Patrick Kennedy

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Mrs. Terri Alford to the U.S. House of Representatives. For 16 years Mrs. Alford has approached her service to the Congress with a professionalism, dedication, and joy that has inspired hundreds of staff and interns and undoubtedly improved the institution of Congress itself. Mrs. Alford's patriotism, love of the arts, and good humor enlivened the U.S. House of Representatives, and her infectious enthusiasm and good nature were a gift for all who had the pleasure of working with her. As Mrs. Alford prepares for retirement to spend more time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, we thank her for her dedicated service and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Steven E. Hyman for his service to the academic, scientific, and cultural life of the United States. As Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) from 1996-2001, Dr. Hyman was instrumental in transforming the way the nation understands, treats, and responds to mental illness. Under Dr. Hyman's leadership, the NIMH became a world leader in genetic, biological, and neuroscientific research to improve the lives of the tens of millions of Americans living with mental illness. Since 2001, Dr. Hyman has served as Provost of Harvard University, where his innovative leadership helped usher America's oldest university into the new millennium with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and collaborative research. Additionally, Dr. Hyman's role in strengthening the museums, libraries, and cultural institutions of Harvard University has strengthened the rich cultural life of the United States as a whole. Dr. Hyman is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. He has received awards for public service from the U.S. Government and from patient advocacy groups such as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the National Mental Health Association. Across the country and over the world, he has lectured on topics ranging from genes, brain, and behavior to the stigma of mental illness. Dr. Hyman is a member of the Society for Neuroscience, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the American College of Psychiatrists. He has served on scientific advisory boards nationally and internationally including the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Riken Brain Sciences Institute in Japan, and the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Germany. He is currently Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Next Frontier Initiative, a new endeavor to design and implement a 10-year collaborative neuroscience research effort for the benefit of soldiers and veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD. As Dr. Hyman prepares to transition from his position as Provost of Harvard University, we honor his legacy as a national leader in science and academia and look forward to his continued contributions to American life.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Staglin family for their ongoing and unparalleled efforts to improve the lives of the hundreds of millions of individuals across the world living with mental illness. Garen, Shari, Brandon, and Shannon Staglin have made the fight against mental illness their collective mission and have approached the awesome challenge of combating these difficult disorders with a strong and organized effort that is at once inspirational and transformative. In 16 years, the Staglin's non-profit International Mental Health Research Organization, IMHRO, and the Staglin Music Festival for Mental Health have raised over $116 million for mental health research. The mission of IMHRO is to alleviate human suffering from mental illness by funding scientific research into the causes, prevention and new treatments of mental disorders. IMHRO produces, supports and builds awareness for fundraising events to raise money for mental health research, directs funding to the most promising research by soliciting and selecting proposals for prevention, treatment and cure of mental disorders, collaborates with affiliate organizations, people and events worldwide to raise and direct funding and minimize duplication of scientific effort, and works to build awareness of scientific achievements and possibilities. Recently, the Staglins have taken the lead in the organization of the Next Frontier Initiative to design and implement a 10-year collaborative neuroscience research effort for the benefit of soldiers and veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD. The efforts of the Staglin family have changed the landscape of how the country approaches mental illness, and are illustrative of the ability of a few dedicated people to truly change the world.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Mrs. Kathy Hinckley to the U.S. House of Representatives and to the constituents of Rhode Island's first district. A tireless worker, Mrs. Hinckley has long been a powerful advocate for those in need. Her love of country, compassion, and loyalty are a shining example to all future public servants. As Mrs. Hinckley prepares to transition to the next phase of her incredible career, we remember her dedicated service to the U.S. House of Representatives and offer gratitude on behalf of the thousands of Rhode Islander's whose lives she touched.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today for the purpose of recognizing ``Buddy'' Frank DiPaolo, Jr. Earlier this year, Buddy Frank retired at the age of 103 from his position as the doorkeeper at the Rhode Island House of Representatives, where he served for the past 32 years. Not only has Buddy been an exemplary public servant for the State of Rhode Island, but I have been fortunate enough to have known him as a friend and mentor throughout my adult life. I first met Buddy Frank over 25 years ago when he owned the Castle Spa restaurant and I was an undergraduate at Providence College. Throughout my career, dating back to when I first sought elected office in the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1988, I have turned to Buddy to be one of my most trusted and reliable advisors. I've been honored to be his ``number one buddy,'' but even more blessed to be treated as his ``third son.'' I consider Buddy's family to be my own; his wife, Eugenia, his four children, Thomas, Claire, Evelyn, and Richard, his sixteen grandchildren, Susan, Steven, Robert, Kathleen, Cheryl, John, Erin, Robin, Kevin, Paul, Pamela, Mark, Claudia, Kristen, Lynn, and Laura, and eighteen grandchildren, Catherine, Michael, Abigail, Katelyn, Jessica, Bryan, William, Tyler, Zackery, Gillian, Seamus, Campbell, Rory, Damian, Gian, Jacqueline, Nicholas, and Timothy. They are all truly blessed to have a patriarch in the truest sense in Buddy Frank, and I thank them for the opportunity to share him as a positive influence in my life. Buddy Frank will be turning 104 years old on December 24, 2010, and I wish him a happy birthday. I also wish him all the best in his future endeavors. He will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with him.