S10320 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 1, 2008 

its students, its development of individual self-worth, and a curriculum 

which promotes clear thinking and 

communication skills. 

The college that time and again was 

the defining force behind so many students and graduates in the last century 

will now be the university that will 

propel new generations into this age 

and beyond, and it will do so with the 

same bedrock foundation that places 

the individual education of each student first and the forward-looking 

focus that enables Husson students and 

graduates to set and reach any goal. 

Husson University understands, conveys, and puts into action what the 

English poet, Robert Browning, once so 

eloquently expressed in words ‘‘a man’s 

reach should exceed his grasp or what’s 

a Heaven for?’’

f 

∑ 

FISHMAN REALTY GROUP 

∑ Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I 

recognize Fishman Realty Group of 

Portland, a 12 person real estate firm 

providing vital assistance to naval personnel transitioning from Brunswick 

Naval Air Station in my home State of 

Maine as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure round. In this 

effort, Fishman Realty Group manages 

the Army Corps of Engineers’ Homeowners’ Assistance Program, a crucial 

initiative that enables departing Navy 

personnel to sell their homes to the 

Federal government. In turn, service 

members and their families are able to 

purchase homes elsewhere without 

missing a step in not only their service, but also their livelihood. Given the 

housing crisis our country is currently 

facing, fostering a smooth transition 

for our service members is an absolute 

necessity. 

With the Brunswick Naval air Station slated for closure in 2011, the prospect that our current precarious housing market would hinder naval families 

from selling their homes is certainly 

unsettling. For instance, service members reassigned to another base could 

potentially face large losses on their 

homes—impeding the ability of these 

men and women to purchase homes 

elsewhere and continue their duties. 

That is why Fishman Realty Group 

has proven to be a beacon in combating 

markets depressed by crumbling housing prices. Through the Homeowners’ 

Assistance Program, Fishman Realty 

Group is responsible for maintaining 

and listing the properties that the government has acquired from the departing personnel, preventing financial loss 

for their families, and protecting an already depressed market from further 

economic turmoil. As the sailors of 

Brunswick Naval Air Station depart, 

they need not fear that their homes 

will become financial burdens. 

The effort of Fishman Realty Group 

is a shining example of how small businesses can make a tangible and tremendous difference during an economic 

downturn. Founded by Alan Fishman 

in 1987, Fishman Realty Group offers 

full service real estate brokering and 

property management throughout the 

greater Portland area. Additionally, 

the firm couples these offerings with 

local appraisers, lenders, and engineers; and facilitates transactions 

within and around the Portland community. In these challenging times for 

the housing market, it is a testament 

to Fishman Realty Group’s business integrity that it reaches out to help military families, demonstrating that their 

business ethic is fundamentally 

grounded in putting others first. 

In 21 years of service to Portland 

communities, Fishman Realty Group 

has transformed landscapes and expanded opportunities for hundreds of 

businesses and families. I wish 

Fishman Realty Group and its employees continued success, and I thank 

them for their commitment to the 

community of Brunswick Naval Air 

Station.∑ 

f 

UNITED RADIO BROADCASTERS 

∑ Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, today I 

wish to briefly discuss some of the 

amazing efforts broadcasters have 

made and are currently undertaking 

not due to government mandates or 

regulation, but rather as stewards of 

the public airwaves and as proud members of their local communities. 

We all know how my home State and 

our gulf neighbors were ravaged by the 

2005 hurricane season. What many do 

not realize however is that our local 

broadcasters performed heroically during this traumatic time. Despite personal losses and risks to their own 

safety, broadcasters worked feverishly 

to keep their signals on the air before, 

during, and after these devastating 

storms. Their efforts in the wake of 

Hurricane Katrina literally proved to 

be a life line to many victims who were 

stranded by the storm. 

Even when towers did go down during 

Katrina, the citizens of Louisiana witnessed a rare phenomenon in today’s 

world. Radio broadcasters, who were 

competitors just the day before, banded 

together combining resources and personnel to establish the United Radio 

Broadcasters of New Orleans. By putting aside self interests, the United 

Radio Broadcasters were able to keep 

the citizens of Louisiana up to date 

with vital and even life saving information. 

Today, we continue to see similar efforts benefiting communities across 

the country. For example, in a recent 

edition of Radio Guide, there is an inspiring article about steps one broadcaster is taking to improve its connection to the local community in times 

of need. Clear Channel has unveiled a 

series of emergency response teams 

that can be deployed to areas hit by 

natural disasters. Specifically, these 

teams operate as radio stations on 

wheels. Armed with mobile towers, 

generators, satellite/Internet connectivity, and other radio infrastructure 

needs, they have the ability to keep a 

station on the air even if the station’s 

permanent studio or tower is knocked 

out of commission. Some of these 

emergency assets were successfully deployed in Baton Rouge during Hurricane Gustav last month. While it is my 

hope that these capabilities rarely, if 

ever, have to be used, it is comforting 

to know they are at the ready. 

This endeavor and similar investments being made by broadcasters 

across the country represent a strong 

commitment to serving local communities. While many here in Washington 

want to increase the level of regulation 

placed upon local broadcasters, I would 

point out that the examples I spoke of 

today were not dictated from some federal agency. Rather, these efforts were 

voluntarily undertaken by the men and 

women who are committed to serving 

the needs of their local listeners.

f 

∑ 

MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT 

Messages from the President of the 

United States were communicated to 

the Senate by Mrs. Neiman, one of his 

secretaries. 

f 

EXECUTIVE MESSAGES REFERRED 

As in executive session the Presiding 

Officer laid before the Senate messages 

from the President of the United 

States submitting sundry nominations 

which were referred to the appropriate 

committees. 

(The nominations received today are 

printed at the end of the Senate proceedings.) 

f 

MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE RECEIVED DURING RECESS ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 

ENROLLED BILLS SIGNED 

Under the authority of the order of 

the Senate of January 3, 2008, the Secretary of the Senate, on September 29, 

2008, during the recess of the Senate, 

received a message from the House of 

Representatives announcing that the 

Speaker pro tempore (Mr. HOYER) had 

signed the following enrolled bills: 

S. 2162. An act to improve the treatment 

and services provided by the Department of 

Veterans Affairs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, and for other purposes. 

S. 2840. An act to establish a liaison with 

the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 

United States Citizenship and Immigration 

Services to expedite naturalization applications filed by members of the Armed Forces 

and to establish a deadline for processing 

such applications. 

S. 2982. An act to amend the Runaway and 

Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations, and for other purposes. 

S. 3597. An act to provide that funds allocated for community food projects for fiscal 

year 2008 shall remain available until September 30, 2009. 

H.R. 1157. An act to amend the Public 

Health Service Act to authorize the Director 

of the National Institute of Environmental 

Health Sciences to make grants for the development and operation of research centers 


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