E2314 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 20, 2008 

Treaty. This measure insures the rights and 

protections of private and public sector interests against a government taking arbitrary action that would disrupt or threaten global energy security. The thousands of United States 

investors who became shareholders in the 

Russian oil company, YUKOS, lost everything 

when the Russian government seized the 

company’s assets. 

Finally, Russia has not honored its pledge 

to amend its federal laws to guarantee protections of intellectual property rights and enforcing such laws consistent with international 

standards. I would note the frequent Western 

media reports on cases where Russian authorities have seized the assets of certain 

companies, many with foreign investors, utilizing executive decrees, court orders, and extradition requests to assume ownership or 

control over Russian enterprises. Some foreign investors have been compelled to surrender their equity shares in Russian companies without proper due process and compensation only to have Western courts, in a 

series of cases, issue rulings in favor of such 

companies. 

Madam Speaker, we appreciate that our 

economy is truly global and American and 

Western investments are essential in Russia 

and throughout Eurasia, given their abundant 

natural resources, and urge that all countries 

can mutually commit to an economic relationship that is based on mutual trust, the rule of 

law and market forces that are free of arbitrary 

or capricious government activity. 

f 

RAISING CAIN 

HON. STEVE KAGEN OF WISCONSIN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. KAGEN. Madam Speaker, this poem 

was written by Albert Carey Caswell, a member of the Capitol Guide Service in honor of 

SSG Michael Cain of Berlin, WI. 

Staff Sergeant Cain is a disabled veteran 

currently undergoing treatment at Walter Reed 

Army Medical Center. I met Staff Sergeant 

Cain at Walter Reed on November 18, 2008, 

while visiting another wounded soldier. I am 

proud and happy to submit this poem, written 

in his honor. 

RAISING CAIN

A young man lies face down . . . 

Right between life and death, as found . . . 

Clinging to life, as now . . . with one leg 

lost . . . 

When, we hear a sound . . . 

For it’s his heart, as we watch what is lost, 

as now is found . . . 

Which will not let him go, which will not let 

him down . . . 

As all inside of his fine soul, is so is now . . . 

As he raises his head up high, Raising 

Cain . . . 

As he brings such tears to eyes . . . as he 

astounds! 

What will we raise in these our days? 

To what heights and mountains, will we so 

climb? 

All in our lives and times . . . 

All in what we’ve so lost, and gained . . . 

All in that great heartache and pain, has 

made . . . 

To lie face down . . . upon battlefields of 

honor . . . 

As Michael you were bound . . . 

While, all in the midst of hell . . . as the 

dark evil lie all around . . . 

As your fine heart so chose, so chose to 

swell . . . swell somehow . . .. 

To cheat death, with what you have so 

left . . . 

All in uniform, so brilliant now . . . 

When right there, on that edge of death . . . 

As you so looked down . . . 

To see what you had so left . . . 

As your once strong leg was gone . . . 

As your life so hung in the balance now . . . 

As you were the one who so raised his 

head . . . 

Whose fine heart so began to pound! 

Raising Cain . . . 

His Daddy raised a Hero, his Momma did the 

same . . . 

All in their hearts of love, which now so remains! 

A Wisconsin Man . . . 

Who love’s his Packers . . . 

County music, and his Momma understand! 

There’s a lot of Brett in this man . . . 

And there’s a lot more of Michael, in Brett 

which stands . . . 

As a winner . . . 

And a simple man . . . 

Who wears his heart on his sleeve, time and 

again . . . 

With a heart of courage full . . . 

This American Jewel . . . 

Beating proud, for that old red white and 

blue . . . 

And most of all, he’s a family man . . . 

As we watch, and see . . . 

All that a heart can be . . . 

As he fight’s the good fight . . . 

As Michael’s Raising Cain . . . 

Building where not lies left . . . 

As our world he’ll bless . . . 

To come back from the dead . . . 

Back from that dark abyss, abyss of 

death . . . 

