E98 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 15, 2009 

countless soldiers and Marines. Here at home, 

he served just as valiantly in his capacity as 

the director of the trauma department at the 

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. 

Throughout his life, Major Pryor demonstrated 

an uncommon commitment to our community 

and our country. On 9/11, he hitched a ride to 

New York City in an ambulance so that he 

could lend a hand in one of our greatest hours 

of need. Shortly thereafter, when America 

went to war, he volunteered for military service 

because he felt a patriotic duty to heal wounded soldiers. Time and again, Major Pryor was 

there when we needed him most. 

Major Pryor’s absence has been deeply felt 

by his family, his fellow soldiers, the HUP 

community, and by all those whose lives he 

touched. Across our country, we share their 

grief. 

Soldiers like Major Pryor remind us that the 

price of war cannot be measured just in dollars, or in territory, or even in the number of 

our patriots who never return home. It must 

also be measured with the valor, the potential, 

and the devotion of those we have lost. Within 

our military are heroism and courage beyond 

measure, and while the presence of these heroes makes our Nation stronger, the loss of 

any servicemember is all the more painful, for 

when they give their lives, the promise of their 

lives is lost as well. 

We give thanks for the life of John Pryor. 

We mourn his loss. We offer our prayers to 

his family. 

f 

CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN AWARD 

HON. BETTY McCOLLUM OF MINNESOTA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 15, 2009 

Ms. MCCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, it was 

my honor today to be recognized by Global 

Action for Children with the Champion for Children Award. Launched in 2003, the Global Action for Children is a nonpartisan, results-oriented coalition dedicated to advocating for orphans and highly vulnerable children in the 

developing world. I intended to give the following remarks, but was unable to do so due 

to Congressional business. I would like to 

enter my remarks for this event into the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 

COMMENTS ON THE CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN

AWARD

Good afternoon. 

It is an honor to receive this award from 

Global Action for Children. Long after I am 

gone from Washington, if there is one thing 

people say about me, I hope it is ‘‘she was a 

champion for children.’’ 

I would like to thank Jennifer Delaney for 

all of her work and for the hard work of her 

staff. I first worked with Jennifer in 2003 on 

the original PEPFAR bill to secure funding 

for AIDS orphans and vulnerable children. 

Jennifer’s dedication and commitment to 

fight for children around the world—and to 

build the partnerships necessary to be successful—is an inspiration. She is a tremendous resource for Members’ offices and I am 

very proud to be here with her today. 

I would also like to congratulate my colleagues from the Senate—Senators Lugar 

and Dodd—on their awards today. Their commitment to children is well known and I 

look forward to working with them in the 

111th Congress to make the needs of our 

planet’s next generation a priority domestic 

and foreign policy issue. 

I came to Congress eight years ago. During 

my time as in the U.S. House there have 80 

million newborns and young children around 

the world have died from mostly preventable 

or easily treatable diseases—80 million children. 

Four million mothers have died from pregnancy related causes, most of which could 

have been averted with access to basic 

healthcare. 

Nearly 10 million more children will needlessly die across this planet from malnutrition, dirty water, treatable infections, and 

global apathy. This is a tragedy of enormous 

proportions that we can help to stop—we 

MUST help to stop. 

For all the mothers and fathers in the 

room today, do you think a mother or father 

in Bangladesh, Zambia or Guatemala loves 

their newborn or toddler less than we love 

our children? 

Every parent loves their children and 

wants them not only to survive but thrive 

and succeed. 

In the 111th Congress, let us work together—policy makers, global health advocates and citizens—to make the policy improvements and funding investments to save 

the lives of millions more newborns, children 

and mothers. 

Let us work to make child survival and 

maternal health the global health priority of 

this Congress. 

As President-elect Obama looks at the foreign policy landscape there needs to be some 

major reforms in the manner in which development assistance is delivered. 

We need a new comprehensive strategy and 

the tools to execute that strategy. We need 

to invest the hard earned tax dollars of our 

citizens in building a better world—a safer 

world—a more peaceful world. And, we need 

to see outcomes for our investments that can 

be demonstrated. 

