E1516 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 13, 2012 

Before taking a position in the State House, 

Representative Williams began her career in 

criminal justice. She served as a member of 

the United States Army Reserve between 

1987 and 1995. She later held positions as a 

corrections officer, probation officer, parole officer and mediator. 

Her first job in the State House was as a 

legislative aide, a position she held for five 

years while gaining much needed insight and 

credentials that eventually earned her the trust 

of the voters she would soon represent. Representative Williams was first elected to be a 

State Representative in 2006 and is now in 

her third term. She is a ranking member of the 

House Public Utilities Committee and a member of the Criminal Justice and Economic and 

Small Business Committees. 

In addition to her legislative career, Representative Williams is a member of the Federated Democratic Women of Ohio, the National Council of Negro Women, the Improved 

Benevolent and Protective order of Elks, Ohio 

Democratic Women’s Caucus, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Black Women’s Political Action 

Committee. She also donates much of her 

time to the Cleveland Food Bank as a volunteer and is a former Street Club President and 

precinct committee person. 

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me 

in honoring the achievements of State Representative Sandra Williams. 

f 

RECOGNIZING THE GROUND 

BREAKING OF THE 9/11 MEMORIAL AT SOUTH KING FIRE AND 

RESCUE 

HON. ADAM SMITH OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise to recognize the groundbreaking of the 9/ 

11 Memorial at the South King Fire and Rescue Station 64 in Federal Way, Washington. 

The memorial will include a steel beam from 

the World Trade Center to honor the firefighters, police officers, and citizens who lost 

their lives when terrorists coordinated the attacks on September 11, 2001. 

In 2011, Lt. Scott Mahlen and firefighter 

Sven Schievink drove to New York to retrieve 

the beam. During the 55 hour-long journey, 

the men were supported by friends and fire 

stations across the country. After returning to 

Federal Way, the community worked for the 

next year to raise money for the memorial. 

The South King Firefighters Foundation 

plans to finish the memorial by September 11, 

2013. This project serves as a reminder of 

how deeply the tragedy of 9/11 affected Americans across the country, and the steel from 

this beam represents the strength and resilience of the United States in the aftermath of 

unimaginable tragedy. 

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the work of the men and women of 

South King Fire and Rescue to construct a 

powerful memorial for the victims of the 9/11 

attacks. When completed, this memorial will 

be an important reminder of those who lost 

their lives and the men and women who continue to protect our country every day. 

HONORING THE CENTER FOR 

INDEPENDENT LIVING 

HON. BARBARA LEE OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to honor the 40th Anniversary of the 

Center for Independent Living, Inc. (CIL). For 

four decades, CIL has continued to champion 

the rights and abilities of people with disabilities to lead self-determined lives marked by 

activism, equality and community engagement. 

The first organization of its kind, CIL has 

made the Bay Area an international model of 

accessibility, inspiring Independent Living centers in 20 other countries, as well as 400 facilities in the U.S. alone. 

This evening, supporters and friends, including esteemed California Governor, Edmund 

Gerald ‘‘Jerry’’ Brown, Jr., gather in the birthplace of the independent living movement, 

Berkeley, CA. Moreover, the festivities take 

place at the new, fully accessible Ed Roberts 

Campus disability service center and transit 

hub—named for the local founding father of 

the disability rights movement, Ed Roberts, 

who was also one of CIL’s co-creators. Someone I had the honor to know and work with. 

In 1972, what started as a student-organized Physically Disabled Students Program 

(PDSP) at the University of California, Berkeley branched into the formal incorporation of a 

Center for Independent Living cofounded by 

students Ed Roberts, Hale Zukas and Jan 

McEwan Brown along with community supporters. In the years that followed, CIL became a powerful catalyst for pervasive social 

change. 

Operating on the principle that people with 

disabilities know best how to meet the needs 

of others with disabilities and that the strongest most vibrant communities are those that 

embrace all people, CIL has been a driving 

force in shaping public policy. Its successes 

include state and federal disability rights laws, 

including, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 

and the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

From early insistence on Berkeley curb cuts 

and transit station elevators, to working directly with municipal and state agencies and 

hosting the first National Conference on Independent Living in 1975, CIL became an integral support network—giving people the 

knowledge and tools to assert their civil rights. 

In accordance with a core tenet of CIL’s 

mission, the Center provides comprehensive 

programs with wraparound services that most 

effectively meet the needs of people with disabilities. Working with federal, state, county, 

city and private funding, CIL provides services 

in assistive technology and repairs, employment and housing, building modifications, 

Independent Living skills, Deaf Services, information counseling, referrals, personal attendants, travel training, and networking for community organizing. CIL’s Employment Academy and Living Well Senior Program, as well 

as its Mentors, Advocacy and Peer Services 

(M.A.P.S) program for physically disabled 

youth and young adults, offer targeted income, 

wellbeing and mentorship benefits. 

As someone with a sister who has been disabled with Multiple Sclerosis since 1974, I personally know the many challenges faced by 

people with disabilities. Therefore, I honor and 

salute the Center for Independent Living for its 

vision and steadfast hard work in meeting 

these challenges in magnificent ways. 

CIL has proven that communities benefit 

when people with disabilities are given opportunities to live, work and participate as equal 

citizens. The Center for Independent Living is 

more than a destination for disability services; 

It’s a gathering place, a place to find common 

cause and friendship, and a place to learn and 

grow. Ultimately, CIL is a place that teaches 

and empowers all of us to strive for independence through social and economic equality. 

On behalf of California’s 9th Congressional 

District, I want to extend my congratulations 

on this important, 40-year milestone. I thank 

all of the many people who have contributed 

to the continued success of the Center for 

Independent Living, Inc. and wish you the very 

best in the coming years. 

f 

IN HONOR OF OHIO STATE REPRESENTATIVE ARMOND BUDISH 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 

honor of State Representative Armond Budish 

of Ohio’s 8th House District. 

In 2006, Budish was elected as a State 

Representative to the 127th General Assembly. He was named Speaker of the House for 

the 128th General Assembly and is currently 

the Democratic Leader of the House for the 

129th General Assembly. Leader Budish is a 

Ranking Minority Member of the Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities Committee and a member of the Unified LongTerm Care Budget workgroup. 

Leader Budish received his Bachelor’s Degree with Honors from Swarthmore College 

and his Juris Doctorate, Order of the Coif from 

the New York University Law School. Upon 

graduation, he clerked in Washington D.C. for 

a Federal Judge. He later joined the Hahn 

Loeser and Parks law firm in Cleveland, Ohio. 

In 1993, he opened the Budish, Solomon, 

Steiner and Peck law firm in Beachwood, Ohio 

which specializes in consumer and elder law 

and continues to act as partner. 

In addition to his position as Democratic 

Leader, Representative Budish hosts ‘‘Golden 

Opportunities,’’ a television show on the local 

Channel 3 news station aimed at informing 

seniors and their families. He has also written 

several books and national publications and 

has penned a column for The Cleveland Plain 

Dealer and Columbus Dispatch entitled, ‘‘You 

and the Law,’’ for the past 25 years. 

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me 

in honoring the achievements of State Representative Armond Budish. 

f 

CONGRATULATING JAMESVILLE 

MIDDLE SCHOOL ON THEIR DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL BLUE 

RIBBON SCHOOL 

HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 13, 2012 

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to 

congratulate Jamesville Middle School in 


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