October 1, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10307 

Here is my energy wish list for Congress: 

Give larger and more consistent economic 

incentives for private and commercial solar 

and wind installation. Germany did this with 

solar and it is a run-away success. 

Please support solar thermal for commercial electric production!! Idaho would be a 

great spot for solar thermal farms. We could 

be a leader! 

Improve the nation’s high tension power 

grid so power can be better distributed from 

new sources like solar thermal farms. 

Give incentives to car-makers to bring the 

price down on electric plug-in cars. (See 

solar farms above for the power source.) 

Stop the coal-bed methane production in 

Wyoming and Colorado. It is ruining the environment and endangering the pronghorn, 

sage grouse, air quality and water supplies. 

It is sad to watch this happening. 

Please do not support nuclear energy. I 

lived through Chernobyl in Europe in 1986. It 

was not fun. No one has solved the nuclear 

waste problem and no one really wants the 

stuff stored for centuries in their backyard. 

More light rail systems in Idaho. I would 

use it if it was available. 

Thanks for listening—and for all your hard 

work in Congress! 

LINDA, Driggs. 

My daughter drives from Caldwell every 

day to her job as a paralegal in Boise. She is 

divorced, and her husband pays $100 per 

month child support. She has one minor 

child at home and one child is 18 years old. 

The 18-year-old drives to Boise to clean 

houses despite a continuing terrible case of 

eczema. She married a young Marine in May. 

He is stationed in Okinawa as a Private First 

Class. My daughter is on a very limited 

budget and is having great difficulty continuing to buy food for her children and pay 

for her gasoline to continue working. I am 

trying to help, but am widowed and on a limited income. My husband was a World War II 

hero, whose honors included, among over 50 

medals, two Purple Hearts and the Legion of 

Merit. We are trying to do our best to hang 

on but it gets harder every day. I paid $50 to 

fill my gas tank yesterday at a discount station. If the situation continues to decline, I 

do not know how we will continue to be able 

to drive to work or the grocery store. As of 

now, I am only driving when necessary, and 

am limiting my spending in every way. 

Thank you for your concern. 

f 

SHARON. 

TRIBUTE TO LAPRELE AND JUDGE 

LLOYD GEORGE 

Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, I rise 

today to honor a Nevada couple who 

have spent their lives contributing to 

the community, committing to their 

family, and serving as an example to us 

all. 

Lloyd and LaPrele George have 

shared more than 50 years together. 

During that half century, Lloyd served 

as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, 

graduated from Brigham Young University, and earned his juris doctorate 

from the University of California at 

Berkley. Since 1974 and an appointment to the Federal Bankruptcy Court, 

he has been known fondly in Nevada as 

Judge George. He was appointed as a 

U.S. district court judge in 1984, served 

5 years as the chief U.S. district judge, 

and assumed senior judge status in 

1997. 

I am reminded of Judge George every 

time I go to my southern Nevada office, as the newest Federal building in 

Las Vegas proudly bears his name. 

Judge George is a fixture in the Nevada 

legal community, but his reputation 

extends beyond the walls of his courthouse and beyond the borders of the 

United States. He has lectured on legal 

topics nationally and internationally 

and often serves as an ambassador, 

showing foreign dignitaries around the 

courthouse and introducing them to 

southern Nevada. 

While his name may be known by jurists around the world, his own world 

has always revolved around his wife 

LaPrele, their 4 children, and 13 grandchildren. In November, Opportunity 

Village, one of the most respected local 

organizations in Las Vegas, will honor 

the George Family with the ‘‘Order of 

the Village.’’ The Georges will be recognized for their tireless advocacy on 

behalf of people with intellectual disabilities. 

Lloyd and LaPrele’s oldest son Doug 

sparked their involvement in the special needs community. At a time when 

it was expected that children with intellectual disabilities would be sent to 

institutions, the Georges instead embraced their son and became champions 

for those with intellectual disabilities 

and an inspiration for their families. 