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Major General Robert T. Bray for his stewardship in Rhode Island's Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program--Priority to Veterans. His contributions have been vital to the success of this program. His work with this important issue is simply unmatched. Rhode Island's Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program--Priority to Veterans addresses the needs of individuals with mental illness such as post traumatic stress disorder and trauma related disorders involved in the justice system. In recognition of the dramatically higher prevalence of trauma related disorders among veterans, this program prioritizes eligibility for veterans. General Bray assumed the duties as The Adjutant General and the Commanding general of the Rhode Island National Guard on 17 February 2006. As The Adjutant General, he is responsible for the mission readiness of all Rhode Island National Guard units for both federal and state missions. General Bray joined the South Dakota National Guard in December 1971. He received his commission as a Field Artillery officer through the South Dakota Military Academy in 1974. Prior to this assignment, General Bray served as the Deputy Commanding General, Army National Guard, United States Army Field Artillery Center, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In that capacity he served as the advisor to, and as the personal representative of, the Commanding General (CG) for all Army National Guard Field Artillery matters. General Bray has been instrumental in advancing Rhode Island's correctional institutions. I wish him all the best as he continues his important work on behalf of our nation's heroes, our veterans. He will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with him.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Philip Johnston, Chair of the Board of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial, for his stewardship in the opening of the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools Complex in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2010. Named after U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, my uncle, the schools are devoted to social justice. Phil's work on behalf of the young people of Los Angeles is simply remarkable. The 24-acre, $578 million schools complex on Wilshire Boulevard consists of six different schools for grades kindergarten to 12, with more than 4,000 students, the vast majority of them from Latino and low-income neighborhoods. Philip, 85, was a driving force behind the project, which was fraught with obstacles from the start, including Donald Trump's plans to build five towers at the site, one of them 125 stories tall. Later, Wal-Mart wanted to put a store there. Senator Kennedy's commitment to social justice is evident throughout the campus with murals, quotations and similar exhibits. Originally designed as a large, comprehensive K-12 school that would house more than 2,400 students, the school district determined in 2008 that the facility would host wall-to-wall pilot schools, which opened this fall. Pilot schools are innovative small schools that have charter-like autonomy over their budget, curriculum and assessment, governance, schedule and staffing, but are part of the public school system. Among the new school's many features is a 500-seat auditorium and cafe at the site of the old Coconut Grove nightclub, built adjacent to the hotel in the 1920s, where LA's rich and famous would go to party. Howard Hughes was a regular there and several Academy Awards events were held there during the 1930s. Groundbreaking on the new schools took place four years ago. Phil has been instrumental in the improvement of public education in Los Angeles. I wish him all the best as he continues his important work on behalf of young people. He will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with him.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Donald L. Carcieri, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, for his remarkable leadership in the Ocean State. Governor Carcieri will conclude his second term as Governor in January after serving two incredible terms. His record of public service and advocacy for the people of Rhode Island is simply unmatched. Governor Carcieri was inaugurated as Rhode Island's 57th Governor on January 7, 2003. A native Rhode Island resident, his election followed a career in business that was capped with his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Cookson America and Joint Managing Director of Cookson Group Worldwide. He retired from that position in 1997. Governor Carcieri, born December 16, 1942, was the first of Nicola and Marguerite Carcieri's five children. The family lived in East Greenwich where Nicola Carcieri was a beloved teacher and coach at the town high school. As a family man with four children and fourteen grandchildren, ten of whom live in Rhode Island, Governor Carcieri has always taken an active interest in what is going on in his community and the state. Governor Carcieri has been instrumental in preserving the historic face of Providence: at his urging, the former Providence train station became the headquarters of Cookson America. The company offices overlooked Burnside Park on one side and the Rhode Island State House on the other. He exhibited unwavering leadership during the tragic Station nightclub fire and during the state's disastrous floods. He memorialized Rhode Island's heroes who fell during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I wish Don all the best in his future endeavors. He will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with him.