Here is an investment idea and an outcome 

I’d like to see this Congress act upon: How 

about investing a billion dollars to save the 

lives of a million newborns and children? Do 

you think the American people would support a billion dollar investment that saved a 

million young lives? 

I think they would. 

Congress, working hand-in-hand with the 

Obama Administration, needs to refocus our 

strategy for development assistance to focus 

on the basics. In addition to focusing on 

child survival and maternal health, we need 

to increase investment in agriculture development to reduce malnutrition, increase 

family incomes and reduce the demand for 

emergency food aid. 

Let us help to expand access to clean 

water, preventing water born illnesses. 

We must maintain our commitment to 

fighting HIV/AIDS while not backing away 

from the need to assist orphans and vulnerable children grow up healthy, productive 

and safe in their communities. 

Finally, we need a foreign policy that recognizes that hundreds of millions of children 

around the world are confronting violence, 

absolute poverty, hunger and lives of misery 

on a daily basis. 

Think of the children in Gaza, in the 

Democratic Republic of Congo, in Zimbabwe 

and how they are suffering. Their lives will 

forever be shaped by violence. We need to 

work to make the world safe for children and 

that means aggressive, smart diplomacy that 

works to prevent political crisis and conflicts. If we are truly a superpower we need 

not simply stand by and watch the escalation of violence and suffering, we must 

work to prevent it. 

Let start making the world safer for children by advancing a child-based development 

agenda—such as the emergency presidential 

intitiative for the world’s children being proposed by Global Action for Children here 

today. This is exactly the type of bold commitment the United States should and can 

make to the world’s children. 

Let me conclude by speaking about commitment. Every parent knows that bringing 

a child into this world means a commitment 

until that child becomes an adult. It means 

meeting the child’s physical needs, creating 

a safe environment, sharing love and protecting your child from harm. This is universal across all cultures. 

A similar type of commitment on the part 

of states to children is embodied in the 

United Nations Convention on the Rights of 

the Child. Yet, the United States, along with 

Somalia, are the only two nations on the 

face of the Earth which have not ratified this 

treaty, not formalized our commitment to 

our own children and the world’s children. 

This is an embarrassment that I hope is addressed by the U.S. Senate this Congress. 

Every child—where ever he or she is born— 

is a child of God and a blessing. 

Therefore, every child should be recognized 

as possessing the human dignity and basic 

human rights we all share and we all expect 

for our own children. If this is in fact true 

and you believe it, and I know you do—then 

we’ve got lots of work to do. 

Thank you all for making the world’s children a priority and for recognizing that their 

rights and their well-being are as important 

as our own children’s. 

f 

GET AMERICA MOVING AGAIN 

HON. DONALD A. MANZULLO OF ILLINOIS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 15, 2009 

Mr. MANZULLO. Madam Speaker, today I 

am privileged to be joined by my good friend 

and co-chair of the Congressional Automotive 

Caucus, Representative FRED UPTON, in introducing the Get America Moving Again Act of 

2009. 

This bill is simple. It provides a tax credit of 

$5,000 for any new vehicle purchased from 

January 1, 2009, until December 31, 2009. In 

order to prevent a large drop off in new car 

sales next year, the tax credit would be cut in 

half to $2,500 starting on January 1, 2010. 

The tax incentive would then expire on December 31, 2010. In addition, the bill provides 

a tax credit of $2,000 for any late model used 

vehicle purchase, as defined as 3 years old or 

less, from January 1, 2009, until December 

31, 2009 so that automobile dealers are not 

saddled with unsellable used cars. This tax 

credit would also be cut in half to $1,000 starting on January 1, 2010 and would also end on 

December 31, 2010. The tax credit would be 

limited for vehicles that cost under $50,000 

and would only be allowed for households with 

an adjusted gross income of $250,000 or less. 

I am also working on a second alternative bill 

that will move this tax credit concept to a 

voucher system so that consumers can see 

the immediate benefit of this incentive at the 

point of sale of a vehicle. 

