E1424 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 3, 2012 

It is a troubling thought that in 2012, the 

Congress has to rise up and introduce this bill 

to protect voting rights. Even though Reconstruction Era and the Civil Rights Movement 

are technically in America’s past, the current 

threat against voting rights is just as real as in 

those days. We are proud to stand with the 

American people to protect the exercise of 

their voice in our democracy. 

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THE BERRIEN COMMUNITY 

FOUNDATION 60TH ANNIVERSARY 

HON. FRED UPTON OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

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

recognize the Berrien Community Foundation’s 60th anniversary of providing invaluable 

financial support to southwest Michigan. 

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate 

the Berrien Community Foundation after six 

decades of impeccable service to our community. Founded in 1952 by William Vawter and 

many conscientious business men and 

women, the Foundation has, been committed 

to finding innovative ways to invest charitable 

dollars to help residents of Berrien County. 

From grants to scholarships, the Berrien 

County Community Foundation has been 

working to educate our young people and prepare them to enter the workforce. Without that 

assistance, many students would not have the 

academic prospects they do today. 

The Berrien Community Foundation represents the very best our district has to offer. 

Philanthropic individuals who desire to help 

deserving individuals reach their goals and 

meet their dreams are able to do so in a financially responsible way by collaborating with the 

Foundation. I have been very impressed by 

the Foundation’s creative approach to making 

dollars go far to help individuals who just need 

a little help in moving forward with their aspirations. I continue to marvel at their dedication 

and good will and hope their work continues 

for many years to come. 

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to again recognize 

the achievements and irreplaceable contributions the Foundation has provided to my district and look forward to their continuing efforts 

to make Berrien County a better place to live 

and work. 

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COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPLETION 

OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL 

HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD OF MAINE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

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

commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Appalachian Trail’s completion. 

On the 18th of August, 1937, the last mile 

of the original Appalachian Trail (AT) was 

completed at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine’s 

Carabassett Valley. Although the idea of a 

super trail on the scale of the AT had been 

discussed for years, it was the vision and determination of Benton Mackaye and Myron 

Avery who truly gave the project life. The legacy of the trail was not always secure however, with severe weather, the Great Depression, and World War II threatening its continuity. Fortunately, the tremendous efforts of 

trail enthusiasts, lead by Mainer Stanley Murray, launched a campaign to save the AT and 

preserve it for future generations. 

Maine’s Appalachian Trail Club will be 

hosting a 75th anniversary celebration of the 

AT’s completion 75 years ago. Members of 

the Club, Maine’s Appalachian Trail Land 

Trust, the Trust for Public Land, the High 

Peaks Alliance, the University of Maine, and 

the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will be 

present. The event will be an opportunity to 

reflect on the beauty of the trail and honor the 

countless volunteers who have helped to sustain this national treasure throughout the 

years. 

The enormous significance of the Appalachian Trail to the state cannot be overstated. 

Many of our local economies benefit from the 

thousands of hikers that are drawn to Maine 

every year along its paths. I am deeply proud 

to share in this celebration of Maine and 

American history. 

Mr. Speaker, please join me again in commemorating this momentous anniversary. 

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MARCH OF DIMES COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT OF 2011 

SPEECH OF

HON. NITA M. LOWEY OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 

support of the March of Dimes Commemorative Coin Act. 

I am proud to be an original cosponsor and 

to work with my colleague from Illinois, Mr. 

DOLD, to issue a commemorative coin honoring the 75th anniversary of the March of 

Dimes, based in my district in White Plains. 

Funds from the sale of the coins would be 

used to support the March of Dimes’ vital work 

to ensure healthy pregnancies. 

The March of Dimes has a long and proud 

history. President Franklin Roosevelt took the 

four billion dimes sent to him by Americans in 

the Great Depression and created the National 

Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Later renamed the March of Dimes, the foundation 

was dedicated to supporting the care of thousands of Americans with polio, as well as supporting research into the prevention and treatment of the crippling disease. 

The March of Dimes fulfilled President Roosevelt’s dream of a polio-free nation by funding the development of polio vaccines, which 

led to its eradication in the United States and 

much of the world. 

In the decades that followed, the organization helped stamp out rubella, pushed for Neonatal Intensive Care Units, promoted folic acid 

to prevent neural tube defects, and brought 

newborn screening to every American baby. 

Today, the March of Dimes focuses on reducing prematurity. Every year, nearly half a 

million babies in the U.S. are born premature, 

the leading cause of newborn death. In my 

home state of New York, almost 600 infants 

are born preterm every week—representing 

12.2% of all live births in the state. 

The March of Dimes New York State Chapter has one goal—to help babies start life in 

the healthiest way possible by helping momsto-be learn to care for themselves before, during and after their pregnancy. The New York 

Chapter also partners with local medical 

groups and organizations to establish guidelines for how to care for pregnant women and 

premature infants. 

Over four million babies will be born across 

the United States this year, and each and 

every one will benefit from the March of Dimes 

historic legacy of scientific breakthroughs— 

from the polio vaccine to newborn screening. 

The March of Dimes Commemorative Coin will 

help us reach the day when we celebrate a 

new scientific breakthrough: preventing premature birth. 

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the gentleman 

from Illinois, and I urge your support. 

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HONORING THE LIFE AND 

CONTRIBUTIONS OF GORE VIDAL 

HON. STEVE COHEN OF TENNESSEE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

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

highlight and remember the life of Gore Vidal, 

a celebrated American literary and cultural 

icon, who passed away this week at the age 

of 86. A writer famed for his acerbic wit, elegant style, tough-minded radical views, and 

versatile talent, Vidal’s incredibly varied career 

boasted over 20 novels, in addition to memoirs, essays, plays, television dramas, and 

screenplays. 

Vidal was impressively characterized by the 

inimitable and revered Christopher Hitchens 

as being a 20th century answer to Oscar 

Wilde, a tribute to Vidal’s cleverness and eloquence. As British author Martin Amis said in 

praising Vidal, ‘‘he is learned, funny and exceptionally clear-sighted. Even his blind spots 

are illuminating.’’ 

In 2009, Vidal won the annual Medal for 

Distinguished Contribution to American Letters 

from the National Book Foundation. Unlike 

many of his intellectual contemporaries, however, he saw his role as a public intellectual 

not as a sidelined observer, but rather as an 

active participant in democracy and public affairs, contributing frequently and prolifically to 

the American political debate. 

This weekend, I will travel to New York to 

see a revival of his play ‘‘The Best Man,’’ starring my fellow Memphian, Cybill Shephard. I 

ask everyone to join me honoring Gore Vidal 

for his many contributions. His was a life well 

lived. 

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INVEST IN A CLEAN ENERGY 

FUTURE! 

HON. BOB FILNER OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I have introduced 

the Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act. (H.R. 

6275) The purpose of this legislation is to invest in a clean energy future. 

This legislation will allow all Americans to invest in new clean energy technologies that will 

create over 1.7 million competitive American 


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