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Timothy Shriver, my cousin, for his stewardship in leading the world's most formative human rights organization. Tim is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Special Olympics. In this capacity, Tim serves 3.1 million Special Olympics athletes and their families in 175 countries. His work for those with disabilities is simply unmatched. After taking the helm at Special Olympics in 1996, Cousin Tim launched the organization's most ambitious growth agenda, leading to the recruitment of more than 2 million new athletes around the world. He has worked with the leaders of China to initiate a thriving Special Olympics Program in their country, highlighted by their hosting the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai. He has also worked with world leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Bertie Ahern, Rafiq Hariri, Thabo Weld, Julius Nyerere, Hosni Mubarak and Shimon Peres to advance the growth of the Special Olympics mission and vision while challenging nations to adopt more supportive and just policies. He has spearheaded programs in developing or war- torn countries such as Afghanistan, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Iraq. Tim has also created exciting new Special Olympics initiatives in athlete leadership, cross-cultural research, health, education and family support. Among them, Special Olympics Healthy Athletes has become the world's largest public health screening and education program for people with intellectual disabilities, and Special Olympics Get Into It, together with Unified Sports, promotes inclusion and acceptance around the world. In addition, he has worked to garner more legislative attention and government support for issues of concern to the Special Olympics community, testifying before the U.S. Congress on numerous occasions. As part of his passion for promoting the gifts of the forgotten, Tim has harnessed the power of Hollywood to share the stories of inspiration and change, co-producing DreamWorks Studios' 1997 release, ``Amistad,'' and Disney. Studios' 2000 release, ``The Loretta Claiborne Story.'' He is Executive Producer of ``The Ringer,'' a Family Brothers' film, and also has produced or co-produced shows for ABC, TNT and NBC networks, and made broadcast appearances on ``The Today Show,'' CNN, MTV and Nickelodeon's ``World of Difference.'' Before joining Special Olympics, Tim was and remains a leading educator focusing on the social and emotional factors in learning. He has worked in substance abuse prevention, violence, dropout prevention and teen pregnancy prevention. He created the New Haven Public Schools' Social Development Project, now considered the leading school-based prevention effort in the United States, and co-founded the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the leading research organization in the United States in the field of social and emotional learning. Tim currently chairs CASEL. Tim earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, a Master's degree in Religion and Religious Education from Catholic University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Connecticut. He is the recipient of numerous honors, including honorary degrees from Loyola University, New England College and Albertus Magnus College; the Medal of the City of Athens, Greece; the Order de Manuel Amador Guerrera of the Republic of Panama; the 1995 Connecticut Citizen of the Year; the Surgeon General's Medallion; and the 2007 Lions Humanitarian Award. He has authored articles in many leading publications including ``The New York Times,'' ``The Washington Post'' and ``Commonweal.'' Tim has helped transform Special Olympics into a movement that focuses on respect, acceptance and inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities in all corners of the globe. I wish Tim all the best as he continues his important work on behalf of those with disabilities. He will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with him.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, my aunt, upon being chosen as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to be presented by President Obama at a ceremony in early 2011. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the country's highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made great contributions to U.S. security or world peace, or made other cultural or significant accomplishments. Aunt Jean's work with the arts and those with disabilities is simply unmatched. In 1974, Aunt Jean founded VSA, a non-profit, international organization affiliated with the John F. Kennedy Center that promotes the artistic talents of children, youth and adults with disabilities. VSA also provides education opportunities for people with disabilities and increases access to the arts for all. With 52 international affiliates and a network of nationwide affiliates, VSA is changing perceptions about people with disabilities around the world. Each year, 7 million people of all ages and abilities participate in VSA programs, which cover all artistic genres. For 46 years, Aunt Jean has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, which provides grants to promote awareness and advocacy in the field of intellectual disabilities. Her book, Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists, written in collaboration with George Plimpton, was published by Random House in April 1993. President Clinton named Aunt Jean U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, where she played a pivotal role in the peace process from 1993 to 1998. She is the youngest daughter of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, my grandparents, and is the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center. I wish Aunt Jean all the best as she continues her important work on behalf of those with disabilities. She will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with her.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Maxwell Kennedy, my cousin, for his stewardship in the opening of the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools Complex in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2010. Named after U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Maxwell's father and my uncle, the schools are devoted to social justice. Maxwell's work on behalf of the young people of Los Angeles is simply remarkable. On September 13, the six pilot schools that make up the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools Complex began instructing students in grades kindergarten through 12th on its campus located in the Pico-Union/Korea Town neighborhood of Los Angeles. The schools are located on the site of the former Ambassador Hotel and because of the historic nature of the site, there were legal challenges to converting the site to a school. Community members and organizations, including RFK-12, came together to advocate for a local school. In 2005, the Los Angeles Unified School District School Board and Superintendent Roy Romer appointed the Robert F. Kennedy Commission to provide recommendations on how to memorialize Senator Kennedy's life. The commission was chaired by former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, and included a number of civic leaders. The Commission's major recommendation called for a social justice theme to permeate the curriculum, extending from kindergarten through high school that would reflect Senator Kennedy's commitment throughout his public life. The schools activities include: the creation of a foundation guided by an Advisory Committee that will help to fund social-justice related activities and act as a resource for the schools on establishing relationships with community service groups outside the school locally and in the larger world, a speakers program, a fellows program that will bring emerging and established leaders to the school, and the creation of a public park recalling the inspirational speeches by the Senator and others. The pilot schools are innovative small schools that have charter-like autonomy over their budget, curriculum and assessment, governance, schedule and staffing, but are part of the public school system. Maxwell has been instrumental in the improvement of public education in Los Angeles. I wish him all the best as he continues his important work on behalf of young people. He will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with him.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Summer Kennedy, my cousin, for her stewardship in the opening of the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools Complex in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2010. Named after U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Summer's father and my uncle, the schools are devoted to social justice. Summer's work on behalf of the young people of Los Angeles is simply remarkable. On September 13, the six pilot schools that make up the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools Complex began instructing students in grades kindergarten through 12th on its campus located in the Pico-Union/Korea Town neighborhood of Los Angeles. The schools are located on the site of the former Ambassador Hotel and because of the historic nature of the site, there were legal challenges to converting the site to a school. Community members and organizations, including RFK-12, came together to advocate for a local school. In 2005, the Los Angeles Unified School District School Board and Superintendent Roy Romer appointed the Robert F. Kennedy Commission to provide recommendations on how to memorialize Senator Kennedy's life. The commission was chaired by former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, and included a number of civic leaders. The Commission's major recommendation called for a social justice theme to permeate the curriculum, extending from kindergarten through high school that would reflect Senator Kennedy's commitment throughout his public life. The schools activities include: the creation of a foundation guided by an Advisory Committee that will help to fund social-justice related activities and act as a resource for the schools on establishing relationships with community service groups outside the school locally and in the larger world, a speakers program, a fellows program that will bring emerging and established leaders to the school, and the creation of a public park recalling the inspirational speeches by the Senator and others. The pilot schools are innovative small schools that have charter-like autonomy over their budget, curriculum and assessment, governance, schedule and staffing, but are part of the public school system. Summer has been instrumental in the improvement of public education in Los Angeles. I wish her all the best as she continues her important work on behalf of young people. She will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with her.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rory Kennedy, my cousin, for delivering the keynote address at the opening of the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools Complex in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2010. Named after U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Rory's father and my uncle, the schools are devoted to social justice. Rory's work on behalf of the young people of Los Angeles is simply remarkable. On September 13, the six pilot schools that make up the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools Complex began instructing students in grades kindergarten through 12 on its campus located in the Pico-Union/Korea Town neighborhood of Los Angeles. The schools are located on the site of the former Ambassador Hotel and because of the historic nature of the site, there were legal challenges to converting the site to a school. Community members and organizations, including RFK-12, came together to advocate for a local school. In 2005, the Los Angeles Unified School District School Board and Superintendent Roy Romer appointed the Robert F. Kennedy Commission to provide recommendations on how to memorialize Senator Kennedy's life. The commission was chaired by former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, and included a number of civic leaders. The Commission's major recommendation called for a social justice theme to permeate the curriculum, extending from kindergarten through high school that would reflect Senator Kennedy's commitment throughout his public life. The schools activities include: the creation of a foundation guided by an Advisory Committee that will help to fund social-justice related activities and act as a resource for the schools on establishing relationships with community service groups outside the school locally and in the larger world, a speakers program, a fellows program that will bring emerging and established leaders to the school, and the creation of a public park recalling the inspirational speeches by the Senator and others. The pilot schools are innovative small schools that have charter-like autonomy over their budget, curriculum and assessment, governance, schedule and staffing, but are part of the public school system. Rory has been instrumental in the improvement of public education in Los Angeles. I wish her all the best as she continues her important work on behalf of young people. She will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with her.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ethel Kennedy, my aunt, upon the occasion of the 2010 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award ceremony. This ceremony highlighted the abuses in Mexico and honored local hero Abel Barrera Hernandez, founder and director of the Tlachinollan Center, for his courageous defense of the rights of rural and indigenous people living in Guerrero State in southern Mexico. Aunt Ethel's work with the Human Rights Award is truly remarkable. Aunt Ethel has been instrumental in advancing human rights. I wish her all the best as she continues this important work. She will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with her.