S6442 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 19, 2012 

Darlene ‘‘Red’’ Seeberger, their families, and his brothers-in-law John and 

Thomas Simonson, Mike Scanlan, and 

Don Distefano and sister-in-law Peggy 

Simonson. He also leaves his beloved 

grandchildren and extended family 

members. 

Al lived a life of service and was 

known for a generosity of spirit and a 

drive to help others in both his public 

and private life. 

To his family, he was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather for whom 

family was the highest priority. He 

often organized subsistence hunting 

and fishing trips for his children, where 

he passed down traditional Inupiat 

skills. He coordinated all the logistics 

for these memorable outings and even 

served as camp cook, making sure everyone was well fed. Whether 

dipnetting at the mouth of the Kenai 

River, caribou hunting outside of 

Kotzebue, or visiting the fish wheel at 

Chitina, he let his wife, children, and 

grandchildren know they were loved 

and they came first and foremost in his 

life. 

He was also a romantic and loving 

husband, planning vacations for his 

wife, Diane, to celebrate and share the 

milestones they achieved together as a 

couple. Travel was one of his favorite 

pastimes and one he loved to share 

with her. 

Although he led a very public life, he 

also was a man of many unsung good 

deeds on a personal level. Many people 

did not know he kept cash in his vehicle console to give those in need, or 

that he provided meals to those who 

were hungry. At Christmas, boxes of 

turkeys would arrive at Bean’s Cafe 

and money for holiday goody bags 

would arrive at the Friends Church. 

The individual recipients never knew 

who had lent them a hand. 

Even when Al was ill, he cared for 

others and tried to ease their worries 

with humor. He wanted others to be 

comfortable and to enjoy life. He put 

people first and was always prepared to 

serve them. He believed in God, in a 

higher power, and was a teacher and 

mentor to many. 

Publically, Al’s service to his beloved 

State improved the lives of those he 

represented in rural Alaska. His long 

career in public service began in the 

late 1960s and included 8 years in the 

Alaska State House beginning in 1980, 

during which he represented District 37 

which included the communities of the 

NANA/Maniilaq and Arctic Slope regions. From 1988–2000, he served in the 

Alaska State Senate, also representing 

the Bering Straits/Kawerak region. 

Following his retirement from the 

Alaska State Legislature, Al served as 

president of Adams Management Services and worked for the Northwest Arctic Borough and North Slope Borough 

as an adviser sharing his understanding 

of State government and how it could 

help the people of rural Alaska. 

In 2003, he began a new career as a 

lobbyist with a focus on representing 

rural and Alaska Native interests. He 

again provided a powerful voice in Juneau and Washington, DC, drawing on 

his years of State legislative experience. He brought the same passion to 

lobbying that he had as a legislator, always saying those he represented 

weren’t his clients, they were his people. He tirelessly promoted the continued successes of Mt. Edgecumbe High 

School because of the valuable opportunities it provides to develop relationships among talented young Alaska 

Native people. 

Al’s hospitality to his peers, staff, 

clients and visitors at the State capitol 

is still remembered to this day. His 

door and telephone lines were always 

open to Alaskans, no matter where 

they lived. He worked hard to guarantee rural Alaska gained its fair share 

of State funding and he joined his colleagues on statewide efforts that benefitted all Alaskans. 

An astute lawmaker, he was a master 

at understanding politics and State finances and chaired the powerful House 

Finance Committee during his 8-year 

term in the State House. He served 18 

years on the Legislative Budget and 

Audit Committee and 12 years on the 

Operating Budget Conference Committee. He served on other key committees that helped protect subsistence 

and bring needed infrastructure and social services to rural Alaska. 

He fought hard for the establishment 

and continued existence of the Power 

Coast Equalization (PCE) program; 

convincing the Alaska Legislature to 

establish an endowment to fund PCE in 

perpetuity. 

Prior to his legislative service, he 

held other positions as president of 

Kikiktagruk inupiat Corporation. He 

also served on numerous boards including the Alaska Airlines Advisory 

Board, Arctic Power, Mt. Edgecumbe 

and NANA Regional Corporation. 

When I was elected mayor of Anchorage, AK, Al met with me and reminded 

me Anchorage is Alaska’s largest Native community. When I was elected 

Senator, he continued to advise me on 

how together we could help all Alaskans. 

The people of Alaska will miss Senator Al Adams. He was a friend, a mentor, a humanitarian and an example for 

many generations of leaders. I will 

miss Al for not only his guidance on 

doing what’s right for all of the people 

of Alaska but for his wit and his friendship.∑ 

f 

PETALUMA ALL-STAR TEAM 

∑ Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am 

pleased to congratulate the 2012 

Petaluma National Little League AllStar team for capturing third place at 

the 66th Little League World Series in 

Williamsport, PA. The determination, 

sportsmanship and love of the game 

that these young athletes exhibited 

captured the imagination and support 

of people in Petaluma and throughout 

California. 

