Dennis Kucinich

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the late James Carney, Sr. Mr. Carney was brilliant in business and influential in politics. He was a towering figure in the Cleveland landscape. His influence was felt far and wide--not only locally but in the State and nationally. He now passes into legend. I commend to your attention the following article. Developing Community--The Legacy of James Carney Sr. (By Larry Durstin) One of the most frequent stories told about James Carney Sr., who was referred to in the 1970s as the most powerful man in Cleveland and who died last month at the age of 84, was how he would often perform a philanthropic deed for someone in need and invariably say, ``Now don't tell anyone about it.'' And while his son, James Jr., kiddingly explains that his dad probably was motivated more by a desire to avoid drawing large numbers of supplicants not truly in need than he was by modesty, nonetheless the preponderance of evidence suggests a legacy of genuine compassion and altruism--characteristics that will be just as much in need as his legendary vision and perseverence if today's leaders are to succeed in meeting the huge challenges involved in developing strong and vital communities into the next century. It's true that each person's life serves as a kind of road map to how or how not to live. But looking at the life of a business and political giant like James Carney Sr.--son of Irish immigrants, survivor of the Depression, lawyer, elected official, multi-millionaire developer, Democratic Party power broker--is like looking through a telescape at Twentieth Century Cleveland to find the key to how we, as a community, got to where we are in the hopes of discovering exactly what personal and collective qualities will be required to guide us where we need to go. Carney's journey began on Cleveland's West Side where he and his brother John went into the family's excavating business following the death of their father in 1929. A huge part of their work at that time was digging out basements using horses and wagons. He graduated from Holy Name High School in 1931, attending college and received a law degree from Western Reserve. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar Association in 1941. After serving three years in the Army, he and John started their own law firm. In 1946, Carney began what would turn out to be a lifetime romance with politics by following his brother into the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served six years, two of them as minority leader. In 1952, with political stardom within reach, he lost a primary election race for the United States Senate to future Ohio governor Michael V. DiSalle, Carney couldn't have known it at the time but, though just 40, he would never again hold elected office. He would, however, soon turn his business experience, brilliant mind and tough negotiating skills to land development--where he had as much or more impact on Cleveland and surrounding communities as did anyone in the past half century. ``Jim Carney was one of the most under appreciated people we've ever had in this community,'' says Sam Miller, chairman of Forest City Enterprises and former partner with Carney in several businesses. ``He was a pioneer in every aspect. He took a look at downtown on its way to desolation and on his own decided to do something about it. He went in when absolutely no one wanted to.'' What he did was, in the early and mid '60s, begin to redefine Cleveland's downtown image by developing the Hollanden House, the Bond Court Hotel and the Ohio Savings Plaza. At the time these were the first significant developments in downtown in around 40 years. ``He also went into Westlake and bought large tracts of acres before anybody had any idea what Westlake was,'' Miller asserts. ``He was truly a visionary, but a very practical one.'' According to Miller, despite Carney's success, he was treated as somewhat of an outsider because he was an Irish Catholic, not a WASP, and had come up the hard way. ``He wasn't part of the power establishment, but the power establishment had left a total vacuum. Carney came in and filled that vacuum because they didn't want to dirty their hands. You gotta scuffle like Carney did. He was resented because of his success and because he didn't belong to the fancy country clubs. Hell, I don't know if he was ever a member of the Union Club.'' It's obvious listening to Miller talk about Carney that there was a deep kinship between them, one that went beyond simply being business partners. ``He used to tell me he was considered `dirty lace Irish' but when it came to being a mover and a shaker, believe me, he was. Like me, he knew that in certain circles he was an outsider and he understood it. He was one of the smartest men I've ever known. He was my teacher. He showed me how to buy land, how to rezone land. He showed me the whole thing. He was a real idol to me.'' Although Carney was unsuccessful in his dream of becoming mayor of Cleveland--losing to Ralph Perk twice in the early '70s--a brief summary of his positions and accomplishments gives a clear indication of what a towering figure he was in Cleveland's public and private sectors. At one time or another in the 30 years prior to his death he was Director