E1244 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks June 11, 2007 donated the contents of his bookstore, an esti- HONORING THE SERVICE OF THE JUBILEE ACT OF 2007 mated 40,000 volumes, to a very grateful Con- ARTHUR C. NERIANI cord College Foundation. HON. MAXINE WATERS Madam Speaker, in closing, I want to ask HON. CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY OF CALIFORNIA this great body to reflect for a moment to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF CONNECTICUT honor the life of a great man, faithful husband Thursday, June 7, 2007 and father, and an honorable American. As IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I am proud the Lord called his servant home; his gen- Thursday, June 7, 2007 erosity, compassion, and commitment to his to introduce the Jubilee Act for Responsible community will live on forever in the memories Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Madam Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of of all who had the high honor knowing Arnold Speaker, as we celebrate the 63rd anniversary 2007. This bill will expand existing debt can- ‘‘Nub’’ Porterfield. of the D-Day invasion, I rise today to honor cellation programs for the world’s poorest the service and valor of all veterans, and es- countries and ensure that the benefits from f pecially the contributions of Arthur Neriani, debt cancellation will not be eroded by future who served bravely in World War II. lending to these impoverished nations. TRIBUTE TO THE 440TH AIRLIFT The son of two Italian immigrants, Arthur Existing debt cancellation programs have WING BASED IN MILWAUKEE, Neriani grew up in Avon, CT, when Avon was freed up resources to reduce poverty in some WISCONSIN still considered a farm town. As a young man, of the world’s poorest countries. Cameroon is Art spent much of his time with a group of 15 using its savings of $29.8 million from debt HON. GWEN MOORE boys from the same neighborhood. Organized cancellation in 2006 for national poverty re- by Gildo Consolini, the boys played softball on duction priorities, including infrastructure, so- OF WISCONSIN a local team called the Avon Tigers. Bonded cial sector and governance reforms. Uganda is IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES through friendship and love of country, 14 of using its savings of $57.9 million on improving energy infrastructure to ease acute electricity Thursday, June 7, 2007 these young men went on to serve their coun- try during World War II. shortages, as well as primary education, ma- Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speak- At the age of 21, Art’s name was at the top laria control, healthcare, and water infrastruc- er, I rise today to recognize the 440th Airlift of the list at the Draft Board 2B in Unionville. ture. Zambia is using its savings of $23.8 mil- Wing’s long and distinguished history. It was As the first from the Farmington Valley to be lion to increase spending on agricultural formed in 1943 at Baer Field in Indiana, but drafted, Art’s unique status was covered in the projects and to eliminate fees for healthcare in has been based at General Mitchell Inter- Hartford Courant. In 1940, Art joined the Na- rural areas. However, there are many needy national Airport—Air Reserve Station located tional Guard, Company M, 169th Regiment, and deserving poor countries that have yet to in the Fourth Congressional District, since 43rd Division in New Britain. In 1941, the divi- benefit from the cancellation of their debts. The Jubilee Act will make 67 of the world’s 1957. The airport and Air Reserve Station are sion was federalized and sent to train in Camp poorest countries eligible for complete debt both named in honor of Brig. Gen. William Blanding in Starke, FL. After his year of serv- cancellation by the United States, the World Mitchell, the Milwaukeean who is considered ice was almost complete on December 7, Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the ‘‘father’’ of the modern Air Force. 1941, it was soon made clear he was not and other bilateral and multilateral creditors. In After moving to Milwaukee, the 440th Troop going home. Soon after Pearl Harbor, all of order to receive debt cancellation, the govern- Carrier Group became the 440th Airlift Wing the soldiers at Camp Blanding were asked to ments of these countries will be required to al- and in 1967, underwent another name change sign up for Officer Candidate School. It was locate the savings from debt cancellation to- becoming the Reserve Tactical Airlift Wing. not Corporal Neriani, but rather a friend, who wards spending on poverty-reduction pro- The 440th has received many honors includ- signed Art’s name in for consideration. Of the grams. They will also have to engage inter- ing: the Air Force Association’s Outstanding 26 candidates who stepped forward, only 2 ested parties within their societies, including a Reserve Unit during 1963, 1964, 1966 and were accepted—one of which