October 3, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E2241 

such as California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin over the last few years. 

H.R. 2352 seeks to curb that stem of violence. 

H.R. 2352 increases authorized annual 

funding from $30 million to $50 million for FY 

2008–2009 for the Secure Our Schools grant 

program, and decreases the non-Federal grant 

participation percentage from 50 percent to 20 

percent. It requires institutions of higher education to conduct annual campus safety assessments and develop and implement campus emergency response plans. 

This bill seeks to address the violence in 

our schools. It will ensure the safety of students and teachers and will make sure that 

education is the paramount concern of educators. 

The Act also increases the Federal portion 

of the funding from 50 percent to 80 percent, 

which decreases the non-Federal portion from 

50 percent to 20 percent. According to the 

Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS, 

Office of the Department of Justice, which administers the Secure Our Schools grants, 

many of the poorer communities that need 

help the most have been unable to participate 

in the program because they cannot afford the 

previously required 50 percent non-federal 

grant match. The proposed change in nonFederal funding is more in line with the COPS 

traditional 75/25 percent split, and should 

allow more participation in the program. 

The Act increases the possible uses of 

funding to include surveillance equipment, hotlines to report potentially dangerous situations 

and capital improvements to make school facilities more secure. Finally, the Act requires 

the establishment of an interagency task force 

to develop and promulgate advisory school 

safety guidelines. 

The Act amends the existing requirements 

for grant applications, and requires each grant 

application to be accompanied by a report, 

signed by the chief education officer and the 

attorney general or other chief legal officer, 

demonstrating that the proposed use of the 

grant funds is an effective means for improving school safety, is consistent with a comprehensive approach to preventing school violence, and meets the individualized needs of 

the particular school. 

Finally, the Act amends the Higher Education Act and requires each eligible participating institution to conduct an annual campus 

safety assessment, and develop and implement a campus emergency response plan to 

address emergency situations, including natural disasters, active shooter situations, and 

terrorist attacks. The bill is sponsored by Mr. 

ROTHMAN, and has 52 cosponsors. 

MY THREE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE OFFERED AND

ACCEPTED

I have three amendments that I offered and 

that were accepted concerning this bill. The 

first extended the current requirement of establishing a hotline or tip line to include the reporting of hazardous conditions, including the 

presence of hazardous chemicals. 

The second one requires schools to develop 

and implement safety measures to protect students in the event of a terrorist attack or other 

hazardous condition or situation. It would further require that no funds would be disbursed 

unless the school had a safety plan in place 

to respond to a terrorist attack or other hazardous condition or situation. 

The need for schools to respond to hazardous conditions or situations is necessary 

because often children are confronted with 

hazardous conditions and they simply ignore 

them. This has been a big problem in the 

Houston Independent School district. For example, in Key Middle School students were 

getting sick because they were learning in 

classrooms where mold was growing on the 

walls and ceilings. The students saw the mold 

and were getting sick but they did not know 

how to respond. These amendments would 

ensure that children are aware of the toxicity 

of these chemicals and organic substances. 

This is a real threat. Key Middle School was 

subsequently closed because of the severe 

health risks posed to students. My call for student awareness, training, and prevention as 

pertains to a terrorist attack does not need 

much explanation. In light of the tragic events 

of 9/11, we can never be too cautious with 

schooling and protecting our children. Children 

need to know what to do and how to respond 

to dangerous situations during a terrorist 

threat. 

My last amendment goes to the heart of administrative practice. The original bill required 

that a taskforce create guideline. Because the 

taskforce is to be established within 30 days 

of enactment of this act, my amendment allows the taskforce to convene and within 60 

days issue a preliminary advisory school safety guideline and after that time it should provide the public with an opportunity through notice and comment and publish a final advisory 

school safety guideline not later than 30 days 

after the preliminary guidelines. This is good 

administrative practice and ensures public participation by students, teachers, and parents. 

I urge my colleagues to support this very 

important bill. 

f 

IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE 

OF STANLEY REED 

HON. JOHN BOOZMAN OF ARKANSAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in 

recognition of the commitment and service, my 

friend Stanley Reed provides to Arkansas 

youth. 

Stanley is a leader in the state, serving as 

President of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, a 

former member of the Arkansas Board of 

Trustees, a board member of Baptist Health, 

and Simmons First National Corporation and a 

member of the Board of Advisors of the Arkansas World Trade Center and of the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation. 

His professional achievements are far 

reaching, and so are his accomplishments 

away from the Board Rooms. Stanley spends 

much of his time and energy being an example for Arkansas youths and helping them lead 

a better life. 

Stanley’s life of service will be honored by 

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches, an organization that provides a stable living environment 

with responsible role models. 

Stanley has been a very good friend and 

was a teammate at the University of Arkansas. 

He has been blessed with a wonderful family, 

his wife Charlene, son Nathan and daughters 

Hailey and Anna. 

