October 1, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10319 

who lived a life guided by her faith and 

values. Long before recycling became 

the politically correct thing to do, 

Mary Keating saved and reused every 

bread bag, rubber band, piece of tinfoil, 

and jar she ever brought into the 

house. Old jelly jars were magically 

transformed into milk glasses and 

bread bags were used to store everything from school lunch to sea shells 

from Rockaway Beach. 

Even though Mary has left this 

world, her legacy will continue through 

the lives and work of her 8 children, 20 

grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. I know this because her 

granddaughter, Kathleen Keating 

Strottman, served as my staff for over 

7 years and I saw many of these traits 

in her. In honor of Mary’s Irish heritage, I would like to close my remarks 

with the refrain of an Irish ballad, 

‘‘The Lovely Rose of Clare’’: 

Oh my lovely rose of Clare, you’re the 

sweetest girl I know, You’re the queen of all 

the roses, the pretty flowers that grow, You 

are the sunshine of my life, so beautiful and 

fair, And I will always love you, my lovely 

rose of Clare.∑ 

f 

HONORING HUSSON COLLEGE 

∑ Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I 

honor one of the jewels of Maine higher 

education, Husson College, in Bangor, 

ME, which will officially make its 

much-anticipated transition to Husson 

University on October 11, 2008. 

I know I join with countless Husson 

students and alumni from practically 

every town in Maine, as well as from 

around the country and the world, in 

expressing my deep-seated pride in 

what Husson College has accomplished 

since its founding in 1898 by Chesley 

Husson, and for what it will achieve in 

the years ahead as Husson University. 

Although the name has changed, the 

longstanding hallmarks of Husson 

which have served its students so exceptionally well for 110 years will not 

only remain the same, but will also be 

strengthened more than ever. A broader-based institution than it was just 20 

years ago, Husson—at this watershed 

moment of becoming a university—secures an even greater presence on the 

educational landscape, offering multiple degrees through various schools 

and bolstering its overall capacity to 

bring to its students a wide range of 

dynamic and diverse programs, especially at the graduate level. 

From the dawn of the 20th century to 

the beginning of the 21st, Husson has, 

at its core, strived to prepare its graduates for success in life and in professional careers, by cultivating a learning discipline, regimen, and environment tailored to each student that ultimately facilitates individual growth 

and progress. Ushering Husson College—now Husson University—into the 

21st century is, fittingly, its 21st president, Dr. Bill Beardsley, who, since 

1987, has been continually drawing 

from Husson’s rich past, while simultaneously focusing on what lies just over 

the horizon. 

With Bill’s unsurpassed vision, 

Husson is still—and will forever be—an 

institution focused on teaching rather 

than research—a place for imparting 

and acquiring knowledge that both fosters student development and equips 

its graduates with the educational 

tools to be valued civic and business 

leaders. Furthermore, because of Bill’s 

unparalleled reputation and ingenuity 

as an innovator, Husson has also been 

at the forefront of developing a cutting-edge curriculum that takes into 

account marketplace changes, demographic shifts, and economic trends. 

So, it is little wonder that under Bill’s 

vibrant and effective leadership, 

Husson has more than tripled its matriculation of freshman students, more 

than doubled its number of traditional undergraduates—when considering 

those attending the New England 

School of Communications—and has 

undergone a stunning expansion on its 

campus to accommodate new schools 

and programs, not to mention more 

alumni. 

Nothing speaks more to Husson’s tradition of commitment to the student— 

and the primacy of a hands-on education that is accessible and affordable—than a student-to-teacher ratio 

that is an exceptional 19 to 1, 70 faculty 

members dedicated only to teaching in 

the classroom, and tuition costs that 

are purposely kept from skyrocketing, 

and where nearly 90 percent of Husson 

students qualify to receive Federal, 

State, community, or campus-based financial aid. 

Additionally, as Husson espouses a 

teaching emphasis emblematic of a college, it offers curriculum possibilities 

that integrate liberal arts and sciences, 

professional and technical studies, and 

learning outside the classroom that are 

indicative of its status as a university. 

Many schools may offer degrees in 

business, but at Husson, that area of 

study can be specialized to include not 

only financial management, but also 

hospitality management, small/family 

business management, and sports management—compelling and rigorous 

pathways of learning that can be significantly attractive to highly-motivated, professionally-centered students. 

As Chair and now ranking member of 

the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreurship, I can tell you 

firsthand that this approach to business education that creates greater 

personalization yields benefits in an increasingly competitive marketplace for 

employers and prospective employees 

alike. And those rewards extend beyond the boundaries of business classes. 

For example, how many schools nationwide have a chemistry major that 

contains a prepharmacy track or paralegal studies or boatbuilding technology program or graduate programs 

in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and a graduate course 

of study in pharmacy being developed? 

And how many institutions would have 

responded to a medical shortage in underserved, rural areas that could not 

afford a doctor with the vision of producing nurse practitioners? But that is 

precisely what Husson did in 1981 when 

it partnered with Eastern Maine Medical Center to establish the Husson College/Eastern Maine Medical Center 

Baccalaureate School of Nursing. 

Husson is continually assessing and 

examining ways to be of greater value 

both to its students and the communities Husson serves. Husson’s desire to 

address real-world challenges by innovatively calibrating fields of discipline 

is in part what makes Husson stand 

out—and frankly unique—in the pantheon of small universities. 

And just as Husson looks to meet its 

students more than halfway in developing their academic, individualized 

pursuits, Husson also endeavors to 

make receiving a Husson education 

more achievable for more Maine students with its education centers in 

South Portland, Presque Isle, and just 

recently, The Boat School in Eastport, 

ME, as well as Unobskey College, located in Calais, ME. 

And as much as Husson provides to 

its students, its graduates return the 

favor with an allegiance and a desire to 

give back to their alma mater that is 

awe inspiring. There is a story that 

Bill Beardsley recounted recently in a 

Bangor Metro article about a young 

man, the first of his family to attend 

college and a Husson student, who is 

able to attend Husson because of a gift 

from his grandfather. But the young 

man came to Bill because that money 

was running out and to explain his situation. Dr. Beardsley knew he was a 

good student and a credit to the 

Husson community. 

Between the two of them, they were 

determined to find a solution. Bill offered, among other items, a small loan. 

Together, they made it work, which is 

truly the Husson way, treating every 

student personally and as an individual, whether it is considering one’s 

major to arriving at a payment plan in 

order to spur their trajectories as students and as human beings. 

It is been a long time since Husson’s 

days of preparing students for careers 

in commerce, teaching and telegraphy, 

or since it purchased a dairy farm that 

it converted beautifully into its 

present idyllic campus. And bridging 

the span of those years are Paul 

Husson, Chesley Husson’s grandson, 

who still works at the university, and 

Husson graduate and legend, Clara 

Swan, former Husson coach, athletic 

director, professor, and Dean for whom 

the Swan Center is named. 

They understand better than anyone 

that, while Husson may transition 

from a college to a university, and even 

though new disciplines may emerge, 

the Husson experience and outlook on 

education endures, from—to paraphrase part of the Husson mission 

statement—its dedication to excellence 

in teaching, its adherence to forging a 

personalized collegiate experience with 


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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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