January 13, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E77 

TRIBUTE TO U.S. SENATOR MITCH 

MCCONNELL OF KENTUCKY 

HON. HAROLD ROGERS 

OF KENTUCKY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, 

I rise today to pay tribute to U.S. Senator 

MITCH MCCONNELL, a true statesman, who 

now holds the prestigious record as Kentucky’s longest serving U.S. Senator. It is truly 

an honor for the Commonwealth of Kentucky 

to be served by such an accomplished and 

determined leader. 

I remember the early days when MITCH first 

arrived in Washington, D.C., wandering the 

halls of Congress, but leaning on his experience as a local Judge-Executive in Jefferson 

County seeking compromise and working to 

solve problems. Today he is the Republican 

Leader in the United States Senate and is 

known for his mastery of parliamentary procedure, his ability to unite the Senate Republicans—which is no small feat—and standing 

firm on his conservative principles. 

An advocate for Eastern Kentucky families, 

MITCH is a great friend of mine who understands the needs of the Bluegrass State and 

does everything he can to help those who 

need it most. MITCH is rightly credited for 

being an integral part of one of the greatest 

legislative achievements in Kentucky history, 

which were his efforts to pass the tobacco 

buyout. Many observers said the buyout would 

be impossible to arrange; however, MITCH

dived in head first and with great focus was 

able to successfully push forward legislation 

that has allowed Kentucky farmers to transition to other crops and properly reimbursed 

quota holders. He should be proud of his efforts as he saved thousands of farmers and 

their families. 

Always wanting to move Kentucky forward, 

MITCH has worked tirelessly to strengthen 

higher education which has benefitted millions 

in the Bluegrass State. By improving our universities, MITCH has not only helped our students succeed but has helped to bolster communities, create new jobs and build a strong 

workforce for the Commonwealth. Kentucky’s 

future leaders have been awarded many new 

opportunities thanks to MITCH. 

In addition to all he has done for the Commonwealth, MITCH is known as a fierce campaigner who did the seemingly impossible 

when he first defeated an incumbent Senator 

in 1984, and then went on to lay the foundation for the resurgence of the Kentucky Republican Party. Republican success within 

Kentucky is due in large part to MITCH’s vision 

and hard work. 

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join 

me in honoring Senator MITCH MCCONNELL

and his accomplishment as Kentucky’s longest 

serving Senator. He is truly a legend in the 

Commonwealth and I look forward to his continued successes. 

A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF 

WAYNE C. THOMPSON 

HON. DIANE E. WATSON 

OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, it is with 

profound sorrow that I learned of the passing 

of my associate and colleague, Wayne 

Thompson, in December. Over the past two 

years, Wayne had become a trusted advisor 

to me on the Freedmen’s efforts to secure full 

citizenship in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. I will deeply miss Wayne’s knowledge, 

wisdom, and sage advice. I have prepared the 

following resolution in honor of a man who defined the meaning of a purpose-driven life. 

RESOLUTION

Whereas Wayne C. Thompson was born 

January 15, 1946, in Spencer, Oklahoma, the 

fourth of nine children of Tasso and Daisy 

Lee Thompson; 

Whereas Wayne Thompson completed his 

secondary education in Spencer, Oklahoma 

and received a BSC in Social Psychology 

from Makerere University in Kampala, 

Uganda; 

Whereas Wayne C. Thompson served in the 

United States Army with tours of duty in 

Vietnam and Germany; 

Whereas Wayne C. Thompson dedicated his 

life to the promotion of human and civil 

rights around the world, including his participation in numerous marches and sit-ins 

during the Civil Rights Movement and service to the international wing of the Black 

Panther Party; 

Whereas Wayne C. Thompson was the longstanding Executive Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Project through which he 

was involved with the Community Health 

Centers movement, Responsive Intervention 

Prevention Program for Community Organizations, the Young Black Men’s and Women’s 

Forums, Agent Orange Class Assistance Program, Developmental Outreach Program for 

Minority Communities, the Seminole and 

Cherokee Freedmen, World Health Organization, numerous delinquency prevention and 

youth violence intervention programs, All of 

Us or None, and the defense of political prisoners and the San Francisco 8; 

Whereas Wayne C. Thompson was a founding member of the Institute of the Black 

World 21st Century and a coordinator of the 

Haiti Support Project and had an abiding 

and profound interest and commitment to 

eradicating social and economic injustice in 

Central America, Mozambique, Haiti, and 

the developing world; 

Resolved, 

(1) That Wayne Thompson led an exemplary and selfless life in service of those less 

fortunate; 

(2) That Wayne Thompson was a fighter for 

justice who sought no notoriety for his efforts to help oppressed people around the 

world; and 

(3) That Wayne Thompson was a warrior 

with the biggest heart, one of the greatest 

civil rights soldiers the world has known, 

whose good deeds and works have left the 

world a better place, and whose memory will 

be carried forward by the legions of people he 

touched with his remarkable human spirit. 

RETIREMENT OF SENATOR 

GEORGE VOINOVICH 

HON. JEAN SCHMIDT 

OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 

Mrs. SCHMIDT. Madam Speaker, this past 

Monday, Senator GEORGE VOINOVICH announced that he will not be seeking re-election 

to the United States Senate in 2010. Senator 

VOINOVICH has dedicated the last 40 years of 

his life to public service. I look forward to continuing to work with him over the next 2 years, 

but would be remiss if I did not acknowledge 

that he will be sorely missed when he leaves. 

Since 1967, GEORGE VOINOVICH has been a 

fixture in Ohio politics. Ohio has been blessed 

to have such a tireless advocate so dedicated 

to serving others. Although Washington, DC 

will be losing a respected voice on so many 

pressing issues, I congratulate him on his 40 

years of distinguished and outstanding service 

to the citizens of the State of Ohio and wish 

him, his wife, Janet, and his entire family the 

best in the coming years. 

f 

CONGRESSIONAL TRIBUTE HONORING LINDA CHAVEZ-THOMPSON 

HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ 

OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 

Mr. GONZALEZ. Madam Speaker, we rise 

today to honor the life and accomplishments 

of Linda Chavez-Thompson, a San Antonio 

resident who will be honored this Friday by the 

San Antonio AFL–CIO for her achievements 

and contributions to our community. 

A native of Lubbock, Ms. Chavez-Thompson 

has been an integral part of the American 

labor movement for 40 years. In 1995, she 

made history when she was elected Executive 

Vice-President of the AFL–CIO, the first Hispanic to hold one of the organization’s three 

highest offices. She currently serves as executive vice-president emerita and remains committed to delivering economic and social justice to all Americans. 

Over the course of her life she has 

partnered with many organizations on behalf 

of civil and human rights, including those of 

women, immigrant Americans, and the LGBT 

community. And as she continues to work to 

better the world around her, her current 

projects include starting a scholarship fund for 

children of union members and developing a 

future leadership initiative. 

The city of San Antonio, the State of Texas, 

and our entire country have reaped the benefits of her hard work and lifelong commitment 

to justice and equality, and we could not be 

more grateful for her contributions. Congressman CIRO RODRIGUEZ and I are honored to 

know her as a friend, and we congratulate Ms. 

Chavez-Thompson for all of her achievements 

and this well deserved recognition. 


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