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ashbel T. ``A.T.'' Wall, II for his stewardship in Rhode Island's Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program--Priority to Veterans. His contributions have been vital to the success of this program. His work with this important issue is simply unmatched. Rhode Island's Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery Program--Priority to Veterans addresses the needs of individuals with mental illness such as post traumatic stress disorder and trauma related disorders involved in the justice system. In recognition of the dramatically higher prevalence of trauma related disorders among veterans, this program prioritizes eligibility for veterans. Director Wall was appointed director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections in March 2000. Prior to his appointment he served in the capacity of Assistant Director of Administration since 1987. He was Interim Director from October 1999--February 2000. Director Wall is the first native Rhode Islander and first employee from within departmental ranks to lead the agency in 22 years. As director, Wall oversees a comprehensive correctional agency encompassing every aspect of Rhode Island's adult correctional system: jails, prisons, probation, parole, transitional housing and home confinement. He is responsible for setting policy direction and supervising all operations for a department that manages about 3500 pretrial and sentenced inmates in eight institutions and 27,000 offenders on probation, parole and community confinement. The budget totals approximately $160 million and its staff complement is 1,600. In addition to his departmental duties, Director Wall serves on numerous state and national commissions on a wide range of topics including institutional security, prison overcrowding, racial disparity and probation and parole. He is a member of state's Information Resources Management Board, which sets policy for the state's management information systems development. He has also served as an expert witness for the Federal District Court in the areas of correctional administration and inmate management (security issues, classification and gangs) for major litigation on conditions of confinement in Commonwealth of Puerto Rico's correctional institutions (1994-1999). Director Wall has been instrumental in advancing Rhode Island's correctional institutions. I wish him all the best as he continues his important work on behalf our nation's heroes, our veterans. He will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with him.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for his remarkable work on environmental issues. Cousin Bobby serves as Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, Chief Prosecuting Attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper organization, and President of Waterkeeper Alliance which he founded in 1999. He is also a Clinical Professor and Supervising Attorney at Pace University School of Law's Environmental Litigation Clinic, and is co- host of the Ring of Fire radio program. Earlier in his career he served as Assistant District Attorney in New York City. Bobby is credited with leading the fight to protect New York City's water supply. The New York City watershed agreement, which he negotiated on behalf of environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers, is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development. He has also worked on environmental issues across the Americas and has assisted several indigenous tribes in Latin America and Canada in successfully negotiating treaties protecting traditional homelands. Bobby is a noted author and was named one of Time magazine's ``Heroes for the Planet'' for his success in helping Riverkeeper lead the fight to restore the Hudson River. The group's achievement helped spawn over 190 Waterkeeper organizations across the globe. He is a graduate of Harvard University, studied at the London School of Economics, and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. Following graduation he attended Pace University School of Law, where he was awarded a Master's Degree in Environmental Law. Bobby has been instrumental in advancing numerous environmental causes. I wish him all the best as he continues his important work on behalf of our natural resources. He will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with him.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Maria Shriver, First Lady of the State of California and my first cousin for her work with her Women's Conference and Alzheimer's advocacy. Her work for those suffering from this disease is truly remarkable. Cousin Maria is a mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend, who proudly serves as the First Lady of California. An award-winning journalist and best-selling author, Maria has transformed the office of First Lady by approaching it not simply as a role, but as a job with real purpose and a platform to make a difference. Maria became California's First Lady when her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, became the 38th Governor of California on November 17, 2003. From day one, Maria made the position her own by combining her journalist's eye for the needs of real people, with a deeply ingrained passion for service and activism, and a creative entrepreneurial spirit and vision that embraces bold ideas. She has used her voice to advocate on behalf of women, the working poor, the intellectually disabled and families struggling with Alzheimer's. Maria has created groundbreaking programs and initiatives that educate, enlist, empower, connect, and honor people who are what she calls ``Architects of Change'' in their own lives and in the lives of others. Under a banner called WE, the WE programs have been successful in motivating people to get involved and unite across gender, economic, and party lines. Under Maria's leadership, The California Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women--an element of the WE Empower program--has grown into the Nation's premier forum for women, with more than 14,000 attendees every year since 2004. The conference encourages women to become ``Architects of Change'' in their own lives, in their communities, and in the country--and teaches them how. Hundreds of world opinion leaders and newsmakers have spoken at the conference, including Oprah Winfrey, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Madeleine Albright, Barbara Walters, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bono, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Beyond her role as First Lady, Maria has announced a project called ``A Woman's Nation.'' This multi-faceted project, in partnership with the Center for American Progress and the University of Southern California's Annenberg Center of Communication Leadership and Policy, will take a new, empirical look at the status of American women, who, for the first time, will make up half of the nation's workforce. The preliminary survey will be released in the fall, followed by a book. Maria is also a vocal advocate for families that--like her own--are struggling with Alzheimer's disease. She was Executive Producer of The Alzheimer's Project, a groundbreaking four-part documentary series that premiered on HBO and won two Emmy Awards. One of the films, ``Grandpa, Do you Know Who I Am?'' is based on Maria's best-selling children's book dealing with Alzheimer's. Maria also executive-produced the critically acclaimed ``American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver.'' The