S6534 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 20, 2012 

American gymnastics captain; watching her was a remarkable lesson in 

focus. ‘‘Reliable Raisman,’’ as she was 

called, would be USA Gymnastics’ 

foundation and, with the help of her 

teammates, would compete for individual gold medals and an elusive team 

gold against the world’s best. 

The day before the all-around team 

competition, Aly’s teammate, the No. 1 

gymnast on Earth in the individual allaround, fell. A team gold now hanging 

in the balance, her teammates covered 

their mouths and fought back tears as 

their coaches nervously paced. In a 

hushed arena, the cameras and the eyes 

of tens of millions of TV viewers 

turned to Reliable Raisman, who would 

now have to turn in the performance of 

a lifetime to secure gold for the American women. 

Aly had in several previous competitions selected a modern rendition of 

‘‘Hava Nagila,’’ the popular Jewish folk 

song of celebration, as the music for 

her anything-but-routine floor exercises. Meaning ‘‘let’s rejoice’’ in Hebrew, the song seemed a natural choice 

for this young woman, whose Jewish 

heritage is a central part of her life and 

family. After steady performances in 

the vault, beam, and uneven bars, the 

opening notes of ‘‘Hava Nagila’’ rang 

through the arena for her floor exercise. Before her routine, a TV commentator remarked that for Aly to secure 

the gold would require an ‘‘unreal’’ performance and a tumbling run that 

many thought ‘‘was not possible.’’ 

Raisman exceeded expectations as she 

executed her tumbles and stuck her 

landing with a brilliant smile. This 

near-perfect floor routine solidified the 

first gymnastics all-around gold for 

American women since 1996. 

A gold medal was also on the line as 

Aly again drew the world’s attention to 

a 12-by-12 meter mat in London for the 

games’ final gymnastic event. 

Raisman’s floor routine came on the 

heels of a bronze medal in the individual balance beam competition providing her with a boost of confidence. A 

slow motion replay of her final tumbling run showed her tears of joy beginning before she stuck her final landing 

as she knew she would be the first 

American woman to win gold in the 

floor exercise. 

In closing, Aly Raisman did more 

than win our Nation’s first ever Olympic gold medal in the women’s floor exercise, did more than deliver the first 

women’ gymnastics team gold for 

American women in 16 years; Raisman 

is an inspiration for the youth of Massachusetts that with hard work and 

dedication to your craft, anything can 

be achieved. 

Mr. President, I congratulate Aly on 

her historic gold medal and wish her 

all the best in the years ahead. And to 

all our Olympians and Paralympians, 

thank you for so ably representing our 

Nation in the 30th Olympiad. 

RECOGNIZING ALASKANS 

OLYMPIANS 

Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I wish to 

recognize three outstanding Alaskans 

who won in the 2012 U.S. Olympics and 

Paralympics: Ms. Janay DeLouch who 

calls Eielson Air Force Base home, Ms. 

Shirley Reilly who hails from Barrow, 

and Mr. Seth McBride from Juneau. I 

am proud of their accomplishments and 

honored to recognize these three talented young adults. 

First, I would like to recognize Ms. 

DeLouch who competed in the women’s 

long jump and placed bronze in the 2012 

Olympic Games. Her other career highlights include placing third place in 

the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials and placing silver in the 2012 World Indoor 

Championships. She is also a two-time 

National indoor champion for 2011 and 

2012 and has placed second in the 2011 

USA Outdoor Championships. 

Ms. Reilly competed in various 

events in track and field of the 2012 

U.S. Paralympics. She placed gold in 

the women’s marathon, silver in the 

women’s 5000 m and bronze in women’s 

1500 m. An extraordinary and talented 

individual, Ms. Reilly’s other career 

accomplishments include placing first 

in the 2012 Boston Marathon, LA Marathon and Bolder Boulder (10K). She is a 

previous 2011 IPC World Championships 

Competitor and she finished second in 

the 2011 Chicago Marathon. Ms. Reilly 

has been a Paralympics Games Competitor since 2004. 

Mr. McBride placed bronze in the 

mixed wheelchair rugby event in the 

2012 U.S. Paralympics. His previous 

Paralympics experience includes placing gold in the 2008 Paralympics 

Games. Mr. McBride has competed in a 

variety of different sporting events and 

has placed gold at the 2005 World 

Wheelchair Games, the 2006 North 

American Cup, the 2006 Canada Cup, 

the 2006 World Championships, the 2008 

Canada Cup and the 2010 World Championships. 

Once again, it is my privilege to recognize these individuals for their hard 

work, dedication and their medals. 

They make Alaska proud. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO 2012 OLYMPIC BRONZE 

MEDALIST PAIGE MCPHERSON 

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I 

wish to recognize Paige McPherson of 

Sturgis, SD, who earned a bronze 

medal in Taekwondo at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, this 

summer. Despite facing the popular 

British world champion in the first 

round of competition in London, Paige 

fought her way to the bronze medal in 

the women’s 67-kilogram division. 

Paige possesses an outstanding record 

of success in Taekwondo, beginning at 

a young age and, most recently, as a 

silver medalist at the 2011 Pan American Games. She was also a successful 

member of the U.S. National Team in 

2009, 2010, and 2011. 

Growing up in Sturgis, Paige pursued 

excellence in many areas. Paige is a 

passionate dancer and an active member of her church, pursuits which, 

along with her family and friends, 

helped her accomplish the amazing feat 

of earning an Olympic medal. She graduated from Black Hills Classical Christian Academy in 2009, at which point 

she was already nationally recognized 

in Taekwondo, and went on to attend 

Miami-Dade College in Miami, FL. 

Some of her most notable awards include 2007 Outstanding Female Athlete 

at the Senior National Championships, 

2008 Chris Canning Award of Excellence 

Winner, and 2009 Outstanding Female 

Athlete at the USAT National Championships. 

Paige should be extremely proud of 

her remarkable accomplishments. I am 

more than happy to extend my congratulations on her Olympic medal and 

to offer congratulations on behalf of 

the State of South Dakota. We are extremely proud and wish her continued 

success in the years to come. 

f 

NATIONAL DAY FOR THE 

REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN 

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I 

rise today to honor the people and 

leaders of Taiwan on their National 

Day on October 10. This is a day for 

celebration, a special day that recognizes the founding of the country 101 

years ago. 

I would like to highlight the economic success of Taiwan over the last 

century—a success that has rightly 

been called a ‘‘miracle’’ and resulted in 

a strong and dynamic economy. The 

United States and Taiwan have a long 

history of mutual trade and friendship 

that has promoted economic prosperity 

on both sides of the Pacific. I am particularly pleased that the U.S.-Taiwan 

bilateral relationship has become even 

stronger in recent years. 

I also would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ambassador 

Jason Yuan, Representative of the ROC 

(Taiwan) to the United States, on his 

new post as Secretary-General of the 

National Security Council of Taiwan. I 

cherish the friendship with Ambassador Yuan and wish Ambassador and 

Madame Yuan the very best of luck in 

the future. 

I urge my colleagues to join me in 

congratulating the people of Taiwan on 

their success and thanking them for 

their continued efforts to work with 

the United States to foster a strong 

economic growth and cooperation. On 

this day of National Celebration, the 

people of both the United States and 

Taiwan have much to celebrate. 

f 

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND 

HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK 

Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, this 

week I submitted two resolutions: The 

first recognizes September 15 through 

October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month; 

the second designates the week of September 16 as ‘‘National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week’’ and honors the 


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