E1394 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 3, 2012 

A gifted athlete, Sergeant Hansen served as 

captain of the track, wrestling and football 

teams for the Kingsley High School Stags during his high school career. Sergeant Hansen 

also enjoyed outdoor activities such as 

snowboarding and was an avid motorcyclist— 

often doing these activities with members of 

his family. 

Sergeant Hansen graduated in 2003 from 

Kingsley High School and enlisted in the 

United States Marine Corps in 2005. He attended the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California, where he graduated with 

honors. In 2006, Sergeant Hansen was selected to participate in and graduated from the 

Basic Reconnaissance Course in Coronado, 

California. He was also stationed at Camp 

Schwab with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion in Okinawa, Japan. He was later deployed with the 31st Expeditionary Marine Unit 

and joined the Special Operations Command 

in 2009. His honors include the Purple Heart, 

two Combat Action Ribbons, two Good Conduct Medals, certified Corps Parachutist, and 

a brown belt in the U.S. Marine Corps Martial 

Arts program. 

Sergeant Hansen is survived by his parents, 

Ms. Vickie Hayes of Vanderbilt, Michigan, and 

Mr. Richard Hansen, of Williamsburg, Michigan. Sergeant Hansen is also survived by his 

stepmother, Shawna Hansen; stepfather, Steven C. Cornell; sisters, Adrienne (Matthew) 

Russell, of Traverse City, Morgan Compton 

and Veronica Compton of Kingsley; stepbrothers, Jeremy Borey, of Chicago, IL, and 

Adam Cornell, of Traverse City; stepsister, 

Jessica Borey, of Elk Rapids; grandparents, 

Wayne and Ardyce Hansen, of Traverse City, 

Ken and Sandra Sleder, of Traverse City, and 

Carol Hays, of Jackson; niece and nephew, 

Madison Goodwin and Garrett Russell, of Traverse City; aunts and uncles, Steve Hansen of 

Pacifica, California, Richard and Sue Costlow 

of Traverse City, USAF Chief MSgt. Erick M. 

and Mary Hays, of Benton, Louisiana, Lonnie 

and Valerie Schaub, of Grand Rapids, Dave 

and LeAnne Sleder, of Traverse City, Jeff and 

Bev Sleder, of Katy, Texas, and Kathy Sleder, 

of Fort Collins, Colorado; as well as a large 

extended family throughout the United States. 

I can find no words that can fully express 

my gratitude for his service to our country or 

for the sympathy I feel for family, friends, and 

loved ones by the loss of this young man. I 

know Justin’s memory will live on through our 

actions and conduct towards others. 

To Justin’s family, I can offer only the hope 

that you will find solace in the loving embrace 

of your family, friends, and the kind providence of God. I am well aware that my words 

will not soften your overwhelming grief, but I 

am reminded of the words of President Lincoln, written to a mother during the Civil War, 

‘‘I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage 

the anguish of your bereavement and leave 

you only the cherished memory of the loved 

and lost, and the solemn pride that must be 

yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon 

the altar of freedom.’’ 

On behalf of the citizens of the First District 

of Michigan, I would like to express my profound sadness for the loss of Sergeant Justin 

Hansen. Northern Michigan has certainly lost 

one of its finest, and his memory and service 

will not be forgotten. 

MARINE DEBRIS ACT 

AMENDMENTS OF 2012 

SPEECH OF

HON. SAM FARR 

OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the 

House passed H.R. 1171, known as the Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012. 

This act reauthorizes the NOAA Marine Debris Program at currently appropriated levels 

through fiscal year 2015. It has strong bipartisan support, particularly from my colleague 

DON YOUNG, who was an original co-sponsor. 

Look, nobody wants to go out on the water 

or to sit on the beach and see trash. But it’s 

not just an eyesore—marine debris is a very 

critical problem for marine ecosystems, fisheries, and shipping. Marine debris can have 

devastating impacts on the U.S. economy too. 

For instance, it is estimated that $250 million 

of marketable lobster is lost annually to derelict fishing gear, which can also cause up to 

$792 million per year in damages to boat propellers. 

