E2330 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 20, 2008 

permanent homes to children without such a 

blessing. Multiple States, neighborhoods, and 

agencies across the United States hold events 

during this month to encourage families to 

give children the gift of family through adoption. 

There are many types of adoption. In 2007, 

approximately 51,000 children were adopted 

from the U.S. foster care system and 20,000 

children were adopted internationally. Tens of 

thousands of children also are adopted within 

the United States each year. I recognize the 

joy and love that each of these families offers 

its adoptive children. I know that Raschke 

family from Oak Park, IL, exemplifies the happiness and rewards of being an adoptive family. Joe and Cathleen Raschke welcomed 

Nicholas Dan Raschke to their family in August 2006. Nicholas was adopted from the 

Vinh Long Orphanage in Vinh Long, Vietnam. 

As a young Chicagoan, Nicholas loves the 

Cubs, cold weather, and good food. 

We have done great work here in Congress 

to promote adoption. We recently passed Public Law 110–351, the Fostering Connections to 

Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 

2008. This new law is designed to help place 

children in permanent, caring families through 

reunification, adoption, and guardianship. In 

addition to reauthorizing the Adoption and 

Safe Families Act, the new law supports subsidized guardianship, a policy approach that 

provides Federal support to kinship caregivers 

who provide their young relatives permanent, 

loving homes. I am pleased that we are taking 

steps to improve the lives of America’s youth 

that are filled with desperate need. 

So, during the 2008 National Adoption 

Month, I tip my hat to those who have opened 

their families via adoption, providing the care 

and love needed to grow our youngest citizens 

into tomorrow’s leaders. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO TAUBMAN MUSEUM 

OF ART 

HON. BOB GOODLATTE OF VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, the Art 

Museum of Western Virginia has been transformed. Formerly located in Center in the 

Square in Roanoke, Virginia, the museum has 

undergone a multimillion dollar makeover 

under the guidance of renowned architect 

Randall Stout and has been reborn as the 

Taubman Museum of Art. 

Created in 1951 as the Roanoke Fine Arts 

Center, and then fully accredited for the first 

time in 1977, it became the Roanoke Museum 

of Fine Arts in 1980. Following its relocation 

from South Roanoke to the downtown multicultural structure called Center in the Square, 

it became the Art Museum of Western Virginia 

in 1992, testament to the regional nature of its 

mission. But change beckoned the museum 

as it sat on the cusp of the 21st century, due 

both to outgrowing its space and an expansion 

in its collection. 

A vision developed for the new Art Museum 

of Western Virginia. Museum officials and 

community supporters determined that instead 

of renovating an existing structure in downtown Roanoke for the new facility, a state-ofthe-art structure was in order. That vision was 

developed not only to help bring attention to 

the museum itself but to help speak to the region’s steady movement toward becoming a 

player in our technology-driven economy. 

Thanks to the city of Roanoke, an undeveloped site near one of the city’s busiest intersections was donated to house the museum, 

and the city contributed $4 million for the 

project. Once Randall Stout was hired to develop an image of the museum at that site, it 

became clear that his growing stature in architectural circles would result in the transformative structure that many had hoped for. 

The plan was to help put Roanoke on the map 

with a building that would attract visitors not 

only from around the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States but from around 

the world. On September 10, I was honored to 

be a participant in breaking ground for the 

new museum. 

After just over 3 years of construction, Roanoke’s new art museum opened to the public 

on Saturday, November 8. And I was fortunate 

to again be present to help cut the ribbon on 

a building that is difficult to put into words. But 

once you see the Taubman Museum of Art, 

you learn to understand that Randall Stout 

captured the mountains, valleys, rivers, and 

seasons in rock, steel, and glass. 

The new museum in Roanoke is named for 

Nick and Jenny Taubman, a family name well 

known to Roanokers. Nick is the former leader 

of Advance Auto Parts and presently serves 

as the United States Ambassador to Romania. 

His wife, Jenny, chaired the museum’s capital 

campaign. And their pledge of $15.25 million 

was the largest donation received toward the 

museum. The facility also benefits greatly from 

the Horace G. Fralin Charitable Trust, which 

has contributed financially and formatively. 

Under the leadership of Heywood Fralin, the 

Fralin Trust has contributed works by American artists that now make the Taubman Museum a home for some of the greatest our Nation has known—Winslow Homer, Norman 

Rockwell, and John Singer Sargent to name 

just a few. 

Under the able direction of Georgeanne 

Bingham, the Taubman Museum is not only a 

structure housing works of art, it is becoming 

a true destination. The museum also houses 

Art Venture, geared toward bringing men, 

women and children together in a gallery that 

will permit hands-on opportunities to create 

their own art. A special new media gallery is 

courtesy of the great leaders and minds at Virginia Tech, a longtime supporter of the new 

museum and an integral part of the institution’s plans for educational outreach in the 

arts. The museum even features Hokie Stone, 

once specific only to the buildings on Tech’s 

campus in Blacksburg. 

While breaking ground for the Taubman Museum, I said that it was a key to the new frontiers that must be crossed in the Roanoke Valley region of Virginia in order to keep it competitive in the 21st century. Now that the structure is complete, I remain convinced that the 

facility is the latest successful effort that is 

opening eyes to the vast array of possibilities 

that are within our reach in western Virginia. I 

agree with my friend Heywood Fralin that the 

museum is without a doubt, the most significant new structure in Virginia. 

I extend congratulations to Georgeanne 

Bingham, Nick and Jenny Taubman, Heywood 

Fralin, Randall Stout, and countless others 

who toiled for the past 3 years to help the 

Taubman Museum rise to the cusp of opening. 

The expectations were great, but I am sure 

that everyone who sets foot in the museum 

will be deeply impressed by what it has to 

offer to a broad range of art enthusiasts. 

The collections inside will speak well. Visitors will get to see old favorites, develop an 

appreciation for new acquisitions, and experience art in a technologically advanced way. 

And the building itself—the structure as seen 

from the exterior and what envelops inside— 

carries with it special significance. It has automatically become a landmark—and in a setting in downtown Roanoke, it is good company. When given the opportunity to move 

from ground level and into the museum’s interior and then move around it’s exterior, one 

understands that it is surrounded by the landmarks that speak both to the region’s past and 

point the way to its future—from the ancient 

Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains and valleys, to the star atop Mill Mountain, to the railroad tracks that first brought commerce to the 

region, to the historic buildings that served in 

previous centuries and have now been reborn 

for modern times. The Taubman Museum will 

join so many other efforts leading the way for 

the region, its citizens, and visitors through the 

frontiers yet to come. 

I am delighted that the Taubman Museum 

has been erected in the Sixth District of Virginia. I encourage our Nation to embrace the 

structure and its contents and to come to Roanoke to enjoy this grand cultural attraction for 

many, many years to come. 

f 

HONORING JACKSON ROSS HOBBS 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly 

pause to recognize Jackson Ross Hobbs of 

Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Jackson 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 1042, and earning the most 

prestigious award of Eagle Scout. 

Jackson has been very active with his troop, 

participating in many Scout activities. Over the 

many years Jackson 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 Jackson Ross Hobbs 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 MR. GARY L. CRAMER 

HON. FRED UPTON OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

to recognize Mr. Gary L. Cramer of Kalamazoo, Michigan for his years of outstanding 

service to Kalamazoo Charter Township and 

the State of Michigan. 

Gary began his work as a public official in 

1980, when he was elected to serve as Kalamazoo Township trustee. Over the next 16 


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