August 3, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1397 

that most women will not have to be put in a 

situation where they have to choose. So, I ask 

my Republican colleagues to join me in supporting the implementation of the Affordable 

Care Act, which will provide the needed access to affordable health care and contraceptives and in doing so, not put women in the 

position where they have to consider abortion. 

f 

HONORING NEW JERSEY’S PROUD 

AGRICULTURAL TRADITION AND 

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FARMS 

LOCATED IN THE 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 

HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to recognize New Jersey’s proud agricultural tradition and the contribution of farms 

located in our 11th Congressional District. 

The prospering agricultural industry of today’s New Jersey is the continuation of many 

years of farming dating back to colonial settlement in the sixteenth century. Primarily a rural 

society, struggling settlers developed small 

family farms to stave off starvation. Soon local 

farms not only became an important source of 

fruits, vegetables, and grain, but also for raw 

materials used for the prospering textile industry. Easy access to cotton, wool, and other 

farm products fueled the Industrial Revolution 

in New Jersey. Agriculture became not only a 

very profitable industry on its own, but also fed 

secondary manufacturing and merchant businesses. 

Every day, farmers across the state raise 

animals, harvest vegetables, pick fruit, and 

participate in the 400 year old tradition that 

built New Jersey into an economic powerhouse. 

Today, New Jersey agriculture constitutes 

an $82 billion industry that provides a strong 

backbone for New Jersey’s economy. It also 

benefits surrounding businesses with the 

growing popularity of agrotourism. This extremely successful business model involves 

enticing people from near and far to visit, learn 

about everyday farm-life, and participate in activities such pumpkin, wine tasting, hay rides, 

petting zoos, or horseback riding. This not 

only brings customers from the surrounding tristate area to appreciate what New Jersey has 

to offer, but also fosters a greater public understanding of commercial farming. New Jersey’s large agricultural sector provides employment, not only for farm workers, but also 

for those in construction for irrigation and 

drainage projects. This multibillion dollar industry supports New Jersey, providing jobs 

and raw materials, drawing in customers, and 

serving as its own lucrative business. 

New Jersey truly is the Garden State, as 

our motto says. Having a strong agricultural 

industry not only provides a great deal of economic benefits to New Jersey, but also contributes to a rich social tapestry. There are 

over 790,000 acres of lands across the state 

devoted to farmland. This has been celebrated 

as an extremely environmentally friendly use 

of land that preserves both a smaller carbon 

footprint and the beautiful greenery characteristic of New Jersey. In a world where 

food insecurity remains one of the most difficult problems for mankind to combat, thriving 

agriculture reduces the acuteness of this issue 

and diminishes our dependence on food imports. This land also provides access to fresh, 

locally grown foods, giving residents in the 

area healthier meal options. The agricultural 

industry is unparalleled in its contributions to 

New Jersey society, providing jobs, tourism, 

environmental protection, food security, raw 

materials for manufacturing, and so much 

more. 

Standing as a shining example of New Jersey’s proud agricultural tradition is Wightman’s 

Farms, located in Harding Township, Morris 

County. Celebrating their 90th Anniversary this 

year, Wightman’s Farms has worked continuously to expand what began as a farm into the 

prospering business it is today. The farm is 

one of over 8,000 other family owned and operated farms in New Jersey that support their 

local and state economy. Currently managed 

by the third generation of Wightmans, the integration of tradition and innovation has certainly 

helped Wightman’s Farms not only last the 

test of time, but develop into a flourishing 

business enjoyed by customers near and far. 

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues 

to join me in recognizing New Jersey’s agricultural tradition and the contributions of 11th 

District farmers. 

f 

RECOGNIZING THE PORT OF SEATTLE FOR RECEIVING THE 2012 

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM 

AWARD 

HON. ADAM SMITH OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise to honor the Port of Seattle for receiving 

the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Port of Seattle is 

one of just fifteen employers across the country to receive this honor. 

Each year, the Employer Support of the 

Guard and Reserve, an agency of the Department of Defense, awards employers with their 

annual Freedom Award. This is the Department of Defense’s highest recognition awarded to employers for their exceptional support 

of Guard and Reserve employees. More than 

3,000 nominations from Guardsmen and Reservists, or their family members on their behalf, were submitted and the Port of Seattle 

distinguished themselves among all the nominees. 

A Naval Reservist nominated the Port of Seattle because of the Port’s focus on hiring military members and veterans, as well as for 

their participation in the military’s Transition 

Assistance Program. Twenty percent of the 

Port’s employees have served in the military 

and the Port has started a fellowship program 

to help returning service members transition 

from active duty to the civilian workforce. The 

Port of Seattle’s efforts at employing Guardsmen and Reservists serves as a model for 

other port districts that are establishing programs to hire more service members. 

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 

honor the Port of Seattle for their superb treatment of Guard and Reserve employees. The 

Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is 

a well-deserved honor. 

HONORING REPRESENTATIVE 

ELENA PARENT 

HON. JOHN LEWIS OF GEORGIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to recognize Georgia State Representative Elena Parent on the occasion of her retirement from the Georgia General Assembly. 

In her short time in the Georgia State House, 

Elena has made a profound impact on the 

Georgia Legislature, and I know that she will 

be missed by her constituents from the 81st 

District. 

Outside of public office, Elena is incredibly 

involved in the Metro Atlanta community, currently serving on the Foundation Board of the 

Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, the 

Advisory Board of Directors of It’s a Journey, 

Inc., and the Women and Minorities in the 

Profession Committee of the State Bar of 

Georgia. She has also conducted fundraising 

and development efforts for HOPE Atlanta, a 

homelessness-prevention non-profit. I commend her for such meaningful service to the 

people of Georgia. 

Elena recently announced that she will 

begin working as the Executive Director of 

Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy group, 

at the end of her term this year. Having already received numerous awards for her leadership, including inclusion in the Atlanta Business Cronicle’s ‘‘40 Under 40,’’ Elena is an 

excellent choice for this position, and I look 

forward to hearing of her successes in the future. 

I wish Elena, her husband, Briley, and their 

son, Brooks, the very best. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE 

OF AUTUMN M. LEVA TO THE 

CONSTITUENTS OF COLORADO’S 

FIFTH DISTRICT 

HON. DOUG LAMBORN OF COLORADO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, it is with 

mixed emotions that I announce the departure 

of a valued member of my staff, Autumn M. 

Leva. 

Autumn has served in my Washington D.C. 

office for the past year and a half, first as our 

Staff Assistant and most recently as my Executive Assistant, Scheduler, and Legislative 

Aide. She has successfully handled her duties 

with a wealth of knowledge of the legislative 

and procedural processes. Her dedication and 

work ethic will be very difficult to replace. 

A longtime resident of Colorado’s fifth Congressional District and a graduate of Salida 

High School, Autumn received her Bachelor of 

Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in 

Spanish from the University of Montana in 

2007 and went on to receive her Juris Doctor 

from Regent University School of Law in 2010. 

She is the daughter of Kathy Messick of 

Salida, Colorado and sister to Shane Leva. 

Autumn’s sparkling personality, enthusiastic 

can-do attitude, and team-player mentality will 

be truly missed. However, it is her love for the 

Lord that will be most remembered by myself 


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