E2368 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 10, 2008 

Board President for the Inland Gateway Association of Realtors and he also served as 

President in 1998. Frank has served the Realtors as the Federal Political Coordinator and 

State Director for 14 years, and is the 14th 

district Vice President. 

Frank has also served as Chairman of Land 

Use and Vice Chairman of Property Management and Land Use for the California Association of Realtors. He is a member of Federal 

Issues, Local Government Relations, and 

served on a special task force for Private 

Transfer Tax and presently is serving on the 

Department of Real Estates for rewriting questions for the California Department of Real Estate license exam. 

I also have a personal connection with 

Frank. He lived across the street from my 

mother, Marsha, and would often look in on 

her while I was away. Frank epitomized a 

good neighbor who was always there to lend 

a helping hand. 

Frank’s tireless passion for community service has contributed immensely to the betterment of the community of Corona, California. 

I am proud to call Frank a fellow community 

member, American and friend. I know that 

many community members are grateful for his 

service and salute him as his term ends as 

the Inland Gateway Association of Realtors 

Board President. 

f 

A TRIBUTE TO DANIEL LEAL, M.D. 

HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

to pay tribute and to honor Dr. Daniel Leal. 

Originally from Texas, Dr. Leal would describe 

himself as a Community Psychiatrist. Educated in Texas, Dr. Leal completed his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at the University 

of Texas, graduating second in his class. He 

matriculated at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, receiving his medical 

degree in 1989. 

Dr. Leal pursued his internship and residency at the Beth Israel Medical Center in 

New York. His training at an inner city hospital 

fostered his life long interest in outreach to 

disenfranchised populations such as the mentally ill, the homeless, and the substance 

abusing population. His last academic training 

stop was as a fellow in Addiction Psychiatry at 

NYU-Bellevue. It was here that he studied and 

published on the effects of chronic homelessness for the mentally ill. 

Dr. Leal has continued his advocacy for 

these individuals as Medical Director for the 

Washton Institute and as a consultant to Pathways to Housing. He frequently speaks to consumer advocacy groups such as the Alliance 

for the Mentally Ill and has instructed at the 

New School for Social Research in Manhattan. 

Dr. Leal began working at Woodhull Medical 

Center in 2000 and feels he has found a supportive and enthusiastic work environment. 

‘‘Working in emergency psychiatry, I feel it is 

imperative that I convey to a patient that they 

will be treated in a humane and respectful 

manner. The emergency room is often the first 

contact a patient or their family has with the 

mental health system. How we respond will 

often impact the course and outcome of their 

mental illness.’’ 

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize 

Dr. Daniel Leal for his extraordinary accomplishments for mental health in New York City. 

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 

join me in paying tribute to Dr. Daniel Leal. 

f 

TRIBUTE TO DR. MOUSTAPHA 

DIABY 

HON. CORRINE BROWN OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam 

Speaker, this communication is forwarded on 

behalf of the constituents of Congressional 

District Three and myself as we pay tribute to 

the life of Dr. Moustapha Diaby. We are all 

saddened by the loss of his presence in this 

life yet joyful that he has gone to be with his 

Heavenly Father. 

Dr. Moustapha Diaby, a great humanitarian 

and family man, passed away on November 

29th. Dr. Diaby served as the religious guide 

and President of the African Islamic Institution 

Presidium, and was a leading candidate for 

President of the Ivory Coast in elections which 

were to be scheduled later next year. 

Dr. Diaby was a Member of the Health Ministry of the Ivory Coast from 1981–1983 under 

then President Houphouet-Boigny, and was 

also a former counsel to both President 

Houphouet-Boigny and President Bedie. He 

was extremely well versed in Ivorian politics, 

and maintained close relations with members 

of a wide range of Ivorian political parties. A 

strong subscriber to the philosophy of former 

President Boigny, the founder of Ivorian independence from France, Dr. Diaby, like President Houphouet-Boigny, was an ardent proponent of tolerance and inclusion of all ethnic 

groups in the Ivory Coast, as well as the ideas 

of shared governance and the equitable distribution of resources throughout the country, 

irrespective of region or religious affiliation. 