was Art Neriani. broad cross-section of civil society groups, in 1968; the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross After completion of candidate school, Art ar- the spending allocation process; produce an with Palm, 1968: 14 Feb—11 Mar for airlift op- rived on the beaches of Normandy as the 2nd annual report on this spending; and make it erations to the Vietnam Theater; the Air Force Lieutenant of the 8th Infantry Division on July publicly available. Outstanding Unit Award for the period Oct 4, 1944, referred to as D plus 28 (28 days Countries would be excluded from receiving 1985—30 Sep 1987; the Air Force Out- after D-Day). debt cancellation under the Jubilee Act if they standing Unit Award for the period 2 Oct In 1945, after the gruesome battle in have an excessive level of military expendi- 1992—2 Oct 1993; the Air Force Outstanding Huertgen Forest, Germany, Officer Neriani re- tures; provide support for acts of international Unit Award for the period 1 Jun 1997—30 Sep ceived a battlefield promotion from 2nd Lieu- terrorism; fail to cooperate on international 1998; and in 1998 received the highest score tenant to 1st Lieutenant. When he was award- narcotics control matters; or engage in a con- for a Reserve Unit in two years. In 1989, the ed the Bronze Star medal for his leadership sistent pattern of human rights violations. 440th was equipped with eight new C–130s. and courage in battle he refused it. He felt he Countries also would be excluded if they lack The first C–130H was dubbed ‘‘The Spirit of had not earned the decoration. To him, this transparent and effective budget execution Wisconsin.’’ type of honor and recognition was better and public financial management systems to The 440th has performed admirably in vir- served in honoring the other men—the ones ensure that the savings from debt cancellation tually every US combat theater and tactical who paid the greatest sacrifice with their lives. would be spent on reducing poverty. operation including: the Cuban Missile Crisis; 1st Lt. Neriani battled through Europe, liber- The Jubilee Act will establish a framework Vietnam Conflict; Operation Desert Storm and ated German and Polish political prisoners for responsible lending in order to preserve Desert Shield in the Persian Gulf States; and from Nazi concentration camps, and reached the benefits that debt cancellation has pro- was the first wing unit to deploy members on the end of the war when meeting with Russian vided to poor countries and their people. The Anti-Terror Operations after the September 11, allies in May 1945. Of the 14 servicemen from Jubilee Act requires the United States Sec- 2001 assault on America. In fact, ‘‘The Flying Avon that were sent to war, all but one re- retary of the Treasury to take action to end the Badgers’’ have been constantly available to turned home—Gildo Consolini. It is in honor of predatory practices of ‘‘vulture funds,’’ private provide airlift support, superb aircraft mainte- him that the Avon’s Veterans of Foreign War investment funds that buy up the debts of poor nance and security training and support. Post is named. countries at reduced prices just before these In 2006 the Base Realignment and Closure A man of honor and courage, Captain countries receive debt cancellation and then Commission (BRAC) ordered the 440th to be Neriani saw many battles, lost friends and sue these countries to recover the original reassigned to Pope Air Force Base in North brothers, and was one of many to bring free- value of the debts plus interest. Finally, the Carolina. Flight operations in Milwaukee will dom to Europe. We owe our veterans, those Jubilee Act will require the Secretary of the end in June, 2007 and will resume at the here and now gone, this country’s greatest Treasury to develop and promote policies to Wing’s new location at Pope AFB. debt of gratitude. I call on my colleagues to prevent bilateral, multilateral and private credi- Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I am join me in paying tribute to men like Art tors from eroding the benefits of debt cancella- honored to pay tribute to the 440th for their Neriani—to the dedicated men and women in tion through irresponsible or exploitive lending. stellar performance, dedication and service to our military our proudly serve this Nation and The Jubilee Act will expand debt cancella- my district and to the nation. protect our freedom. tion to all needy and deserving poor countries VerDate Aug 31 2005 06:13 Jul 28, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 J:\CRONLINE\2007BA~3\2007NE~2\E11JN7.REC E11JN7 mmaher on PROD1PC70 with CONG-REC-ONLINE June 11, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1245 and preserve the benefits that debt cancella- Not only was Buzz an extraordinary teacher and, in particular, Chairman Bart Gordon tion has provided to impoverished people and coach, but he was also an involved figure and Congressman McNerney for their work worldwide.