E1640 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 21, 2012 

STEM JOBS ACT OF 2012 

SPEECH OF

HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN OF MARYLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6429, an unnecessarily partisan bill to increase the number of visas for 

foreign students graduating with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and 

mathematics (STEM). While I strongly believe 

we should increase the number of visas for 

these students, I oppose this bill because it 

eliminates the Diversity Visa Program. There 

is broad bipartisan support to increase the 

number of STEM visas. It is unfortunate that 

the Republican Leadership brought this bill to 

the floor. President Obama highlighted his 

support for increasing the number of STEM 

visas in his 2012 State of the Union Address, 

when he stated that it made no sense to train 

foreign students with advanced STEM degrees 

and then ‘‘send them home to invent new 

products and create new jobs somewhere 

else.’’ I wish the Republican Leadership would 

have brought to the floor a bill introduced by 

Rep. ZOE LOFGREN to increase the number of 

STEM visas without eliminating the Diversity 

Visas Program. I support that legislation. 

f 

HONORING THE BICENTENNIAL OF 

LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

HON. CHARLES W. DENT OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

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

honor the bicentennial of Lehigh County, 

Pennsylvania. 

Lehigh County was established on 6 March 

1812, with my hometown of Allentown as its 

county seat. 1812 was a turbulent time for our 

nation, which was on the brink of war, but the 

young county persevered through its initial difficulties. The industrial revolution of the early 

19th Century gave rise to the growth of the 

American railroad industry, creating a massive 

demand for iron to lay tracks that would eventual span the nation. Lehigh County answered 

the call and quickly established itself as a national manufacturing powerhouse. In addition 

to manufacturing, the county also flourished as 

an agricultural center, with crops and livestock 

supported by cool waters of the Lehigh River 

and its many tributaries. Farming has been a 

staple of the region’s economy since its settling, and today remains an important way of 

life for many Lehigh County families. 

Lehigh County is home to several prominent 

colleges and universities that provide quality 

education to thousands of students each year. 

These include Cedar Crest College, DeSales 

University, Lehigh Carbon Community College, 

Muhlenberg College and Penn State Lehigh 

Valley. The county’s unique location between 

the major markets of Philadelphia and New 

York has also made it an ideal location for 

commuters looking for a better quality of life. 

Much to the delight of its residents—new 

and old—Lehigh County boasts an abundance 

of cultural, recreational, and entertainment attractions that keep it bustling with activity. The 

county is home to Dorney Park & Wildwater 

Kingdom, a popular amusement park known 

nationally for its famous 1923 wooden roller 

coaster Thunderhawk. The Lehigh Valley Zoo, 

located within the scenic 1,100-acre Trexler 

Nature Preserve, is home to more than 275 

animals representing 70 species, as well as 

one of the most impressive herds of American 

Bison in the eastern United States. Many residents fondly remember the thrill of fording the 

Jordan Creek after visiting the zoo as children. 

Lehigh County is also home to beautiful 

Coca-Cola Park, home of the Philadelphia 

Phillies’ AAA affiliate, the Lehigh Valley 

IronPigs. Residents of the county and neighboring communities are already getting excited 

for the start of the 2014–15 AHL season, 

when the Philadelphia Flyers’ affiliate, the 

Phantoms, will begin playing hockey in downtown Allentown. It is, indeed, an exciting time 

to be living in Lehigh County. 

Known for its many traditional festivals that 

highlight the area’s rich history, appreciation 

for the arts and love for the outdoors, including Das Awkscht Fescht, the Great Allentown 

Fair, Mayfair and SportsFest, countless Americans visit Lehigh County each year. Music is 

also an important component of Lehigh County’s cultural identity, and while newcomers 

may wonder what sounds a boomba makes, 

thousands of visitors flock to Allentown’s J. 

Birney Crum stadium each summer to hear 

the familiar tunes played by dozens of drum 

and bugle corps during their annual stop to 

the Lehigh Valley. 

