May 21, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1231 Whereas, Corporal Easterday exposed him- TAIWAN’S INVITATION TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NORTH self to two separate fixed automatic weapons WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY MAUI COASTAL PRESERVATION positions in order to relieve his platoon from ACT deadly suppression fire; and HON. SCOTT GARRETT Whereas, Corporal Easterday eliminated OF NEW JERSEY HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO both positions with expert use of both rifle fire IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF HAWAII and hand grenades while completely unsup- Thursday, May 21, 2009 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ported and exposed to enemy fire; and Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Thursday, May 21, 2009 Whereas, Corporal Easterday’s actions al- Speaker, at the end of last month, Taiwan re- Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today lowed his platoon to advance on the flank of ceived an invitation from the World Health Or- to introduce the North Maui Coastal Preserva- their objective and quickly capture it, saving ganization (WHO) to attend this year’s World tion Act of 2009, a bill directing the National lives and material with the speed of its accom- Health Assembly (WHA) meeting as an ob- Park Service to study the suitability and feasi- plishment; now, therefore, be it server under the name ‘‘Chinese Taipei.’’ The bility of designating certain lands along the Resolved, that along with his friends, family, WHA weeklong meeting started a few days northern coast of Maui, between Sprecklesville and the residents of the 18th Congressional ago on Monday, May 18, 2009 in Geneva, and Paia, as a unit of the National Park Sys- District, I congratulate Corporal Carlos M. Switzerland. tem. This week marks the first time Taiwan has Easterday on winning the Bronze Star with The citizens of Maui strongly support pres- been allowed to participate in a meeting or ac- ‘‘V’’ Device for heroism and gallant action. We ervation of this coast, which provides impor- tivity of a specialized United Nations agency recognize the incredible determination, loyalty, tant open space and public beach areas. since losing its UN membership to China in Thousands of post cards in support of creating courage, and valor he displayed for his com- 1971. I have seen some label Taiwan’s partici- a national park or national seashore along this rades on that day in August 1951, and all the pation a ‘‘breakthrough’’ and I have heard the coast have been sent to me and to my prede- days of his service to the United States Army. ‘‘goodwill of the mainland authorities’’ praised. cessor. Yes, we should celebrate the announcement This beautiful coastline is under significant f that Taiwan will finally be permitted to partici- development pressure. Its closeness to major pate in the WHO. But we also need to remind IN HONOR OF BRENT LARKIN population centers in Maui and its popularity ourselves that participation as an ‘‘observer’’ with both visitors and residents makes pro- does not give Taiwan the right to vote. In addi- tecting access a major concern. tion, Taiwan’s participation is not permanent; it Supporters of this park have asked that it be HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH comes only under Beijing’s sponsorship on a named after Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto OF OHIO one-year-at-a-time basis. While we are grate- Mink, a native of Maui who grew up in the ful that Taiwan has been given the chance to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Hamakua Poko/Paia area. While this bill, attend the WHA meeting, I hope that Taiwan’s which authorizes a study, does not direct what Thursday, May 21, 2009 23 million people will one day be represented the prospective national park would be named, at the WHO as a full fledged participant. I would certainly support naming it after Patsy Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise We all remember that in 2003 Taiwan was Mink, whose commitment to the people of the today in honor and recognition of Brent Larkin, struck by an outbreak of Severe Acute Res- island and state was without question. upon his retirement as Editorial Page Director piratory Syndrome, or SARS. By the end of I urge my colleagues to join me in sup- of the Plain Dealer, where his political col- May 2003, 483 probable cases had been re- porting this bill. umns and news stories inspired emotion, pro- ported. A total of 60 people died. Worries over f voked thought and blazed across the pages of SARS subsequently hampered international our City’s daily newspaper for nearly thirty travel and commerce, dealing a serious blow MR. SCOTT HOLUPKA years. to Taiwan’s economy. This morning, Taiwan reported its second case of H1N1 flu. A native Clevelander, Brent Larkin grad- HON. C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER Despite these outbreaks, China continues to uated from Brush High School in 1965. He OF MARYLAND block Taiwan’s full and equal membership in earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the WHO. Disease knows no borders and I Thursday, May 21, 2009 Ohio University, and later a doctorate of law believe the current threat of a worldwide epi- degree from Cleveland Marshall College of demic demonstrates Taiwan’s need for the Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I Law in 1986. