E1594 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 21, 2012 

them for more than 100 years of progress. As 

a good friend and ally of the United States, 

the Republic of China on Taiwan remains a 

peaceful and prosperous democracy, and is a 

model for nations around the world. 

I would like to take a moment and recognize 

the 23 million citizens of Taiwan for their commitment to peace. As a symbol of this commitment, the Republic of China on Taiwan recently melted down artillery shells and used 

the metal to construct a ‘‘Peace Bell.’’ President Ma Ying-jeou also proposed a peace initiative in the hope of easing the recent tensions in the East China Sea. The initiative 

calls on all parties concerned to show restraint, shelve controversies and settle disputes in a peaceful manner. It also urges all 

parties concerned to strive for a consensus on 

a code of conduct in the East China Sea, and 

to establish a mechanism for cooperation on 

exploring and developing resources in the region. We celebrate these efforts to maintain 

good relations with other countries, and the 

United States is proud to call the Republic of 

China on Taiwan a partner in peace. 

In closing, I hope my colleagues will join me 

in thanking Ambassador Yuan for his service 

along with President Ma, Vice President Wu, 

and the people of the Republic of China on 

Taiwan for their continued commitment to 

peace and democracy on this anniversary of 

their National Day. Although I am retiring from 

the United States House of Representatives, 

please be assured that my support, commitment and friendship to Taiwan will remain 

strong, and will never die. 

f 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Ms. DELAURO. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and so I missed rollcall vote No. 

585 regarding the ‘‘Andrew P. Carpenter Tax 

Act’’ (H.R. 5044). Had I been present, I would 

have voted ‘‘yes’’. 

f 

HONORING NANCY OSBORNE 

HON. DEVIN NUNES OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

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

honor Nancy Osborne, an important public figure in the Central Valley news industry, on the 

occasion of her retirement. 

Ms. Osborne graduated from Las Cruces 

High School in New Mexico and attended New 

Mexico State University for 3 years. 

Following a five year break from her education, she returned to college in the valley at 

Fresno State University. She graduated in 

1976 with a BA in Speech Communications 

and began work on a Master’s degree. 

After a year of graduate study, she accepted a reporting job at ABC30. As one of only 

a handful of women in the local broadcast industry, Nancy became a role model for many 

young women. 

In the fall of 1977, Nancy joined the anchor 

team at KFSN–TV. In 1980, she produced and 

anchored the valley’s first locally produced 

news magazine show while continuing to coanchor Action News. 

In 1996, Nancy joined the Action News 

Management Team. While continuing her coverage of the valley’s political scene and issues 

involving children and families, she was 

named Executive Producer—Special Projects. 

With this new assignment, she helped shape 

Action News around the clock. 

In January 2004, after a short hiatus, Nancy 

returned to reporting full time, once again adding her experience and expertise to the expanding daily Action News coverage while 

continuing to co-anchor Action News Live at 

Five. She also wrote a popular blog, ‘‘The 

Red, White, and True’’, which focused on stories about the Central Valley’s military personnel and families. 

In 2005, Nancy was inducted into the prestigious Silver Circle by the Northern California 

chapter of the National Academy of Television 

Arts and Sciences for her commitment of over 

25 years to the Fresno television market and 

broadcast news industry. 

Nancy has reported on countless stories 

and events important to the people of Central 

California and she has given her time and effort to numerous non-profits and charities over 

the decades. Please join me in congratulating 

Ms. Osborne on her ‘‘award-winning and trailblazing television career,’’ as she retires from 

ABC30 Action News. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF FORTY YEARS 

OF LEADERSHIP FROM CLINTON 

RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL 

HON. GARY C. PETERS OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

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

recognize the Clinton River Watershed Council 

(CRWC) as it celebrates 40 years of service to 

Southeast Michigan. Situated within Macomb 

and Oakland Counties and located in the heart 

of the Great Lakes region, the Clinton River 

watershed covers over 760 square miles that 

begins at the headwaters of the Clinton River 

in Springfield Township and stretches to its 

outlet into Lake St. Clair. 

Water has long been an important part of 

our lives in Michigan and throughout the Great 

Lakes region—it was the means through 

which Michigan became a center of industry 

and innovation during the Industrial Revolution 

and remains a critical part of our economy. 

However, as an unintended consequence of 

our success, the Clinton River and its watershed became polluted by industrial runoff and 

untreated sewage, which threatened this important natural resource in Southeast Michigan. As a response to growing public concern, 

in 1972 the CRWC was founded with a mission to protect, enhance and celebrate the 

Clinton River, its watershed and Lake St. 

Clair. 

In execution of its mission, the CRWC has 

created programs that have engaged all the 

sectors of the community in efforts to restore 

the watershed, while providing hands-on education which has instilled the value of good 

environmental stewardship. Among its programs is Adopt-a-Stream, which directly involves area residents in the water quality monitoring process. It promotes annual events like 

Clinton River Day, which brings the community 

together in dozens of sites around the watershed to participate in projects that educate, 

clean and promote the importance of the Clinton River to our region. Over its 40 years, the 

CRWC has created a clear track record of 

leveraging strong partnerships with area 

stakeholders to remove the impairments 

caused by pollution. 

The work of the CRWC has left a tangible 

impact on the communities of Southeast 

Michigan—riparian habitat has been restored, 

children have been educated on the healthy 

and active lifestyle that the watershed supports and recreational fishermen once again 

enjoy premier fisheries. Beyond these benefits 

to area residents, the CRWC’s outreach to its 

stakeholders has created important synergies 

between local governments, institutes of higher education, area businesses and advocacy 

groups, that have strengthened the vitality of 

the Southeast Michigan region. The results 

have been, not just a healthier ecosystem, but 

also increased economic activity and increased quality-of-life for our families. 

Mr. Speaker, as a proud supporter of the 

Great Lakes and the federal commitment Congress has made through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, I ask my colleagues to join 

me in recognizing the CRWC for 40 years of 

leadership in protecting, enhancing and celebrating the Clinton River, its watershed and 

Lake St. Clair. While there is still a lot of work 

left to be done to fully restore and protect our 

important natural resources, we have seen 

great progress because of the work of the 

CRWC and its sister organizations across the 

Great Lakes region. I am confident that with 

the sustained dedication of the CRWC, its 

stakeholders and its supporters, that we will 

continue to see more progress made to fully 

restore the Clinton River Area of Concern. 

f 

RECOGNIZING THE 225TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE 

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE BY THE 

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS OF 

THE UNITED STATES 

HON. JEAN SCHMIDT OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, September 20, 2012 

Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

recognize that 225 years ago the Continental 

Congress of the United States enacted the 

Northwest Ordinance, which in 1787 established a system of government that made the 

territory north and west of the Ohio River the 

first commonwealth in the world whose organic law recognized every man as free and 

equal. 

Encompassing 265,878 square miles, the 

Northwest Territory included the future states 

of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, 

and part of Minnesota. 

In addition to prohibiting slavery, the Northwest Ordinance guaranteed religious freedom 

and civil rights throughout the territory. This 

federal mandate preceded by several years 

the Bill of Rights—the first 10 Amendments to 

the U.S. Constitution. The Northwest Ordinance was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 13, 1787. 

The Continental Congress appointed Arthur 

St. Clair the first governor of the Northwest 


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