documentary aired on PBS and chronicled the life, accomplishments, and vision of her father, Sargent Shriver. Maria serves on the advisory board of the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute, which raises public awareness of her father's legacy as a peace builder and offers educational and training programs grounded in the principles of public service that motivate the many programs he created, including the Peace Corps, Job Corps, Head Start, and Legal Services for the Poor. In addition, she serves on the advisory board of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, a new institute that will serve as a national resource for the most current research and scientific information for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases. With a career in journalism spanning more than 2 decades, Maria has been a network news correspondent and anchor for CBS and NBC, winning Peabody and Emmy Awards. She is the author of six New York Times best- selling books. Maria is also a small business owner. In February of 2008, she launched an ice cream company called Lovin' Scoopful in supermarkets around the country. A portion of the proceeds from Lovin' Scoopful benefits the Special Olympics and other charities. Maria is a graduate of Georgetown University, with a degree in American Studies. She and Governor Schwarzenegger have four children-- Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher. Maria says, ``When all is said and done, my main goal in life is to raise children who feel they are deeply loved . . . children who are kind, compassionate and aware of the world around them. If I can do that, I will consider myself a success.'' I wish Maria the best as she continues her important work on behalf of those with Alzheimer's. She will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with her.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Paul Schrade on the occasion of the dedication of a library in his honor at the Robert F. Kennedy Schools Complex in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2010. Named after U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, my uncle, the schools are devoted to social justice. Paul was one of the five people wounded the night Senator Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel, where the Schools Complex is located. Paul, a close friend and campaign staffer, was right behind Senator Kennedy when shots rang out shortly after RFK's victory speech following the California Democratic presidential primary on June 5, 1968. The 24-acre, $578 million schools complex on Wilshire Boulevard consists of six different schools for grades kindergarten to 12, with more than 4,000 students, the vast majority of them from Latino and low-income neighborhoods. Paul, 85, was a driving force behind the project, which was fraught with obstacles from the start, including Donald Trump's plans to build five towers at the site, one of them 125 stories tall. Later, Wal-Mart wanted to put a store there. Senator Kennedy's commitment to social justice is evident throughout the campus with murals, quotations and similar exhibits. Originally designed as a large, comprehensive K-12 school that would house more than 2,400 students, the school district determined in 2008 that the facility would host wall-to-wall pilot schools, which opened this fall. Pilot schools are innovative small schools that have charter-like autonomy over their budget, curriculum and assessment, governance, schedule and staffing, but are part of the public school system. Among the new school's many features is a 500-seat auditorium and cafe at the site of the old Coconut Grove nightclub, built adjacent to the hotel in the 1920s, where LA's rich and famous would go to party. Howard Hughes was a regular there and several Academy Awards events were held there during the 1930s. Groundbreaking on the new schools took place four years ago. Paul has been instrumental in the improvement of public education in Los Angeles. His lifelong mission, since RFK's death, has been to perpetuate the best of what Kennedy stood for. I wish Paul all the best as he continues his important work on behalf of young people. He will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to work with him.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unable to participate in a series of votes on the floor of the House of Representatives today. Had I been present to vote on rollcall No. 578, on the motion to agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1722, I would have voted ``aye'' on the question. Had I been present to vote on rollcall No. 579, on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 6419, I would have voted ``aye'' on the question.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Sergeant Michael F. Paranzino, from Middletown, Rhode Island, who lost his life on November 5, 2010, of injuries sustained while serving his country in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Sergeant Paranzino was the loving husband of Lindsey (Christopher) Paranzino and the proud tither of Maxton and Logan of Fort Drum, New York. He was assigned as a cavalry scout to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. Born in Newport, Rhode Island on December 4, 1987, Sergeant Paranzino was the son of Francis ``Butch'' and Melane C. Paranzino and the brother of Daniel F. Paranzino of Middletown, Rhode Island. He was a 2006 graduate of Middletown High School. While he was a student at Middletown High School, he made trips to Nicaragua in January of 2005 and 2006 with the Northeast Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity to provide humanitarian support to the disadvantaged and poor in Catarina and Nandasmo, Nicaragua. These trips provided life-expanding experiences for Sergeant Paranzino and were the precursor to many of the values he believed in along with the leadership skills that he displayed as an Army Sergeant. A year after his graduation from Middletown High School, Sergeant Paranzino enlisted in the Army and was a cavalry scout with the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment. After his basic training he was stationed at Fort Drum, New York in 2008 and was deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom just a few months later. In 2010 Sergeant Paranzino was sent to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. He was recognized with more than 10 decorations for his military service just after three-plus years, including the Army Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge. Today, as we celebrate the life and accomplishments of this exceptional Rhode Islander, my thoughts and prayers are with Sergeant Paranzino's family and friends. We are all deeply indebted to Sergeant Paranzino for his service and his sacrifice.