E1616 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 21, 2012 

Taipei-Washington relationship is in the best 

interests of both and the stability of East Asia. 

This year, we celebrated the 33nd anniversary 

of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, 

the cornerstone of our relations with Taiwan. 

Furthermore, Taiwan has been an important 

trading partner of the U.S. Its imports of U.S. 

products and services have created thousands 

of job opportunities for our people. Many more 

thousands of Taiwanese students study at 

U.S. colleges and universities and Taiwanese 

tourists choose the United States as their 

number one overseas destination, outside of 

destinations in Asia. For all these and other 

reasons, we thank the Taiwanese people for 

their friendship and close ties to us. 

Hoosier’s of the 8th District also have an important, mutually benefiting relationship. Indiana exported products worth nearly $220 million last year, making Taiwan the 21st largest 

importer of Hoosier-made goods. As of 2011, 

Taiwan intends to purchase $4 billion worth of 

soybean and corn from Indiana; benefiting 

Hoosier farmers in one Indiana’s most important industries, agriculture. 

Additionally, Hoosier businesses such as Eli 

Lilly, the world’s biggest producer of psychiatric medications, and Cummins Engine, 

the world’s largest producer of diesel technology, both have operations in Taiwan. I am 

pleased to see discussions with Taiwan have 

recently resumed in the hopes of producing a 

free trade agreement between our two countries. 

On Republic of China (Taiwan)’s forthcoming National Day on October 10th, 2012, 

I hope our relations with Taiwan will continue 

to grow and flourish. 

May U.S.-Taiwan relations remain strong 

forever. Congratulations. 

f 

RECOGNIZING SERGEANT PAUL 

ATKINSON OF MARBLEHEAD, 

MASSACHUSETTS 

HON. JOHN F. TIERNEY OF MASSACHUSETTS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Sergeant Paul Atkinson of Marblehead, 

Massachusetts, for his efforts to assist hundreds of orphans in Afghanistan while serving 

with the Massachusetts National Guard. 

It was brought to my attention by a fellow 

resident of Marblehead, Mark Brings, and 

highlighted in an article published in the Salem 

News, that while stationed as a sergeant in 

charge of maintenance at Camp Phoenix in 

Afghanistan, Sergeant Atkinson secured the 

delivery of hundreds of mattresses and bed 

frames to two orphanages in Afghanistan 

which care for more than 700 children. 

The efforts of Sergeant Atkinson extended 

from Afghanistan to Marblehead where local 

residents, including Mark Brings and his family 

and Sergeant Atkinson’s wife, Maria, worked 

to collect, clean and deliver hundreds of 

sheets and blankets to the orphanages. 

I am pleased to recognize Sergeant Atkinson and the members of the community for 

volunteering their time providing these critical 

items to children in need, and I thank Sergeant Atkinson and all the members of our 

Nation’s armed forces for their service to the 

country. 

f 

CONGRATULATING JENNIFER 

POTTER ON HER RETIREMENT 

HON. ADAM SMITH OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise to honor and congratulate Jennifer Potter, 

the President and CEO of the Initiative for 

Global Development (IGD), on her retirement. 

Jennifer has been with IGD since its creation in 2003, helping the organization achieve 

its goal to reduce global poverty through advancing business growth and investment. During her tenure at IGD, the Seattle-based group 

grew from an idea to a widely recognized 

international organization. 

Under Jennifer’s leadership, IGD has successfully leveraged millions of dollars in investments for the developing world and 

changed the way governments and businesses engage for the better. Her commitment 

has opened up the door for employment opportunities and increased market access for 

developing communities around the world. 

Her inspirational drive and vision will be difficult to replace, as her efforts to achieve 

large-scale poverty reduction will be remembered and appreciated. 

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I 

recognize and congratulate Jennifer Potter on 

her retirement. 

f 

RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF 

NEMOURS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL 

TO ADDRESS CHILDHOOD OBESITY 

HON. DANIEL WEBSTER OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. WEBSTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased 

to recognize that September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Childhood 

obesity is increasingly becoming a national 

issue, affecting children ages 6 to 11. Recent 

studies indicate that more than one-third of 

America’s children and adolescents are overweight. Childhood obesity has been linked to 

earlier and increased risks that the child will 

develop conditions such as diabetes, high 

blood pressure, heart disease, and even cancer. National Childhood Obesity Awareness 

Month is an important opportunity to highlight 

the progress that has been made thus far, as 

well as to inspire continued efforts toward 

building a better future for the next generation. 

In order to address these growing issues, 

children’s hospitals across the nation have 

made it a priority to educate families about the 

importance of a healthy diet and fitness routine, and highlight the consequences if proper 

nutrition is disregarded. I am pleased to acknowledge that in October 2012, Central Florida will welcome a new pediatric care hospital, 

Nemours Children’s Hospital. Nemours is a 

non-profit children’s medical hospital devoted 

to the advancement of pediatric healthcare 

and research. Nemours Children’s Hospital 

has created the ‘‘Center for Integrative Pediatric Obesity Care’’ to help research and prevent childhood obesity. Not only does this 

Center conduct research and provide medical 

care to obese and overweight children, but 

they also plan to engage in community outreach programs to help parents and caregivers create healthier environments for children. 

The community and families of Central Florida are blessed to have a committed pediatric 

medical center such as Nemours. I commend 

Nemours Children’s Hospital and children’s 

hospitals across the nation for the measures 

they are undertaking to combat obesity and 

strengthen the future of America’s children. 

f 

PROHIBITING USE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 

FUNDS FOR PARTY CONVENTIONS 

SPEECH OF

HON. BETTY McCOLLUM OF MINNESOTA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 

Ms. MCCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5912. This is a misguided bill 

that repeals public financing of our national 

political conventions and allows moneyed special-interests to complete their corporate 

buyout of America’s electoral process. 

Public financing of both Democratic and Republican conventions, created in 1976 following the Watergate scandal, was designed 

to establish a safeguard against corruption in 

the political system by reducing the emphasis 

on fundraising in presidential campaigns and 

diminishing the influence of wealthy special interests. In recent years, the need to modernize the system for today’s campaign environment has become evident, but the system 

remains as critical as ever to the integrity of 

our democracy—especially in the wake of the 

Supreme Court’s Citizens United vs. FEC ruling. 

The disastrous Citizens United decision that 

unleashed nearly a billion dollars of corporate 

funding into the Presidential race has demonstrated how essential it is to restore and uphold the integrity of our elections. Passage of 

H.R. 5912 would only serve to further undermine this integrity by enabling secretive Super 

PACs and billionaires to take full control of our 

political conventions, a critical component of 

America’s electoral process. Furthermore, 

public financing plays a vital role in helping 

state and local governments offset the costs 

associated with hosting national political conventions. These costs may include property 

taxes, parking accommodations, and local law 

enforcement funding. H.R. 5912 is unfair to 

the municipalities that have the honor of 

hosting these important national events. 

The financing system for political conventions must be repaired, not repealed, to better 

serve the interests of the American people 

and protect against corruption. 

I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation. 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS