Jon Porter

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is an honor to be here to talk about something very critical, I think, to our families and communities across the country. If you recall, last year this body passed historic legislation providing for protection of our children in light of the abuse of our kids throughout schools across the country. We passed legislation to provide for 24 additional States to do background checks on teachers via FBI background and other means through law enforcement. Unfortunately, 24 States were not allowed to, for many different reasons, and that legislation provided for these background checks. Through my amendment that is being proposed today, close to a million kids that are in the Head Start program will have the same tools available to them that we passed just last year to help kids in K-12. There is one tragic example. There is one grantee in this country that between 2001 and 2005 did not perform background checks on their employees. They finally did background checks. Out of 660 employees, close to 106 had criminal charges against them, including first degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, domestic abuse, assault, child abuse, DUI, and violent crimes. Mr. Chairman, my language ensures that Head Start programs will have all the databases containing criminal records available to them to make sure that our parents can feel that their most precious resource, their children, will be safe in the Head Start program. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to Ranking Member McKeon.

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friends Bob and Carole Donald for their commitment to serving the community. Bob and Carole are two individuals who truly exemplify community service and civic involvement. Since moving to Las Vegas, Bob and Carole have donated their time and energy to a variety of causes in our community. Whether it is helping a neighbor or volunteering in the community, Bob and Carole are always willing to lend a hand. Their commitment and service to others have had a positive impact on our community. Bob has dedicated both his professional life and his personal life to serving others. He served his country in the U.S. Army before becoming a police officer with the Newark Police Department in New Jersey. During his 25 years with the Newark Police Department, Bob served on the foot patrol, the motorcycle unit, as a detective, the head of Narcotics, and as the head of the Tactical Force. As an officer, Bob always placed the safety of others before his own and protected the citizens of Newark with both honor and pride. The Newark Police Department honored Bob on a number of occasions for the leadership, commitment, and sacrifice he demonstrated as a police officer. Bob retired as a Lieutenant from the Newark Police Department and later moved to Las Vegas. Throughout his years in Las Vegas, Bob has been incredibly active in the community. When he is not volunteering, he spends his time either hunting or skeet shooting. He is co-founder of the Nellis Skeet Club and has won the Senior Skeet Shooting Championship of Nevada many times in the past several years. Carole was a professional Flamenco dancer and traveled the world performing with legendary Flamenco dancer, Jose Greco. After retiring from dancing, she opened a hair salon in New Jersey and later opened another salon in Las Vegas. Carole has used her talents to help others. She has volunteered for a number of years at local hospitals, providing haircuts to patients who are too sick to leave the hospital. She is a very warm-hearted person who is not only willing to donate her time and her talents to help others, but actively seeks opportunities to do so. Bob and Carole have been happily married for over 20 years. Bob has three children Bobby, Stephen, and Diane. Bob and Carole Donald are outstanding examples of what it means to be community-minded. They are genuine, giving, and kind. They constantly look for ways to contribute to the world around them. Their optimism and enthusiasm for life has made a difference for all who have the privilege of knowing them. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Bob and Carole Donald for their tremendous commitment to the Las Vegas community and to the United States. I wish the Donald's the very best as they continue to set an example of service and civic involvement.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend Frank Martin and congratulate him on 30 years of exceptional success as the President and C.E.O. of Martin-Harris Construction. Frank founded Martin-Harris Construction in 1976 with five associates and a vision. Over 30 years his vision has been realized many times over. Since its inception, Martin-Harris has been granted general contracting licenses in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Utah and currently has over 400 associates generating over $340 million in 2006. Martin-Harris Construction has been recognzed as an industry leader; their accolades include the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Inland Empire Region and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Community Achievement Award in Business. They have also been recognized by the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties as the Top Contracting firm in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. In addition to Frank's exceptional business success he has made a profound impact on the community through his involvement with numerous community organizations. Frank presently serves on the board of directors of U.S. Bank and Opportunity Village. He is a Life Time Board Member of the AGC, UNLV Foundation, and the CCSN Foundation Board. Frank and his wife, Bonnie, have also hosted the annual Miss Kitty's Jeans to Jewels fundraiser for Opportunity Village since 2001 at their Bitter Root Ranch. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor my friend Frank Martin. His successes in business and philanthropic pursuits are truly commendable and his dedication to community should serve as an example to us all. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend George Filios for his personal and professional successes, he is truly the embodiment of the American Dream. George came to the United States from Greece in December 1955 and began working in the textile mills in Lowell, Massachusetts. In 1957, he began work in the construction industry as a painter and carpenter and attended school in the evening to learn English and the Principles of Construction. In 1958 George, in partnership with George Papageorge, founded G & G Construction Company. George took the Oath of Citizenship in May, 1961 and subsequently moved to California. George returned to his native Greece in 1966 where he met his lovely wife, Nitsa Statara. George established the Filios Construction Company in 1967, specializing in the construction of apartment complexes and subsequently teamed up with Alex Spanos. Following the birth of his first child, Spiridon Filios in 1968, George was offered a management position within A.G. Spanos Companies, thus began a fruitful relationship spanning over thirty years. Soon thereafter, in 1970, George's daughter, Vayia Filios was born. The Filios family relocated to Southern Nevada in 1975 recognizing the booming economy of the region and opportunities it presented to the buildings and construction trades. In addition to his professional success, George has also contributed greatly to his community. Following the family's move to southern Nevada, George became very much involved with the St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church. He was intimately involved in long range planning of building Church facilities and in 1978, during his Presidency of the Parish Council, they acquired the land necessary to construct a new Church and community center. George was also very involved with the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where he served as the Administrator of the A.G. Spanos Companies Faculty Award. Furthermore, George has served on the State Contractors Board, from 1981-1984, and as a member of the Clark County Commission Multifamily Council. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor my good friend George Filios. His success in business and philanthropic pursuits is truly commendable and his dedication to the community should serve as an example to us all. Through hard work and determination he has succeeded, thereby truly personifying the American Dream. I thank him for his service to the community and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend Milton I. Schwartz for his generosity and humanitarian efforts on behalf of the entire Las Vegas community. Milton Schwartz was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. After attending New York University and the Wharton School of Finance, Milton enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving with the Army Signal Corp during World War II. Following his military career, Milton moved to Nevada and became a successful businessman. He was the owner of Checker Cab Company, Vice President of Yellow Cab and Star Cab companies, and owner and operator of Valley Hospital where he served as the chairman of Formula 409. Aside from his contributions to the growth in southern Nevada, Milton has played a large part in the local Jewish community. In 1988, he established the Milton I. Schwartz Hebrew Academy, a Judaic elementary school serving preschool to eighth grade. As a result of his pursuits, Milton has received a number of accolades, most notably being honored as Republican of the Year by the State of Nevada Republican Men's Club and as Humanitarian of the Year by Goodwill Industries. On May 6, 2007, Milton will be honored with the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson in Pursuit of Excellence Award at a gala in his honor. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor my friend Milton I. Schwartz. His commitment to the Las Vegas community is truly commendable for he has enriched countless lives. I applaud him for his success and wish him the best in future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend Glenn Christenson, who, retired on March 30, 2007, after serving as chief financial officer of Station Casinos for 17 years. During his time as CFO of Station Casinos, Glenn was instrumental in helping the company dramatically increase its holdings and develop into an important gaming company. When Glenn joined Station Casinos the company held one casino. After 17 years of Glenn's guidance and leadership, the company now holds 16 casinos in southern Nevada and an American Indian casino in northern California. For his efforts with Station Casinos, Glenn has been recognized as the Top Chief Financial Officer in gaming and lodging the past 2 years by Institutional Investor Magazine. He was also named to the Nevada Society of CPAs Hall of Fame for Business and Industry in 2001 and was recognized as one of the Most Influential Businessmen in southern Nevada by In Business magazine in 2002. Glenn is very much involved with a number of important civic organizations. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Board of Directors of the National Center for Responsible Gaming, the Board of Directors of Problem Gaming Consultants, the Board of Trustees of the Nevada Development Authority, the Board of Directors of the Nevada State College, the Board of Directors of Nevada Community Bancorp, and is an advisor to the UNLV Business School. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor my friend Glenn Christenson. His contributions to the Las Vegas business and civic communities are commendable and I wish him the best of luck in his retirement.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Tyler Fuller, a 7- year-old international BMX champion. Tyler, a two-time Union Cycliste Internationale BMX champion, learned to ride a bike at the age of 2 and began BMX racing at the age of 3. When he was 5 years old, Tyler joined the Redman Yamaha Factory Team and has been racing for them since that time. Tyler has competed in events around the world and his natural ability and dedication to the sport have earned him recognition as one of the top four BMX racers in his age group. