Larry Kissell

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. David Deese has served as my Outreach Assistant during his time in the office. In our office, David has brought help to those who may not be able to get to our office, through satellite office hours, community meetings, and chamber meetings. This has proved to be very useful for the folks of our district, and has helped to bring our office to the communities. His many years as a newspaper publisher and editor have made him an excellent liaison to the community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking David for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. My Washington, D.C. office was also in charge of all aspects of the legislative process, quite a daunting task. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Chris Kelley has served as my Legislative Director for the past year. In his time with the office, Chris has help to guide and implement the legislative agenda of the office. During his time in the office, Chris has covered issues including agriculture and environment. Chris cares deeply about the agriculture issues facing our nation. Having worked in the House for many years, Chris' commitment to the good of our nation is very evident. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Chris for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Chaz Offenburg has served as a Caseworker in our office for more than two and a half years. In that time, Chaz has helped the constituents of our district, and served as a liaison to Federal agencies. Chaz is the epitome of a team player, and was a great member of our office. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Chaz for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Jarrod Hall has served as my Director of Outreach during his time in the office. In this capacity, he has brought our office to the communities of the 8th District. Jarrod has made sure that our office knows what is going on in each corner of the district. He is an exceptional young man who has been invaluable to keeping lines of communication open, and our office always accessible. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Jarrod for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. My Washington, D.C. office was also in charge of all aspects of the legislative process, quite a daunting task. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Christopher Schuler has held many positions in our office, and provides invaluable counsel. As Communications Director he helped make sure our constituents were always informed, and that their concerns were always put foremost. In addition to being an excellent writer, he is also very knowledgeable about legislation and has also served as Legislative Assistant, and with his help we have been able to lead the ``Buy American'' effort. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Christopher for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. My Washington, D.C. office was also in charge of all aspects of the legislative process, quite a daunting task. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Elizabeth Bonner has served as my Press Assistant during her time in our office. Hailing from the great state of North Carolina, Elizabeth has been an excellent addition to the team. Assisting in all mediums of communication with our district, she has been instrumental in communicating with our constituents. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Elizabeth for her hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. My Washington, D.C. office was also in charge of all aspects of the legislative process, quite a daunting task. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Elena DiTraglia has been with me since before I took office. As our Director of Operations she was the person who made sure that all functions of the office, my schedule, and too many other things to list went smoothly. Elena, who is originally from Texas, has made the people of the 8th District of North Carolina her priority, and she has served them so well. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Elena for her hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Emma Lambeth has served as Deputy District Director for Oversight and Compliance during her time in the office. She has been a liaison with Federal agencies and other organizations. Having been raised in North Carolina's 8th District, she possesses the ability of being able to relate to the issues of our district, allowing her to help my team serve the people of our area well. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Emma for her hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Georgia Lozier has served as Deputy District Director for Administration during her time in the office. She is tenacious, and has gone above and beyond to help get millions of dollars in retroactive benefits for our constituents. She is devoted to her job and has helped lead our team to serve the people of our area well. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Georgia for her hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. My Washington, D.C. office was also in charge of all aspects of the legislative process, quite a daunting task. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Sean Dugan has served as my Legislative Assistant for the past year. During this time, Sean has handled a portfolio of issues including health and taxes. Sean is very passionate about his work, and with that comes a great level of enthusiasm. Hailing from the state of Nebraska, he understands the challenges of a rural district, and that was evident in his work. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Sean for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Joshua Logelin has filled many roles during his time in our office. Starting as an intern in the office, and being hired as a Press Assistant, Staff Assistant, and finally a Caseworker, Joshua has never been afraid of a challenge. Having been raised in North Carolina's 8th District, he possesses the great ability of being able to relate to the issues of our district, allowing him to best serve the people. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Joshua for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. My Washington, D.C. office was also in charge of all aspects of the legislative process, quite a daunting task. