S10316 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 1, 2008 

The South Tama Community School 

District received a 2004 Harkin grant 

totaling $500,000 which it used to help 

build a new elementary school. This 

school is a modern, state-of-the-art facility that befits the educational ambitions and excellence of this school district. Indeed, it is the kind of school facility that every child in America deserves. 

Excellent schools do not just pop up 

like mushrooms after a rain. They are 

the product of vision, leadership, persistence, and a tremendous amount of 

collaboration among local officials and 

concerned citizens. I salute the entire 

staff, administration, and governance 

in the South Tama Community School 

District. In particular, I would like to 

recognize the leadership of the board of 

education—president Michelle Yuska, 

vice president Ron Hala, Jackie 

Dvorak, Mark McFate and Anne Michael and former board members G. Joe 

Lyon, Margaret Kubik, Alan Upah and 

Donald Wacha. I would also like to recognize superintendent Kerri Nelson, 

former superintendent Larry Molacek, 

business manager Joanna Hofer, former 

business manager John Legg and director of buildings and grounds Tim 

Downs. 

As we mark the 10th anniversary of 

the Harkin school grant program in 

Iowa, I am obliged to point out that 

many thousands of school buildings 

and facilities across the United States 

are in dire need of renovation or replacement. In my State of Iowa alone, 

according to a recent study, some 79 

percent of public schools need to be upgraded or repaired. The harsh reality is 

that the average age of school buildings in the United States is nearly 50 

years. 

Too often, our children visit ultramodern shopping malls and gleaming 

sports arenas on weekends but during 

the week go to school in rundown or 

antiquated facilities. This sends exactly the wrong message to our young 

people about our priorities. We have to 

do better. 

That is why I am deeply grateful to 

the professionals and parents in the 

South Tama Community School District. There is no question that a quality public education for every child is a 

top priority in that community. I salute them and wish them a very successful new school year.

f 

∑ 

WATERLOO COMMUNITY 

EDUCATION 

∑ Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, in Iowa 

and across the United States, a new 

school year has begun. As you know, 

Iowa public schools have an excellent 

reputation nationwide, and Iowa students’ test scores are among the highest in the Nation. 

I would like to take just a few minutes today to salute the dedicated 

teachers, administrators, and school 

board members in the Waterloo Community School District and to report 

on their participation in a unique Federal partnership to repair and modernize school facilities. 

This fall marks the 10th year of the 

Iowa Demonstration Construction 

Grant Program. That is its formal 

name, but it is better known among 

educators in Iowa as the program of 

Harkin grants for Iowa public schools. 

Since 1998, I have been fortunate to secure a total of $121 million for the 

State government in Iowa, which selects worthy school districts to receive 

these grants for a range of renovation 

and repair efforts—everything from updating fire safety systems to building 

new schools or renovating existing facilities. In many cases, this Federal 

funding is used to leverage public and/ 

or private local funding, so it often has 

a tremendous multiplier effect in a 

local school district. 

The Waterloo Community School 

District received 15 Harkin grants totaling $5,434,952 which it used to help 

modernize and make safety improvements throughout the district. The Waterloo Community School District received seven construction grants totaling $3,786,616 which have helped the district build Walter Cunningham School 

of Excellence, Irving Elementary 

School, Lincoln Elementary School, 

and Poyner Elementary School. The 

grants have also helped with a classroom addition and renovations at Lowell Elementary School and with renovation projects at East High School, 

West High School and Kingsley Elementary School. These schools are the 

modern, state-of-the-art facilities that 

befit the educational ambitions and excellence of this school district. Indeed, 

they are the kind of schools that every 

child in America deserves. 

The district also received eight fire 

safety grants totaling $1,648,336 to install fire alarm systems and make 

other repairs at East High School, Central Middle School, Hoover Middle 

School, Logan Middle School, Bunger 

Middle School, McKinstry Elementary 

School, and Kingsley Elementary 

School. The Federal grants have made 

it possible for the district to provide 

quality and safe schools for their students. 

Excellent schools do not just pop up 

like mushrooms after a rain. They are 

the product of vision, leadership, persistence, and a tremendous amount of 

collaboration among local officials and 

concerned citizens. I salute the entire 

staff, administration, and governance 

in the Waterloo Community School 

District. In particular, I would like to 

recognize the leadership of the board of 

education—President Bernice Richard, 

Vice President Barb Opheim, Pam Miller, Lyle Schmitt, Michael Kindschi, 

Judy Fossell and Mike Young, and 

former board members Doug Faas, Don 

Hanson, Craig Holdiman, Lance Dunn, 

Bob Heaton, Robert Krause, Robert 

Smith, and Dave Juon. I would also 

like to recognize superintendent Dr. 