Madam Speaker, I am introducing this bill 

today because we need to get people thinking 

now about ways to re-ignite consumer demand for vehicles. Our economy is in crisis 

today because of insufficient consumer demand for goods and services due to the fear 

in this country of making a significant purchase. All the economic stimulus plans that 


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January 15, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E99 

are being discussed deal with bailing out people’s mistakes or using taxpayers’ dollars for 

public works projects and more government 

programs. Some also talk about the government creating ‘‘new jobs’’ but they don’t understand that there are still jobs in existence and 

all they lack is orders from consumers. 

We need something easy to understand that 

is considerably less expensive for the taxpayer 

than current proposals. We need a proposal 

that will begin to restore our economy immediately by providing a significant incentive to 

purchase the second largest purchase a typical consumer will make in their lifetime (after 

housing) in order to help jump-start the economy. 

First, in 2007, about 17 million new vehicles 

were sold in America. A year later, only 10 

million cars were sold. This represents a net 

loss of 7 million cars. At an average price of 

$25,000, this loss of new car sales translated 

into $175 billion that was directly removed 

from the economy in 2008. If we can get back 

to selling 15 million cars, that would add about 

$125 billion directly into the economy. Multiplier effects of between 3 to 7 percent could 

increase the U.S. economic benefit of selling 

5 million more cars up to $900 billion. 

Second, when cars and trucks start selling, 

it moves inventory from factory lots and dealers showrooms. It pays salaries of all the vehicle assembly workers, dealers, and employees. It replenishes local and state sales tax receipts. It restarts manufacturing and supply 

chains and the economy begins to boom 

again because vehicles are the second biggest consumer item (after housing). 

Third, by offering a tax credit of $5,000 for 

the purchase of a new car or truck, an individual could buy, for example, a new Chrysler 

Jeep Patriot (assembled in Belvidere, Illinois, 

which I am proud to represent) for less than 

$15,000 or around $200 a month for 5 years. 

This incentive is large enough to encourage 

consumers on the fence to make the decision 

this year to buy a car. 

Fourth, we need to implement this tax incentive immediately while people who still 

have jobs are able to buy a new car. 

We will continue to lose jobs until items are 

again purchased. Common sense and sound 

economics have given way to ‘‘I want my fair 

share of the stimulus’’ mentality. No one is 

thinking about the massive inflation and the 

higher taxes that will eventually be necessary 

to pay for the current stimulus and bailout proposals. Many are unfortunately focused on the 

pre-eminence of ‘‘the government is the only 

answer’’ doctrine. There is little regard for restarting our economy from the bottom up. 

While government cannot be the answer, it 

can be part of the solution. We can do things 

now that will drastically alter the negative 

course we are on. Thus, I urge my colleagues 

to join Rep. UPTON and me in co-sponsoring 

the Get America Moving Again Act of 2009. 

f 

IN HONOR OF THE 2008 LAWRENCE 

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND 

HON. ANDRE ́ CARSON OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 15, 2009 

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, 

today I rise to recognize the Lawrence Central 

High School Marching Band, whose 2008 success catapulted them forward as one of our 

nation’s top high school marching bands. 

With hours of dedicated practice, the band 

developed a musical expertise and performance ability that led them to their first Indiana 

State Championship since 2000. Following this 

victory, they were invited to participate in the 

Bands of America Grand Nationals where they 

placed third. 

Lawrence Central’s amazing season culminated with an invitation to the prestigious 

Annual Fiesta Bowl and Blue Cross/Blue 

Shield National Band Competition. Competing 

against the nation’s best bands, Lawrence 

Central was crowned Grand Master Champion, the highest award available. 

The band’s achievements would not have 

been possible without the highest quality band 

staff. Directors of Bands Randy Greenwell and 

Matthew James and their staff all served as 

excellent teachers and mentors to their band 

members. Additionally, all the Lawrence Central fans, and in particular the spirited student 

body, should be recognized for their enthusiastic support. 

