May 14, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E591 I first came to admire Ron even before INTRODUCTION OF THE MAPLE OFFICER ANTHONY NERI being elected to Congress from my work in ACT the Free South Africa anti-apartheid move- HON. FRANCIS ROONEY ment. For 14 years, Ron did not relent until he HON. EARL BLUMENAUER OF FLORIDA freed his landmark bill for South Africa divest- OF OREGON IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ment, overcoming a presidential veto. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, May 14, 2019 By the time I was elected to Congress, Ron had already been chair of the District of Co- Tuesday, May 14, 2019 Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I lumbia Committee for more than a decade. Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, today rise today in honor of Anthony Neri, an officer That committee is long gone, and nothing I am reintroducing the Maintaining Appropriate with the Sanibel Police Department who would have pleased Chairman Dellums more Protections For Legal Entry (MAPLE) Act. This passed away on Monday, May 6, 2019. Mr. than its demise. But when freedom-loving Ron bill, which is included within the Responsibly Neri had served the Sanibel Police Depart- Dellums first came to Congress, he knew that Addressing the Marijuana Policy Gap Act ment since 2012, and as an officer since if there had to be such a Committee, he want- (H.R. 1119), would exempt cannabis-use and/ 2015. ed a seat on it. Just as Ron sought peace by or participation in the cannabis industry as a Prior to serving with the Police Department serving on the Armed Service Committee, he disqualification for entry into the United States in Sanibel, Mr. Neri was a Revenue Officer sought to free D.C. from congressional control from a country that has ended its marijuana with the U.S. Department of the Treasury for by serving on the D.C. Committee. prohibition and would protect foreign nationals 30 years. He also served as a police officer in He joined the D.C. Committee during his who participate in cannabis activity in states Union Township, New Jersey prior to moving very first term in Congress. Upon becoming where it’s legal from deportation. to Southwest Florida. chair of the Committee, Ron framed his serv- Our federal cannabis laws are outdated and Officer Neri was honored along with 18 ice as ‘‘an advocate, not an overseer of Dis- out of touch. They also have negatively im- other officers at the Lee County Fallen Officer trict affairs.’’ No sooner had Ron gotten to pacted countless lives. Congress cannot con- Memorial Ceremony held on Tuesday, May 7, Congress in 1975, in his very first term, long tinue to be out of touch with a movement that 2019 at Centennial Park in Fort Myers, Flor- before I even thought about becoming a Mem- a growing majority of Americans support. It’s ida. ber, he introduced the first D.C. statehood bill. time to end this senseless prohibition. I am grateful to Officer Neri for his service Ron would relish our progress today as we to our community, and my thoughts and pray- close in on enough votes for the D.C. state- f ers are with his friends and family. hood bill to pass in the House this term. We HONORING DR. HIRAM TAVAREZ f expect a vote soon in the Oversight and Re- OPINION PIECE BY U.S. AMBAS- form Committee to send the bill to the House HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ SADOR TO ISRAEL DAVID M. Floor. When that committee vote occurs, we FRIEDMAN will not be able to claim we are breaking new OF TEXAS or historic ground. In 1987, more than 30 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. LEE M. ZELDIN years ago, Chairman Ron Dellums proclaimed, Tuesday, May 14, 2019 OF NEW YORK ‘‘There should be no colonies in a democracy’’ Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas. Madam Speaker, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and led the District Committee in a vote for I rise today to honor the career of Dr. Hiram Tuesday, May 14, 2019 statehood for the District of Columbia that Tavarez from McAllen, Texas. Dr. Tavarez re- passed in his Committee. cently retired after dedicating his career to the Mr. ZELDIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today The American citizens who live in the na- health and prosperity of the people of South to include in the RECORD the following piece tion’s capital will forever remember Ron Del- Texas. For the past 55 years, he has worked authored by U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David lums, prescient warrior for equality and free- tirelessly to help people in the Rio Grande M. Friedman in honor of the one-year anniver- dom—and well ahead of his time—a leader for Valley lead healthy lives. sary of the U.S. embassy opening in Jeru- statehood for the District of Columbia. Dr. Tavarez earned his