They were involved in the early days of 

the Clark County Association of Retarded Children, even cosigning the 

mortgage on the group’s first building. 

Over time, it evolved into Opportunity 

Village, Nevada’s largest private, notfor-profit community rehabilitation 

program. Serving more than 3,000 people a year, Opportunity Village offers 

Nevadans, like Doug George, a chance 

to earn a paycheck and feel a sense of 

independence. 

The Georges have shined the light of 

their service on southern Nevada for 

many years. We have been blessed by 

their heartfelt involvement and loving 

leadership. Judge George and LaPrele, 

thank you for your commitment to 

your family and to our community. 

There is hope and opportunity for 

many Nevadans because of you. May 

God continue to bless you and your 

family. 

f 

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS 

TRIBUTE TO FALLEN WILDLAND 

FIREFIGHTERS 

∑ Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I have a 

favorite quote about firefighters: ‘‘All 

men are created equal, then a few become firemen.’’ 

Firefighters are indeed a rare breed— 

selfless and brave. It is a tragedy when 

even one is lost. On September 1, Montana and America lost not one but 

three firefighters in an airplane crash 

as they rushed to quell the flames of a 

fire in California. Gene Wahlstrom, 

Greg Gonsioroski, and Zachary 

VanderGriend may be gone from this 

Earth, but they will never be forgotten. 

Their sacrifice and unwavering dedication to the lives of others stand as an 

example for all Americans. These brave 

men were based in Missoula, MT, and 

though they hailed from Washington 

and Utah in addition to the Big Sky 

State, I am proud to call them all Montanans. 

Gene Wahlstrom began his 35-year 

flying career as a crop duster and rose 

to the position of chief pilot for Neptune Aviation. Gene was a Vietnam 

veteran and a natural leader and mentor. Folks who knew Gene say he was a 

kind, genuine, accomplished, and loyal 

friend. 

Most folks who knew Greg 

Gonsioroski just called him ‘‘Gonzo.’’ 

He began his career as an airplane mechanic but decided to take to the skies 

himself. Greg was a native of Baker, 

MT. A family man first, father to Gabriel, Grady, and Gracelyn, and doting 

husband to Kim, he will be remembered 

as a gentle giant and a loving and patient father, husband, and friend. 

Zachary VanderGriend was a new employee with Neptune Aviation but not 

new to flying—he had dreamed of being 

a pilot since he was 2 years old. 

Zachary got his pilot’s license when he 

was 17 and spent much of his time in 

volunteer programs such as the Young 

Eagles. As noted in his eulogy, Zachary 

was a devoted Christian who loved to 

fly ‘‘because it was there he felt closest 

to God.’’ 

I believe service is one of the most 

honorable things a person can do. 

Whether it is service to ones community, State, or country, service is the 

most noble of all human endeavors. 

In Montana and indeed across much 

of the West, fires are an almost constant threat. It is the price we pay for 

living in one of the most beautiful 

places on earth. So every year we place 

our belongings, our homes and our 

lives in the hands of firefighters—too 

often without a second thought. 

The loss of Gene, Greg, and Zachary 

gives us pause. As a Montanan and an 

American, I feel tremendous sadness in 

their passing but also tremendous gratitude for the time we were graced with 

their presence.

f 

∑ 

REMEMBERING NATHAN WEXLER 

∑ Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, the State 

of Delaware lost one of its most remarkable citizens on September 10, 

with the passing of Nathan Wexler at 

the age of 97. 

I first met Nate many years ago during one of my early campaigns, when 

he showed up in my campaign headquarters offering to volunteer. From 

that day forward, though he had retired from his dry cleaning business 

and was at an age when most folks are 

ready to slow down, Nate was one of 

our most active volunteers. 

A talented artist, Nate began a second career as a professional sign painter. Indeed, one of the staples of our 

campaign’s offices was a large sign 

that he painted many years ago. I have 

had several campaigns, and several 


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