E2262 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 19, 2008 

Through this type of research, scientists can 

now account for about 30 percent of isolated 

cleft lip. Researchers supported by NIH’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) are working to identify the 

causes of cleft lip, develop better ways of 

treating clefts, and provide information on 

whether they might occur again in a family. 

Hopefully, better prevention strategies can 

also be an outcome of this work. Through continued research, American families can look 

forward to prevention of cleft lip and palate. 

This is just one example of how the research funded with taxpayer dollars at the NIH 

is improving the health and well-being of all 

Americans. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO FRED BARON 

HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON 

OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. 

Madam Speaker, today I pay tribute to the life 

of one of my long time friends, Fred Baron. 

Widely known as one of the best trial lawyers in America, Fred Baron dedicated his life 

to making sure fairness was represented in 

the law and that the rights of the marginalized 

could not be trampled over. He was truly a 

champion of the working man, spending his 

whole career representing workers who had 

developed occupational illnesses. He was a 

pioneer in uncovering the harm that asbestos 

exposure causes. 

I was most proud of Fred Baron when he 

advocated on behalf of several hundred children in the west Dallas section of my district 

who lived near a lead smelter that polluted 

their neighborhood. Thanks to his efforts not 

only were those families able to move, but the 

area has now been cleaned and is being 

made once again livable. 

Fred Baron will long be known for the charitable work he and his wife were committed to. 

In 2002 he and his wife Lisa founded the 

Baron and Blue Foundation to help nonprofit 

organizations fight the problems of homelessness and displacement. The foundation was 

exceptionally helpful in helping many of the 

hurricane evacuees Dallas has seen in the 

last few years. Fred even spent many days 

after Hurricane Katrina consoling and counseling the victims who had made their way to 

Dallas, bringing them food, toiletries, and helping them out however he could. 

Madam Speaker, Frederick Martin Baron is 

survived by his wife Lisa Blue-Baron, his son 

Andrew; daughter Courtney and her husband 

Brad Singer and their daughter Liza; daughters Alessandra, Caroline, and Nathalie; brother Robert and sister Joan; and the countless 

others he touched in the years he spent with 

us. 

CONGRATULATING DR. ROHIT T. 

AGGARWALA AND THE CITY OF 

NEW YORK FOR RECEIVING THE 

‘‘FRIEND OF THE ENVIRONMENT 

AWARD’’ 

HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. ACKERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to congratulate Dr. Rohit T. Aggarwala, 

the Director of New York City’s Office of Longterm Planning and Sustainability, within New 

York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Office of 

Operations, for receiving the prestigious 

‘‘Friend of the Environment Award’’ from the 

Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC) on 

November 13th, 2008. APEC, located in 

Douglaston, Queens, is a superb educational 

center committed to environmental understanding and awareness. Rit, as he is known 

by his friends and colleagues, is at the forefront of Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC initiative, 

a sweeping sustainability plan for New York 

City’s future. 

A native of New York City, Dr. Aggarwala 

holds a BA, MBA, and PhD from Columbia 

University, as well as an MA from Queen’s 

College in Ontario. Prior to joining the City 

government, Dr. Aggarwala worked at the 

Federal Railroad Administration, and currently 

chairs a subcommittee at the Transportation 

Research Board, which is part of the National 

Academy of Science. He is the author of several articles about transportation policy and 

about the history of New York City. 

Under Rit’s leadership as Director, New 

York City’s Office of Long-term Planning and 

Sustainability is implementing a long-term sustainability plan to ensure New York City’s continued prosperity, growth, and health. On 

Earth Day, 2007 the Mayor’s Office of Long 

Term Planning and Sustainability released 

PIaNYC, which included 127 separate initiatives to protect New York’s future, including: 

housing an additional 1 million New Yorkers 

affordably; increasing access to parks, playgrounds and open spaces; reclaiming 

brownfields; developing critical backup systems for the aging water network to ensure reliability; providing additional reliable power 

sources and upgrading existing power plants; 

and reducing water pollution so we can open 

the City’s amazing waterways for recreation. 

Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to 

join me in commending Dr. Aggarwala and 

New York City’s Office of Long-term Planning 

and Sustainability for all of its hard work and 

dedication promoting sound environmental 

building practices, and for helping New York 

City lead the world as a Green global citizen. 

f 

HONORING RYAN MICHAEL CURTIS 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly 

pause to recognize Ryan Michael Curtis of 

Kansas City, Missouri. Ryan is a very special 

young man who has exemplified the finest 

qualities of citizenship and leadership by taking an active part in the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1247, and earning the most prestigious award of Eagle Scout. 

Ryan has been very active with his troop, 

participating in many Scout activities. Over the 

many years Ryan has been involved with 

Scouting, he has not only earned numerous 

merit badges, but also the respect of his family, peers, and community. 

Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join 

me in commending Ryan Michael Curtis for 

his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts of 

America and for his efforts put forth in achieving the highest distinction of Eagle Scout. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE 

RONALD G. MARMO 

HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR. OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I would 

like to call to your attention the work of a great 

man, Hon. Ronald G. Marmo, who will retire 

after more than forty-one years at the Passaic 

County Courthouse. He will be honored on 

November 17, 2008 by his friends and colleagues for his outstanding service to the 

community. 

It is only fitting that he be honored in this, 

the permanent record of the greatest freely 

elected body on earth, for he has a long history of dedication and commitment to his community. 

Judge Marmo was born in my hometown, 

Paterson, New Jersey, on June 8, 1942, to 

Tony and Rose Marmo. He grew up in the 

Stony Road section of Paterson, and attended 

St. Bonaventure Elementary School, and then 

went on to St. Bonaventure High School. 

Throughout his years at St. Bon’s, he was 

taught by Franciscan nuns and priests, who 

instilled values and imparted teachings that 

served him well throughout his careers. 

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from 

Rutgers University, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Seton Hall Law School. Following 

graduation, he served as a law clerk to the 

Honorable Gordon H. Brown, Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey Criminal Division 

in Passaic County. Upon completion of his 

clerkship, he was appointed an Assistant 

Prosecutor in the Passaic County Prosecutor’s 

Office. He served in that office for twenty-two 

years, under five different County Prosecutors. 

In 1970, he was designated Chief Trial 

Councel and in 1975 he was appointed Chief 

of the Trial Section, a position he held for fifteen years. 

Notwithstanding his supervisory position, his 

primary role throughout his years with the 

Prosecutor’s office was as a trial attorney. He 

served as the State’s attorney in hundreds of 

jury trials including dozens of homicide cases. 

He tried two lengthy capital cases which each 

resulted in a jury verdict of the death penalty. 

He was commonly assigned the trials of the 

most celebrated cases. Governor Jim Florio 

appointed him Judge of the Superior Court of 

New Jersey in 1990. Judge Marmo was assigned to the Civil Division for two years, and 

later for two years to the Family Division. Otherwise, Judge Marmo was primarily assigned 

to the Criminal Division. He served for ten 

years as the municipal prosecutor for the Borough of North Haledon, as well as serving ten 


wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with REMARKS