medical degree from salem: the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon in A YEAR AFTER OPENING THE JERUSALEM f Monterrey, Mexico, and started his residency EMBASSY: ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY in internal medicine at Scott & White Memorial On May 14, 2018, the United States finally LORELEI DOMKE—CRITICAL opened its embassy in Israel’s eternal cap- LANGUAGE SCHOLARSHIP (CLS) Hospital in Temple, Texas. In 1965, Dr. Tavarez finished his residency and joined his ital, Jerusalem. In making the courageous decision to take this historic step, President brothers, Marvin and Vicente, in McAllen HON. FRANCIS ROONEY Donald Trump not only fulfilled a 23-year-old where they began practicing medicine. There, mandate from the United States Congress OF FLORIDA they opened the Tavarez Medical Center but he also recognized a 3,000-year-old truth IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES which still serves our community today. In the that Israel’s enemies have long sought to erase. Tuesday, May 14, 2019 early days of the Tavarez Medical Center, Hiram and his brothers frequently made house America has been fascinated by Jerusalem Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I calls homes to administer treatment and care. since the early days of our republic. In 1844, rise today in honor of Lorelei Domke, a Cape Dr. Tavarez would continue to demonstrate his Warder Cresson, the first consul general, an- Coral, FL resident and senior at New College nounced after his appointment by the sec- unwavering commitment to serving others retary of state that the United States was of Florida studying Chinese language and cul- throughout his career. His good deeds did not thereby extending its protection to the Jews ture, who was awarded the U.S. Department go unnoticed as he received several honors of Jerusalem. The first permanent consular of State’s Critical Language Scholarship. and awards for his commitment to his commu- presence opened just inside the Jaffa Gate in The Critical Language Scholarship Program nity and patients. 1857, and diplomatic presence has remained is merit-based and funded through an annual Dr. Tavarez’s dedication to helping others is constant in and around the Old City ever appropriation to the U.S. Department of matched by his staff’s loyalty and mission of since. President Abraham Lincoln, just be- State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Af- service. The staff at the Tavarez Medical Cen- fore his death, told his wife how he longed to fairs. visit Jerusalem. And President Ulysses ter consistently praise Dr. Tavarez for his Grant and Mark Twain both visited Jeru- The scholarship program seeks to expand compassion and his kindness; sentiments salem in the mid–19th century and wrote ex- the number of Americans studying foreign lan- echoed by his patients. For more than half a tensively about their experiences. guages for national security and economic century, Dr. Tavarez has unfailingly ensured Neither Grant nor Twain were all that im- prosperity by providing instruction abroad in every patient receives the highest quality care pressed with Jerusalem in those days. It was fourteen key languages. Out of more than possible. His past shines brightly with his good poor, inhospitable and undeveloped. The Old 5,500 student applications, Ms. Domke was feats, and his retirement is well deserved. City of Jerusalem remained that way well among the 572 students to be selected. into the 20th century, whether under the rule Madam Speaker, Dr. Tavarez is a pillar of of the Ottoman Empire until 1917, the Brit- I congratulate Lorelei on her selection for the community in South Texas and serves as ish Mandate until 1948, or the Kingdom of the Critical Language Scholarship and look an example to all of us. It is truly an honor to Jordan until 1967. In 1967, Jerusalem was re- forward to seeing the contributions she will represent dedicated, selfless individuals like unified as a single city under Israeli rule. Al- make to our community. him. most immediately, Jerusalem began to VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:25 May 15, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A14MY8.027 E14MYPT1 E592 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 14, 2019 bloom, to flourish and to become, for the After his service in the United States Air Force they have answered a call that at any moment first time in its history, a free city open to from 1955 to 1960, he graduated from the may put their lives in harm’s way. the worshipers of all three Abrahamic faiths. University of Washington with a degree in eco- I thank the Haverhill Police Department for Many in the United States took notice and, their continued and unwavering service and in 1995, Congress, by overwhelming majority nomics and went to work for Boeing.