September 21, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1651 

Shalimar, Florida. The county provided a state 

of the art building designed to hold 500 students; however, the school did not have an official name, so the local newspaper held a 

countywide naming contest. After the votes 

were counted, Choctawhatchee High School 

was declared the winner. Choctawhatchee— 

derived from a Creek Indian word meaning 

‘‘coming together’’—was a fitting moniker for a 

school that would unite students from all 

across Okaloosa County. 

Choctawhatchee High School opened its 

doors on September 22, 1962 in Shalimar, 

Florida; however, after four years, the school 

had already exceeded its capacity, and the 

school relocated to its present location in Fort 

Walton Beach, Florida. From day one, 

Choctawhatchee established itself as an institution of academic excellence committed to 

educating each and every student. Nearly 

20,000 students have graduated from the 

school since its opening, with many of them 

going on to achieve success in fields ranging 

from our military and space exploration to professional athletics and business. 

Thanks to the dedicated support of teachers, staff, alumni and the entire community, 

Choctawhatchee has continued to excel and 

reach new heights. Today, the school offers 

the only International Baccalaureate program 

in Okaloosa County, Florida, more than a 

dozen Advanced Placement classes, an aviation program offered in partnership with 

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, duel enrollment college courses with Northwest Florida State College, computer and electrical engineering programs in conjunction with the 

University of West Florida, as well as a successful Air Force Junior ROTC program. 

Choctawhatchee also has a long and successful athletics program. In fact, the school’s 

tradition of having a student ride a horse onto 

the field prior to football games served as the 

inspiration for a similar tradition at Florida 

State University. Whether it is on the playing 

field or in the classroom, Choctawhatchee 

High School’s commitment to excellence has 

served as an inspiration and point of pride for 

the entire Northwest Florida community. 

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire United 

States Congress, it is an honor for me to rise 

today to recognize the 60th anniversary of 

Choctawhatchee High School. The Mayor and 

City Council of Fort Walton Beach have declared Friday, September 21, 2012, as 

Choctawhatchee High School Day. My wife 

Vicki and I join the entire Northwest Florida 

community in congratulating Choctawhatchee 

High School on their 60th anniversary and 

wishing them continued success. 

f 

HONORING MISSION EARLY 

COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL 

HON. SILVESTRE REYES OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 

recognition of the achievements of Mission 

Early College High School. Mission Early College was recently honored with the 2012 National Blue Ribbon award from the United 

States Department of Education for excellence 

in education. 

The National Blue Ribbon School award 

honors both public and private elementary, 

middle and high schools where students 

achieve at high levels and also schools where 

the achievement gap is narrowing. Since 

1982, more than 6,700 of America’s schools 

have received this coveted award. 

I want to personally congratulate the teachers, administrators, and staff of Mission Early 

College High School for their commitment and 

dedication to our young students in El Paso. 

This year only 269 schools nationwide received the award, and a ceremony in Washington, D.C. will honor their achievement. The 

Blue Ribbon validates the efforts of these 

schools in creating a positive and effective 

learning environment. These schools and their 

communities have achieved a degree of excellence of which they can justifiably be proud. 

Mission Early College is a fine example of 

what can be accomplished when parents, 

teachers and administrators collaborate to prepare our students for a prosperous future. By 

emphasizing the importance of leadership, 

hard work, and dedication, Mission Early College is enabling a new generation of community leaders. In fact, upon completion of their 

high school career at Mission Early College 

High School, students not only graduate with 

a high school diploma, but can also earn up 

to 60 hours of college credit and an associate’s degree. This opportunity for excellence 

and achievement is giving many students an 

early and critical exposure to college academics. 

In times of economic uncertainty, we cannot 

lose sight of the paramount importance of our 

children’s education, and I am honored to represent Mission Early College High School. 

f 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. MARTIN HEINRICH OF NEW MEXICO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. Speaker, on September 

14, 2012, I unfortunately missed four votes, 

which included rollcall Nos. 581, 582, 583 and 

584. 

If I had been present, I would have voted 

‘‘yes’’ on rollcall vote 581. 

If I had been present, I would have voted 

‘‘yes’’ on rollcall vote 582. 

If I had been present, I would have voted 

‘‘yes’’ on rollcall vote 583. 

If I had been present, I would have voted 

‘‘no’’ on rollcall vote 584. 

f 

RECOGNIZING THE RENTON 

HOUSING AUTHORITY 

HON. ADAM SMITH OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise to honor the Renton Housing Authority 

and congratulate them on the successes of 

the Sunset Area Community Revitalization 

Program. The commitment of all who work 

with the Renton Housing Authority has been 

instrumental in providing quality, affordable, 

and safe housing options for low-income individuals and families. 

The Renton Housing Authority was established in 1941 to provide middle and low-income workers affordable housing near the 

Boeing B–29 and PACAR Sherman Tank 

manufacturing lines. In 1959, the Renton 

Housing Authority constructed Sunset Terrace. 

The Sunset Area Community Revitalization 

Program is focused on the redevelopment of 

the Sunset Terrace public housing project. 

This effort is an important community enhancement that will help all residents of 

Renton, Washington have a safe place to call 

home. 

The Sunset Area Community Revitalization 

Program will also receive a 2012 VISION 2040 

Award from the Puget Sound Regional Council. This award is given to projects that are 

finding solutions to the Puget Sound region’s 

expected growth, specifically projects that promote the well-being of our communities and 

economic vitality. 

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the valuable contributions of the 

Renton Housing Authority. The organization’s 

dedication to helping people in our communities is laudable. 

f 

CONCERNS FOR ECUADOR 

HON. DAVID RIVERA OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, I am gravely 

concerned about the deteriorating human 

rights situation, democratic shortcomings, and 

increased drug trafficking in Ecuador. 

Corruption, inefficiency, and political influence have plagued the Ecuadorian judiciary 

for many years. In a referendum held in May 

2011, President Rafael Correa obtained a 

mandate for constitutional reforms that could 

significantly increase government powers to 

constrain media and influence the appointment 

and dismissal of judges. President Correa 

continues to weaken the democratic electoral 

process by appointing government supporters 

as authorities in all branches of government. 

Ecuador’s Criminal Code has provisions that 

restrict freedom of expression and government 

officials use these laws against the ruling party’s critics. The ‘‘desacato’’ (lack of respect) 

clause enables the Ecuadorian government to 

imprison and prosecute anyone who offends 

the president or a government official. 

President Correa has taken action to 

strengthen trade relations with Iran, a U.S.- 

designated State Sponsor of Terrorism. Iran 

has reduced tariffs for seven Ecuadorian products as well as signed an agreement to supply 

oil products during 2012 and 2013 to Ecuador. 

President Correa has expressed his desire to 

continue trading with Iran and bilateral visits 

between Correa and Iranian dictator Mahmoud 

Ahmadinejad occur frequently. 

With its location between the two largest cocaine producing countries in the world, Peru 

and Colombia, Ecuador is a major transit 

country for narcotics. Ecuador’s porous borders and increased participation in the drug 

trade makes the country very vulnerable to organized crime. Counternarcotics cooperation 

with the United States is and should remain a 

major focus of U.S. assistance to Ecuador. 

Recently I met with Sociedad Ecuatoriana 

del Exterior (SEDE), an organization dedicated 

to fostering freedom and democracy in Ecuador and promoting the wellbeing of Ecuadorian-American citizens. I am asking for 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS