December 8, 2006 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 152, Pt. 18 23803 HONORING CHICAGO ASTRONAUT vocates public policies which guarantee these field, including literature, technology, and JOAN HIGGINBOTHAM rights and ensure the understanding of the in- music. My hometown of Chicago has more dividual and societal implications of human people of Polish descent than any other city HON. RAHM EMANUEL sexuality. The Planned Parenthood Associa- outside of Poland. I am dedicated to con- OF ILLINOIS tion encourages research and the advance- tinuing the strong record of cultural and eco- ment of technology in reproductive health care IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nomic ties between our two nations. and the understanding of inherent bioethical, The United States is grateful to Poland for Thursday, December 7, 2006 behavioral, and societal implications. In addi- its friendship and commitment to the demo- Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to tion, the agency employs trained educators cratic ideals of liberty and human rights. Po- honor Astronaut Joan Higginbotham. who conduct extensive community outreach land has also proven to be a strong ally of the Higginbotham is a member of the crew on the and educational programs, offering com- United States, assisting in global efforts to Space Shuttle Discovery that is scheduled to prehensive, age-appropriate sex education combat terrorism, and providing troops and re- launch tonight from NASA’s Kennedy Space and health programs to thousands of New Jer- sources for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Center. Additionally, she is a fellow sey residents every year. Everyone is wel- Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join the citi- Chicagoan, and I wish her the best of luck as come, regardless of race, age, income, sexual zens of my district, as well as those of Polish she prepares for her first mission, STS 116. orientation, or disability. Fees are based on decent around the country in recognizing, re- Higginbotham graduated from Chicago’s the ability to pay and no one is turned away. membering, and celebrating Polish American Whitney Young High School in 1982, and First as board vice president in 1997, then Month. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in as board chair, Ms. Grounds successfully led 1987. She will be the third African-American the PPAMA through several managerial transi- f woman aboard a NASA mission, and she and tions. She has had leadership roles on Devel- her fellow astronaut Robert Curbeam will opment, Finance, Facilities, Personnel, and REMEMBERING SYDNEY TALLY make history this week on STS 116, the first Public Affairs Committees. She was an incen- Space Shuttle mission with two African-Amer- tive for the board to re-evaluate its own role in HON. TOM DAVIS ican astronauts. the organization. A modest, exceptionally or- OF VIRGINIA Higginbotham previously worked as a pay- ganized woman, Ms. Grounds excels at ‘‘the load engineer at the John F. Kennedy Space big picture,’’ keeping the board cohesive and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Center while also earning two master’s de- efficient, while recruiting extraordinary leaders. Thursday, December 7, 2006 Ms. Grounds is a phenomenal fundraiser. grees from the Florida Institute of Technology. Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I As a mission specialist on board Discovery, Through both Annual and Capital Campaigns, she has made possible the improvement of rise today in remembrance of Sydney Tally for Higginbotham’s responsibilities will include a her tireless commitment to better the lives of complete rewiring of the International Space services offered to clients, and during her ten- ure the number of patients treated has signifi- active duty servicemembers, retirees, vet- Station’s power supply. She will also have the erans, and above all their families through a responsibility of operating the robotic arm to cantly increased. This is no small task. The annual budget of the PPAMA is about $2.8 distinguished career with the National Military deploy several satellites and to direct payload Family Association. transfers. million, making possible the service of about Widely known and beloved in military cir- Higginbotham will be joined by Mission 15,000 clients per year. cles, this Air Force daughter and Navy spouse Commander Mark Polansky, as well as Robert Ms. Grounds has been an editor, writer, trained as a nurse and pursued her specialty Curbeam Sunita Williams, Nicholas Patrick, fundraiser extraordinaire, and tireless worker in public health nursing before becoming a full William Oefelein, and Christer Fuglesang from for the Planned Parenthood Association of the time mother and volunteer after the birth of the European Space Agency, who is the first Mercer Area. She leaves a legacy of fund rais- her first child. Among many service endeav- Swedish astronaut. ing skill, governance expertise, and strong ors, she freely devoted her time serving as Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me board leadership that benefits not