of the Union Commerce Bank, board president for the Cleveland Convention and Visitors Bureau, chairman of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, vice chairman of the Port Authority Board, and president of the CMHA board. Additionally, he was one of the most powerful local and state Democrats (being one of the first in Ohio to spot Jimmy Carter as a potential winner and sponsoring a breakfast for him in '76) and a major real estate developer throughout Cuyahoga County and as far away as Florida, Colorado, Texas and Missouri. But despite the staggering breadth of Carney's resume and the size of his fortune, when his son is asked to reflect on his dad's influence, he speaks of subtler things. James Carney Jr., is no stranger to either the political or business world--having served as a Cleveland City Councilman and school board member along with running several of the family businesses. Still, he feels his father's legacy lies more in terms of personal and community values than profits or political power. ``My father taught me not to look down on anyone-- regardless of race, ethnicity or economic status. He had as much respect for the guy who swept up the bank as he did for the bank president. He would walk downtown at noon and destitute folks--some people would call them bums--would say `Hi Jim' and he would greet them in the same way he would his millionaire buddies. I was taught--by example--to respect all people and to work hard. We had friends who were from the wealthy elite and friends who were on welfare. And judging by the incredible cross section of folks who showed up at his funeral, I think he was successful in touching all kinds of people. I'm very proud of that.'' But despite his ``don't tell anyone about it'' modesty in doing charitable deeds and his capacity to be genuinely respectful of people from all walks of life, make no mistake, James Carney, Sr. had a ton of power and he knew how to use it. Politics and high-level real estate dealings are contact sports--and Carney, his business competitors and political enemies all had plenty of scars to show from their battles with each other in board rooms, back rooms and court rooms. Carney was very open and up front about operating in both the corporate and political world, something you don't see many leaders doing nowadays. ``It was a little easier in the old days to jump into both worlds,'' says James Jr. ``Today there are so many rules and regulations, so much media scrutiny, so much of a `gotcha' mentality that many talented people shy away from both politics and the corporate arena, let alone being openly active in each at the same time. Another thing that's changed is that in the old school there was, for better or worse, a strong loyalty ethic. As times changed that ethic became a handicap for my dad.'' In fact it was the issue of loyalty that was at the center of two events in the late '80s--the selling of his downtown hotels and the serving on the rancorous CMHA board--that perfectly capsulize Carney's life as a brilliant businessman, a connected politician and a generous public servant. After many warnings to the downtown community about the inadequacies of the Convention Center, Carney became miffed when his plan to build a tunnel between his Bond Court and the Convention Center was scuttled and he began getting bad publicity concerning late hotel tax payments. Convinced that a long-time ally, Convention Bureau Director Dale Finley, was behind the bad press, Carney sold the Hollenden and the Bond Court at a very tidy profit. Around the same time, in response to personal appeals from then Mayor George Voinovich and City Council President George Forbes, Carney accepted an appointment to CMHA board, a political meat grinder where he served with distinction for three years before resigning in 1989, as he began to feel the effects of Alzheimer's disease. ``My dad made a really good buck on the deal involving two glitzy hotels,'' his son says,'' but then he turned right around and worked for no pay in just about the toughest public policy area--housing--involving the city's poorest people. Since he knew his way around politically, he knew who to call and how to get things done. He straightened and out the balance sheet and financial reports. He even hired a lawyer out of his own pocket. Having that position wore him out and actually cost him money--but he got the job done. In many ways it was his crowning achievement.'' So if we, as Clevelanders, are looking for guideposts that will show us the way to meet the obstacles involved in developing strong and just 21st century communities, we could do much worse than simply following the map provided by the life of James Carney Sr. But that's no small task since it points to the need for leaders who are practical, tough-as- nails visionaries with compassion, a genuine commitment to public service and true sense of loyalty. It also underlines the need for citizens who treat each other with respect and kindness. His is a profound and challenging legacy, one that warrants honor and emulation. Tell everyone about it.