Gary Norris, former superintendents 

Dr. Dewitt Jones and Dr. Arlis 

Swartzendruber, director of buildings 

and grounds Marty Metcalf, former director of buildings and grounds Jack 

Fitzgerald, board secretary Sharon 

Miller, along with a number of building 

principals including Mary Meier, Bob 

Tyson, Martin Van Roekel, Dr. Gail 

Moon, Elizabeth Crowley, Vicky 

Smith, Dr. Mary Jo Wagner, Kari 

Gunderson, Bob Wright, Dr. Loleta 

Montgomery, Brian Ortman, Phillip 

Anderson, Jennifer Hartman, Marla 

Padget, and Pam Zeigler. 

As we mark the 10th anniversary of 

the Harkin school grant program in 

Iowa, I am obliged to point out that 

many thousands of school buildings 

and facilities across the United States 

are in dire need of renovation or replacement. In my State of Iowa alone, 

according to a recent study, some 79 

percent of public schools need to be upgraded or repaired. The harsh reality is 

that the average age of school buildings in the United States is nearly 50 

years. 

Too often, our children visit ultramodern shopping malls and gleaming 

sports arenas on weekends but during 

the week go to school in rundown or 

antiquated facilities. This sends exactly the wrong message to our young 

people about our priorities. We have to 

do better. 

That is why I am deeply grateful to 

the professionals and parents in the 

Waterloo Community School District. 

There is no question that a quality 

public education for every child is a 

top priority in that community. I salute them and wish them a very successful new school year.

f 

∑ 

TRIBUTE TO VICE ADMIRAL 

CONRAD C. LAUTENBACHER, JR. 

∑ Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, although many Americans may never 

have heard of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, 

the agency plays a significant role in 

the daily lives of Americans, whether 

it is providing daily weather forecasts, 

supporting marine commerce, or monitoring our climate. 

For nearly 7 years, NOAA has been 

guided by the leadership of VADM 

Conrad C. Lautenbacher. When he retires on October 31, Admiral 

Lautenbacher will leave a lasting legacy at NOAA that has helped strengthen our knowledge and understanding of 

our oceans and atmosphere. 

Life on Earth relies on the ocean. 

Our oceans regulate our planet’s climate, support global commerce, and 

provide food. The livelihoods of millions of Americans rely on our oceans. 

Yet, we know little about what lies beneath the surface of our oceans. Ninety-five percent of our oceans are unexplored. Working with the Senate Commerce Committee, Admiral 

Lautenbacher commissioned America’s 

first ship for ocean exploration, the 

Okeanos Explorer. The ship’s missions 

will include reconnaissance to search 

unknown areas and map the deep 

seafloor. Through telepresence, the 


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October 1, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10317 

ship and its discoveries will be connected to live audiences so they can see 

what lies beneath the waters and help 

inspire a new generation of 

‘‘aquanauts.’’ 

Under Admiral Lautenbacher’s leadership, the National Weather Service 

has improved its severe weather warnings. Seconds make a difference during 

flash floods, tornados, tsunami, and severe thunderstorms. With improved 

scientific knowledge, NOAA is providing storm-based warnings that give 

the public more geographically specific 

information about severe weather. 

These storm-specific warnings allow 

first responders and those in harm’s 

way to take the necessary actions to 

protect lives and property. 

An important part of NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict 

changes in the Earth’s environment. 

Admiral Lautenbacher has led U.S. efforts working with more than 60 countries and the European Commission to 

develop the Global Earth Observation 

System of Systems, GEOSS. Earth observations are critical to our understanding of complex climate and ocean 

systems. With improved data about the 

interconnectedness of Earth systems, 

we will be better equipped to help 

emergency managers make evacuation 

decisions, to aid State and local decisionmakers in protecting coastal communities and improving infrastructure 

development, and to more accurately 

predict weather and climate changes 

that affect our economy. 

Admiral Lautenbacher also worked 

closely with Senator STEVENS and me 

to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act. This act marks a natural evolution in fisheries management because it recognizes not only the need to 

carefully manage fish populations, but 

the ocean ecosystems our fisheries occupy. 

Given the size of the U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone in the Pacific and the 

reliance of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands on the oceans, NOAA’s programs 

are of critical importance to the Pacific. More than lending technical assistance, Admiral Lautenbacher 

matched word to deed by growing 

NOAA’s capacity in the Pacific region—from establishing a new National 

Marine Fisheries Service regional office and lab, to breaking ground on a 

NOAA Pacific Regional Facility, to developing the data and environmental 

monitoring infrastructure needed to 

support science-based management. 

Admiral Lautenbacher has my gratitude and deserves our Nation’s gratitude for his dedication to public service. I wish him well as he moves into 

the next chapter of his life.

f 

∑ 

TRIBUTE TO BOB DEMERSSEMAN 

∑ Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise 

today to recognize and congratulate 

Bob DeMersseman of Rapid City, SD, 

for over 22 years of service with the 

Rapid City Economic Development 

Partnership. 