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Tyler Fuller. His talent, drive, and passion are commendable and will serve him well. I wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Joshua Thomas Gallo who has received the rank of Eagle Scout. Joshua is a very studious and civically minded young man who has accomplished many goals. He has volunteered at food banks and donated blood as part of his civic commitment. Joshua has also recently been accepted to several different colleges to study medicine, thereby demonstrating his academic prowess. Most recently, Joshua has earned the rank of Eagle Scout from troop 213. For the last 6 months Joshua has prepared himself for this momentous achievement by serving as a Life Scout and he has also earned 21 merit badges in fields such as: emergency preparedness, first aid, citizenship in community, citizenship in nation, citizenship in world, communications and environmental science. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Joshua Thomas Gallo for earning the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout. I honor his hard work and commitment in fulfilling the demanding requirements of this award. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Sandra Lee Thompson for her commitment and dedication to the Las Vegas community and being selected by the Clark County School Board to have an elementary school named in her honor. Sandra Lee Thompson was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1948 and was one of six children. She attended DeLone Catholic High School and then graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Social Work. She began her career as a reporter in Connecticut, where she met her husband Gary Thompson in 1973. The couple had one daughter, Kelly, who was the pride and joy of her parents. In 1978, Sandra and her husband moved to Las Vegas and began a long career with the Las Vegas Sun Newspaper. Sandra started out working as a copy and features editor and eventually became managing editor. In 1997, she was promoted to Vice President/Associate Editor for the Las Vegas Sun. While working for the Las Vegas Sun, Sandra was able to incorporate her love for children into her job. She held hands-on workshops for local high school students at the Sun Youth Forum and she routinely lectured in schools around the valley to educate youth on the field of journalism. Sandra spent the last five years of her career focusing on issues relating to children and families. She was the only journalist in the state to write regularly about children and family issues. Her unwavering commitment to families earned her a reputation for being ``the voice of the children'' in Nevada. Sandra's efforts to draw attention to important family issues led to legislative changes in child welfare programs and an increase in the cap on child support payments. Sandra's commitment to children and the family permeated her life. She was truly dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth. In addition to her professional commitment to these issues, she was actively involved in a variety of community organizations and service projects. She focused much of her time in Clark County mentoring students and encouraging them to succeed. She actively participated in projects such as the Las Vegas Sun Camp Fund, Christmas in April, Children's Advocacy Alliance, Clark County Family Court, Raising Nevada and Class! Publications. Additionally, her leadership on the subject of children and family inspired the creation of a scholarship program for Class! Publications and the Mother of the Year Contest. On August 9th, 2002, Sandra tragically died in an automobile accident. She left a lasting legacy of compassion, service and devotion to children. Her leadership and her steadfast commitment to enriching the lives of others have truly made a difference in Southern Nevada. Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to honor Sandra Lee Thompson for her profound commitment to children and the family. I am proud that the Clark County School District has chosen to recognize her outstanding contribution to Clark County by naming the Sandra Thompson Elementary School in her honor. I wish the Thompson family and the students, teachers, and administrators at Thompson Elementary the very best as they celebrate the dedication of this special school. I am certain that this educational establishment will live up to the legacy Sandra Thompson has left behind.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, the Southern Nevada Readiness Center Act conveys land to the Army National Guard for a readiness center that will provide Guardsmen with access to facilities, technology, and equipment needed to ensure proper training and readiness. Because the Southern Nevada National Guard's force continues to grow, this new facility is crucial. It will better train and prepare our soldiers on the front lines. The center is the first new construction for the Army National Guard in the Las Vegas valley in more than 10 years. The facility will house communications, engineering and medical Guard units. It will include a 200-person theater-style auditorium, distance-learning classrooms, medical examination rooms, a weight room, locker rooms, multiple arms vaults, a kitchen, and a maintenance bay. Soldiers will be able to prepare both physically and technically for missions. In total, between 300 and 400 Guardsmen will train at the armory on a drill weekend. The center will not only help ensure Nevada will be prepared in the event of a crisis or a natural disaster, but also would help ensure that Guardsmen are fully trained and ready for any contingency as directed by the National Command Authority. I commend the National Guard soldiers who volunteer to serve at home and overseas in order to keep our country safe. It is incumbent upon us to provide the proper facilities that will ensure these soldiers are well trained and prepared. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working in a bipartisan, bicameral manner in support of this bill. Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak on this important legislation.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend Dr. Ruth Johnson, president of the Clark County School District Board of School Trustees, and congratulate her on behalf of the Clark County School District for receiving the Distinguished Support of Music Education Award. The VH1 Save the Music Foundation has selected the Clark County School District Board of School Trustees as this year's recipient of their Third Annual School Board Award for Distinguished Support of Music Education. Clark County is an exemplary school district to which others can look as model for music education. The Board of School Trustees, presided over by Ruth Johnson, is the only school board in the United States to receive this award by VH1 Save the Music Foundation. The Clark County School District Board of Trustees are dedicated to providing a certified, qualified music teacher for each school, as well as funding after school music programs, text books, and music supplies. For the past 10 years, Ruth has served on the Clark County School District Board of Trustees, where her leadership has greatly contributed to the development of music education in the Clark County School District. Furthermore, Ruth Johnson has committed the efforts of the Board of School Trustees to go above and beyond to achieve excellence in music education. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor my friend Dr. Johnson and the Clark County School District Board of Trustees. Her dedication in enriching the educational experience of the Clark County students is commendable and I congratulate her for being honored by VHI Save the Music. I wish Dr. Johnson continued success as she serves as president of the Clark County School Board of Trustees.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Delores ``Dee Dee'' Terrano and congratulate her for her well-deserved recognition of her work with the United States Postal Service. Dee Dee began her career with the United States Postal Service in 1984 as a distribution clerk. After showing extraordinary capability and exemplary leadership skills, she was promoted to Manager of Consumer Affairs/Claims for the Nevada-Sierra District. Under Dee Dee's leadership the Nevada-Sierra district was the top-ranked office in the country for processing customer claims. Dee Dee worked tirelessly with the Nevada Congressional Delegation for the Nevada-Sierra District as a representative of postal issues. In this post, she was knowledgeable and very capable at her job. However, what distinguishes Dee Dee is the care and sensitivity she showed towards the needs of my constituent and my staff. Moreover, Dee Dee was also selected to work on the inaugural team that developed the first national call center for the Postal Service. Dee Dee currently serves as Emergency Preparedness Manager, the job which Dee Dee sees as extremely important to Nevada and she is excited to have the opportunity to gain knowledge. In this role she has distinguished herself by developing and executing evacuation drills in Las Vegas and Reno. Over the course of her long and distinguished career, Dee Dee has received numerous accolades; including, a Postmaster General Award for Automation Readability Leadership, two national communication awards, a national best practice award, and an outstanding merit award for media and communication. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Dee Dee Terrano. Her dedication to the USPS is commendable and I wish her continued success with her future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jeff Henderson for his extraordinary accomplishments in the culinary field and for his success with his new book. Jeff Henderson's life is an inspirational story of overcoming great odds and achieving one's dreams. Growing up in South Central Los Angeles and San Diego, Jeff had a run in with the law where he served almost a decade in federal prison. He did not discover his passion for cooking until doing kitchen duty. Jeff began his new found passion as a dishwasher and worked his way to the top as a Chef for restaurants such as L'Escale and the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Marina Del Rey, California. He later became the Sous-Chef at the Hotel Bel-Air and at L'Ermitage Hotel. In 2000, Jeff made history as the first African American to be named Chef de Cuisine at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The American Food and Wine Tasting Federation honored him in 2001 as the ``Las Vegas Chef of the Year''. Black Enterprise magazine has also honored him as one of the top African-American chefs. While he is currently employed at Cafe Bellagio as Executive Chef, he also serves as a public speaker and motivator to provide inspiration for troubled youths. Jeff's greatest accomplishment has come from his book entitled, ``Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, From Cocaine to Foie Gras''. Since its March 2007 release, his book is now a New York Times Best Seller after just three weeks. His story has gained national attention with appearances on the Today Show and Oprah. There are even talks to star in his own reality show and to produce his life story in a motion picture starring Will Smith. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the hard work and accomplishments of Chef Jeff Henderson. He has set a fine example for everyone to achieve their dreams with dedication. I wish him luck in all his future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend Judi Steele, a dedicated educator, consultant, and advisor whose outstanding work in the classroom and throughout the community has motivated the Clark County School District to name an elementary school in her honor. Judi began her distinguished career as an educator in 1965 when she taught 5th and 6th grade at P.S. 171 in East Harlem, New York. In 1969, Ms. Steele began her long career with the Clark County School District as a teacher at C.V.T. Gilbert Prestige School. Throughout her career with the Clark County School District, Judi's work proved vital as she was integral to the implementation and the success of several educational programs designed to improve academic achievements and opportunities for students of all abilities. During her time with the Clark County School District, Judi served as an integration consultant with the Intergroup Education Department, team leader for Teacher Corps, the first teacher of CCSD's Academically Talented Program and coordinator of the district's first Child Find. Judi was also the director of the Special Education Programs and Services for the Clark County School District. Among her achievements in this capacity, Ms. Steele created and executed district-wide procedures and staff development activities for principals, teachers, parents, and special student services staff to allow these educators to better serve students. She also devised district-wide programs to cater to the specific needs and requirements of the visually, orally and emotionally handicapped, learning disabled and academically talented students. Judi also worked as the manager of the Officer of Development and Education Improvement for the Clark County School District while serving as the executive director of the Clark County Public Education Foundation, which is a non-profit corporation dedicated to improving the quality of Clark County's public schools. In 2001, Judi retired from the Clark County School District to become the president and chief professional officer of the Public Education Foundation. Under her guidance, the Foundation has raised approximately $40 million and has instituted numerous vital programs including: Clark County READS, the Interact Online Learning Community, and the Teacher Exchange. Judi's excellence in the field of education has gained widespread recognition as she has served on the board of the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. She was also a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Council of Exceptional Children, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the National Council of Administrative Women in Education, the Committee to Eliminate Racism in the Public Schools, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In Nevada, Judi has served on the board of directors of the Allied Arts Council, the National Alliance for Arts Education, the Nevada Association for the Handicapped, the Nevada Institute for Contemporary Arts, the New Horizon Academy, the Southern Nevada Administrative Women in Education, and the Summerlin Children's Forum. Today, Judi continues to actively serve the community as the founder and president of the Arts Council of Henderson. She also sits on the advisory councils of the Nevada Ballet Theatre, the Nevada Public Education Foundation, CLASS! Publications, and the Clark County School District's School Community Partnership Program. Judi's distinguished career has earned her numerous awards and honors including the James Stuart McPhee Memorial Intellectual Freedom Award, the Governor's Arts Recognition Award, the Community Leaders of America Award, and the City of Henderson Community Achievement Award. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor my friend Judi Steele and her many achievements. Her dedication to the community is commendable and I wish Judi continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Clark High School for being recognized as one of the nation's premier high schools for its Advanced Placement courses. Clark High School was recently honored as a recipient of the 2006- 2007 Siemens Foundation Award for Advanced Placement, making Clark High School one of only 50 high schools nationwide to receive this recognition. The Siemens Awards were established in 1998 to strengthen the quality of math, science and technology aptitude within our nation's schools and to identify the partnership between the Siemens Foundation and the College Board. Clark High School was chosen as one of this year's recipients for its commitment to their students and the school's leadership in Advanced Placement participation and performance. Edward W. Clark High School opened its doors to Las Vegas students in the fall of 1965 with the Space Age student in mind. The Clark County School Board designed and constructed the building to provide each student with the right type of atmosphere for learning. The school's mission statement focuses on the preparation of each student to pursue lifelong learning. In the Curriculum and Professional Development Division of the Clark County School District, Clark High School is one of nine high schools in the district to offer magnet programs to its students which include The Academy for Mathematics, Science, Applied Technology; The Academy of Finance; and The Teacher Education Academy at Clark High. The school's highly deserved recognition is for the admirable job the faculty of Clark High School, specifically those involved in the Academy of Mathematics, Science and Applied Technology Magnet Program, for their hard work in strengthening the math, science and technology education in their Advanced Placement classes. The faculty at Clark High School has truly done an exemplary job in preparing its students for the high tech workplace in today's global economy. For the incredible commitment they have made to the success of Academy of Mathematics, Science and Applied Technology Magnet Program, I would like to commend the following individuals: Shirley McLees, Sidney Lupu, Erin Buchner, Gabriele Ward, Nicholas Bean, Aaron Dehne, Brian Blank, Rosa Leathers, Cynthia McCoy, Nadine Gary, Donna Gonzalez, Manami Mata, Phil Bombino, Ron Jederberg, Jeff Lacoff, Brian Kahre, Leslie McNamara, and Roger West. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the Academy of Mathematics, Science and Applied Technology Magnet Program and the Advanced Placement teachers at Clark High School. Their recognition by the Siemens Foundation is truly honorable and is a direct result of the dedicated and expert faculty of the Program. I applaud their success and wish them the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend Dottie Whitaker for her remarkable dedication to ending prescription narcotic abuse. Dottie began her activism as a result of the tragic and untimely death of her beloved daughter, Tammie Armato. Tammie passed away on September 14, 2005, from an accidental prescription drug overdose. Tammie became addicted to prescription pain medication while being treated by a doctor for injuries she sustained in a car accident in 1995. The doctor she had been seeing at the time of her death was unfamiliar with Tammie's health history and gave her a large prescription of two different pain medications. After Tammie's death, Dottie learned that prescription drug overdose is a nationwide epidemic. Three out of every five individuals who attend drug rehabilitation do so for prescription drug abuse. Additionally, more people die each year as a result of prescription drug overdoses than as a result of illegal drug overdoses. Inspired to do all she could to prevent others from experiencing the terrible loss that she has suffered, Dottie created Project Tammie. Project Tammie is an organization dedicated to combating accidental prescription narcotic overdose. In an effort to save lives and prevent other individuals and families from suffering the effects of prescription drug addiction, Dottie has become a passionate advocate for a nationwide Prescription Monitoring Program. This program will allow doctors and practitioners to become familiar with a patient's prescription drug history, other prescribing physicians, pharmacies and pertinent information before prescribing narcotics. A number of states have already established statewide Prescription Monitoring Programs, but Dottie believes the only way to truly prevent prescription drug abuse and overdoses is to establish a nationwide program. Through Project Tammie, Dottie has worked tirelessly to create awareness and gain support for legislation that would require all states to set up Prescription Monitoring Programs. Dottie's hope is that this program would not only prevent patients from ``doctor shopping,'' but would also help practitioners recognize addiction and help patients seek treatment. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Dottie Whitaker for her efforts in organizing Project Tammie. In the face of a heartbreaking loss, she has chosen to make a difference and find a solution that will help others. She is an inspiring example of strength, courage and selflessness. Her dedication and tireless activism is truly commendable. I applaud her outstanding commitment to this important issue and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of my friend Estes McDoniel, a former Mayor of Henderson, Nevada and a Basic High School Principal. Estes earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Arizona. After college, Mr. McDoniel moved to Henderson where he began his long and distinguished career in the Clark County School District as a teacher at Basic High School. Estes' teaching career was interrupted when he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific theater off the coast of Okinawa, Japan during World War II. Following his service, Estes returned to Basic High School where he continued his exemplary teaching service. Estes was a science teacher, vocational carpentry and industrial studies educator, head coach of the football, basketball, and track teams, Athletic Director, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Estes' dedication to the community expanded beyond the walls of the classroom where in 1969 he was elected Mayor of Henderson, Nevada. In 1988, Estes' great service to the Clark County community was recognized when an elementary school was named in his honor. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the life and memory of my friend Estes McDoniel. His dedication to the Clark County community and the City of Henderson was commendable and should serve as an example to us all.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lois and Jerry Tarkanian for their commitment and dedication to the Clark County community and congratulate them on being selected by the Clark County School Board to have a new middle school named in their honor. Lois Tarkanian has been actively involved in a number of organizations dedicated to improving the lives of Nevadans. After receiving her Bachelors of Arts in education, a Master of Arts in Speech Pathology as well as a Doctorate in leadership and human behavior, a certificate in speech pathology, language, and audiology, Lois began a long and distinguished teaching career. She wanted to give more to her community and expand her knowledge as she worked as a speech pathologist, principal, central office administrator and as a college instructor both in Nevada and California. Lois has also served as a member of the Clark County Board of School Trustees for 12 years. In addition to her commitment to enriching the lives of her students, Lois has also conducted clinical work with autistic, deaf and aphasic children. Presently, Lois serves as the Las Vegas City Councilwoman in the 1st Ward, a position she has held since 2005, she also serves on the City of Las Vegas Real Estate Committee and Yucca Mountain Nuclear Repository Committee. In addition to her professional success, Lois also has a number of philanthropic pursuits. She serves as a board member for the Catholic Charities, the Clark County Public Education Foundation, Family and Child Treatment Center for Abused Children and the Oralingua School for the Hearing Impaired. Lois has received a number of accolades as a result of her dedicated services, such as the Humanitarian of the Year by the Catholic Community Services, and the Distinguished Woman of Nevada and Citizen of the Year by the Nevada Family and Child Treatment Center. Jerry Tarkanian played basketball for Fresno State and later earned his master's degree with honors in Educational Management. Along with his wife, they understand the importance of education and donated $100,000 to the University of Fresno State's Madden Library and initiated the ``Baskets for Books Program''. In addition