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory and the accomplishments of U.S. Ambassador Carl B. Stokes who passed away in 1996 after a long and distinguished career as a political leader. The world will always remember him as the first African American mayor of a major American city. I will always remember him as a friend, a confidante, and a mentor who helped me navigate the rough waters of Cleveland politics. Carl B. Stokes was born in 1927, the son of a laundry worker who died when he was 2 years old. His mother worked as a domestic. He and his brother, the Honorable Louis Stokes, who serves as Congressman, worked in neighborhood stores and delivered newspapers to help the family. Over the years Carl Stokes excelled in many aspects of life: as a soldier during World War II; as a middleweight boxing champion in 1948; as an attorney and investigator for the Ohio Department of Liquor Control. In 1962, he became the first black Democrat elected to the Ohio House. In 1967, he became mayor of Cleveland, serving during a critical time in the history of my home town. After 4 years as mayor, he moved on to a television journalism career in New York City, to election as a municipal judge and finally as U.S. Ambassador to the Seychelles. The Reverend Jesse Jackson said about Carl Stokes, all that exists now in the political spectrum for African-Americans are seeds from trees that Carl Stokes planted. He has left a proud legacy to his family, to the Cleveland community and to America. Obituary of U.S. Ambassador Carl B. Stokes Carl Burton Stokes died on April 3, 1996, at the age of 68, following a battle with cancer. With his passing, America mourned the loss of one of its most famous sons. Ambassador Stokes may be one of America's most vivid examples of how this nation has responded to the drive for success by the members of what was only one hundred and thirty-three years ago an enslaved group of people. Ambassador Stokes' life has been one of a series of ``firsts'' for African Americans. America's first Black mayor of a major American city became the first African American ever to be elected to all three branches of government--the legislative, the executive and the judicial. In November, 1962, Stokes became the first Black Democrat in the history of the State of Ohio to be elected to the Ohio General Assembly. He was re-elected in 1964 and 1966. At that time, members of the Assembly were elected county-wide. Cuyahoga County's population was only 14% Black. Stokes remains the only Black Democrat ever elected county-wide to the Ohio State Legislature. On November 13, 1967, Stokes attracted international attention when he was sworn in as Mayor of the City of Cleveland--the first Black mayor of a major American city, population 810,000. Since Cleveland was only 37% Black at that time, it also marked the first time an African American has been elected mayor of a predominately white major city of this nation. In that election, Clevelanders selected Stokes, the grandson of a slave over Seth Taft, the grandson of a United States President. Subsequently, Mayor Stokes was asked by the White House to represent the United States on goodwill trips to Europe. As such, he was received by many heads of state, including nations where relations were strained, such as Romania and Yugoslavia. He was also sent to the Caribbean on missions to Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Barbados, and Trinidad. His visit to Israel resulted in a friendship with Mayor Teddy Kolleck of Jerusalem that endures to this day. In 1970, the 15,000 member National League of Cities, composed of mayors and city and county officials from throughout the nation, unanimously voted Stokes as president- elect to head their organization--the first Black official ever to hold that office. Having completed two terms as mayor, Stokes decided to end his political career and begin a new one in broadcast journalism. In April, 1972, Carl Stokes became the first Black anchorman to appear daily on a television news program in New York City. At NBC's flagship station, WNBC-TV, Stokes also served as urban affairs editor and was often assigned to the United Nations where he interviewed many heads of state and other foreign dignitaries. Additionally, as a correspondent, he traveled throughout several nations of Africa, including Gambia, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. In September, 1980, after eight years as an award-winning broadcast journalist, Stokes returned to Cleveland and to the practice of law. He became the first Black lawyer to serve as General Counsel to a major American labor union--the United Auto Workers, Region 2 and 2A. Stokes also represented Cleveland's largest city labor union--Laborers' Local 1099, among others. On November 8, 1983, Stokes was elected as Judge of Cleveland Municipal Court, Ohio's largest court. A few weeks later, on December 22nd, his 12 colleagues elected him Administrative Judge of the Court. And on January 9, 1984, his fellow-judges elected him as their Presiding Judge. Never before had a freshman judge been elected Administrative/ Presiding Judge of the thirteen-judge Municipal Court. He served two terms as head of the Court. Ambassador Stokes' election was a benchmark in American history since few Americans--and no other African American-- has ever been elected to the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government in our nation. Carl Stokes was born on June 21, 