During the political crisis in the Ivory Coast, 

wherein a Dutch multinational company, 

Trafigura, unloaded nearly 600 tons of petrochemical waste in the commercial capital, 

Abidjan (leading nearly 100,000 Ivorians to 

seek medical attention), Dr. Diaby utilized his 

international contacts and did everything within 

his power to assist those suffering the fallout 

of the illegal toxic dumping. His activities included working closely with the Congressional 

Black Caucus of the United States Congress, 

the U.S. Center for Disease Control, and numerous other international organizations, in an 

attempt to bring immediate relief to the victims. This included the donations of medical 

supplies and food to the people of the Ivory 

Coast suffering from the tragic incident. Dr. 

Diaby was also the recipient of the ‘‘Peter the 

Great International Award’’ for merits and 

peace in 2005 in Dubai, U.A.E., for his efforts 

in attempting to bring peace to the Ivory 

Coast. 

Dr. Diaby was also an extremely successful 

businessman, and, with his family, ran a family 

business by the name of Al-Salasa, with corporate headquarters in Dubai, UAE. Al Salasa 

is a general trading company and business 

house offering substantial trading opportunities 

to local, regional, national and international organizations on partnership, consultancy and 

joint venture basis. 

During the time Dr. Diaby spent overseas, 

he discussed governance in emerging African 

democracies, particularly in the Ivory Coast, 

economic development and international trade, 

and was an ardent advocate for a cessation of 

fighting in the Sudan. And as founder of the 

Moustapha Diaby Foundation, he worked tirelessly to raise funds for education and 

healthcare for children in the Ivory Coast and 

on the African continent. 

Dr. Diaby will be missed not only by members of his family, but by many in the Ivorian 

community. Dr. Diaby was a great humanitarian, and a role model for business and political leaders throughout the African continent. 

The Diaby family will remain in my thoughts 

and prayers. 

f 

A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY: BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS TO ENTITLEMENT SPENDING 

HON. FRANK R. WOLF OF VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I have been 

concerned about the financial future of our 

country for some time and in 2006 introduced 

legislation to set up a national commission to 

review our nation’s long-term economy, including mandatory entitlement spending, discretionary spending and tax policy, and recommend a plan to Congress to get America 

on a sustainable financial path. 

During the 110th Congress this bipartisan 

legislation—the SAFE Commission Act—was 

reintroduced with Representative JIM COOPER

of Tennessee. The bill has over 110 bipartisan 

cosponsors in the House, and similar legislation was introduced in the Senate by Budget 

Chairman KENT CONRAD and ranking member 

JUDD GREGG. 

In November I wrote to President-elect 

Obama asking that he consider the SAFE 

Commission as a bipartisan way to mandate 

action on this critical issue. Mr. Obama has indicated his willingness to reach across the 

aisle to find bipartisan solutions. I have always 

believed that working together in a bipartisan 

manner is what the American people expect of 

their elected leaders. That’s why I have asked 

the president-elect to join the effort Congressman COOPER and I have been pushing. I submit a copy of this letter for the RECORD. 

The American people are experiencing a crisis of confidence. The SAFE concept has active support from many who have a deep understanding of economic issues, and could 

help restore America’s confidence and get us 

on the right track. 

Doing nothing is not an option. 

The window of opportunity is now. With the 

mounting short-term federal deficit from the 

additional spending needed to get our banking 

system on sound footing, and the growing 

long-term debt from mandatory spending programs, we have an historic opportunity to address the nation’s financial future in a truly bipartisan manner. I am committed to bringing 

attention to this issue and getting something 

done. 

Not only are we facing a projected $1 trillion 

in deficit spending for this fiscal year, there is 

now $53 trillion in unfunded mandates through 

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which