E1422 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 3, 2012 

the mid-1980s. After leading the Congressional and regulatory affairs teams of the California Credit Union League, John became the 

CEO at the Washington Credit Union League 

in 1997. He led the Washington League 

through an efficient and effective merger with 

the Credit Union Association of Oregon in 

2011. Now known as the Northwest Credit 

Union Association, this organization advocates 

for more than 160 credit unions in the States 

of Washington and Oregon. Currently nearly 

4.4 million consumers belong to a credit union 

in Washington and Oregon. 

John came to the credit union movement 

with a great deal of previous experience. He 

spent seven years as the Chairman and CEO 

of a computer software development corporation with a worldwide client base. He spent six 

years at the University of California as a mathematics professor, dean, and department 

chairman. He is an author with more than a 

dozen published books and articles on computer science and business. This extensive 

expertise explains John’s approach to effecting change in the credit union system. 

Under John’s leadership, Washington credit 

unions encouraged the creation of a television 

program, BizKid$ on PBS, to teach school 

children about business. John was approached by a team of producers who were 

trying to create a program to help educate 

children about corporations, financial responsibility, and entrepreneurship. John and his staff 

brought credit unions together to finance this 

program, which is now seen by children in 

nearly every State. 

John worked to ensure credit unions would 

lend responsibly and was a driving force behind the establishment of the Business Lending School at the Northwest Credit Union Association. Through this, credit union professionals receive expert training on business 

lending issues. On John’s watch, the credit 

unions of the Northwest maintained a safe and 

sound financial position, even during times of 

overall financial instability. 

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 

recognize John Annaloro. John is a leader 

who personifies the core philosophy of credit 

unions, which is ‘‘People Helping People.’’ I 

wish him the best for his retirement. 

f 

MARINE DEBRIS ACT 

AMENDMENTS OF 2012 

SPEECH OF

HON. MIKE THOMPSON OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, 

I rise in strong support of the Marine Debris 

Act Reauthorization Amendments, which is important legislation to my district in Northern 

California and the West Coast. This bipartisan 

legislation will maintain current efforts to remove marine debris from our coastlines, provide updates on the status of marine debris, 

and prevent redundant activities among state 

and federal agencies. 

Marine debris has been a problem for our 

oceans and coasts for decades. Trash has 

been filling our oceans and thereby impacting 

human health, harming wildlife, and littering 

our favorite beaches. For over 25 years, we 

have been relying heavily on volunteers, nongovernmental organizations, and local governments to patrol our shores and pick up our 

trash. For example, in 2010 more than 5,400 

cars could have been outfitted with the tires 

found during beach cleanup efforts. The work 

of these volunteers and organizations is invaluable and they need our help. Not only in 

terms of their planned cleanup activities, but to 

help in times of catastrophic events that create 

debris that is beyond physical and fiscal capabilities to remove. 

Today, marine debris is of even more concern since a massive tsunami tragically struck 

the coastline of Japan 16 months ago. The 

disaster claimed nearly 16,000 lives, injured 

6,000, and destroyed or damaged well over a 

million buildings with 130-foot waves. 

Studies by the Japanese government estimate approximately 5 million tons of debris 

was swept into the ocean. Of that, 1.5 million 

tons are thought to be heading towards the 

West Coast of the United States. 

As the Congressional representative for the 

longest coastline in the lower 48 states, the 

impending arrival of the tsunami debris is of 

utmost concern. It is essential that we have 

fully developed contingency plans to remove 

debris that hits our shores, especially objects 

that are considered hazardous. 

Over the past few months, debris from the 

Japanese tsunami (ranging from soccer balls 

to 66-foot piers) has landed along the Pacific 

Coast of the United States. It is clear we cannot deal with this issue without proper funding 

and resources. In this economic climate, we 

need to think critically and creatively to develop funding solutions that address this increase in marine debris. 

The reauthorization of the Marine Debris 

Program by this legislation will facilitate national and international efforts to research, 

prevent, and reduce the impacts of garbage 

on our shores. Once we pass this crucial legislation, the next step is to provide funding to 

our states to handle both emergency debris 

issues and everyday trash problems. 

Marine debris is a global problem with local 

implications. More than ever, we need knowledge and guidance on marine debris and I 

urge a yes vote for H.R. 1171. 

f 

HONORING NATALIE DELL OF THE 

USA OLYMPIC TEAM 

HON. BILL SHUSTER OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ms. Natalie 

Dell, an outstanding athlete selected to the 

United States Olympic Team from the 9th 

Congressional District of Pennsylvania. I am 

very proud to announce that Natalie and her 

Olympic team earned the bronze medal in 

yesterday’s Women’s quadruple sculls boat 

event. 

Natalie Dell, raised in Clearville, PA was a 

standout track star throughout her high school 

career. Upon attending Penn State University, 

Dell decided that she had reached her full potential in track and field and wanted to pursue 

another competitive sport. She chose to begin 

rowing where she quickly fell in love with the 

sport. After graduation, she continued to hone 

her strength and technique and joined the Riverside Boating Club in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Although Natalie was less experienced 

than the rest of her peers, her talent and status advanced rapidly as she soon became a 

member of the U.S. National Rowing Team. 

Her rigorous training and the perfection of her 

skill proved to be well worth the effort. Dell 

achieved a position on the 2012 Olympic 

Women’s quadruple sculls boat and is the first 

alumnus from Penn State to row for the USA 

National Rowing Team. Her six day per week, 

two-a-day training has aptly prepared this courageous woman to represent the United States 

and the 9th district of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate this Olympic 

hero of Pennsylvania’s 9th district. With her effort and determination, this young lady is destined to do great things for our country and the 

9th district of Pennsylvania. I am very proud of 

her hard work and determination to help secure a win for the United States Olympic 

Team, and am very happy to see that all of 

her work has paid off with such an enormous 

honor. I hope you join me in congratulating 

Natalie Dell and her teammates and wishing 

the rest of our Olympic athletes well in their 

respective competitions at this year’s Games. 

f 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. JAMES B. RENACCI OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 

538 and 539, I would have voted ‘‘yea’’ on 

both. 

f 

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 

BASEBALL 

HON. RON BARBER OF ARIZONA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

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

praise and celebrate the achievements of the 

University of Arizona baseball team, which has 

been selected for induction into the University 

of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. 

This honor is extremely well deserved. 

Earlier this summer, the UA Wildcats were 

crowned national champions after winning the 

College World Series in Omaha for the fourth 

time. 

The Wildcats won the title by beating the 

South Carolina Gamecocks 4 to 1. 

This was the Wildcats’ year. They won all 

10 of their postseason games—going through 

the regionals, the super regionals and the College World Series without a loss. In those 10 

games, they outscored their opponents 88 to 

28. 

I want to especially make note of the play 

of Robert Refsnyder, the right fielder for the 

Wildcats, who was named the most valuable 

player of the 2012 College World Series. 

I also want to praise the work of Head 

Coach Andy Lopez. He previously won a national title as coach of Pepperdine University, 

and this is the first of what we expect to be 

many titles with the University of Arizona. 

The decisions Mr. Lopez made throughout 

the College World Series were crucial in Arizona’s success. I’m sure he has more national titles in his future at Arizona. 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with REMARKS