1927, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was only two years old when his father, Charles, a laundry worker, died. His widowed mother, Mrs. Louise Stokes, supported her two sons by working as a domestic and for a time the family was on public assistance. He and his older brother, Louis, who is now in his 14th term as Ohio's first Black U.S. Congressman, augmented the family income as newspaper carriers for the Old Cleveland News, and by working in neighborhood stores. Congressman Stokes is the senior member from the Ohio delegation to Congress and is the ranking minority member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs-Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies. Once a high school drop-out, Ambassador Stokes has received honorary doctorate degrees from 14 colleges and universities around the country. He has been a visiting lecturer at academic universities and business institutions throughout the United States, Trinidad, Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, England, France, Germany and Italy. On Tuesday, November 2, 1993, Stokes was re-elected to a third six-year term as Judge of Cleveland Municipal Court. On Friday, August 26, 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed then-Judge Stokes as his Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of the Seychelles. In this post, Carl was given the opportunity not only to serve the United States in a diplomatic position, but he also derived the satisfaction of displaying his professional qualifications in an international forum. Carl served as Ambassador to the Republic of Seychelles until the time of his death. The passing of Carl Burton Stokes brings to close a life of love, commitment and inspiration. He was a leader, a visionary, a role model, and above all, a pioneer. His feat of becoming America's first Black mayor of a major American city changed the landscape of American politics. But above all, Carl was proudest of the fact that he was the first Black American to acquire the political power to break down barriers and open unprecedented opportunities for minorities. This will stand as a legacy and lasting tribute to a remarkable individual. Left to mourn Carl's passing is his loving wife, Raija Stokes; two sons, Carl B. Stokes, Jr., and Cordell E. Stokes; a stepson, Sasha Kostadinov; and two daughters, Cordi D. Awad and Cynthia Sophia Stokes. In addition, he leaves to mourn two granddaughters, Jevonne Laraija Stokes and Cybil Quinn McBee; a grandson, Cordell E. Stokes, Jr., and his brother and sister-in-law, Louis and Jay Stokes. Other relatives include a nephew, Chuck Stokes; three nieces, Shelley Stokes Hammond, Judge Angela R. Stokes and Lori Stokes Thompson. Additionally, Carl leaves to mourn Linton Freeman, whom Carl considered to be a special cousin and dean of the family. He also leaves Wynona Jones, Elizabeth Bowes, Blanche Richards, Katie Walker, and a host of other relatives and friends, all of whom were special to Carl in his lifetime.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Frankie Yankovic, America's Polka King, the Elvis of ethnic musical expression, ambassador of the great American melting pot, prolific composer, band leader, performer, and Clevelander. Frankie Yankovic was born to Slovene immigrants in 1915. In their hardscrabble working lives, music expressed their hope and joy. Frankie began by playing accompaniment to the boarders in his family home. He was an obvious talent and was instantly loved by all who heard his music. At age 23, Frankie had his first band and his first hit album. He began a lifetime of touring. Frequently, he made 300 appearances per year. Over the years, his bands have played in every major concert hall in America. Frankie Yankovic heralded many polka tunes known widely to American listeners. In 1948, Frankie recorded ``Just Because'' with Columbia records. The tune was a breakthrough release, attracting both a polka and popular music audience. ``Just Because'' sold 1 million copies. In 1949, Frankie released the ``Blue Skirt Waltz,'' which attained the coveted gold status even more quickly. Frankie was also a great mentor. He discovered and cultivated the talent of the famous virtuoso, Joey Miskulin. Frankie received many honors in his lifetime. He was inducted into the International Polka Association Polka Hall of Fame as well as the Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame. In 1986, Frankie received the first Grammy awarded for polka music. Beyond being the consummate performer, Frankie was also a lifetime union member of Local 4, American Federation of Musicians, and a patriot. Married and the father of two, he nevertheless voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. infantry in World War II and fought at the Battle of the Bulge. There, under extreme weather conditions, Frankie contracted gangrene in his limbs. Against the advice of doctors, Frankie resisted amputation. With a great deal of courage and persistence, Frankie brought his fingers and hands back to life. How fortunate we all are. I commend Frankie Yankovic for his skill, his energy, and his ability to make people happy through the sounds and rhythms of polka.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Frankie Yankovic, America's Polka King, the Elvis of ethnic musical expression, ambassador of the great American melting pot, prolife composer, band leader, performer, and Clevelander. Frankie Yankovic was born to Slovene immigrants in 1915. In their hardscrabble working lives, music expressed their hope and joy. Frankie began by playing accompaniment to the boarders in his family home. He was an obvious talent and was instantly loved by all who heard his music. At age 23, Frankie had his first band and his first hit album. He began a lifetime of touring. Frequently, he made 300 appearances per year. Over the years, his bands have played in every major concert hall in America. Frankie Yankovic heralded many polka tunes known widely to American listeners. In 1948, Frankie recorded ``Just Because'' with Columbia records. The tune was a breakthrough release, attracting both a polka and popular music audience. ``Just Because'' sold 1 million copies. In 1949, Frankie released the ``Blue Skirt Waltz,'' which attained the coveted gold status even more quickly. Frankie was also a great mentor. He discovered and cultivated the talent of the famous virtuoso, Joey Miskulin. Frankie received many honors in his lifetime. He was inducted into the International Polka Association Polka Hall of Fame as well as the Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame. In 1986, Frankie received the first Grammy awarded for polka music. Beyond being the consummate performer, Frankie was also a lifetime union member of Local 4, American Federation of Music, and a patriot. Married and the father of two, he nevertheless voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. infantry in World War II and fought at the Battle of the Bulge. There, under extreme weather conditions, Frankie contracted gangrene in his limbs. Against the advice of doctors, Frankie resisted amputation. With a great deal of courage and persistence, Frankie brought his fingers and hands back to life. How fortunate we all are. I commend Frankie Yankovic for his skill, his energy, and his ability to make people happy through the sounds and rhythms of polka.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, research studies indicate that learning disabilities affect about 15 percent of the American population. One of the most common learning differences is dyslexia, which makes it difficult for persons to read and understand the written word. Our Nation recently suffered the tragic loss of Ennis Cosby, a young man with dyslexia who was committed to using his influence and education to start a school for children with dyslexia. Robert Scheer, renowned author and contributing editor for the Los Angeles Times, has written a sensitive essay about how dyslexia affects even the most successful persons in our society. I commend this column to my colleagues. Ennis Cosby Knew Worth of a Helping Hand (By Robert Scheer) Properly credentialed and steady at my post in the press section at the president's inauguration, within shouting distance of the man himself, a witness to history surrounded by the most successful of my peers, I am, as so often before on such occasions, filled with fear. This time it makes me think of Ennis William Cosby. Fear, not of the violence that took his life but rather the more mundane persistent and personal terror shared by all dyslexics over having to perform in conventional ways when your brain does not track quite that way. In my case today, it's the pressure to file properly spelled, cogently organized, grammatically correct copy, on deadline. Small potatoes to some, a horror to others. I'm not complaining, mind you. I made my claim to be heard, and the fact that you are able to read this means that with the aid of great teachers, computerized spelling checks and my wife, sons Christopher and Peter and friend Cara, all of whom are on line to protect me from the more egregious errors of syntax, I will be heard. But the fear never fully disappears. It is a fear that young Cosby would have well understood, having devoted his life to working with kids with learning disabilities. It is a terror of failure, known keenly by those who, despite their ability and best efforts, flunked seventh grade. What we have in common, along with millions of others including my marvelous son Josh--who thrilled me by admonishing a smug Santa Monica school district special ed administrator to call it a ``learning difference,'' not ``disability'' or ``handicap''--is a conundrum of difficulties loosely labeled dyslexia. What we have in common is the fact that we learn differently than most folks because letters or numbers get scrambled, or we have small motor problems or we become confused under time pressure or are flustered in our efforts to conceptualize in ways that lend themselves to standardized tests. What we also have in common is the potential to excel. In my time, in the public schools of the Bronx, no one knew of such complexity in the learning process. I was simply pronounced dumb and slow because I couldn't learn cursive writing or spell worth a damn and so was tracked to oblivion until a friendly science teacher discovered that I was good at physics and some other subjects if given half a chance. Since then, a great deal of progress has been made in recognizing and treating dyslexia, but even one from so privileged a background