to his dedicated service of enriching the lives and educational experiences of students, Jerry is known for his exceptional coaching abilities. He started coaching in 1956 at San Joaquin Memorial High School. On the collegiate level, he has coached Long Beach State, Fresno State and UNLV. Jerry has spent over 38 seasons as a head coach in collegiate basketball. Not only has he taken Fresno State to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2001, 2001 WAC title and 2002 WAC Tournament Championship, but he has lead UNLV to four NCAA Final Four appearances and a national championship in 1989-1990. In 1999, Jerry was inducted into the California Community College Sports Hall of Fame. Jerry has an exemplary coaching record, having never had a losing season. Furthermore, Jerry has had 42 of his players drafted to the NBA's with 12 first round picks. The Tarkanian's continue to support their love of education through a number of avenues, such as speaking engagements at hospitals and school rallies. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Lois and Jerry Tarkanian. Their dedication to education and the community are truly commendable and have enriched countless lives. I congratulate them on their much deserved recognition by the Clark County School District in having a school named after them. I am certain that this educational establishment will embody the education excellence that the Tarkanian's have long advocated.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Ocie Pigford, a true legend in law enforcement, who passed away Sunday, March 11, 2007. Ocie Pigford resided in LaVerkin, Utah, and left a lasting impression on the Las Vegas community. After serving his country in the United States Air Force, Ocie joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Of his many accomplishments as a member of the Metropolitan Police Department, Ocie was most famous for bringing two of the most notorious criminals to justice. In December 1959, he along with his partner, stopped and arrested Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith. They ended a six week nationwide manhunt which started in Holcomb, Kansas. After their arrest these two men were subsequently tried and convicted of killing the Clutter family. Ocie was instrumental in bringing these criminals to justice while protecting the people of Las Vegas. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the life and memory of Ocie Pigford. His service to his Nation and to the people of Las Vegas was commendable. He was truly a dedicated public servant who enriched countless lives in Southern Nevada. He will be profoundly missed.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend Robert ``Bob'' Ferraro for his many years of service to both the state of Nevada and to the residents of Boulder City, Nevada, where he has served with great distinction and honor. Bob is a native Nevadan. He attended the University of Nevada, Reno and earned both a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree. After completing his education, Bob worked at his alma mater for 10 years before moving to Las Vegas to begin working in an engineering firm. Bob moved to Boulder City in 1970. He began his career in public service in 1976, when he was appointed to a vacancy on the Boulder City Council. This appointment was the beginning of over 30 years of distinguished service to the citizens of Boulder City. Since 1976, Bob has served continuously, either as a council member or as mayor. Bob's service on the Boulder City Council has led to involvement in a number of other organizations. He has served on the Executive Board of the Civilian Military Council, the Nevada Development Authority and the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition/Clark County Debt Management. Bob has served in his current position as Mayor of Boulder City since 1999. In June of 2003, he was elected to a second 4-year term. During his tenure as Mayor, Bob has committed himself to leading with integrity, vision, and dedication. His leadership philosophy is based upon the notion that the citizens of Boulder City should have access to their elected officials and city government. Additionally, during his tenure as Mayor of Boulder City, Bob has overseen a variety of civic and public works projects that have enhanced the overall quality of life in Boulder City. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor my good friend Robert ``Bob'' Ferraro. Over the past 30 years, he has demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving life for the residents of Boulder City. I commend him for his leadership, his dedication and his distinguished record of service to the Boulder City community. I applaud his service as Mayor of Boulder City and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of William V. ``Bill'' Wright, who for over 57 years contributed immensely to the people of Southern Nevada in a variety of roles both civically and professionally. As a result of his commitment to his fellow Nevadans, the Clark County School District Board of Trustees named a new elementary school in his memory and honor. Bill was born in Corsicana, Texas in 1917 and he was raised in Illinois. He attended the University of Missouri where he earned a degree in journalism. Prior to his move to Las Vegas with his wife, Annelle, he began his professional journalism career as an advertising salesman at The Peoria Star in Peoria, Illinois. After his move to Las Vegas, Bill joined the Las Vegas Review-Journal as a member of the staff. He was promoted to advertising director in 1945 and served in this capacity until 1966 when he was appointed to the position of general manager. During his tenure as general manager of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Bill was responsible for many of the important milestones in the development and growth of the newspaper. He oversaw the newspaper's circulation increase from 48,273 to 89,079 subscribers, which allowed it to claim the title of being the largest daily newspaper in the state of Nevada. He was also responsible for the construction of the