January 8, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E45 

Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat 

Team. 

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INTRODUCING THE NATIONAL 

HURRICANE RESEARCH INITIATIVE ACT OF 2009 

HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, 

I rise today with my colleague and good friend 

from Florida, Representative ROS-LEHTINEN, 

and almost 20 bipartisan original cosponsors 

to introduce a very significant piece of legislation, the National Hurricane Research Initiative 

Act of 2009. 

This legislation is largely based on the recommendations presented in a 2007 National 

Science Foundation, NSF, report, Hurricane 

Warning: The Critical Need for a National Hurricane Research Initiative. 

The report delivered a stern warning: ‘‘Relative to the tremendous damage future hurricanes will inflict, the current federal investment 

in hurricane science and engineering is entirely insufficient.’’ 

The state of science today is not advanced 

enough to inform us reliably about when or 

where hurricanes are going to strike or what 

their precise impact on our communities will 

be. 

Since 2001, hurricane damage has cost our 

Nation almost $36 billion in economic losses 

per year. In 2005, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita 

and Wilma accounted for over $160 billion in 

total damages and the loss of almost 1,500 innocent lives. Further, the impact from inland 

flooding and tornadoes, which can result from 

the onset of hurricanes and tropical storms, 

can be felt throughout the entire United 

States. 

Currently, 50 percent of the U.S. population 

lives within 50 miles of the coastline. As populations and economies continue to expand in 

these high risk coastline areas, the economic 

and societal costs will only increase when future hurricanes strike our Nation. 

Our Government can ill afford to ignore the 

advice of its premier scientists and put our 

populations and infrastructure at risk. We need 

to nationally invest in new research to better 

prepare, respond and mitigate these disasters. 

This comprehensive hurricane research bill 

will improve hurricane research dramatically in 

the United States. The bill authorizes $2.35 

billion in critical hurricane research funding to 

help scientists study and better understand 

how hurricanes form and intensify, as well as 

enhance early warning systems, infrastructure 

durability standards, and hurricane tracking 

and prediction capabilities. 

The entire Nation would deeply benefit from 

enhanced, coordinated hurricane research. 

Better intensity forecasting, long-range projections of hurricane activity, emergency management, and hurricane mitigation would be advantageous to everyone—from improving the 

ability of local communities to respond to hurricanes to reducing the Federal Government’s 

share in recovery efforts by billions of dollars. 

Madam Speaker, our Nation and my State 

of Florida in particular are all too familiar with 

the immense damage hurricanes can inflict. It 

is imperative that we take significant actions to 

increase Federal investment in new research 

to better prepare for, respond to, and mitigate 

the devastating impacts of hurricanes. Let us 

resolve to act promptly to address ways to 

prevent and respond to future hurricanes before the next hurricane strikes. 

I ask for my colleagues’ support and urge 

the House leadership to bring this legislation 

to the floor for its swift consideration. There is 

no time for further delay. 

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LESLIE POHLEY HONORED AS 

FLORIDA’S OUTSTANDING MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER 

OF THE YEAR 

HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, I 

rise to pay tribute to Leslie Pohley, a teacher 

I represent at Largo Middle School, who has 

been named Florida’s Outstanding Middle 

School Science Teacher of the Year. 

Ms. Pohley was honored by her peers at the 

Florida Association of Science Teachers. Her 

principal Fred Ulrich told The St. Petersburg 

Times, ‘‘She is the science teacher every principal would love to have on staff. She cares 

about her students.’’ 

A teacher at Largo Middle School for 30 

years, Ms. Pohley grew up in Pinellas County, 

Florida where she now teaches. She graduated from Clearwater High School in 1973 

and holds two bachelor’s degrees from the 

University of South Florida. One degree is in 

science education and the other in biology. 

Previous honors for Ms. Pohley include 

being named the 2003 Air Force Association 

Science Teacher of the Year, the 2004 recipient of the Southwest Florida Water Management District Outstanding Leadership in Environmental Education Award, and being selected for a National Science Foundation fellowship program at the University of Georgia. 

Madam Speaker, at a time when the education of our children is a top national priority, 

especially in the fields of math and science, I 

salute Leslie Pohley for her lifelong dedication 

to teaching. Throughout the past 30 years, 

teaching from the same classroom at Largo 

Middle School, she has touched the lives of 

thousands of students and impressed upon 

them the value and importance of the 

sciences. 

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HONORING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SHARING THE 

DREAM CELEBRATION IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS 

HON. JOE BARTON OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. BARTON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I 

rise today to recognize and honor the ‘‘Sharing Dr. King’s Dream Celebration’’ in Arlington, 

Texas, which marks its 20th Anniversary this 

year. 

It is one of the longest Dr. Martin Luther 

King, Jr. Day Celebrations in the country, with 

citywide events taking place over four days 

starting January 16th 

The city’s first MLK, Jr., celebration was 

held back in 1989. The organizing committee 

included groups from all over the community, 

including the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, City of Arlington, Arlington Independent 

School District, Arlington Ministerial Association, Black Citizen’s Advisory Council, U.S. 