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Kevin Tann has served as our office's Defense Legislative Fellow for the past year. In this capacity, Kevin serves as a liaison to the United States military. In addition to this, Kevin is an active duty Army Major. It is an honor to have a service member as a part of my staff. Kevin was vital in so many facets of the office, including the organization of this year's 8th District Federal Contracting Symposium, which was a huge success. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Kevin for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, his service to the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. My Washington, D.C. office was also in charge of all aspects of the legislative process, quite a daunting task. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Leanne Powell has been a part of my team since before I took office, and has served as my Chief of Staff for the duration of my Congressional tenure. Tasked with managing the personnel of my Washington and District Offices, Leanne has assembled an extraordinary staff. Under her leadership, that staff has worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of our district, and our great nation. Leanne is an incredible leader who has helped guide, encourage, and advise me during my time in office. Having lived in the district most of her life, and having worked for former Congressman Bill Hefner before joining our team, she brought an unparalleled knowledge of North Carolina and its 8th District to our Congressional office. Leanne represents the best in public service. Her commitment to the people of our district, to this office, and to me personally, is truly invaluable. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Leanne for her hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Paul Irving has served the people of our district as a Caseworker, and ultimately a Senior Caseworker. In his capacity within our office, Paul manages constituent casework pertaining to the Home Affordable Modification Program and the Home Affordable Refinance Program. He has helped more than 1,000 folks keep their homes. Paul is tenacious on behalf of the people of the 8th District of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Paul for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. My Washington, D.C. office was also in charge of all aspects of the legislative process, quite a daunting task. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Alexander Ginis has served as both Legislative Correspondent and Legislative Assistant during his time with us. Alexander has made our office one of the best in the entire Congress for responding quickly to constituents. He has kept our average turnaround on constituent correspondence to less than 4 days. Alexander is a great writer and has a deep understanding of legislation, and how it impacts folks back home that is beyond his years. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Alexander for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Tony Spaulding is a Caseworker in the office, and has been a great liaison with Federal agencies and other organizations. Very impressively, Tony was named the NAACP Man of the Year in two consecutive years, due to his hard work on behalf of the organization. Having been raised in North Carolina's 8th District, he possesses the great ability of being able to relate to the issues of our district, allowing him to best serve the people. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Tony for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Thomas Thacker has been with me since before I took office. As Deputy Chief of Staff and District Director, his leadership and communication skills have served not only me, but the entire 8th District well. As a former newspaper editor, Thomas has taken the lead in helping guide our communications staff, and served as an invaluable counselor to me both on constituent matters and legislation. Thomas has an uncanny ability to see legislation through the eye of someone born and raised in North Carolina's 8th District, and he has served the office well as the voice of the people of the district. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Thomas for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. My Washington, D.C. office was also in charge of all aspects of the legislative process, quite a daunting task. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Zach Pfister, while not still with our office, continues to be a great supporter and advocate of North Carolina's 8th District. During his time in our office, Zach served as Legislative Correspondent, Legislative Assistant, and finally our Legislative Director. While serving as Legislative Director, Zach was in charge of managing and guiding the legislative agenda of the office. He exceeded all expectations. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Zach for his hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Allison Auman has served in many roles during her time in the office. I first met Allison at the Candor Peach Festival. She then interned in our Washington office before she was hired as Staff Assistant, and her current position as Director of Special Projects in our Concord office. She was in charge of many projects not least of which were Military Academy appointments, our Youth Council, and the 8th District Federal Contracting Symposium, which she did an excellent job of organizing. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Allison for her hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the members of my Congressional Staff who have served with me over the past four years. As a Member of Congress, my greatest responsibility was to provide exceptional constituent services to our district, and my team did just that. I could not ask for a more talented and dedicated team, and I take great pride in the work that each staff member has done on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District. Each District Staff member has shown great dedication to meeting the needs of each and every one of our constituents. They go above and beyond to ensure that each constituent is treated fairly and respectfully. My team has shown a strong sense of dedication to meeting the needs of our constituents. I greatly appreciate the support and friendship they have shown me during my years of service in Congress. Ashley Honeycutt has served as Staff Assistant in Concord during her time in the office. Ashley has always been a very active member of the community, and even established a charity in honor of her mother, who recently passed away. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Ashley for her hard work on behalf of North Carolina's 8th District, and the United States, and to wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Ms. Alice Davis of Albemarle, NC, and her service to our community. Ms. Alice has been at the forefront of the effort to increase voter registration in our district, and has worked tirelessly to do so. In addition to this, she is very involved in the community with her work with our veterans and the disabled. Today, I ask all Members of Congress to join me in honoring Ms. Alice, a great American, and resident of North Carolina, the state which I am proud to represent.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true, dedicated leader in my state and in my community, Dr. Hector Henry of Concord, NC. Dr. Henry has served our nation as a Colonel in the United States military, and has served as a member of the Concord City Council for more than 20 years. Dr. Henry proudly served our nation for decades, and came out of retirement following the attacks of September 11, 2001. He was deployed for combat in both Afghanistan and Iraq, most recently completing a 2009 deployment to Afghanistan. While deployed, Dr. Henry made every effort to videoconference in to City Council meetings, so he would not miss a minute of discussion in his hometown. Dr. Henry has served in the United States military in every conflict since the Vietnam War, a truly remarkable feat. Still a councilman, Dr. Henry continues his service to the people of the W.G. (Bill) Hefner V.A. Medical Clinic in Salisbury, North Carolina, named in honor of our former colleague of this very chamber, Rep. Bill Hefner. Dr. Henry works as a surgeon, treating many of the veterans that call our district home, and continuing his lifelong service of helping his fellow soldier, and his community. I'm proud to call Hector a friend and a role model. I sincerely thank Dr. Henry for his tireless devotion to making the city of Concord, and our nation, a better place. Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration and respect that I rise today to speak of the lifetime of public service that Dr. Hector Henry has led in our great state. I urge my colleagues to join me in commending Dr. Henry for his service, sacrifice, and ongoing commitment to this great nation.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true, dedicated leader in my state and in my community, Dr. William Purcell of Scotland County, North Carolina. Dr. Purcell grew up in Laurinburg, North Carolina, just south of my home town of Biscoe, North Carolina. He attended public schools in Laurinburg before graduating from Davidson College, and later, the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. After proudly serving our nation in the United States Army Medical Corps in France, during the Cold War, he returned home to North Carolina where he practiced pediatrics in Laurinburg for 36 years. During this time he also served on the Laurinburg City Council for six years, and as the Mayor of Laurinburg for 10 years. He became a member of the North Carolina Senate in 1997 and has proudly served the 25th District for seven terms before announcing his retirement this year. If there is any indication of the impact this man has had on his community, it is the numerous awards he has received, including the Distinguished Service Award from the University of North Carolina in 2005, for his commitment to making preventive health care a top priority. Dr. Purcell's dedication to the health of the children of North Carolina continued after his retirement as a pediatrician, making its way into the halls of the General Assembly where he served as a member of the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Chairman of the Legislative Task Force on Childhood Obesity. To honor this commitment, ABC News Correspondent George Stephanopoulous presented him with the Nathan Davis Award, the American Medical Association's highest award for a public office. Most recently, in 2008, his fellow senators and local news correspondents voted him one of the most effective members of the North Carolina Senate. Senator Purcell and I have been friends for quite some time now, and this has allowed me to experience first-hand his generosity and his commitment to the well-being of the people of our state. As a former educator, I understand the importance of pediatric health and wellness, and their impact on a student's ability to succeed. I sincerely thank Dr. Purcell for his tireless devotion to making our community a better place. Mr. Speaker, it is with admiration and appreciation that I rise today to speak of the ceaseless and tireless efforts of Senator Purcell to represent the people of Anson, Richmond, Scotland, and Stanly counties, and our state as a whole. Today, I urge my colleagues to join me in commending Senator Purcell for his outstanding leadership and achievements, and for a life of selfless devotion to those around him.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Robert MacLeod, and his service to the United States of America as a member of the United States Coast Guard. Due to his exceptional service in the Coast Guard, Mr. MacLeod was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device. After serving our nation during the Vietnam War, Mr. MacLeod co-founded the Metrolina Vietnam Veterans Association in Charlotte, NC. He was the inaugural president of the United States Coast Guard Lightship Sailors Association of America at its inception, and led efforts for the establishment of numerous monuments honoring men and women who have served our country. Today, I ask all Members of Congress to join me in honoring Mr. MacLeod, a great American, and resident of North Carolina, the state which I am proud to represent.

Mr. KISSELL

Mr. KISSELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Robeson County, NC, and the celebration of its 225th Birthday. Incorporated in 1787 from Bladen County, Robeson, North Carolina's largest county, is home to roughly 134,000 residents. Named after Colonel Thomas Robeson of the Revolutionary War, it boasts a rich American history. Col. Robeson served as one of the leaders at the Battle of Elizabethtown, an important battle won by the American patriots. Robeson County is also home to the Lumbee American Indian tribe, and according to the U.S. Census, has the ninth largest population of American Indians in the United States, making up 38% of the population. Robeson County is truly a diverse county. Robeson is also home to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, a historically Native American college. Today, I ask all Members of Congress to join me in honoring Robeson County and its citizens, as irreplaceable assets to North Carolina, the state which I am proud to represent.