To go off to war . . . 

As one fine fighting machine sure . . . 

As an Army man . . . 

Who to courage ran . . . 

All in what he gave up . . . 

All in what he must endure . . . 

And if I ever raise a son . . . 

I but hope and pray . . . 

That he could but be, like this fine one . . . 

The kind who will teach us, who will reach 

us . . . 

Who to hearts will all so beseech us . . . 

All in how life is won . . . 

As Michael Cain, was raised this one . . . 

In honor of Michael Cain on your 27th 

birthday . . . your friend Bert—Albert Carey 

Caswell  2008 

f 

RECOGNIZING FIRE SERVICE SPECIALIST RODERICK R. MENO, 

GUAM’S 2008 FIREFIGHTER OF 

THE YEAR 

HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO OF GUAM

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to recognize, congratulate and commend Fire Service Specialist Roderick R. 

Meno on being named Guam’s Firefighter of 

the Year for 2008. 

Roderick, a native son of southern Guam, 

grew up in a family of outstanding firefighters: 

his father, retired Deputy Fire Chief Frank C. 

Meno; his brothers, Fire Specialist Frank R. 

Meno, Fire Captain Kurt R. Meno, Fire Fighter 

II Brian R. Meno; and nephew Fire Fighter I 

Joshua R. Meno. This exposure, from his 

early youth, to a family of dedicated public 

servants imbued in Roderick an instinctive desire to serve the public, and protect life and 

property as his father and siblings did before 

him. 

Roderick’s upbringing in the closely knit village of Inarajan also inculcated in him the 

spirit of community and volunteerism. From his 

father, a recognized Chamorro master builder, 

he learned skills as a general overall handyman, a skill he unhesitatingly used to assist 

his fire precinct in the operations and maintenance of its fire station. He used these skills 

to perform renovations of the station control 

room, improving working conditions for his fellow firefighters. His skills as a carpenter and 

do-it-yourselfer enabled him to perform modifications to the sleeping quarters of his fellow 

firefighters, rendering those quarters more 

comfortable and organized. When he saw a 

need and he knew he had the skills to accomplish the work, he did not hesitate. 

And just as his spirit of volunteerism motivated him to apply his skills to work he could 

perform, Roderick did not hesitate to use his 

own resources to accomplish these tasks. 

Roderick would begin projects knowing that financial support from the government may not 

be available. He used his own tools and when 

he needed materials and parts, rather than 

waiting for the cumbersome government procurement process, he used his own finances 

to purchase parts and materials. 

And Roderick did all of this, ever mindful of, 

and never neglecting, his duties and responsibilities as a firefighter. As his father and 

brothers before him, Roderick Meno was always ready to serve and protect. For these attributes that have characterized our Nation’s 

outstanding firefighters, Roderick Meno joins 

his father and brothers, and America’s firefighters whose dedication to purpose and spirit 

of community make them outstanding role 

models for all citizens in all roles of life. Fire 

Service Specialist Meno, thank you very 

much. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO MARTHA FRANCO 

HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, November 20, 2008 

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Madam Speaker, in my 

years of public service, I have benefitted from 

the efforts of many capable employees on my 

staff who have come and gone. Yet there has 

always remained one constant in my office, 

Martha Franco, and for that I am truly grateful. 

Martha was born in Mexico and grew up in 

Colusa, California. As a naturalized citizen, 

she is a model example of someone who 

made the efforts required to become a U.S. 

citizen and has gone on to contribute to our 

country through public service. 

Martha first came to work for me in 1984 

when I served in the California State Senate. 

When I was elected to Congress in 1990, Martha became my Executive Assistant and Office 

Manager. She has worked for me in Washington and in California, and this year I named 

her as my Deputy Chief of Staff. 

Martha’s loyal presence has meant so much 

to my wife, Julie, to me, and to our entire organization. The people who call upon our office have appreciated seeing a familiar face 


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