I have had the privilege to work with Stanley 

throughout my professional career. His dedication, persistence and leadership are all exemplary qualities. I appreciate his friendship and 

example. I am honored to have had the opportunity to have worked with such a great man, 

and thank him for his service. 

f 

A TRIBUTE TO GENERAL BRUCE 

CARLSON 

HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I appreciate 

the opportunity to pay tribute to United States 

Air Force General Bruce Carlson for his 37 

years of distinguished and honorable service 

in the United States Air Force and to our Nation. 

General Carlson has had a distinguished 

career, beginning with his graduation from the 

Air Force ROTC program at the University of 

Minnesota. He has held numerous flying assignments, staff and command positions 

throughout his career. He commanded the 

49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force 

Base, the Air Force’s first stealth fighter wing. 

His staff assignments included time at HQ AF, 

the office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the 

office of the Secretary of Defense and the 

Joint Staff. Prior to serving as Commander of 

Air Force Materiel Command, General Carlson 

served as Commander of the 8th Air Force, 

Barksdale AFB and Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike, 

U. S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB. 

As Commander of AFMC, General Carlson 

led the organization to meet leadership challenges and world threats. General Carlson 

championed the Air Force alternative fuels 

program and delivered on Presidential and 

Secretary of the Air Force challenges to reduce the military’s dependence on foreign oil. 

General Carlson also oversaw the development and deployment of AngelFire persistent 

surveillance and reconnaissance program. 

Under his command, AngelFire deployed to 

the CENTCOM AOR with the help of Air Force 

Research Laboratory personnel, marking the 

first-ever deployment of an AFRL program directly into combat. Additionally, General Carlson delivered the first MQ–9 Reaper to the 

42nd Attack Squadron at Creech AFB nearly 

a year ahead of schedule to meet Air Combat 

Command requirements. 

He received numerous military awards for 

his service including: Defense Distinguished 

Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of 

Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak 

leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation 

Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He also received the highest honor from the Air Force 

enlisted corps, the Order of the Sword. In addition, General Carlson is a command pilot 

with over 3,300 flight hours. 

I have known General Carlson since he took 

command of AFMC in August 2005. 

General Carlson is a man who is honest, 

provides a straight assessment and has the 

highest degree of ethics. His service honors 

the Air Force and our country. I’ve appreciated 

his dedication to duty and his willingness to 

work with the surrounding community. General 

Carlson truly exemplifies the core values of 


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E2242 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 3, 2008 

the Air Force, ‘‘Integrity First, Service Before 

Self, Excellence in All We Do.’’ 

f 

CONGRATULATING HURST-EULESSBEFORD ISD 

HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to congratulate the students, faculty, 

and staff from Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District on receiving the prestigious honor of being named the Top District 

in the State of Texas by Education Resource 

Group. 

Education Resource Group looks at the 200 

largest districts in the state, which enroll the 

majority of students who attend Texas Public 

schools. Giving careful consideration to academic, demographic, staffing, and financial information, they determine the award recipient. 

The award measures the relationship between 

operating expenditures and student achievement. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of 

Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD. The district strives 

to provide an exceptional education to its students, and has received national recognition 

for its outstanding academic, athletic, and fine 

arts programs. The district maintains a high 

quality faculty and staff who host a learning 

environment that promotes character, achievement, and personal responsibility. 

Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent 

many of the students, faculty, and staff of 

Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD in the 26th District 

of Texas. Their outstanding educational standards set a great example for all academic institutions. I wish them all the best in their future endeavors. 

f 

HONORING JAVIER LOPEZ, M.D. 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today in honor and recognition of my dearest 

friend and mentor, Javier Lopez, M.D., whose 

advocacy, love and devotion on behalf of his 

second family—all of us privileged to be in his 

care—has made our lives stronger by not only 

his medical brilliance, but even more significantly, by his kindness, wisdom, compassion, 

and selfless service in healing our broken bodies and broken hearts. 

As a life long advocate on behalf of the 

poor, the isolated and the elderly, Dr. Lopez 

lives the principles of his Roman Catholic faith 

by serving as an instrument of peace and 

hope every day, as he has done for nearly 50 

years along Broadway Avenue. His vocation of 

healing will continue, as his practice evolves 

from his daily routine on Broadway Avenue to 

continuing his missions of medical miracles, 

ministering to the poor of Colombia, Honduras 

and to places in the world where medical resources are few yet the need is great. 

As a young man, Dr. Lopez journeyed to 

Cleveland from his homeland of Medellin, Colombia, to complete his residency at St. Alexis 

Hospital—saying farewell to his family, friends 

and to the rich culture of Colombia. The people of North and South Broadway were immediately taken by Dr. Lopez’ integrity, kindness, 

compassion and humble nature, and he was 

also moved by the kindness and gratitude 

shown to him. Dr. Lopez could have set up his 

practice in any suburb, but he chose to remain 

on the tough streets of Cleveland, where he 

was needed the most. 

