August 3, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1405 

service make him the longest serving elected 

official in the history of South Fulton County, 

Georgia. 

Throughout his time in office, Joe has 

fought valiantly for those who face social and 

economic challenges, especially veterans and 

minorities, and he has strived to bring businesses and prosperity to the communities he 

represents. I know that he will be greatly 

missed by his constituents. 

I commend Joe for his courageous efforts to 

break racial barriers throughout his career. He 

was elected the first African American City 

Councilman of East Point, and as a Councilman, he helped the city become one of the 

first in America to celebrate the Martin Luther 

King, Jr. Holiday before it became a State or 

Federal holiday. 

Outside of government, Joe is an active 

member of the Greater Atlanta community, 

having worked as a real estate salesman, corporate personnel assistant, motivational 

speaker, school teacher, and teen counselor. 

He is known for his love of people and his encouraging attitude. 

I wish Joe and his wife, Andrea, the very 

best with their future endeavors. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO BOB HIGGINS, BALDWIN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE 

HON. JO BONNER OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor 

Bob Higgins, senior vice president of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. 

On August 1, 2012, Bob retired from his leadership position, which he has held for the past 

decade. 

Bob Higgins joined the Baldwin Economic 

Development Alliance in 2002. While serving 

in the BCEDA, he organized many development projects that have led to the betterment 

of our community. One of these projects, 

which was facilitated through the Baldwin 

Business Incubator, created an aviation training center for local high school students at the 

Fairhope airport. With the recent announcement of Airbus’ decision to locate its new 

manufacturing facility in Mobile, this effort will 

be instrumental in preparing a workforce for 

this new industry. 

Bob Higgins’ work has not only helped to 

create future jobs in our area, but has also 

aided in supporting local companies as they 

battled the 2010 oil spill. Through his accomplishments, the Coastal Resiliency Coalition 

and Business Support Center were created to 

raise support for those who were severely affected by the oil spill, and their efforts continue 

today. 

Though he will be retiring from the BCEDA, 

Bob Higgins’ work with these two groups will 

not be ending. He now intends to shift his 

focus and devote more time to worker training 

to help businesses prepare for the future, 

while the main focus of the Alliance will be in 

recruiting industry for the Baldwin County 

megasite and in support of Airbus. 

As many of Bob’s former coworkers can attest, Bob’s work ethic and drive have been influential in transforming Baldwin County into a 

better place to live and work. Upon his retirement, Bob is looking forward to having more 

time for personal activities and spending more 

time with his four grandchildren. 

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Alabama and my colleagues in the Alabama Delegation, I would like to extend a personal appreciation to Mr. Bob Higgins for his service to 

Alabama’s past, present, and future through 

his leadership in the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. 

f 

IN CELEBRATION OF FOR THE 

LOVE OF THE LAKE’S 200TH CONSECUTIVE SECOND SATURDAY 

SHORELINE SPRUCE UP 

HON. PETE SESSIONS OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

congratulate For the Love of the Lake, a community organization, on its 200th consecutive 

Second Saturday Shoreline Spruce Up that 

will be held at White Rock Lake on November 

10, 2012. 

For the Love of the Lake is committed to the 

preservation of White Rock Lake Park and 

sponsors the Second Saturday Shoreline 

Spruce-Up initiative along with many other 

noteworthy programs. Since April 1996, volunteers of the Second Saturday Shoreline 

Spruce-Up have gathered on the second Saturday of each month to pick up trash and 

scattered debris around the shores of White 

Rock Lake. They also work closely with the 

City of Dallas’ Parks and Recreation Department to protect the local wildlife. Over the 

years, this organization has devoted countless 

hours to this endeavor, ensuring that White 

Rock Lake is kept clean and beautiful for all 

to enjoy. I have had the privilege of laboring 

alongside these dedicated volunteers and 

know firsthand the hard work it takes to clean 

up the shoreline. 

For the Love of the Lake truly understands 

the importance of conservation, and continues 

to protect White Rock Lake Park so it may remain an urban oasis for the City of Dallas. I 

am thankful for these dedicated volunteers 

and For the Love of the Lake. Mr. Speaker, I 

ask my esteemed colleagues to join me in 

congratulating For the Love of the Lake on its 

200th consecutive Second Saturday Shoreline 

Spruce-Up. This remarkable achievement 

speaks loudly to the organization’s continued 

commitment to maintain the integrity of White 

Rock Lake Park. 

f 

ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER 

CONTEMPT VOTE 

HON. DAVID N. CICILLINE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, the death of 

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agent Brian 

Terry is a great loss for our nation. Congress 

has the responsibility to complete a full investigation into the events related to his death. 

That is why I supported Mr. DINGELL’s motion 

on June 28, 2012, to ensure a comprehensive, 

bipartisan and complete investigation into Operation Fast and Furious—including a public 

hearing, with witnesses previously prevented 

from testifying by the Majority party on the 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. 

Unfortunately, however, House Republicans 

voted unanimously against this motion, in 

order to proceed instead with unprecedented, 

baseless and politically motived measures to 

hold Attorney General Eric Holder in civil and 

criminal contempt. I declined to participate in 

these partisan political games, and joined with 

my colleagues in vacating the House Floor in 

protest of the abuse of power and process 

demonstrated by the Majority Party’s decision 

to bring H. Res. 711 and H. Res. 706 to the 

full House of Representatives, before undertaking a serious effort to resolve the disagreement between Congress and the Department 

of Justice regarding the disclosure of materials 

related to Operation Fast and Furious. Had I 

been present, I would have voted ‘‘no’’ on roll 

call votes 441 and 442. 

f 

CONGRATULATING BARRY 

HUTCHINSON ON HIS RETIREMENT 

HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY OF VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise today to congratulate and honor Barry 

Hutchinson on his retirement from the Department of Defense after more than 40 years of 

dedicated and distinguished service to our 

country and to our men and women in uniform. 

Mr. Hutchinson began his career as a stock 

handler at the Andrews Air Force Base Commissary in Camp Springs, Maryland, in 1972. 

Throughout his years of service, he developed 

expertise in a wide variety of areas, including 

supply management, logistics, program management, and information operations. For the 

past 34 years, Mr. Hutchinson worked for the 

Defense Logistics Agency at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he provided exemplary leadership 

serving the Information Operations Directorate 

and retires as the Staff Director for IT Business, Licensing, and Performance Management. 

Mr. Hutchinson certainly embodies the commitment and caliber of our federal employees. 

While he will be missed in the Defense Logistics Agency we will continue to benefit from 

the expertise and work ethic he has imparted 

in his coworkers. 

Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. 

Hutchinson relied upon the support of his family. He will enjoy his well-deserved retirement 

with his wife, Joanne, daughters Krista and 

Kerri, grandchildren, Ashley, Jonathon, and 

Hannah, and grand dog, Cutter. He will continue serving his community, relying on his degree in Theology while teaching Christianity 

101 at his local church. I ask my colleagues 

to join me in congratulating Barry Hutchinson 

for 40 years of honorable and valuable service 

to our nation, thanking him for his many contributions and the sacrifices he and his family 

have made, and wishing them well in all of 

their future endeavors. 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with REMARKS