Right now, an estimated 5–20 million tons of 

debris from the Japan’s tsunami are floating 

across the Pacific Ocean toward the United 

States. As this first wave of tsunami debris— 

including a 66-ft dock teaming with over 90 

non-native species—washes ashore, I am astounded by the magnitude of this disaster’s 

global impact. Cleanup costs can be huge. 

Alaska has already spent $200,000 just for 

aerial monitoring of the local debris field from 

the Japanese tsunami. While the Japanese 

tsunami debris resulted from a natural disaster, ocean trash is preventable. 

Added to the debris that’s already out 

there—is an average of 7 million tons of new 

trash dumped into the ocean each year. Solving this problem is going to require: 

Local action, national and international coordination; 

Unique partnerships between private and 

public sectors; 

Innovative technology; 

Education, Research and Prevention. 

The NOAA Marine Debris Program has 

been achieving real successes at sea and on 

shore, for a modest amount of funding. But 

this program expired in 2010 and must be reauthorized. Over the past 5 years, funding has 

ranged from 3.2 million to 4.9 million dollars. 

It is clear from the recent tsunami debris 

events—the boat off the coast of Washington 

and the dock washed ashore in Oregon—that 

the problem is growing. There is no doubt in 

my mind that the Marine Debris Program 

could effectively spend $10 million dollars a 

year—that is the magnitude of the problem. 

And that is what was authorized in 2006. As 

this bill moves through the legislative process, 

I hope we can bring up the funding levels. 

Most of these funds go to local communities in 

the form of grants for marine debris cleanup, 

education, research, and prevention efforts. 

Mr. Speaker, NOAA’s Marine Debris Program is leading the effort to address this growing problem proactively and I thank my colleagues for passing for H.R. 1171. 

HONORING FLORENCE MURNEY 

HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

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

recognize Mrs. Florence Murney, a lifelong 

resident of Chicago, who is celebrating her 

100th birthday. 

Florence Murney ne ́e Klein was born on August 9, 1912, on the southwest side of Chicago where she has resided her entire life. 

Florence is the older of two daughters of Edward and Augusta Klein; her loving younger 

sister, Dorothy Buhe, recently celebrated her 

98th birthday. Florence and her sister grew up 

in St. Raphael’s Parish where they attended 

Catholic school and developed their lifelong 

devotion to the Catholic faith. 

On May 22, 1937, Florence married Edward 

Murney at the historic St. Rita’s Church. The 

married couple lived happily in the same 

apartment building in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood as Dorothy and her husband making 

sure that Dorothy’s children would never be 

too far away from their beloved ‘‘Auntie Florence.’’ 

Florence worked as a jewelry and clothing 

saleswoman at several Chicago stores including Busch Jewelers, Bond’s Clothing store, 

and O’Keefe’s Men’s Wear. During World War 

II, Florence served our country as a true 

‘‘Rosie the Riveter’’ working in a plant that 

manufactured airplanes for the war effort. 

In 1956, Florence and her husband moved 

to a house in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago where she still resides by 

herself with no assistance. Florence remains a 

devout parishioner at St. Christina’s Church 

and is very involved with Catholic Charities. 

Florence Murney is a beloved and cherished 

aunt, great aunt, and great-great aunt to 15 

nieces and nephews. She is also the godmother to several people who are all honored 

to know her. 

I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing 

Florence Murney a happy 100th birthday, and 

to thank her for being such a great contributor 

to her community and our country. 

f 

HUDSON HIGHLANDS LAND TRUST 

AND THE WESTCHESTER LAND 

TRUST ACCREDITATION 

HON. NAN A.S. HAYWORTH OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Ms. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, it is an 

honor to recognize the Hudson Highlands 

Land Trust and the Westchester Land Trust 

for receiving accreditation from the Land Trust 

Accreditation Commission. Accreditation represents the highest standard of excellence in 

land conservation, and provides public recognition of land trusts that are engaged in the 

long-term protection of the land in the public 

interest. 

As a supporter of legislation to make permanent the tax deductions for conservation easements, I am committed to working with organizations to promote responsible stewardship of 

our nation’s most cherished natural resources. 

The Hudson Highlands Land Trust and the 


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