For the past 50 years, Dr. Lopez’ practice 

was entrenched with a rare and genuine love, 

concern, compassion and respect for every 

patient—young, old, of every race and of 

every economic background. 

His most impactful work has been, and continues to be his service to the poor. In our 

country, where the uninsured are routinely denied health care, they found solace at the office of Dr. Lopez. He never turned anyone 

away for lack of insurance, nor inability to pay. 

Dr. Lopez continues to be a champion of 

health care justice and reform. He is an outspoken activist in support of universal health 

care; he has fought diligently on behalf of his 

patients when crooked health insurers refused 

to pay, and he worked tirelessly to stop the 

closing of St. Michael Hospital. After St. Michael’s ultimately fell to a system wrought with 

corruption and greed, Dr. Lopez could have 

moved his practice away from North Broadway—but it was never even considered—he 

stayed where he was needed the most. 

Dr. Lopez’ dedication to his patients is 

eclipsed only by his devotion to his family. His 

wife of more than 50 years, Nancy Lopez, has 

been and continues to be his strongest source 

of support, love and friendship. 

His sons David and Daniel, David’s wife 

Priscilla, his granddaughter Ana and his 

daughter-in-law to be, Carmen Nogales—continue to be the center and light of his world. 

Dr. Lopez’s office manager, Toni Maruszak, 

has been an invaluable and consistent source 

of support to Dr. Lopez for more than a decade. Her amazing memory, excellent organizational skills and ability to juggle a million things 

at once always ensured that the office ran 

smoothly. 

More importantly, Toni’s remarkable interpersonal skills and great sense of humor provided comfort and reassurance for countless 

patients during difficult moments. 

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join 

me in honor and gratitude of Dr. Javier Lopez. 

Despite his great achievements in medicine, 

he remains humble, grateful and virtually egoless. He offers the same kindness and attention to the homeless alcoholic as he does to 

the successful CEO. He is the heart and soul 

of Broadway Avenue—there is no one like him 

and he is irreplaceable. 

His presence here has been a gift of healing 

and hope for countless people, including myself and my family—and will continue to be. 

Dr. Lopez walks shoulder to shoulder in the 

ranks of healers like Gandhi and Mother Teresa—guided by faith and a genuine belief in 

the words—‘‘Whatsoever you do to the least 

of my brothers, that you do unto me.’’ 

Vaya con Dios, mi amigo—de hoy, manana, 

y siempre. 

Go with God, my friend—today, tomorrow 

and forever. 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. ED PERLMUTTER OF COLORADO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to enter into the record a ‘‘yes’’ vote for 

rollcall vote 671. I was present in the chamber 

on September 29,2008, and thought my vote 

had been cast on the rule but was not counted. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO SGT. RICHARD E. 

REYES 

HON. JIM COSTA OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 

honor a true patriot serving in our military, 

Sergeant Richard E. Reyes. Sgt. Reyes 

serves proudly in the United States Marine 

Corps, and hails from Sanger, California. He 

has recently been named the USO Service 

Marine of the Year, and I want to send my sincere congratulations. 

Sgt. Reyes served as team leader with 

Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 

Regimental Combat Team 6, which is stationed in Iraq. While serving in the Persian 

Gulf, Sgt. Reyes led his team on 70 combat 

missions and was instrumental in the capture 

of over 35 insurgents. During combat operations in July 2007, his platoon’s base came 

under enemy attack with small arms and machinegun fire. Located just 250 meters from 

the ambush, Sgt. Reyes maneuvered onto a 

nearby rooftop, identified the insurgents, and 

relayed the enemy’s location to the platoon 

commander. 

He was still undetected by the enemy, and 

he and his team engaged the insurgent group 

with high explosive rounds, which reduced 

enemy fire on the base, but exposed his position on the rooftop. Sgt. Reyes was determined to end this engagement, which had 

been going on for 45 minutes. He then moved 

his team onto another rooftop and singlehandedly directed attacks by U.S. jets and helicopters. After several attempts, the enemy’s 

position was destroyed. 

Just 3 days later, Sgt. Reyes again demonstrated superb leadership and courage 

when he engaged an insurgent from the rooftop of his platoon’s base and directed a 

counter-attack. During the firefight, Sgt. Reyes 

and his team maintained their position and coordinated a diversion using artillery smoke. As 

a result of his initiative, perseverance, and 

dedication to duty, an additional two insurgents were captured in this engagement. 

Sgt. Reyes is a Sanger High School graduate, and while he was there, he was a three 

sport athlete. He played for his school’s water 

polo team in the fall, he wrestled in the winter, 

and swam in the spring. Following graduation, 

he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps 

at age 17. Sgt. Reyes is the son of Rosa and 

Gustavo Reyes, and he has two brothers and 

two sisters. 

On behalf of all my colleagues in the House 

and Senate, I would like to congratulate Sgt. 

Richard Reyes for being named the USO 


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