend signed up for a different kind OF ARIZONA of service. Mr. Speaker, Congressman FARR has en- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES After graduating from the Houston Police couraged all Americans to reach higher, Academy in 1970, Tommy Gage began serv- Monday, December 12, 2016 dream bigger, and to never give up. His com- ing in this Fifth Ward on the Northeast side. Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mitment to our country and California’s 20th His assignments included patrol, recruiting, in- recognize Chief Mary Cameli of the Mesa Fire district has been a joy to witness and I look vestigator, and as a solo motorcycle unit. and Medical Department. Mary was one of the forward to watching as those he has inspired In 1982, the Montgomery County Sheriffs first women to join the department in 1983 and continue his work. Office welcomed Tommy Gage as a jail dep- is now the first woman to lead as fire chief. Thank you, Congressman FARR, for all that uty. Over the years, he worked a variety of as- She has dedicated her career to serving our you’ve done for your district and for our na- signments including patrol, academy instruc- state and championing the needs of Arizona’s tion. tor, SWAT, detectives, detective sergeant, and firefighting community. I look forward to continuing our friendship academy commander. In 1996 Sheriff Gage Prior to Mary’s selection as chief, she was and preserving your work in the upcoming went to work and served in that capacity until an assistant fire chief overseeing the Emer- years. his election as Sheriff gency Medical Services Division, Planning and VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:10 Dec 13, 2016 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A12DE8.025 E12DEPT1 rfrederick on DSK30MX082PROD with REMARKS December 12, 2016 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1711 Research Division, Personnel and Wellness, leader for all these years. Among his accom- As a passionate and tireless leader, Con- and the CMS Healthcare Innovation Grant. plishments during his time in office was earn- gressman HONDA has spent the last 15 years During her time as assistant fire chief, the de- ing the designation as an accredited office by as an active representative for California’s partment received numerous health care inno- the Commission on Accreditation for Law En- 17th district. vation awards and built five new fire stations. forcement Agencies. This distinction recog- Raised in an internment camp, Congress- Mary is a tremendous leader who works nizes departments that have established pro- man HONDA has witnessed firsthand the dan- well with rank and file members, other city de- fessional standards and policies that help pro- gers of hate, fear, and injustice.