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unable to participate in a series of votes on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, November, 16, 2010. Had I been present to vote on rollcall No. 569, on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 716, I would have voted ``aye'' on the question. Had I been present to vote on rollcall No. 570, on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1475, I would have voted ``aye'' on the question. Had I been present to vote on rollcall No. 571, on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1428, I would have voted ``aye'' on the question.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unable to participate in a series of votes on the floor of the House of Representatives today. Had I been present to vote on rollcall No. 566, on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to S. 3689, I would have voted ``aye'' on the question. Had I been present to vote on rollcall No. 567, on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1713, I would have voted ``aye'' on the question. Had I been present to vote on rollcall No. 568, on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 328, I would have voted ``aye'' on the question.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of H. Res. 716, a resolution recognizing the crucial services provided through the Rape Treatment Center, RTC, at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and to honor Gail Abarbanel, the founder and director of the RTC. The Rape Treatment Center, RTC, is nationally recognized for its exemplary treatment, education, and prevention programs, and has provided expert care for over 35,000 sexual assault victims. According to the latest statistics, one person is sexually assaulted in the United States every 2\1/2\ minutes. While an attack can occur in an instant, the social and emotional trauma can last a lifetime. The RTC, and the work of Gail Abarbanel, provide crucial insight to understanding that sexual assault victims suffer long after the assault has occurred. Her work and the work of the Center helps these individuals fully recover, addressing the social, emotional and physical pain resulting from such violence. In many states DNA evidence processing suffers delays of up to 6 months to a year, hampering investigations and jeopardizing public safety. These untested rape kits represent lost justice for the victims who reported their rape to the police, and consented to the 4-to-6 hour rape kit collection process. In response to the delays suffered by victims in her own state, Ms. Abarbanel created a pilot program called the Fast Track Forensics Program, FTF. Through the FTF Program, the RTC has partnered with California's state DNA laboratory for immediate processing and then possible identification within the state and Federal DNA offender databases. This has resulted in processing that takes approximately 4 days. I encourage my colleagues to join me today in commending the important work of Gail Abarbanel and the Rape Treatment Center, along with emphasizing the need to eliminate the delays in testing rape kits through innovative programs such as the FTF Program.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Ron Smith, United States Navy, upon his retirement. His remarkable Navy medical career will end on October 8, 2010 but the fine innovations and the legacy of his work in the areas of psychiatry and addiction treatment will continue. In short, his contributions to the field of political psychology, specifically Psychoanalysis and Alcoholism, are unmatched. Upon graduation from Amarillo High School, Dr. Smith enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was soon after appointed to the United States Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1966. He attended the University of Texas Medical School and completed an Internal Medicine residency at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine and Naval Hospital San Diego. Dr. Smith was the first physician trained in critical care medicine by the U.S. Navy, completing his fellowship at the University of Southern California Center for the Critically Ill in Los Angeles in 1976. He soon became one of the first physicians involved in Navy Alcohol treatment and with Captain Joe Pursch was instrumental in the founding of the Betty Ford Center. He left the Navy in 1978 and as a civilian Dr. Smith founded the emergency medicine residency program at Loma Linda University Medical School. During this time, he and his brother Richard Smith worked together to start the Winners Foundation which offered free substance abuse treatment at Santa Anita and other race tracks in the Thoroughbred Racing industry throughout the world. His interest in addiction and recovery led to an interest in the psychological growth during the middle and mature years of life, which led him to complete his psychiatry training at Loma Linda, where he also taught emergency and critical care medicine. He returned to active duty in 1992 as a psychoanalyst and contributed as medical consultant for the Honorable Jim Ramstad for the Ramstad- Wellstone bill which was eventually passed in 2008 as the Parity Act. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to accompany Dr. Smith in his capacity as an Emergency Physician on one of Senator Arlen Specter's world-wide congressional delegations. Senator Specter enabled Dr. Smith to meet many world leaders and contribute significantly as a political psychologist. Dr. Ronald Smith is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine. He completed his psychoanalytic training at the Southern California Psychoanalytic Institute in Beverly Hills, California and has a Doctorate in Philosophy of Psychoanalysis. Since 2002, lie has been annually recognized by the Consumer's Research Council as one of America's Top Psychiatrists in Psychoanalysis and Alcoholism. Ron is married to Dr. Anita Alexandra Gadhia Smith, an accomplished author and practicing psychologist in Washington, D.C. They have three children and six grandchildren. I wish Dr. Smith all the best as he continues his work in private practice and in his lobbying efforts for the treatment of our homeless and mentally ill in hospitals instead of jails, and for the decriminalization of addiction. He will continue to carry my own admiration, and that of all who have had the privilege to serve with him.

Mr. KENNEDY

