E1568 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 19, 2012 

your religious beliefs? When did religion become such a bad thing that people want to delete it from our nation’s history? I am discouraged when I see anti-religion groups forming 

throughout the nation, working hard to remove 

any mention or symbol of God or religion in 

our public spaces and resources. These 

groups claim their work is about the separation of church and state, but the government 

is not forcing anyone into religion or to pay 

tithes to any particular religious establishment. 

Religion, specifically the Judeo-Christian religion, is just simply part of our heritage, and 

the Constitution says this is a nation with freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. 

I introduced this resolution because we are 

a nation of people with the right to freely exercise our religion and many in our nation are 

religious. A 2007 PEW survey shows that 92 

percent of Americans believe in God. I also introduced this resolution because I believe the 

religious beliefs of Americans inspire them to 

do good for others, not harm. For instance, in 

2010, $298.42 billion of charitable contributions were made in the United States and 32 

percent, or $95.88 billion, went to religious organizations according to the National Park 

Service. From September 2010 to September 

2011, 64.3 million people in the United States 

volunteered and 33.2 percent did so for religious organizations, the highest percentage of 

all volunteer categories according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The freedom to exercise religious beliefs is 

vital to our nation’s citizens and an important 

part of our heritage. That’s why I am honored 

to introduce the Affirming Religious Heritage 

and Freedom in the United States Act. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO DAVID A. LINN 

HON. JEFF DENHAM OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 

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

recognize and thank Mr. David A. Linn for the 

time and energy he has dedicated to the Military Academy Nomination process by serving 

the constituents of the 19th Congressional 

District as a member of our Academy Selection Board. 

David A. Linn was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 8, 1948. In June of 1970, 

Mr. Linn was commissioned an Ensign in the 

United States Naval Reserve through Purdue 

Universities’ NROTC Program. Mr. Linn 

served his country honorably in Vietnam 

aboard the USS Virgo ammunition ship. Later, 

while still on active duty, Mr. Linn was trained 

and certified as a terrier missile systems officer by the Department of Defense. He then 

served aboard the USS Dahlgren, a guided 

missile frigate, and the USS Dale of the standing NATO forces in the Atlantic. 

After leaving active duty in 1973, Mr. Linn 

continued to serve as part of the Naval Reserve. During his reserve years, he served on 

numerous ships, participated in exercises at 

the Naval War College in Newport Rhode Island, and served on the staff of Commander 

and Chief of the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, 

Hawaii. He retired with the rank of Commander. 

As a civilian, Mr. Linn married Betty Linn, 

Publisher of the Sierra Star Newspaper. He 

received a Bachelor of Science Degree from 

Purdue University, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and a Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University. 

Mr. Linn has practiced law for the past thirty-seven years and is currently the senior partner at the law firm of Linn Law Offices in 

Oakhurst, California. He is licensed to practice 

in California and has also been admitted to 

the Bar by the United States Court of Appeals 

for the Federal Circuit, the United States 

Claims Court, and the United States Supreme 

Court. 

A sense of volunteerism has driven much of 

Mr. Linn’s life. He has served as President of 

the Oakhurst Community Fund and Oakhurst 

Community Park Association since 1984. He 

is a former President of the Oakhurst Sierra 

Rotary Club, the Eastern Madera County Bar 

Association, and the Eastern Madera County 

Chamber of Commerce. 

Mr. Linn has remained politically active 

throughout his career and in his private life. 

He has served on many councils, including 

Congressional Advisory Councils, the Congressional Business Council, and Congressional Service Academy Selection Boards for 

the past eighteen years. He was the Republican nominee for the 18th Congressional District in 1988; and in 1989, he was the Eastern 

Madera County Man of the Year. He has been 

a member of the California Republican State 

Central Committee for fourteen years and currently is a Madera County Civil Service Commissioner. 

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring 

David A. Linn for his outstanding service to his 

country and community. His expertise as a 

Naval Officer, strong academic background, 

and life experiences have made his contributions on the Academy Selection Board for 

former Representative George Radanovich 

and myself invaluable. He is a true public 

servant, and I wish him continued success in 

his future endeavors. 

f 

HONORING COLBY COLLEGE ON 

ITS BICENTENNIAL 

HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD OF MAINE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 

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

congratulate Colby College as it prepares to 

celebrate its bicentennial in 2013. 

Nearly 200 years ago, residents of Kennebec County raised over $4,000 to secure 

land for a locally-based theological institution. 

The petition establishing what was then the 

Maine Literary and Theological Institution was 

formally adopted by the Massachusetts Legislature on February 27, 1813, making it the 

33rd chartered college in the country. Today, 

Colby College enrolls over 1,800 students 

from 46 states and 76 countries. As one of the 

finest liberal arts colleges in the country, its 

graduates have gone on to become international business leaders, critically acclaimed 

writers, noted statesmen, and even members 

of my Congressional staff. 

Throughout its history, Colby College has 

fostered a culture of social justice at its very 

core. In 1833, students launched the first college-based anti-slavery society. In 1871, Colby 

College became the first all-male college in 

New England to admit women, the first of 

whom was Mary Caffrey Low, valedictorian of 

the Class of 1875 and one of the five founding 

members of the Sigma Kappa sorority. In 

1985, students successfully protested for College divestment in South Africa in protest of 

apartheid. More recently, Colby has made 

ever increasing strides to attract students with 

diverse cultural and economic backgrounds, to 

reduce the college’s carbon footprint, and to 

develop new partnerships with the community. 

The College will kick off its bicentennial 

celebration this October. Special lectures, 

panel discussions, and festivities will be held 

throughout the year both on campus, as well 

as in downtown Waterville. I am pleased to 

have the opportunity to join the community’s 

celebration of Colby, and I look forward to 

watching the College continue its growth during the years to come. 

Mr. Speaker, please join me again in congratulating the students, alumni, faculty, staff, 

and friends of Colby College as they celebrate 

their bicentennial. 

f 

CELEBRATING THE 101ST ANNIVERSARY OF DOUBLE TEN DAY 

FOR THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN 

HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO 

OF GUAM

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 

to congratulate the people of Taiwan on the 

upcoming celebration of the 101st anniversary 

of ‘‘Double Ten Day.’’ Double Ten Day traces 

its roots to the Wuchang Uprising that occurred on October 10, 1911. The Wuchang 

Uprising signaled the end of the Qing Dynasty 

and the start of a democratic movement that 

we continue to celebrate and recognize. Double Ten Day is a celebration of the birth of democracy and the Republic of China. 

I want to especially recognize the people of 

Taiwan on this important occasion. The 

strength of the relationship between the people of Taiwan and the people of the United 

States is strong and this is evidenced by the 

expansion of the U.S. visa waiver program to 

include Taiwan. Inclusion of Taiwan in the 

U.S. visa waiver program is a significant development in the relationship between both 

countries. This announcement will help to expand business opportunities as well as deepen our mutual appreciation for each other’s 

unique cultures. Exchange of our cultures is 

clearly evidenced on Guam, which is home to 

many people of Chinese ancestry. Guam continues to benefit from their cultural contributions to our community and the promotion of 

trade and economic opportunities. I congratulate the people of Taiwan on the 101st anniversary of Double Ten Day. We celebrate this 

historic occasion with them and we honor their 

friendship with the American people. 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with REMARKS