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar highest level of access to the WHO as pos- rise before you today to honor Mr. Scott in 1987. sible. Holupka, recipient of the Citizen of the Year Brent’s interest in Cleveland’s political scene In addition, I would prefer to see Taiwan join Award from The Optimist Club of Dundalk, Inc. was sparked in 1970, when he was hired by the WHO under the name ‘‘Taiwan,’’ which, Scott has dedicated his time and talents to the the Cleveland Press to cover the news at after all, is the name of the country. Taipei is constant improvement and revitalization of the Cleveland City Hall. In 1976, he was named merely Taiwan’s capital. Dundalk community. the newspaper’s politics editor. In 1981, he When I was elected to the U.S. House of Scott is a life-long resident of Dundalk, joined The Plain Dealer as a politics writer Representatives in 2002, some of my col- Maryland, and a native to the Three Garden then later as a columnist. In 1991, he was leagues had already been campaigning for Village in southeastern Baltimore County. He named director of The Plain Dealer’s opinion Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHO for more than went on to attend nearby Dundalk High pages. Brent Larkin has been honored several five years, ever since Taiwan launched its School. In 1983, he graduated from Johns times over the years for his work in journalism, campaign to participate in the WHO in 1997. Hopkins University with a Ph.D. in sociology. including an induction into the Cleveland I am concerned that that Chinese approval Soon after graduating, he returned to Dundalk, Press Club Hall of Fame in October of 2002. is becoming a prerequisite for Taiwan’s partici- where he immediately began working on a Brent’s editorial columns deftly highlighted pation in any international organization, and project called the ‘‘Greening of Dundalk.’’ The Cleveland’s political and social scenes for that countries will begin to view China as Tai- recycling effort included in this program was Ohio’s largest newspaper. wan’s suzerain. If this view becomes the ac- the first of its kind in Baltimore County. cepted international norm, Taiwan’s current Since then, Scott has held positions in many Madam Speaker and Colleagues, please status as an independent, sovereign state community organizations including president of join me in honor and recognition of Brent would be undermined. the Board of the Family Crisis Center, co-cre- Larkin, upon his recent retirement from The It is an outrage that China has essentially ator of the Southeast Neighborhood Develop- Cleveland Plain Dealer. Fearless in expressing blocked Taiwan from participating in the WHO ment Coalition, member of the Baltimore Citi- his opinion, his columns were entertaining, in- for so long. I firmly believe that the health of zens Planning and Housing Association, presi- formative and above all, his ability to zero in Taiwan’s 23 million citizens should not be dent of the Greater Dundalk Community Coun- on the heart of an issue in just a few strategi- used as a political weapon. I therefore urge cil, and cofounder of the Dundalk Renaissance cally written paragraphs earned him a con- my colleagues to join me in continuing to sup- Corporation. These organizations are just a stituency of readers that kept coming back to port Taiwan’s full and equal membership in glimpse into the busy, community-oriented see what he would write next. the World Health Organization. lives Scott and his wife, Amy, have led. VerDate Nov 24 2008 06:08 Jul 09, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\E21MY9.REC E21MY9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE E1232 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 21, 2009 The Citizen of the Year award is given an- for the creation of the International Criminal President, one hundred years after the found- nually to an individual in the Dundalk commu- Court as a member of the international dele- ing of the NAACP. The NAACP continues to nity who demonstrates leadership, civic re- gation in Rome to establish that court in 1998. work on ensuring equal access to education, sponsibility, and accomplishment. Scott not After the delegation failed to include wars of health care, and jobs.