I offer my sincere congratulations to the 

Lawrence Central Marching Band, their band 

staff, classmates and parents on their incredible success in 2008. 

f 

A TRIBUTE TO GWEN REGALIA, 

MAYOR OF WALNUT CREEK 

HON. GEORGE MILLER OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 15, 2009 

Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam 

Speaker, I rise today in honoring Gwen Regalia for her many accomplishments and contributions to the city of Walnut Creek. 

Gwen Regalia has provided remarkable 

leadership as a member of the Walnut Creek 

City Council since 1987. As Mayor of Walnut 

Creek, Gwen served for an unprecedented 

five terms and my congressional district has 

been greatly enhanced by over two decades 

of her service. Now, as Gwen retires from 

public office it is my great privilege to pay tribute to her work in the CONGRESSIONAL

RECORD. 

Gwen’s career began upon her graduation 

from the University of California at Berkeley. 

She began teaching elementary school when 

she moved to Walnut Creek in 1958 and now 

holds a Life Credential in Elementary Education. Gwen’s political career began in 1978 

when she ran for the Walnut Creek School 

District board and served for almost ten years; 

she also served as president for two of those 

years. 

In 1987 Gwen was elected to the City Council, but her duties did not stop at the Walnut 

Creek boarder. While in office she also served 

as President of the Kennedy-King Memorial 

College Scholarship Fund, she was president 

and former director of the Diablo Valley Foundation for the environment, she is a forty-year 

member of the American Association of University Women, member of the League of 

Women Voters of Diablo Valley, Diablo Regional Arts Association member, as well as 

other local cultural organizations. 

Under Gwen’s leadership in the City Council 

several capital projects were completed, including the Lesher Center for the Arts, the 

Shadelands Art Center, the Iron Horse Trail 

Bridge, two gyms, five parks and seven ball 

fields, as well as the acquisition of 305 acres 

of open space. 

Gwen Regalia’s twenty-one years of public 

service is an example to us all, and we are 

lucky to have her vision and her commitment 

to the citizens of Walnut Creek. It is my honor 

to recognize Gwen Regalia as she retires from 

public service and I wish her success and 

happiness in her future endeavors. 

f 

IN HONOR OF SECRETARY 

VALERIE A. WOODRUFF 

HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE OF DELAWARE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, January 15, 2009 

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, it is with 

great pleasure that I rise today to recognize 

Valerie Woodruff, Delaware’s Secretary of 

Education. Val will retire this year after a 44 

year career in public education and serving 

the state of Delaware for over 30 years. 

During her term as Secretary, Val led the 

implementation of Delaware’s accountability 

system and worked with Congress and the 

U.S. Department of Education to implement 

the federal No Child Left Behind Act in Delaware. 

Although Val’s work in public education 

began long before her service in Delaware, 

Val has had a huge positive impact on Delaware’s education system. Val led the development of the first school-based Wellness Center in Delaware that has served as a model for 

additional Delaware schools. Val served as a 

Thomson Fellow for the Coalition of Essential 

States, where she participated in, and conducted workshops in her capacity and was selected as Delaware’s Principal of the Year in 

1990. Val also serves as a member of several 

boards including the Delaware Workforce Investment Board and its Youth Council and the 

State Chamber of Commerce Partnership. 

Additionally, Val represents Delaware on the 

Southern Regional Education Board, serves 

on the Executive Committee of the Southern 

Regional Education Board, and is the first K– 

12 educator to serve as Vice Chair. She also 

served as President of the Council of Chief 

State School Officers from November 2005 to 

November 2006. 

Val was born in Steubenville, Ohio and grew 

up in West Virginia. She attended Alderson 

Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia 

and graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts 

degree in Secondary Education in English and 

Social Studies. In 1971, Val began her work in 

Delaware and received her Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling 

from the University of Delaware in Newark, 

Delaware. 

I would like to thank Val for her many years 

of service and her focus on developing quality 

teachers and school leaders, as well as the 

importance of providing an excellent educational experience to all children in Delaware. 

Val’s work has resulted in improved student 

achievement and positive recognition of Delaware public education. 


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