Since its establishment with three 

teams in 1939, Little League Baseball 

has grown to become the world’s largest youth sports program, enabling 

millions of children from 80 countries 

in 6 continents to enjoy and compete in 

the American pastime. This year the 

Little League World Series featured 

eight regional representatives from the 

United States and eight international 

teams. 

The Petaluma National All-Star 

team qualified for the Little League 

World Series by winning the District 35 

Tournament in Petaluma, the Section I 

Tournament in Fairfield, the NorCal 

Division II Tournament in Fremont 

and the Western Regional Tournament 

in San Bernardino. 

At the Little League World Series, 

the Petaluma All-Stars achieved several impressive and memorable feats. 

In the U.S. Championship game, the 

Petaluma All-Stars staged one of the 

biggest and most thrilling rallies in 

Little League World Series history 

when they plated 10 runs in the bottom 

of the sixth to force their game against 

the team from Goodlettsville, TN into 

extra innings. Although their valiant 

effort would ultimately fall short, the 

remarkable determination and competitiveness exhibited by these young 

athletes will forever be a part of the 

lore of the Little League World Series. 

The next day, the Petaluma team 

showed its resilience by defeating the 

team from Aguadulce, Panama to place 

third worldwide behind the eventual 

Little League World Series championship team from Tokyo, Japan and the 

U.S. Championship team from 

Goodlettsville, TN. 

I ask my colleagues to join me and 

the Petaluma community in recognizing all the members of the Petaluma 

National Little League All-Star team 

on this wonderful achievement: 

Kempton Brandis, Blake Buhrer, Logan 

Douglas, Quinton Gago, Daniel Marzo, 

Dylan Moore, James O’Hanlon, Austin 

Paretti, Porter Slate, Hance Smith, 

Bradley Smith, Cole Tomei, Andrew 

White and a team of dedicated coaches, 

parents and volunteers.

f 

∑ 

DEATH OF SACAGAWEA 

∑ Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. 

President, I wish to speak today to 

commemorate the life of Sacagawea 

and the impacts her life has had on the 

development of our great Nation. While 

there is some controversy regarding 

the death of Sacagawea, most research 

indicates that this year marks the 

200th anniversary of her reported death 

in present day South Dakota. 

Sacagawea is historically most famous for guiding Captains Meriwether 

Lewis and William Clark, along with 

her husband and infant son, on U.S. 

President Thomas Jefferson’s Corps of 

Northwestern Discovery expedition to 

the Pacific Coast and back from 1804 to 

1806. 

Sacagawea, the daughter of a Shoshone chief, was born around 1788 in 

present-day Idaho. At a young age, she 

was captured by the enemies of the 


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September 19, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6443 

Shoshones, the Hidatsa, and sold to a 

French-Canadian trapper named Toussaint Charbonneau. Charbonneau married Sacagawea and the two lived 

among the Mandan and Hidatsa tribes 

of the upper Missouri river in presentday North Dakota. When Lewis and 

Clark came to the area on their journey in November of 1804, they commissioned Charbonneau and Sacagawea, 

who was with child, to serve as interpreters. With the help and knowledge 

of Sacagawea, the Lewis and Clark expedition reached the Pacific Ocean in 

November of 1805. 

It was reported that Sacagawea died 

on December 20, 1812, at Fort Manuel 

Lisa, which overlooked the Missouri 

River near the present-day city of 

Kenel, in Corson County, SD. John 

Luttig, the trading post’s clerk, wrote: 

‘‘This evening the wife of Charbonneau, 

a Snake Woman, died of a putrid fever. 

Aged about 25 years. She left an infant 

girl.’’ 

Though Sacagawea had a short and 

difficult life, her legacy still lives on. 

The celebration of her life also gives us 

a great opportunity to recognize the 

rich culture and heritage of our Native 

American tribes. As we bear in mind 

her life, death, and impact, I encourage 

everyone to join in also commemorating the unique culture of the indigenous peoples of the United States. 

Later this month, the Lewis and 

Clark Trail Heritage Foundation will 

be holding their regional meeting in 

Fort Pierre, SD. The South Dakota 

Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail 

Heritage Foundation, Encounters on 

the Prairie, will be hosting this regional meeting which will be commemorating the 200th anniversary of 

Sacagawea’s reported death. I am 

proud to speak about the rich piece of 

our Nation’s history she was a part of. 

Her memory and the heritage in which 

she embodies, continues to inspire us 

in South Dakota and across the Nation.∑ 

∑ Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I 

wish to recognize the 200th Anniversary of the reported death of 

Sacagawea within the borders of what 

is now South Dakota. At this time I 

would like to commemorate her for her 

contributions to the Lewis and Clark 

Expedition. 

Sacagawea accompanied Meriwether 

Lewis and William Clark on the Northwestern Discovery Expedition to the 

Pacific Coast for the U.S. President 

Thomas Jefferson’s Corps. In recognition of her service and bravery, the 

Central South Dakota Chapter of the 

Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, known as Keepers of the Story, 

Stewards of the Trail, are hosting a regional meeting September 28, 29, and 

30, 2012. The meeting will be open to 

the public in the cities of Fort Pierre, 

Pierre, Mobridge, and Kenel, SD. To 

help commemorate the bicentennial of 

the reported death of Sacagawea, the 

Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation will travel to Fort Manuel Lisa. 

