EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

September 13, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1507 

REAUTHORIZING CERTAIN VISA 

PROGRAMS 

SPEECH OF

HON. SAM JOHNSON OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, 

I rise in support of S. 3245, which reauthorizes 

the E-Verify Program for three years. E-Verify 

is an important tool for employers who want to 

help ensure they are employing legal workers. 

I believe that there are a few changes that 

would make E-Verify even more effective and 

user friendly than it already is, that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) 

can make without being required to do so 

statutorily. 

Prevention of identity theft in E-Verify is important and USCIS has been taking steps 

aimed at doing so. For instance, they have 

created an E-Verify photo match tool for certain individuals so that an employer can match 

a DHS database photo to the employee standing in front of them. I applaud the Department 

of Homeland Security (DHS) for taking this 

step and others, and also urge USCIS to fully 

explore other available identity authentication 

approaches through pilot programs. 

I also support DHS providing employers with 

a seamless integration of an official, electronic 

I–9 into E-Verify. The goal of an all-electronic 

system, instead of a paper-based I–9, was included in E-Verify legislation authored by 

Chairman SMITH. Combining E-Verify and the 

I–9 together will be a strong inducement for 

employers to join E-Verify. 

I have discussed these changes by DHS 

with the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, 

LAMAR SMITH, who has expressed his support. 

f 

CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL 

DOT DAY 

HON. BRUCE L. BRALEY OF IOWA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Mr. BRALEY of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to commend International Dot Day. This 

September 15th marks the annual celebration 

of International Dot Day, which encourages 

students’ creativity by asking them to make 

their own unique mark on the world. This 

year’s celebration will involve more than half 

of a million children in all fifty states and on 

six continents. 

International Dot Day was inspired by the 

children’s book ‘‘The Dot’’ by Peter H. Reynolds. The book tells the story of a student 

named Vashti who doubts her own abilities as 

an artist until her teacher encourages her to 

make a single mark on the page. The single 

dot she creates in art class and her teacher’s 

encouragement starts a journey of creativity 

and discovery for Vashti who goes on to inspire other students to be creative in their own 

ways. 

Mr. Speaker, creativity and genius are important attributes for students of all ages to 

pursue, and I applaud my constituent Terry 

Shay, an educator from Waterloo, IA, who 

founded Dot Day in 2009, to inspire his students to make their own mark. Mr. Shay has 

helped inspire other educators around the 

world to encourage their own students by 

sharing the message in Peter Reynolds’ inspirational book. 

I would like to take this opportunity to officially recognize September 15th as International Dot Day, and I wish Mr. Shay and 

other educators well as they continue encouraging creativity in their students. 

f 

HONORING MAJOR GENERAL 

JANET L. COBB, USAR 

HON. JO BONNER OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

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

congratulations to a distinguished South Alabamian who was recently promoted to the 

rank of major general in the United States 

Army Reserve. Maj. Gen. Janet Cobb’s service to her country is a credit to the professionalism and dedication of our military and 

we are proud to have her call South Alabama 

home. 

Maj. Gen. Cobb is a graduate of Foley High 

School and the University of Alabama. After 

enlisting in the Army Reserve in 1974, she 

was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 

May 1978 from the University of Alabama 

ROTC program. Maj. Gen. Cobb is a graduate 

of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff 

College and the U.S. Army War College. 

Maj. Gen. Cobb has commanded at the Detachment, Battalion, Brigade, General Officer 

and Directorate command levels. Her deployments include 1184th Transportation Terminal 

Unit, Saudi Arabia (July–November 1991), 

1184th Transportation Terminal Battalion, Port 

of Ash Shuaybah, Kuwait (November 2002– 

May 2003), 598th Transportation Group (Terminal) Rotterdam, The Netherlands (2007), 

and the Central Command Deployment & Distribution Operations Center, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (2011). In July 2012, Maj. Gen. Cobb 

completed a six-month mobilization at the 

Pentagon where she served as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), Office of the 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (G–4). She 

is currently assigned to the Pentagon as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Mobilization and 

Training (Reserve Component Integration), 

Department of the Army (G–4). 

While still a colonel, Janet commanded the 

1184th Transportation Terminal Battalion from 

Mobile during the second Gulf War. Of her 

service, the Mobile Press Register observed, 

‘‘Under Cobb’s command, the 1184th became 

well-known among coalition forces in Kuwait 

not only for unloading a record amount of U.S. 

military cargo through a Kuwaiti port in 2003, 

but also for staging a Mobile-style Mardi Gras 

parade over there, in which Moon Pies, beads 

and cups were thrown.’’ 

Her awards include the Bronze Star, the 

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf clusters, and the Joint Achievement Medal. 

In civilian life, Maj. Gen. Cobb is employed 

with Kaiser Realty, Inc. in Gulf Shores. She is 

a resident of the Barnwell community in south 

Baldwin County. 

Mr. Speaker, I join my fellow Alabamians in 

not only expressing deep pride in Maj. Gen. 

Cobb’s contributions to her country, but also in 

offering our heartfelt congratulations for her recent promotion and wish her all the best in the 

future. 

f 

RECOGNIZING PACIFIC METALLURGICAL AS A FINALIST FOR THE 

2012 KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S 

SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS 

HON. ADAM SMITH OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise to honor Pacific Metallurgical in Kent, 

Washington for being named a finalist for the 

2012 King County Executive’s Small Business 

Awards, in the Exporting Small Business of 

the Year category. The Exporting Small Business award is given to small businesses that 

have increased international sales in new and 

existing markets. 

Pacific Metallurgical is an innovative heat 

treating business that was founded in 1967. 

The family-owned company was one of the 

first commercial heat-treat suppliers in the 

King County region. The company has since 

grown and the company is today offering new 

equipment and technology worldwide. 

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 

congratulate Pacific Metallurgical. Advanced 

companies like Pacific Metallurgical help to 

stimulate our local and national economies 

through trade and growth. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO ALABAMA 

BUSINESSMAN, LARRY DRUMMOND 

HON. JO BONNER OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

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

tribute to Elbert Allen ‘‘Larry’’ Drummond, Vice 

Chairman of Drummond Company, Inc., who 

passed away on July 30, 2012, at the age 68. 

Larry Drummond was a leader among the Alabama business community and a devotee to 

preserving Alabama’s abundance of natural 

resources. 

Larry Drummond was born August 3, 1943, 

in Birmingham. His early life was spent with 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS