E4 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 6, 2009 

Great Lakes States to conduct a study on the 

feasibility of a variety of approaches to eradicating Asian carp from the Great Lakes. The 

legislation specifically directs the agencies to 

study the feasibility of temporarily harvesting 

Asian carp as a means to eradicate the 

invasive species in an environmentally responsible manner. 

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to explore all possibilities to effectively 

eliminate the threat that this dangerous species poses to our Nation’s most precious natural resource. 

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RECOGNIZING BARBARA KUJAWA 

OF WEEKI WACHEE, FLORIDA 

HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. 

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Barbara 

Kujawa of Hernando County, Florida. Barbara 

will do something later this year that all of us 

strive to do, but that very few of us will ever 

accomplish, celebrate her 100th birthday. 

Barbara was born December 5, 1909 in 

Ironwood, Michigan. After attending schools in 

Detroit at St. Stanislaus and Resurrection 

schools, Barbara went on to work as an assembly line worker. Happily married to Aloysius Kujawa, she had four wonderful children, 

thirteen grandchildren and twenty-one great 

grandchildren. 

Her proudest moments were seeing all of 

her children get married and the happiest moment was when she gave birth to her daughter. Growing up in Michigan, some of her 

fondest childhood memories are of sledding 

on a big hill in Grand Rapids with her cousins 

and walking out on the ice to see her father 

ice fish. 

Moving to Hernando County in the 1980’s 

because it was a nice place to live, Barbara 

said the things she likes most about Weeki 

Wachee are that it’s peaceful and quiet. 

Today, reading gives Barbara the most pleasure. If she could live her life over, Barbara 

would not have gotten married but would have 

traveled the world and made sure she had 

gotten a better education. Her advice to young 

people today is to work hard, be honest, don’t 

drink or do drugs, and honor your parents. 

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join me in 

honoring Barbara Kujawa for reaching her 

100th birthday. I hope we all have the good 

fortune to live as long as her. 

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HONORING ALEXANDER THOMAS 

TRITICO 

HON. SAM GRAVES OF MISSOURI

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 

Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly 

pause to recognize Alexander Thomas Tritico 

of Kansas City, Missouri. Alexander 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 1261, and earning the most 

prestigious award of Eagle Scout. 

Alexander has been very active with his 

troop, participating in many Scout activities. 

Over the many years Alexander 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 Alexander Thomas Tritico 

for his accomplishments with the Boy Scouts 

of America and for his efforts put forth in 

achieving the highest distinction of Eagle 

Scout. 

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IN CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE 

AND SACRIFICE OF SERGEANT 

PRESTON R. MEDLEY, UNITED 

STATES ARMY 

HON. JEFF MILLER 

OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I 

rise to honor the life of Sergeant Preston Medley, United States Army. Sergeant Medley was 

killed in action on October 14, 2008 while 

serving our nation in Qazi Bandeh, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Sergeant Medley was assigned to D 

Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. 

A 2003 graduate of Baker High School, 

Preston played football and was involved in 

the broadcasting program. ‘‘He was the energetic, joyful kind of person that helped make 

our program successful,’’ one teacher said. 

After his mother passed away in 2005, Preston decided he wanted to serve this nation 

and joined the Army. He will now go to his 

eternal resting place next to his mother in the 

Pyron Chapel Cemetery in Baker, Florida. 

While Preston was serving on active duty at 

Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he met his beautiful wife, Sarah, who was a fellow Soldier. 

Sarah gave birth to their daughter, Raelynn, in 

September 2007 and gave birth to their son, 

Preston Ray Medley Jr. on December 8, 2008. 

Preston’s name, his fighting spirit and his caring soul will continue to live on through 

Raelynn and Preston, Jr. 

I am always reminded of the greatness of 

our country by the patriotism of those like 

Preston and the dedication of our military families like Sarah and the Medley family. We 

have an all-volunteer military and continue to 

ask our sons and daughters to travel to faraway lands to fight for our freedom. Men and 

women like Preston Medley continue to answer the call. 

The people of Northwest Florida have reason to be proud of Sergeant Preston Medley 

for his service and sacrifice for freedom. While 

his passing is a tremendous loss for our country, his selfless service stands as a pillar of 

strength for us all. Vicki and I will keep Preston’s entire family in our thoughts and prayers. 

I trust that all the people of Northwest Florida 

and our nation do the same. 

THE FAIR AND SIMPLE TAX ACT 

HON. DAVID DREIER OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 

Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, virtually everyone is talking about the need for us to have 

a second economic stimulus package. From 

falling home prices to rising unemployment, 

there is no doubt that the economic volatility 

our nation has experienced over the past few 

months has caused great uncertainty and 

there are many needs that have to be met. As 

we seek to get our economy back on track, I 

am very proud to be introducing what I think 

is the closest thing to a panacea to the economic growth challenge that we are facing. 

This plan, known as Fair and Simple Tax 

Act, or simply FAST, would cut the number of 

tax brackets in half, with three simple tax 

rates—10 percent on the first $40,000 in income, 15 percent on incomes between 

$40,000 and $150,000 and 30 percent on any 

income above $150,000, significantly reducing 

the burden on taxpayers at all income levels. 

Furthermore, it will dramatically simplify the 

tax filing process by creating a one-page tax 

form that implements the three-tier simplified 

marginal rate structure, while retaining many 

of the popular deductions, including mortgage 

interest, state and local taxes, charitable giving, the personal exemption and the child tax 

credit. 

But the FAST Act is about much more than 

just lowering marginal tax rates for working 

families or making that April 15 deadline easier to meet each year. It’s about getting our 

economy growing again and creating new opportunities. This bill reduces the capital gains 

rate from 15 percent to 10 percent, lowers the 

top corporate rate from 35 percent to 25 percent and permanently extends the research 

and development tax credit. These provisions 

will not only promote new economic growth, 

but they will also make the U.S. economy 

more competitive and help to provide the tax 

certainty that spurs investment and capital improvements. 

The FAST Act will permanently end the 

death tax and will further index the alternative 

minimum tax (AMT) to inflation, ensuring that 

fewer taxpayers are impacted each year. It 

also permanently extends the 2001 and 2003 

pro-growth tax cuts. 

Finally, the FAST Act will enable Americans 

to better prepare for their future needs. This 

legislation creates three new, tax-free savings 

accounts: the Retirement Savings Account 

and the Lifetime Savings Account, both providing a $5,000 tax-free contribution, and the 

Lifetime Skills Savings Account, which provides a $1,000 tax-free contribution. Additionally, the FAST Act provides a $7,500 tax deduction for individuals and a $15,000 tax deduction for families who do not receive employer-sponsored health coverage. This expanded deduction will provide individuals and 

families with additional assistance to purchase 

healthcare and allows unspent funds to be allocated to a Health Savings Account (HSA). 

Each of these provisions will help Americans 

to secure their financial futures by saving for 

healthcare costs, continuing education and retirement. 

Madam Speaker, our nation is facing a severe economic crisis that must be addressed 


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