Mr. KENNEDY. I do not plan to take that time except that, because I am retiring this year, I will take every bit of time I can get as an outgoing Member to still speak on anything. It's just an inside joke for those of us who have been accustomed to being listened to for a long time. I am sure it's not going to hold true once I leave Congress. Madam Speaker, one thing we all need to listen to is our hearts when it comes to treating each other as we, ourselves, would want to be treated. When we think of something like this resolution and what it means to record history, we record history so that we learn from those aspects of history we do not want to repeat and by acknowledging the people who need to be acknowledged as amazing Americans, as this bill does. They had the fortitude to fight, as all brave Americans have who serve our Armed Forces, whether in peacetime or wartime, never knowing whether their lives are going to be called to be donated to this country. Every single servicemember may be called to make the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country when they sign up and serve our country, never knowing. But in this case, we had a group of Americans who signed up to fight for freedom when their own was being challenged here at home. It's reminiscent of the stories of the Buffalo Soldiers in World War II, African Americans who were being denied the very rights that they were fighting to protect and uphold around the world, and they were doing so on behalf of a country that had refused to treat them as coequals. In this case, Asian Americans, Japanese Americans who, because of the perception of who they were as Americans simply by what they look like, were being judged as whether they were American enough. Why is that important for us to remember today? Well, because last time I checked, we have Arab Americans right now making the ultimate sacrifice in the war against terrorism, Arab Americans who are being stigmatized, stereotyped, and wholesale bigotry against anybody of a different faith or ethnicity, somehow they are judged to be less American in their opportunities. And basically the requirement that they be treated the same as every other American, those rights are being challenged. And in spite of that, they are still out there defending our country. Native Americans, who have been denied in one of the great shames on this country's history of the way our country treated its indigenous peoples who serve at greater numbers on behalf of this country than any other group in this country, Native Americans, and it is quite extraordinary when we think about heroes to think about those who are not only willing to lay their life on the line for freedom and this country, but are willing to do so in spite of the fact that they are being denied the very same rights that they are fighting for here in America. That is why they deserve gold medals, because they fought two fights. They fought the fight for liberty around the world, and they fought the fight against bigotry that is denying them those same freedoms here at home. And why else do we remember this? Because we're talking about the fact that no matter what you look like, we are all Americans, because that's America. We're the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Why? Because there's no other country in the world that has peoples from every other part of the world, and yet we're still divided by race, by color, and by creed by those who would like to foment fear and prejudice and use that as electoral victories, using the oldest wedge issue that we have ever known, and that's fear of difference, when actually the strength of our country is our diversity as a Nation. My uncle, President Kennedy, in giving the National Civil Rights Address, first of any American President in American history, said it's a moral question at its base. Who amongst us would be willing to change the color of their skin? Who amongst us would be willing to change the color of their skin and abide by the counsels of patience and delay in terms of civil rights? Well, you know, if you're white and you're accepted as looking like an American, this might not seem like a big issue to you. But think about trading the color of your skin for a day and living like Americans who are Latino in a culture like today that stigmatizes people with brown skin as somehow less than Americans because maybe they got here illegally just because of the perception of the color of their skin. Set aside the fact that in my area of the country the biggest illegal immigration are people that look like me, with red hair and freckles on their face; that's the biggest illegal immigration, Irish overstays. It's an interesting battle that's been the battle for the heart and the soul of America since the beginning of time. I propose that the final question of our time for our veterans is whether we are going to abide by the counsels of patience and delay in setting our veterans free from their war injuries. Because how many of us suffering at home now from traumatic brain injury and PTSD would be willing, because the Congress is not ready to put the money into biomedical research that it needs to because they say that's not government's job to do medical research; that's someone else's. I don't know whose job it is, but if I'm a veteran coming back from fighting for this country and I'm trapped behind the enemy lines of stigma and shame, trapped behind the enemy lines of indifference because you can't see my wound--my wound is an invisible wound; it's brain injury--think about what it must be like for them to know that our country has the wherewithal to save those with TBI and rescue them from being prisoners of their war injury if we put the money behind it, if we match our action with our rhetoric. We're not going to leave those veterans behind, okay. Then let's do something that makes sure we don't. Let's invest in the kinds of stem cell research, the kinds of genetic biomarkers that are going to allow us to make sure that they are going to be saved from enemy territory, prisoners of their war injuries. You could say, oh, well, it's going to take 10 years before we are able to repair spinal cord tissue and allow those veterans to stand up out of their wheelchair because they were paralyzed. Well, if you're 25 years old, I should hope that they get an indication from this Congress, from this country, from this President that we are in it to win it when it comes to saving them, because you know what? We would put our full might of military power to go get them if they were held by al Qaeda. Why aren't we doing the same when it comes to them being held hostage by their TBI and PTSD? If we think of each other as human beings and advancing the great cause, or the fact that we all breathe the same air, drink the same water, live on the same planet, want the same things for all of our families, why would we ever treat each other differently, discriminate against one another, when it's the very strength of our country? These Japanese Americans, they fought the roughest fights. They were put in the biggest harm's way, just like the Buffalo Soldiers were in the European theater as well. Why? They wanted to take it on to demonstrate they weren't about to be cowering in the fear of those with bigotry in their hearts. Let's pass this legislation and set all Americans free, because we're all human beings, all Americans, irrespective of color, creed, or the way we look.