as Cosby went undiagnosed until college years. As he poignantly wrote, ``The happiest day of my life occurred when I found out I was dyslexic . . . the worst feeling to me is confusion.'' I have been thinking of young Cosby almost constantly since the news of his being gunned down off the San Diego Freeway not far from my home. The smiling optimism of his file photo burns into my brain and anger fills me that this young man's optimism spilled out wasted on the indifferent concrete of that freeway offramp. It's the same freeway my son Josh takes to a school called Landmark, where he has opportunities that could save the lives of so many others now tracked to state prisons and other societal markers of educational failure. It was Ennis Cosby's dream to create a school for kids with dyslexia. ``He wanted to make sure that kids who might not have the opportunity to have the help that he had would get it,'' his professor recalled. ``So he did all he could to help poor kids.'' As I write help, it comes out hepl, and the reason I remain a bleeding heart liberal is that I think we all benefit when the cry for ``hepl'' is understood. These are the thoughts that went through my frayed mind listening to the inauguration speech of William Jefferson Clinton, a guy who also came up the hard way but who was blessed with the saving grace of testing well. Clinton knows he benefited from the level playing field, and he will not compromise government's obligation to keep it level. But where he has failed is in reaching out to those who need a helping hand, as Jesse Jackson might put it, to be pulled from the quicksand of failure to the high ground of opportunity. Those of us with dyslexia, and that ranges from Albert Einstein to Cher, have known that a helping hand spells the difference between pain and performance. Bob Dole, who pushed through the Americans With Disabilities Act, which has helped dyslexics enormously, knows that. If I had any moment of regret at the inauguration, it came with the sense that Clinton does not know what it means to flunk the seventh grade. Ennis Cosby did. But despite that, he got a master's, was going for a doctorate and planning to start a school for dyslexic kids, making him--to use his father's words--my hero, too.

Mr. KUCINICH

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, members of the U.S. Coast Guard perform extremely valuable services for the American people, keeping our shorelines secure and safe from environmental damage. My district is proud to be associated with the Ninth Coast Guard District, the guardians of the Great Lakes. I commend to your attention a recent incident that demonstrates the tremendous contribution made by the officers and crew of Coast Guard units in that region. On January 23, 1997, as windy and bitter cold weather swept across Lake Erie, the Coast Guard's Cleveland-based icebreaking tug Neah Bay was escorting a tanker vessel and a tug/barge combination, the Donald C. Hannah, from Toledo to Cleveland, OH. A cable connecting the Donald C. Hannah to the barge broke while the ships were passing through a heavy ice field. While the Donald C. Hannah stopped to make repairs, the tug and her barge became trapped. The tug and barge were at the mercy of high winds and powerful ice, in danger of running aground at a nearby island within 1 hour. The situation presented an extreme environmental threat because the barge contained more than 1 million gallons of heavy aromatic residual fuel oil. The officers and the crew of the Neah Bay took quick action, declaring a search and rescue [SAR] emergency and assuming the role of on-scene-commander. The Neah Bay contacted other organizations, including Coast Guard Group Detroit and Air Station Detroit, MI, which dispatched helicopters that provided key information to help the ships. Because of the potential for a major oilspill, the Marine Safety Office of Toledo, OH, was brought in to review contingency plans and prepare for an oil spill. Working in a cooperative effort with the joint United States/Canadian response planning team, action was taken to protect the area, a major spawning ground for aquatic life on Lake Erie. The Neah Bay broke an escape route in the ice and was able to keep the barge off the rocks long enough for the Donald C. Hannah to repair the broken cable. After 5 tense hours, the ship was broken free of the ice by the Neah Bay. The Donald C. Hannah and the oil-carrying barge were safely escorted to their destination by the Neah Bay and a sister ship, the Bristol Bay, who had been diverted from other escort duties. Mr. Speaker, this is a story of bravery, cooperation between Government agencies under extreme circumstances, and a job well done. My district is proud to be the home berth of the Neah Bay. I take this opportunity to honor the officers and crew of the USCGC Neah Bay: Commanding officer, LCDR Frederick J. Sommer; executive officer, LTJG Richard J. Wester; CWO2 Charles Philpot; BMC Jeffrey P. Mallory; EMC Daryl W. Covington; MK1 Timothy J. Clancey; QM1 Jon R. Frederick; FS2 Michael S. Beaver; BM3 Dean M. Grass; EM3 Timothy P. Ostrander; EM3 Ariel Vazquez; MK3 Jefferson D. Clark; SN Kristopher R. Demetros; SN Duke A. Walker; SA Anthony J. Clark; SA Jeremy L. Farmer; FN Jason E. Henderson; and FA Daniel S. Manor.