August 3, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1399 

collegiate level at the Georgia Institute of 

Technology, doing contract research at the 

Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 

and serving six years at the Georgia Department of Archives. 

Outside of his academic work, Dr. Bridges 

has also participated in numerous state and 

community activities. He has served as President of the Alabama Historical Association, as 

a member of the Alabama Historical Commission, on the Governor’s Mansion Advisory 

Board, and many more. He received the Alabama Humanities Foundation’s Annual Humanities Award and was inducted into the College of Communications Hall of Fame at the 

University of Alabama. Dr. Bridges expertise is 

also recognized beyond the State of Alabama, 

having represented the United States in archival exchanges with both the former Soviet 

Union and the People’s Republic of China, 

and as vice chairman of the Information Policy 

Task Force of State Governments. 

Ed Bridges embodies the very best qualities 

of a true scholar, one who knows that knowledge means nothing without the will to pass it 

on to others and to future generations. Dr. 

Bridges has done this and more though his 

outstanding career. 

On behalf of the people of Alabama and my 

colleagues in the Alabama Delegation, I would 

like to extend my personal appreciation to Dr. 

Bridges for his service to Alabama’s past, 

present, and future through his stewardship 

and tremendous leadership of the Alabama 

Department of Archives and History. I would 

like to wish him, his wife Martha and their family the very best in their future endeavors. 

f 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PAIN-CAPABLE UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT 

SPEECH OF

HON. BENJAMIN QUAYLE 

OF ARIZONA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Mr. QUAYLE. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week 

the House voted on H.R. 3803, the District of 

Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act that was introduced by my colleague 

from Arizona, Representative TRENT FRANKS. 

This bill would generally prohibit abortions, except in cases where the mother is at risk, 20 

weeks after fertilization, the point at which 

studies have shown an unborn child has the 

capacity to feel pain. 

I strongly believe that we have a moral obligation to protect life and defend those who 

cannot defend themselves. Recognizing the 

gruesome nature of late stage abortions, nine 

states, including my home State of Arizona, 

have enacted laws to restrict this procedure. 

While I’m disappointed that we failed to secure the two-thirds vote necessary to pass 

H.R. 3803 this week, I was heartened that a 

majority of my colleagues in the House stood 

to protect the unborn. This week’s vote has 

only strengthened my resolve to continue to 

advocate for pro-life polices to hasten the day 

when all life is valued and treated as a gift. 

HONORING JACQUES ALEXANDER 

MARQUIS MATTHEWS 

HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON OF MISSISSIPPI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable 22-yearold young man from Shaw, Mississippi. 

Jacques Alexander Marquis Matthews has answered the call of duty to his country and is 

currently serving as an active soldier in the 

Mississippi National Guard stationed in Afghanistan. 

Specialist Matthews comes from a lineage 

filled with military servicemen and women. His 

paternal grandfather, Mr. William Carter, is a 

Vietnam Veteran who served in the United 

States Air Force; his maternal uncle, Mr. 

James Attaway, served in the United States 

Marines; and his mother, Ramona Matthews, 

had just enlisted in the United States Army 

when she learned she was pregnant with her 

first child, Jacques. 

Specialist Matthews was raised in a single 

parent home by his mother, Ramona, along 

with his two younger brothers, Chauncey and 

Malik. Specialist Matthews understood the 

pain of his mother as she struggled to provide 

for them and the reproach of his grandparents, 

William and Alicestean Carter and Susie Matthews. As his mother’s oldest child, much was 

expected of him and he wanted to fulfill those 

expectations. But like many other young men, 

what appears to be quick and easy was 

tempting. And sometimes he was prey to 

those temptations. In fact he said and I quote, 

‘‘my mother was more determined than me— 

for me to succeed. So, she snatched me from 

that wrong path and told me my life had three 

paths it could take and I had to choose one 

right then, college, military, or she was going 

to commit a homicide and that’s all I needed 

to know. Needless to say, I chose the military.’’ 

Mr. Speaker, Specialist Matthews has a litany of highlights during his military career including: 

2008 Year. Specialist Matthews enlisted in 

the Mississippi National Guard. 

August 2008–October 2008. Specialist Matthews did his basic training at Fort Jackson, 

South Carolina. 

October 2008. Specialist Matthews completed his basic training. He was recognized 

during graduation for having scored a perfect 

300 on the physical fitness portion of the training. 

July 10, 2010–July 31, 2010. Specialist Matthews was a member of the 2089th Vertical 

Company, 223rd Engineer Battalion. He received the Army Achievement Medal for his 

Superior and Unflagging Support of his unit. 

November 6, 2010. Specialist Matthews was 

honored with the Commanders Award for 

scoring 297 on the Annual Army Physical Fitness Test while he was a member of the 

223rd Engineer Battalion. 

November 7, 2010. Specialist Matthews 

while in the 168th Engineer Brigade received 

the Silver Castle Challenge Certificate of 

Achievement for having completed the Army 

Physical Fitness test with a score of 297. He 

was recognized for distinguishing himself by 

his excellent conditioning. He is truly to be 

commended for the accomplishment and deserving of the recognition for his sacrifice and 

self-discipline. 

May 2011. Specialist Matthews was in the 

2089th Vertical Construction Company when 

he was honored with the Army Meritorious 

Achievement Medal for his selfish service, loyalty and honor, dedication and integrity as an 

example for all to follow for his significant contribution to the success of his unit and the 

Mississippi Army National Guard. 

October 2011–November 2011. Specialist 

Matthews received the Meritorious Service 

Award in recognition of his superior physical 

ability during the annual training while assigned to Detachment 1 of the 2089th Vertical 

Construction Company. 

May 7, 2012. Specialist Matthews’ unit, the 

289th Vertical Construction Company, 223rd 

Engineer Battalion was activated to Afghanistan. 

I want Specialist Matthews’ story to serve as 

a one of encouragement to those who think 

there is no hope for change and to those who 

prejudge someone because of their circumstances. Specialist Matthews has expressed great interest in building an exciting 

career in the military answering the call at 

home and abroad whenever and wherever he 

is needed. 

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me 

in recognizing Specialist Jacques Alexander 

Marquis Matthews, from the Second Congressional District of Mississippi, now serving as a 

member of the Mississippi National Guard currently stationed in Afghanistan. As he so 

proudly represents the United States, I too am 

proud to represent him as a Member of Congress. I wish him a continued rewarding military career and a safe return home to the 

United States. 

f 

ON INTRODUCING THE PCIP 

IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2012 

HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise today to introduce the PCIP Improvement 

Act of 2012, a bill that will make much needed 

improvements to the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program, created by the 

Affordable Care Act (ACA). 

As you know, the ACA prohibits insurance 

companies from refusing to sell coverage or 

renew policies because of a person’s pre-existing condition. While the provision already affects children up to 19 years of age, it will only 

apply to adults in January 2014. In the meantime, adults with a pre-existing condition can 

get coverage through the PCIP program, a 

temporary high-risk pool which has helped 

over 50,000 previously uninsured individuals 

get coverage. 

While I have always been a strong supporter of this important program, I believe that 

some improvements need to be made in order 

to make it a success. Indeed, enrollment has 

been significantly lower than initial projections, 

which varied from 200,000 to 375,000. One of 

the biggest obstacles for enrollment in the program is a Congressional mandate requiring 

that individuals applying for PCIP coverage 

have not had creditable insurance coverage 

during the 6 months prior to the date they 


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