Eric Massa

Mr. MASSA

Mr. MASSA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Robert Fay Rockwell, Jr., a close friend of myself and of our community in New York. Bob Rockwell was born on November 8 of 1911 in Bradford, Pennsylvania. He attended Whittier College in a far-off land in California where he became friends with a fellow student, Richard Nixon. He moved to Corning, New York, in 1933, to run the local department store, the Rockwell Company, owned by his grandfather. Soon after, he, like so many of the Greatest Generation, departed to serve overseas in World War II and joined the 70th Construction Battalion of the great Seabees in World War II. He was stationed in North Africa and later in California. Upon his return to Corning, he became close friends with Frederick Carder, founder of the world famous Steuben Glass Works. He amassed the world's largest collection of Frederick Carder's Steuben glass, priceless in its volume. His liking of aesthetics in art was not limited to only glass. Bob became the largest collector of Western art, including Remingtons and Russells, and in the early 1960s, opened a display of that collection in his department store. He later donated most of these collections to what was then called--and now is world famous--the Rockwell Museum. This museum got its first home in 1976 in an old hotel in downtown Corning. During that time, he became president of both Corning Chamber of Commerce and Corning Rotary Club and forever left his mark on both organizations. In 1983, the Rockwell Museum of Western Art opened in Corning's refurbished old City Hall building. It's become a popular local and national icon. The multimillion dollar value of Bob's donated art and glass is a testament to his generosity, but is only one of such testaments. His legacy is further enhanced by his compassion and help to his fellow man. And let me close by saying, from the heart to Bob and to his family and from all of us in Corning, New York, and in western New York State, Bob, we are always in your debt for your tremendous contributions to our community.

Mr. MASSA

Mr. MASSA. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize the life and achievements of Daniel E. Button, a former Congressman who represented New York's 29th District. Button, who died this week at age 91, was a father of five and a Columbia University-educated journalist in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In 1966, dismayed by what he saw as entrenched corruption, Button decided to run for Congress and won by doing the hard work of walking the district in a seemingly unattainable quest. He won by only 17,000 votes but was re-elected in 1968 for a second term. Even though Button's tenure as New York's 29th District Representative lasted only two terms, they were filled with Button's drive to fight for what he believed was right. For standing up and taking action for what he believed in, it is my pleasure to honor the late Congressman Daniel E. Button.

Mr. MASSA

Mr. MASSA. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep solemnity that I take this moment to offer my sincere condolences to the families and friends of the 50 individuals who lost their lives when Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence, NY on February 12th. While we can never bring them back we can make sure they are honorably remembered for their many contributions, both big and small, in the lives of those all around them. I further extend my condolences to my colleague, Rep. Chris Lee, who represents the 26th Congressional District where the tragedy occurred.

Mr. MASSA

Mr. MASSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to quiet a voice, to complete a commitment that I made to the 640,000 voters who sent me here. Ten years ago this month, I completed a course of chemotherapy that saved my life under some of the best and most expert medical care available in the world. I believe passionately and I believe strongly and I believe to the core of my soul that all Americans should have access to the same medical care that I had access to 10 years ago. And so today I stand to complete a promise and a commitment: I will personally, with malice towards none and negativity towards none, won't accept the Federal and congressional health care benefits policy until such time that all Americans have access to the same medical care that all of us in this exalted and honored Chamber have access to. It is not a pejorative, it is a one-person commitment to try to change the system we have today. And I will not rest until all Americans have access to quality health care.

Mr. MASSA

Mr. MASSA. Madam Speaker, I am compelled to observe that, while Rome burns, my friends and colleagues across the aisle argue process. We were elected to come here and make a difference in the lives of the people who we represent. Today, I will proudly cast a vote in the affirmative for the expanded State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 to do exactly that. We are in a time of financial and economic crisis, and we cannot ignore the individuals who have sent us here to help them. It is a plain and clear call to action. It is wrong to say that you support children's health care and, at the same time, vote against it. This is not about process. It is about standing with America's children, and I am proud to do so today.