Postal Service, Marion Anderson Society, Fort 

Worth Star Telegram, The University of Texas 

at Arlington and Tarrant County College— 

South East campus. 

That first event attracted nearly 1,000 participants. Over the years ‘‘Sharing the Dream’’ 

has continued to grow and it now includes diversity training, sensitivity workshops, banquets, festivals and other multicultural events. 

This celebration truly embodies what Dr. 

King’s vision was all about and that is a reflection of all communities coming together. 

And Arlington’s MLK, Jr. Celebration committee continues to expand the event. Each 

year, in cooperation with the United States 

Postal Service, they produce an official cachet 

envelope and a special pictorial cancellation 

postmark to commemorate the citywide celebration. These special envelopes and postmarks have become favorites of collectors all 

over the nation. 

The theme for this year’s cachet envelope 

and postmark is ‘‘20th Anniversary—Sharing 

the Dream’’. 

The design is always chosen from student 

submissions to various art or essay contests 

organized by the Arlington Independent 

School District. The celebration also recognizes special individuals who have taken the 

time to make a difference within their respective communities in the areas of Education, 

Community Service and Government. 

This is a unique and very special celebration that each year honors the contribution’s of 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and on its 20th Anniversary, I am proud to recognize the individuals and organizations that have helped make 

this event possible over the years and all of 

the people who have shared Dr. King’s dream 

by attending. 

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INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 294 THE 

VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS PROMOTION ACT OF 2009 

HON. STEVE BUYER OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, today I am 

introducing the Veteran Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2009. As this body ponders legislation to stimulate the economy and 

create new jobs, I believe the best economic 

stimulus we can offer is to empower those 

who have defended America, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs should play a major 

role in that effort. 

This legislation includes our nation’s veterans in our economic recovery by promoting 

veteran-owned small businesses. Those who 

have done so much to protect the American 

economy deserve every opportunity to start 

and grow a viable business. This bill would 

renew VA’s authority to guarantee small business loans up to $500,000 for small businesses owned and operated by veterans. VA 

would be authorized up to $1 billion in loan 

guarantees for each fiscal year. The previous 


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E46 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 8, 2009 

program was terminated in 1986 and it is time 

that VA once again became a leader in promoting veteran-owned businesses. 

It is not right that some set-aside programs 

get a competitive advantage over veteranowned businesses, so my bill also includes 

provisions to have veteran-owned small business evaluated and awarded contracts under 

the same rules as 8(a) businesses. 

If this bill is enacted it will be a win-win for 

all Americans, as it will provide a valuable 

boost to our veterans who want to start a business, while stimulating the economy at the 

same time. I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor and support this measure. 

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PORT JEFFERSON VOLUNTEER 

AMBULANCE CORPS’ 50TH ANNIVERSARY 

HON. TIMOTHY H. BISHOP OF NEW YORK

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. BISHOP of New York. Madam Speaker, 

I rise today to join the Port Jefferson Volunteer 

Ambulance Corps in celebrating 50 years of 

dedicated service to our community. An historical shipbuilding town renamed in honor of our 

third President, Port Jefferson is now a thriving village of nearly 8,000 residents, growing 

in the summer with the arrival of tourists from 

Connecticut on the Cross-Sound ferry. 

In the fifty years of its existence, the Port 

Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance Corps has expanded to meet the growing needs of the 

wider community, including the villages of 

Belle Terre and Mt. Sinai. Starting with a single ambulance, the Corps now operates three 

ambulances and a first-responder car, with 

120 volunteers ready to answer the call 24 

hours a day. 

Madam Speaker, ambulance volunteers embody the best aspects of the American spirit 

and play a vital role in keeping our communities safe and healthy. I am proud to represent the membership of the Port Jefferson 

Volunteer Ambulance Corps and to join them 

in marking fifty years of service to their neighbors. I wish them the best as they continue 

their important, frequently life-saving mission. 

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THE TURNABOUT RANCH IN 

GARFIELD COUNTY, UTAH 

HON. JIM MATHESON OF UTAH

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. MATHESON. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to introduce legislation that would correct a drafting error that involves a 25-acre 

parcel of Bureau of Land Management, BLM, 

land, and land that is part of the Turn-About 

Ranch, which rehabilitates troubled youth. 

An erroneous survey in January 1999 was 

the cause of this trespass conflict when Congress approved a major land exchange, P.L. 

105–335, between the State of Utah and the 

border of the Grand Staircase Escalante, 

GSE, Monument. This legislation makes a 

minor boundary change to resolve the trespass conflict. It would grant the owners of the 

ranch to purchase the erroneously surveyed 

land at a fair market value, enabling this important and effective program for troublesome 

youth to continue unimpeded. 

