E2256 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 19, 2008 

Ellen Ackerman, Jim Ackerman, Steve Alexander, Terri Allaire, Adalberto Araiza, Larry 

Bahill, Bill Benedict, Dan Cavanagh, Ed 

Cerutti, Mike Crawford, Mimi Finch, Bruce 

Greenberg, Doug Kliman, Robert Nichols, 

Chris Palmenberg, Bob Parson, Larry Putman, 

Joe Sciabarra, Burney Starks, Bob Strain, Tim 

Timmins, Paul Weishaupt, and Jessica 

Woelbling. 

I commend them for their commitment to 

this important nominating process and for their 

help in identifying the United States military 

leaders of the future. 

f 

HONORING THE REVEREND 

BONITA GRUBBS FOR HER OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE 

COMMUNITY 

HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Ms. DELAURO. Madam Speaker, It is with 

great pleasure that I rise today to join family, 

friends, colleagues, and the New Haven community in extending recognizing my good 

friend, the Reverend Bonita Grubbs, as we 

gather to celebrate her 20th Anniversary as 

the Executive Director of Christian Community 

Action. It has been through her outstanding 

leadership and vision that Christian Community Action has grown into an invaluable resource for those most in need. 

Christian Community Action is a non-profit 

ecumenical social service organization whose 

mission includes providing emergency food, 

housing, and support to New Haven’s poor 

while encouraging them to attain self-sufficiency. Christian Community Action is also a 

vocal advocate for the most vulnerable of our 

citizens—working to change the systems that 

perpetuate poverty and injustice. For twenty of 

its thirty year history, Bonita has been at the 

helm of this institution where she has led the 

way in expanding its programs and services. 

She has a unique combination of compassion, 

generosity, and vision which has enabled her 

to ensure that this agency can continue to 

meet the changing needs of the poor. 

More than just her professional contributions 

have made Bonita one of our most respected 

community leaders. She has served on the 

Boards of the Greater New Haven Community 

Loan Fund, the International Festival of Arts 

and currently serves on the Boards of the 

Hospital of Saint Raphael, Connecticut Voices 

for Children, the Connecticut Housing Coalition, Quinnipiac Bank and Trust, and the Connecticut Center for School Change. She has 

been a member of the Judicial Review Council 

for the State of Connecticut as well as president of the Connecticut Coalition to End 

Homelessness. Ordained to the Christian Ministry within the American Baptist Church in November of 1987, Bonita has also served as 

the Interim Pastor of the Christian Baptist 

Church in Hamden, Connecticut. Bonita understands the importance of being involved in 

one’s community and has made an extraordinary effort to enrich the lives of those less 

fortunate. 

Her work with Christian Community Action 

as well her myriad of volunteer efforts have 

changed the face of the New Haven community and brought much needed attention to the 

needs of the poor. Bonita knows that the prosperity of a community lies in the willingness of 

its members to give back and she has done 

much to strengthen the bonds of our community. 

I must also take this opportunity to extend 

my heartfelt thanks to Bonita for her many 

years of special friendship. She has been a 

source of inspiration to me and so many others. I am honored to take this moment to 

stand and recognize the Reverend Bonita 

Grubbs for her 20 years of dedicated service 

to Christian Community Action and her outstanding contributions. Every community 

should be so fortunate as to have such an accomplished and devoted advocate. mentor, 

and friend. 

f 

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION 

EXTENSION ACT OF 2008 

SPEECH OF

HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN OF MARYLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, October 3, 2008 

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, although am disappointed that White House opposition will prevent the House-passed $63 billion stimulus package from becoming law this 

year, we have at least reached bipartisan 

agreement on this seven week extension of 

unemployment benefits for our neighbors still 

looking for work in this struggling economy. 

Today’s unemployment report was not good: 

159,000 jobs lost in September—the worst job 

loss in five years, on top of 600,000 jobs already lost in 2008. The Federal Unemployment Trust Fund currently has more than 

enough reserves to cover the cost of this extension, and nearly 800,000 workers will exhaust their benefits if this legislation isn’t enacted into law. For their benefit, and the benefit of our economy, I urge my colleagues’ 

support and yield back the balance of my 

time. 

f 

HONORING THOSE WHO FOUGHT 

THE ANGEL ISLAND FIRE 

HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to honor the heroic firefighters who, with 

bravery and dedication, halted the fire that 

threatened to devastate Angel Island State 

Park, one of our Nation’s unparalleled treasures, located in San Francisco Bay near 

Tiburon in Marin County, California. 

Heroic firefighters across America brave 

flames and smoke to save lives and protect 

homes and property. Everyday these men and 

women risk their safety on our behalf. 

On Sunday, October 12, 2008 flames threatened to swallow Angel Island, a renowned 

landmark that boasts a history dating back to 

the Civil War. In 1863, Angel Island was home 

to Camp Reynolds, which guarded the bay 

during the Civil War. The island later served 

as an immigration station, dubbed ‘‘The Ellis 

Island of the West’’. During the Cold War, the 

Nike missile site was located on Angel Island. 

Many of these structures are truly windows 

into our past. In particular, I have worked with 

my colleagues and with concerned citizens 

such as the Angel Island Immigration Station 

Foundation to restore the immigration station. 

The stories of peoples’ lives are literally written into its walls and have much to tell us 

about our own history and humanity. 

When fire raged at Angel Island, threatening 

to devastate our Nation’s jewel, 275 firefighters united forces to stop the fire and ultimately protect 120 historic buildings and 360 

acres from destruction. 

Days after the orange and red flames dissipated into a cloud of smoke, a crew of 100 

dedicated firefighters remained on the island 

to complete their duties. 

Successfully battling a major wildland fire is 

never the act of one person alone. Marin’s fire 

agencies have an effective mutual aid agreement which brought skilled personnel and resources from agencies throughout the County 

with a shared objective—saving the Island’s 

historical buildings and minimizing resource 

damage. Angel Island Park personnel were an 

instrumental part of the command structure 

and, with the help of the U.S. Coast Guard, 

quickly evacuated overnight campers to a safe 

location. As always, the air attack and support 

provided by crews and personnel from CAL 

FIRE gave firefighters the upper hand to ultimately bring the fire under control. This was 

an amazing example of inter-agency cooperation that was the key to a successful outcome. 

Madam Speaker, I thank these leaders and 

their crews who saved a tremendous part of 

our history. They and their many colleagues 

across the country are truly our heroes. 

Thanks to their tireless and timely response to 

a looming threat, Angel Island, a beacon of 

history and environmental beauty, can continue to enrich the lives of visitors from around 

the world. 

f 

IN HONOR OF JOHANNA OROZCO 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today in honor and recognition of Johanna 

Orozco. Her courage, personal strength and 

concern for others in the wake of unimaginable personal tragedy nearly two years ago 

at the young age of fifteen, has lifted her into 

the rare and inspiring platform as a champion 

of women’s rights. Her activism has inspired 

people of all ages throughout our Greater 

Cleveland community, especially young 

women who are vulnerable to domestic violence. 

Ms. Orozco did not only survive the vicious 

attack by her ex-boyfriend, she has reached 

out as an activist, speaking openly on high 

school and college campuses. She selflessly 

shares her own painful experience in order to 

educate and protect others from unhealthy relationships and domestic violence. Despite her 

near death, she battled to recover, rising a 

stronger and wiser individual. Through every 

painful phase of her rehabilitation and surgeries, Ms. Orozco reflects grace and dignity. 

Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join 

me in honor and recognition of Johanna 

Orozco, who has transformed her personal 


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