Mr. DeMersseman is retiring this December after an impressive career of 

service with the Economic Development Partnership. For 19 of the 22 

years, Bob served as president of the 

organization. During his tenure, Bob 

and his staff and the city’s economic 

development groups have created and 

expanded two industrial parks, set up 

the low-interest Rapid Fund loan fund, 

developed the Western Research Alliance to promote a growing technology 

community and created the Black Hills 

Business Development Center, an incubator to help researchers, inventors 

and entrepreneurs turn their ideas into 

commercial ventures. 

Bob has been instrumental in forging 

vital and important relationships and 

partnerships with area Chambers of 

Commerce, economic development organizations, universities and community officials. There was a time when 

local communities didn’t foster such 

working relationships and with the 

guidance and advice of leaders like 

Bob, this improved tremendously. 

Today, when one Black Hills community attracts or expands a business, 

other communities realize that they 

also benefit. 

While developing partnerships and 

relationships between communities 

and their leaders, Bob has also realized 

that economic development and attracting businesses and industries to 

the local area has become increasingly 

competitive. Bob along with other 

Rapid City and Black Hills leaders 

have done a commendable job in creating and developing more tools for the 

tool box to promote Rapid City and the 

Black Hills to national and international prospects. He has helped to 

acquire and expand land tracts for 

business and industrial parks, worked 

hard to promote and market Rapid 

City and the Black Hills communities 

and provided valuable guidance on 

issues impacting the future promotion 

and growth of Rapid City and the 

Black Hills region. He has worked hard 

to expand Rapid City’s economic base. 

Here is what a few of Bob’s peers say 

about his impact on economic development in the Rapid City area. ‘‘In my 

opinion, Bob has been at the front end 

of developing a very diversified economic development program for Rapid 

City, and he will be remembered for 

putting a lot of great things in place,’’ 

said Mark Merchen, chairman of Black 

Hills Vision, a group working to create 

a regional technology corridor. 

‘‘Bob has been such a key part of our 

team effort to create economic development in Rapid City,’’ said Pat 

Burchill, chairman of the Rapid City 

Economic Development Foundation, 

the partnership’s real estate arm. ‘‘Our 

success has a lot to do with Bob’s efforts.’’ 

I commend Bob for his passionate 

dedication and tireless work to expand 

and enhance Rapid City’s economic potential as well as helping to develop 

and promote that same potential in the 

Black Hills region. I wish him all the 

best in his retirement and know that 

he will bring a high level of enthusiasm, energy, dedication and commitment to his retirement endeavors.

f 

∑ 

REMEMBERING MICHAEL PROCTOR 

SMITH 

∑ Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, today 

I wish to celebrate the life of Michael 

Proctor Smith, who passed away at his 

home in New Orleans on Friday, September 26, 2008. He was 71. Michael, a 

native of New Orleans, was an awardwinning professional freelance photographer who chronicled the music, culture, and folklife of New Orleans and 

the State of Louisiana for over 40 

years. 

Michael was well known for documenting New Orleans social club parades and jazz funerals, neighborhood 

traditions, Mardi Gras Indians, spiritual church ceremonies, and many of 

the city and State’s renowned jazz, 

blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel 

musicians. He was a fixture at every 

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 

since it began in 1970 until his retirement in 2005. His works are internationally recognized and are permanent collections at a number of museums including the Bibliothque National in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, the Historic New Orleans Collection, the New Orleans Museum of Art, 

the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 

and the Louisiana State Museum. 

In the last few years, Michael had 

been honored with numerous awards 

celebrating his work. He received a 

Lifetime Achievement Award from the 

Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities in 2002 and was named Music Photographer of the Year by Offbeat magazine. In 2004 he received a Mayor’s Arts 

Award from the Arts Council of New 

Orleans and a Clarence John Laughlin 

Lifetime Achievement Award from the 

New Orleans/Gulf South chapter of the 

American Society of Media Photographers. In 2005, he received the 

Delgado Society award from the New 

Orleans Museum of Art, the first photographer to be so honored. The recipient of two Photographer’s Fellowships 

from the National Endowment for the 

Arts, Michael’s prints have toured 

worldwide through the U.S. Information Agency. 

Michael’s photographs grace the covers of many CDs and record albums, illustrate numerous books and magazine 

articles published in America and Europe, and are a staple of documentary 

films on the rich cultural history of 

New Orleans and Louisiana. 

He was also an original owner and 

founder of Tipitina’s, an iconic music 

club located at the corner of Napoleon 

Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street in 

uptown New Orleans. 

Michael is survived by his partner 

Karen Louise Snyder; his brother Joseph Byrd Hatchitt Smith; two daughters, Jan Lamberton Smith and Leslie 

Blackshear Smith; and three grandchildren, Chance King Doyle, Leslie 


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