September 12, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1487 

Brazos County, as an active member of the 

Rotary Club of College Station, and as a docent for both the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the Texas A&M Sports 

Museum. 

Even after leaving City Council, Birdwell 

would take on other city causes such as a petition drive that led to freezing property taxes 

for senior citizens and the disabled. He would 

also serve on the cemetery board and as an 

alternate member of the zoning board of adjustments. 

College Station Mayor Nancy Berry may 

have said it best when she described the 

passing of Dick Birdwell as ‘‘a phenomenal 

loss for our community.’’ 

Today I pay tribute to a great Aggie who 

served College Station with honor and great 

respect. I know I am not alone as I say thank 

you, Dick Birdwell, for all that you have done 

for the Aggie community. 

f 

SUPPORT OF HOME HEALTH CARE 

HON. DAVID LOEBSACK OF IOWA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 

to express my support for home health care 

providers and care givers. As we look for 

ways to ensure that Medicare remains solvent 

in the years to come and continues to provide 

affordable, quality health care to our nation’s 

seniors, it is important to highlight those initiatives that are currently working well and saving money for the program. 

Studies have shown that home health care 

services have saved Medicare $2.8 billion dollars over three years. This is because it is 

often less expensive to care for Medicare 

beneficiaries in their own homes than a skilled 

nursing facility or hospital setting. Further, 

quality care at home can prevent these more 

costly and intrusive interventions in the first 

place, as well as prevent repeat hospitalizations. 

Home health care also provides a more 

convenient and comfortable standard of living 

both for those receiving care and their families. The advantage of being home with your 

loved ones can make the world of difference 

in positive health outcomes. This is particularly 

important in rural areas like many parts of my 

district, where there often are fewer providers 

and choices when it comes to nursing care. 

As we work to find cost savings, it is important to keep in mind that home health care 

providers deliver quality, effective health care 

to our seniors and helps to keep Medicare 

costs down. 

f 

CELEBRATING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT DEMOCRATIC CLUB 

HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 

Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to congratulate the members of 

the Hammond, Indiana Franklin D. Roosevelt 

Democratic Club as they celebrate the organization’s 80th anniversary. In honor of this momentous occasion, the Franklin D. Roosevelt 

Club will be hosting an anniversary banquet 

on September 15, 2012 at the Restaurant at 

Lost Marsh in Hammond, Indiana. 

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Club of Hammond, Indiana was founded by forty-two members of Polish ancestry on December 3, 1932. 

The Club has grown over the years, and currently consists of 110 members. The mission 

of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Club is to ‘‘maintain high standards and secure the best possible candidate for the Democratic Party.’’ 

Since its inception, club members have selflessly given their time and support to the community of Northwest Indiana. The residents of 

Northwest Indiana truly benefit from the Club’s 

‘‘Candidates’ Night,’’ which is held the week 

before each primary and general election. This 

is an outstanding opportunity for voters to 

meet candidates and discuss with them the 

needs of their community. For their significant 

contributions to upholding the ideals of the 

democratic process in their communities and 

throughout Northwest Indiana, the members 

and leaders of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Club 

are to be highly commended. 

The dedication and generosity of the Club 

and its members has also been evidenced 

over the years by their innumerable charitable 

acts to those in need throughout the broader 

community, irrespective of their political beliefs. I also must acknowledge the sheer kindness the members of the Club show to all. 

I still fondly recall the first Franklin D. Roosevelt Club meeting I attended in March of 

1983. I didn’t know anyone in the Club when 

I entered St. Casimir Hall. But through the graciousness of the late President Ed Nawracaj 

and his wife, Sophie, as well as Wally and 

Paula Skibinski, Dorrie Kometz, and many others, I was welcomed as a lifelong friend and 

left the hall ‘‘knowing everyone.’’ 

The warmth a ‘‘total stranger’’ enjoyed that 

evening, and many to follow, remain forever in 

this Member’s heart. 

At this time, I would like to acknowledge the 

2012 Franklin D. Roosevelt Club officers. They 

are: President Gregory J. Sanchez, First Vice 

President Kay Pucalik, Second Vice President 

Leslie Stanish, Secretary Barney Stodola, 

Treasurer Mary T. Hildebranski, Sergeant at 

Arms Brian Krupinski, Chaplain Reverend Stephen D. Kosinski, and Trustees Diana Beyer, 

Joe Scasny, and Rosemary Wojdyla. 

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other 

distinguished colleagues join me in honoring 

and congratulating the members of the Hammond, Indiana Franklin D. Roosevelt Democratic Club on the 80th anniversary of their organization. The work of this truly admirable organization is a great asset to the people of 

Northwest Indiana, and for their selfless service, the leadership and members of the Club 

are worthy of the highest praise, and I am 

proud to serve as their representative in 

Washington, D.C. 

f 

REMEMBERING ANN ARNOLD 

HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 

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

honor the life of Ann Arnold. After a decadeslong battle with leukemia, she passed away 

earlier this month at the age of 67. Ms. Arnold 

is the longtime president and CEO of the 

Texas Association of Broadcasters, and 

served as the press secretary to former Texas 

Governor Mark White. 

Ms. Arnold was always fascinated by the 

media and its ability to uncover the truth. She 

founded her junior high school newspaper and 

moonlighted for community newspapers, covering evening city council and school board 

meetings. In 1968, she earned a journalism 

degree from the University of Texas at Austin. 

To pay her way through college, Ms. Arnold 

worked three jobs; including working at the 

Capitol Bureau of the Dallas Times-Herald. In 

1966, she received the Headlines Award. 

After graduation, Ms. Arnold joined the Capitol Bureau of United Press International. That 

same year she married her high-school sweetheart, Reg Arnold. In 1980, Ms. Arnold joined 

the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Capitol staff. 

In 1983, she became the press secretary for 

Governor Mark White, the first Texas woman 

in history to hold the position. 

Shortly after Governor White lost his bid for 

re-election to a second term, Ms. Arnold was 

diagnosed with leukemia. Although she was 

told that she only had six months to two years 

to live, twenty years later, and after an experimental treatment at Houston’s M.D. Anderson 

Cancer Center, Ms. Arnold was still going 

strong and became an icon of hope statewide. 

As executive director of the Texas Association of Broadcasters, and through her work at 

the Texas Capitol, before Congress and the 

Federal Communications Commission, Ms. Arnold was influential in helping broadcasters 

achieve a positive business climate in Texas. 

Ms. Arnold also positioned the Texas Association of Broadcasters as a primary defender of 

Texas’ open government laws and was repeatedly recognized for her achievements on 

behalf of the industry. In 2001, she received 

the Freedom of Information Foundation of 

Texas’ James Madison Award with then Attorney General JOHN CORNYN. 

During her tenure at the Texas Association 

of Broadcasters, Ms. Arnold doubled station 

membership, expanded an array of member 

services for stations, recruited top professional 

staff, and oversaw the construction of the association’s permanent home just blocks from 

the Texas Capitol. In 2007, Ms. Arnold received the Texas Association of Broadcasters’ 

‘‘Lifetime Achievement Award’’. 

Ms. Arnold’s successes with the broadcast 

industry and local communities throughout 

Texas have strengthened the communities she 

worked with and her passion and dedication 

will certainly be missed. I would like to extend 

my sincerest condolences to Ms. Arnold’s family and friends. 

f 

MAJOR DONALD HOLLEDER 

HON. JACK KINGSTON OF GEORGIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 

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

recognize the life and accomplishments of 

Donald Holleder, Major, United States Army. 

Donald Holleder was born on August 3, 

1934, in Buffalo, New York. He was an outstanding high school athlete, and was sought 


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