The story of Sacagawea, while short, 

is one of great success and worthy of 

remembrance. Her guidance and interpretation were vital to Lewis and 

Clark’s journey. I hope my fellow colleagues will help me commemorate the 

200th anniversary of the reported death 

of Sacagawea by recognizing her sacrifice and efforts.

f 

∑ 

NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA 

∑ Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I 

take this opportunity to recognize and 

celebrate the 125th anniversary of National City, located in San Diego County, CA. 

National City was founded in 1868 and 

incorporated on September 17, 1887, 

making it the second oldest city in San 

Diego County. The land on which it 

stands had earlier been an Indian 

rancheria, home of Apusquele band of 

the Hamacha tribe. In 1769 it had become one of the ranches used by the 

Mission San Diego de Alcala, and the 

padres called it La Purisima Concepcion. 

In the late 19th century, National 

City pioneered the shipping and transportation systems for San Diego, constructing the area’s first wharf and introducing the first transcontinental 

railroad terminus; the National City 

Depot, built in 1882, is the last one 

standing out of the original five transcontinental terminus railroad stations 

and is designated as a California historical landmark. Another local cultural treasure ‘‘Brick Row,’’ built in 

1887 is the only Philadelphia-style row 

housing in the southwestern United 

States and is listed in the National 

Register of Historic Places. 

Today, National City’s 3-mile-long 

port along San Diego Bay is part of 

Naval Base San Diego, the largest U.S. 

Navy base on the west coast. In addition to its leading role as a naval gateway, National City is considered a 

symbolic link between San Diego and 

Mexico. 

On September 22, residents of National City will gather for a citywide 

125th anniversary picnic at Kimball 

Park. I congratulate the people of National City on this special occasion and 

salute their rich history and wonderful 

community spirit.

f 

∑ 

REMEMBERING JOE GARLAND 

∑ Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, last summer Massachusetts lost a gentleman, 

the fishing industry lost an icon and I 

lost a friend. For years Joe Garland 

served as the unofficial historian of 

Gloucester, MA—its fishermen, its 

boats and its life. If you visit the Fisherman’s Memorial on Gloucester’s waterfront on a stormy winter day, the 

statue of the Heroic Mariner seems to 

be steering the whole town into the 

wind toward fair weather. And if you 

look closely at the statue, you can almost see Joe Garland in its carved 

granite face, full of grit and determination, guiding his beloved Gloucester 

through headwinds and troubled 

waters. 

He’s been gone for more than a year 

now, but his memory lives on through 

his loving wife Helen, his family, his 

friends and through the continuing legacy of the schooner Adventure. 

In my Boston office, I have a copy of 

his book about the Adventure, which 

he helped to restore. When I received it 

many years ago, it arrived with an invitation from Joe to tour the schooner 

and, of course, I didn’t waste any time 

accepting his invitation. He welcomed 

me aboard, and his tour made the Adventure’s history come alive—from its 

construction in 1926 through its career 

as a ‘‘highliner,’’ the biggest moneymaker of them all, landing nearly $4 

million worth of cod and halibut during 

her career. 

As Joe himself once wrote, ‘‘The Adventure is a survivor, not a vision. She 

is here, real and beautiful . . . I can 

stand on those decks with the wholesail breeze, arms hooked into the rigging, and watch her go, watch the 

miles bubble out from under the stern 

as they have done now for more than 

fifty [now nearing 100] years. She is 

fantastic!’’ 

As we celebrate the historic restoration of the Adventure, and celebrate 

Joe’s incredible life, I know that he is 

smiling down on us today, on what 

would have been his 90th birthday. Mr. 

President, the world weathers so many 

storms, but at the center of each we 

find people of character who revive our 

hope and give us strength. Joe Garland 

was such a man, and we are all blessed 

to have had his strength and his character as an example, and we are equally blessed that he left us with such a 

marvelous schooner, the Adventure, as 

an enduring reminder of his life.

f 

∑ 

TRIBUTE TO DAVID WOOD 

∑ Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, today 

I wish to recognize the career of David 

Wood, the founding Executive Director 

of Affordable Housing, Education and 

Development (AHEAD), Inc. in Littleton, New Hampshire. After over 20 

years of hard work to make affordable 

housing and home ownership a reality 

for hundreds of NH families, David will 

step down from his position at the end 

of this year. I would like to take this 

opportunity to thank him for his remarkable commitment to helping 

those in need. 

Since 1991, AHEAD has provided safe 

and affordable rental housing, family 

support, and financial education to 

thousands of people living in rural 

northern New Hampshire. Under David’s direction, the organization now 

owns and operates 304 units of affordable multifamily rental housing in 

nine communities in our State. Furthermore, AHEAD has assisted more 

than 600 families buying their first 

homes and helped rescue another 250 

households facing foreclosures. 

AHEAD has received numerous 

awards over the last 20 years in recognition of the positive impact that 

David and his staff have brought to our 


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