newspaper's facilities on Bonanza Road and the modernization of the newspaper printing process from molten lead- typography to computerized typesetting. As general manager of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Bill was committed to the idea that its readers should understand how the news stories impacted their lives and insisted that the articles included information on how it would impact the Las Vegas community. In addition to his many successes and achievements with his professional career, Bill was also passionate about history and was an adamant collector. As a result of his interests in history and his pride for Nevada, Bill became involved with many civic organizations such as the Nevada Historical Society and the Nevada State Museum. He served in several leadership positions and was both a member of the board of trustees and also chairman of the board for 14 years. In 1980, the University of Nevada Las Vegas honored him with the Distinguished Nevadan Award for his many years of service to his state. He was also honored by the Nevada State Press Association with the Silver Makeup Rule Award and inducted into the Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Annelle, his wife passed away in 1977 but Bill remained general manager of the newspaper until 1981. Bill was active with his civic organizations and projects until his passing in 1998 at the age of 80 years old. Bill and his wife were survived by 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren with many of them residing in Southern Nevada. Madam Speaker, William V. ``Bill'' Wright was an outstanding Nevadan whose commitment to civic and community organizations has made a profound difference in our state. I thank the Clark County School District for honoring Bill Wright's memory by naming a school after him and I congratulate his family on this special occasion.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Mrs. Maureen Clark for being awarded National Board Certification in Career and Technical Education Communication Arts by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Maureen is 1 of 2 educators at Foothill High School in Henderson, Nevada to become nationally certified. National Board Certification is a process that requires 1 to 3 years of preparation and testing. Maureen completed an extensive portfolio of assignments, essays, and videotapes as well as tests which assessed her knowledge of the individual subjects she teaches. Once obtaining National Board Certification, a teacher is given the highest honor of professional teaching excellence. Only 116 of more than 20,000 teachers in the Clark County School District, less than 1 percent, have earned this distinction. Mrs. Clark has a long and distinguished career as an educator. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Art Education from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and a Master's in Art Education from Northern Arizona University. She is an 18-year veteran teacher, teaching the last 7 years at Foothill High School. She currently teaches classes in Computer Graphics, Website Science, and Computer Graphic and 3D Animation. It is said that Mrs. Clark's classes are in high demand by Foothill students and her teaching approaches are described as innovative and exciting. After school, Mrs. Clark is the adviser for SkillsUSA, a club and national organization that prepares students for college by training them in technical, skilled, and service occupations. Under her advisement, SkillsUSA has competed and earned numerous state awards for its technology innovations. Maureen has made a profound difference in our community and we are most fortunate to have this leadership which positively impacts student achievement. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Maureen Clark. Her efforts to improve the educational experiences of the student at Foothill High School are commendable. I congratulate her on her much deserved recognition and I wish her continued success.

Mr. PORTER

Mr. PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Mrs. Joann Strand for being awarded National Board Certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Secondary Language Arts by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Joann is 1 of 2 educators at Foothill High School in Henderson, Nevada to become nationally certified. National Board Certification is a process that requires 1 to 3 years of preparation and testing. Mrs. Strand completed an extensive portfolio of assignments, essays, and videotapes as well as tests which assessed her knowledge of the individual subjects she teaches. Once obtaining National Board Certification, a teacher is given the highest honor of professional teaching excellence. Only 116 of more than 20,000 teachers in the Clark County School District, less than 1 percent, have earned this distinction. Mrs. Strand has a long and distinguished career as an educator beginning with a Bachelor's Degree from Bemidji State University and a Master's Degree in Secondary Language Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has been an employee of the Clark County School District for 19 years and has spent the past 8 years at Foothill High School as a member of the English Department. Mrs. Strand is also a co- creator with a fellow teacher of Young Entrepreneur Services, Inc., YES, Inc., is a unique company classroom which has been recognized throughout the district for its unique approach to instructing students. This class applies real world business work situations with the necessities of an English class. Mrs. Strand is known by her colleagues as a tireless worker who is both inspiring and relentless in her pursuit of excellence. Joann has made a profound difference in our community and we are most fortunate to have this leadership which positively impacts student achievement. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Joann Strand. Her efforts to improve the educational experiences of the student at Foothill High School are commendable. I congratulate her on her much deserved recognition and I wish her continued success.