The Turn-About Ranch has graduated approximately 500 troubled and at risk teenagers 

through an intense program of training and rehabilitation. The ranch also employs about 35 

Garfield County residents. The Turnabout 

Ranch has strong support from the local community, and the Garfield County Commission, 

as well as approval from the parents of the 

troubled youth. 

The Government-owned land administered 

by the BLM surrounds the congressional action by passing this legislation in Congress. 

The land was historically used for agriculture 

and grazing purposes. The Townsend family 

purchased the ranch and then leased the land 

to the Turn-About Ranch, Inc., for the sole 

purpose of rehabilitating the troubled youth, 

and restoring the values and self-esteem to 

these wayward teens. 

Madam Speaker, this legislation is a fair 

resolution to a technical problem. I hope Congress can implement this legislation and resolve this problem to continue helping our 

troubled adolescent teens. 

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SITUATION IN GAZA 

HON. LEONARD L. BOSWELL OF IOWA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. BOSWELL. Madam Speaker, I strongly 

support Israel’s right to defend itself against 

the rocket attacks by Hamas—attacks which 

have killed and injured many Israeli citizens. 

Israel’s actions are understandable. We must 

stand by our ally and be involved in any negotiations. I’m heartened to learn of a possible 

cease fire proposal. However, any cease fire 

must ensure an end to the terrorist attacks by 

Hamas. 

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ADDRESSING THE SITUATION IN 

GAZA 

HON. JERRY McNERNEY OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Mr. MCNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I take 

this opportunity to express my concern about 

events in Israel and Gaza, and my support for 

Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks launched from the Hamas-controlled 

Gaza Strip. The region must have a meaningful resolution that will permanently end these 

rocket attacks and open a pathway to alleviate 

civilian suffering and develop a secure and 

prosperous Palestinian society. Hamas’ rocket 

attacks targeting civilians triggered the current 

crisis. Any country is compelled to defend its 

civilians against attack. 

The situation in the region has reached a 

new level of violence, and each civilian death 

is tragic. The images of suffering innocents, 

especially children, in both the Gaza Strip and 

Israel are a stark reminder that it is long past 

time for this region to know peace. The United 

States must be deeply involved in the peace 

process while vigorously working for short and 

long term solutions that will provide security to 

Israel and the means for a better future to Palestinians. 

f 

HONORING MADELINE DELOACH 

FRANKLIN 

HON. BARBARA LEE OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 8, 2009 

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I 

rise today to honor the extraordinary life of 

Mrs. Madeline DeLoach Franklin. A loving 

mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, 

friend, and compassionate soul, Madeline will 

be dearly missed by all who knew her. Madeline passed away on December 21, 2008, at 

the age of 94, less than 1 month short of her 

95th birthday. 

Born on January 17, 1914, Madeline had a 

long and fascinating life. She not only witnessed the most transformative periods in our 

Nation’s history, she actively participated in 

them. Madeline Franklin was a vanguard of 

the pre-civil rights era and an inspiring political 

mother to many activists from the civil rights 

movement up until the present. 

Madeline was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her parents, William and Dora C. 

DeLoach, moved the family from New Orleans 

to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during World 

War I. In Philadelphia, Mr. and Mrs. DeLoach 

founded St. Philip’s Lutheran Church and 

raised their children in the spirit of community 

service. Growing up during the first decades of 

the 20th century, Madeline shared a simple 

and happy childhood with her nine older siblings. It was during this time that Madeline developed her strong social values, faith in God, 

and belief in the necessity of justice and 

human dignity for all people. She would carry 

these values with her and teach them to those 

fortunate enough to know her for over 70 

years. 

After graduating from the prestigious Philadelphia Girls High School, Madeline returned 

to New Orleans to attend Dillard University, 

where she pledged as a member of the Delta 

Sigma Theta Sorority. She graduated in 1939, 

and by that time had already fulfilled one of 

her dreams by becoming an accomplished pianist. Madeline was living in Pass Christian, 

Mississippi, and it was during this period that 

she decided to formally pursue a career in 

education and become politically active in the 

most important efforts of her time—actions 

that would serve as the precursors to the civil 

rights movement in America. Even before 

Rosa Parks’ famous refusal to give up her bus 

seat to make room for White passengers in 

1955, Madeline DeLoach was refusing to sit 

on wheel covers or wait for the next bus to 

come in the 1930s in Jackson, Mississippi. 

During that same period she met her future 

husband, Dr. Charles L. Franklin, who was living in New York after graduating from Columbia University in 1936 at the age of 25. At that 

time, Dr. Franklin was one of the youngest 

PhDs in the country, and the only AfricanAmerican with a doctorate degree in his field. 

A specialist in social legislation, labor economics, and statistics, Dr. Franklin was an energetic intellectual at the forefront in the struggle 

for employment integration in the Federal government. On his own merit he received the 

highest average of all of the competitors in the 


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