In recognition of its 200th anniversary, the 

Lehigh County Bicentennial Committee organized four months of activities celebrating the 

county’s people, history, and culture. The festivities included the launch of the Lehigh 

County Hall of Fame to recognize residents 

who have achieved greatness in entertainment, sports, business, and other areas. The 

24 inductees of the inaugural class included 

NFL Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik of Upper 

Saucon Township, four-time Super Bowl 

champion Matt Millen of Whitehall Township, 

actress Amanda Seyfried of Allentown, actress 

Christine Taylor of Lower Macungie, famed 

Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca of Allentown, Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays, the first female 

general in the U.S. military and an Allentown 

native, and Golf Channel analyst Rich Lerner 

of South Whitehall. 

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the 

county that my family and I call home on the 

occasion of its bicentennial. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Lehigh County’s 200th anniversary. 

f 

RECOGNIZING VALLEY MEDICAL’S 

ALLIANCE WITH UW MEDICINE 

HON. ADAM SMITH OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise to honor Valley Medical Center, located in 

Renton, Washington, for being named one of 

the Best Hospitals in the Puget Sound by U.S. 

News & World Report. The hospital is also 

celebrating the one-year anniversary of Valley 

Medical Center’s alliance with University of 

Washington Medicine. The alliance has increased the availability and quality healthcare 

to the Puget Sound region. 

Since partnering with UW Medicine, Valley 

Medical Center has increased services and 

clinical expertise for residents by expanding 

coverage in neurological and thoracic surgery. 

Valley Medical Center has also expanded education and training programs. These programs 

create better access to primary care and other 

forms of specialized care when needed. The 

Best Hospitals ranking also honored Valley 

Medical Center for high performance in orthopedics, diabetes, and endocrinology. 

Valley Medical Center hopes to bring more 

expansion in clinical areas as their alliance 

with UW Medicine grows. The alliance most 

importantly hopes to reduce the overall cost of 

healthcare and make access to care readily 

available. Since the recent enactment of 

healthcare reform, Valley Medical Center’s 

clinics and UW Medicine’s neighboring clinics 

have already improved their accessibility by 

having world class specialists readily available. 

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the accomplishments of Valley Medical 

Center and the one-year anniversary of Valley 

Medical Center’s alliance with UW Medicine. I 

am confident that the alliance will strengthen 

and continue to provide remarkable care to 

the community for years to come. 

f 

ALZHEIMER’S ACTION DAY 

HON. GENE GREEN OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, 

I rise today to recognize September 21, 2012, 

as Alzheimer’s Action Day and to offer my 

support to the Alzheimer’s Association for their 

work to provide care and support for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families. 

The Alzheimer’s Association, Houston and 

Southeast Texas Chapter has served Southwest Houston since 1980, when caregivers 

Harry Walker and Al Malyn created the chapter at a local church to care for their wives. 

The organization now includes over 300 volunteers who serve 37 countries. With chapters 

like this, the Alzheimer’s Association is able to 

make a difference. I would like to congratulate 

this chapter’s hard work and accomplishments 

and thank them for their leadership in our 

community. 

Alzheimer’s disease leaves millions of 

American families in emotional and financial 

ruin. It affects more than 4 million people nationwide and will affect as many as 14 million 

by 2050. Additionally, almost 15 million Americans are caring for a person with Alzheimer’s 

disease or another dementia. 

My mother-in-law battled this disease, so I 

appreciate how devastating it can be. During 

the last Congress, I was a cosponsor of the 

National Alzheimer’s Project Act, introduced 

by our colleague Representative MARKEY. This 

important law created the Office of the National Alzheimer’s Project and called for a National Alzheimer’s Plan. During this Congress, 

I am pleased Representative MARKEY continues his efforts aimed at combating Alzheimer’s by introducing the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act, which I have cosponsored and I 

believe it deserves consideration by the 

House. 

Making advances in Alzheimer’s is a goal in 

our national interest. We must continue funding programs aimed at education, support and 


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