only the or- teaching assistant, Brownie and Girl Scout in recognizing my fellow Chicagoan as well as ganization, but also the individual, community, leader, Red Cross pediatric nurse, and presi- her fellow astronauts, and to wish them all the and State. dent of four naval officers’ wives clubs. best on their launch tonight and their 12-day Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire 12th mission. district of New Jersey, I ask you and my col- In 1983, she joined the NMFA government leagues to join me in thanking Marilyn W. relations staff and served as vice president of f Grounds for her service on the board of the the department from 1987 to 1990 before ris- HONORING MARILYN W. GROUNDS Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer ing to the position of first paid professional Area. staff member and director. She also sat on the HON. RUSH D. HOLT f NMFA’s board of governors until her recent passing. Mrs. Tally used her leverage through OF NEW JERSEY POLISH AMERICAN MONTH this organization to benefit military families ev- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES erywhere. Her focus on the military family Thursday, December 7, 2006 HON. RAHM EMANUEL drove her in creating the Military Coalition. Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to rec- OF ILLINOIS Women, infants, and children found nourish- ognize Marilyn W. Grounds for over 10 years IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ment after her advocacy secured legislation of extraordinary service on the board of the Thursday, December 7, 2006 for an overseas nutrition program targeted Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, this month I specifically for military families. Area. proudly join the thousands of Polish-Ameri- Mrs. Tally received numerous awards and Ms. Grounds is best described as a ‘‘profes- cans living in Chicago in a national celebration recognitions for her altruistic work, including sional volunteer.’’ Active in her children’s of Polish history, culture, and pride during Pol- the Military Coalition’s Award of Merit, a Cer- schools and the community, she was at first ish American Heritage Month. tificate of Appreciation from the Defense Com- focused in serving the arts community. It was Celebrated in October, Polish American missary Agency, 1993 Defense Transition the great fortune of the Planned Parenthood Heritage Month includes General Pulaski Me- Services Award from the University of Central Association of the Mercer Area to have her morial Day, which honors the American Revo- Florida, and recognition of her outstanding citi- join their board in 1995. lutionary War patriot Casimir Pulaski. In 1777, zenship by the Military Chaplains Association. The Planned Parenthood Association of the General Pulaski attended his first meeting with Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank Mercer Area provides comprehensive repro- Benjamin Franklin, to champion the freedom Mrs. Tally for her life’s work and continuing ductive health care which contributes to both of the American people. This early partnership legacy that brought forth significant awareness individual well being and community stability. has been mirrored by the present-day alliance of the needs of military families. I call upon my These services are provided in settings which between Poland and the United States. colleagues to join me in recognizing her ac- preserve and protect the essential privacy and Polish-Americans have made strong con- complishments, and in sharing our condo- rights of each individual. The organization ad- tributions to American culture in virtually every lences with her family and friends. VerDate Nov 24 2008 09:47 Jan 27, 2010 Jkt 049102 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR06\E08DE6.001 E08DE6 cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BOUND RECORD 23804 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 152, Pt. 18 December 8, 2006 A CALL TO ACTION THE POLITICS the good work of the Melanoma Research tient advocates. Many times, groups end up OF DISEASE ADVOCACY Foundation in bringing greater public aware- ‘‘recreating the wheel’’ in doing very similar ness to this disease, and advocating for more work, she says. Different strategies are being tried in order HON. RUSH D. HOLT public and private sector funding for mela- to organize the patient-advocacy commu- OF NEW JERSEY noma research. nity. Some advocacy groups for major can- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [From the Wall Street Journal, Oct. 10, 2006] cers, such as breast cancer and prostate can- ADVOCACY OVERLOAD? Thursday, December 7, 2006 cer, have formed coalitions that have been ACTIVISTS SEEK TO UNIFY EFFORTS OF GROUPS effective in lobbying on common issues. Oth- Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to TARGETING DISEASES; A BRAIN-TUMOR COL- ers end up merging; two separate lymphoma my colleagues’ attention an October 10, 2006 LABORATIVE patient-advocacy groups decided to join article in the Wall Street Journal by Amy (By Amy Dockser Marcus) forces and create one organization instead, the Lymphoma Research Foundation.