Gary Peters

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, today I recognize the Detroit Public Library's Sesquicentennial. For 150 years, the Detroit Public Library has been a cornerstone in the cultural and intellectual life of Detroiters. Throughout that time it has remained committed to its mission of enhancing the quality of life of the city's residents, and has worked to safeguard the history of Detroit and Michigan. When the Detroit Public Library opened on March 25, 1865 its collection consisted of 5,000 books housed in a single room of Michigan's first State Capital. The Detroit Free Press celebrated the library's inauguration by reporting that all Detroiters were anxious to support the new institution. The free access to information on the fields of science and literature was embraced as a public good worthy of praise. As enthusiasm for the library grew, so did its collection. On March 27, 1873 Michigan Governor John Judson Bagley signed into law a measure calling for the construction of a new library in Detroit. On January 22, 1877, the new home of the Detroit Public Library was dedicated and its first librarian, Professor Henry Chaney, was appointed. The building, the first to solely house the library, was designed in the Second Empire style by the Detroit architectural firm of Brush & Smith. Much of the detail work was completed by a young George D. Mason, who later went on to design the Detroit Masonic Temple and the Grand Hotel on Michigan's Mackinaw Island. In addition to its grand exterior, the library included a large reading room that featured ornate iron columns rising to a central skylight. The new building cost $124,000 or approximately $2.5 million when adjusted for inflation, and housed a collection that had grown to 33,604 items. Demand for the services of the Detroit Public Library continued to grow along with the city's population. In 1900, the Detroit Public Library opened three additional branches. In 1904 it opened two more. The library continued to expand over the next two decades, with each additional branch designed and constructed to highlight beauty as well as utility. The library also established 80 smaller stations located in schools, fire houses and factories throughout Detroit. Still, as the city boomed with the success of the automotive industry, the Detroit Public Library found itself in need of even more space. In March 1910, the City of Detroit accepted financial assistance from Andrew Carnegie to encourage the construction of a new, larger public library. In light of Detroit's growth, officials determined the new library should be located north of downtown. The city purchased land along Woodward Avenue for nearly $500,000--more than $11.1 million today--and hired Cass Gilbert to design the new building. Mr. Gilbert, an architect from New York, had designed the library in St. Louis and the Woolworth Building in New York City. He would also go on to design the James Scott Memorial Fountain on Detroit's Belle Isle, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, DC. The Detroit Public Library's main branch opened at its current location in March, 1921. With a final cost of $3 million--nearly $38.45 million today--the Italian Renaissance inspired structure of white marble was immediately deemed the most beautiful building in Detroit. When it opened, the main library's collection included more than 500,000 items. The library continued to grow. On June 23, 1963, the Cass Avenue wings of the main branch opened, doubling the size of the library to accommodate a collection that had reached almost 2 million items and served nearly 2 million residents. Today, the Detroit Public Library includes 23 locations and a collection of over 4.1 million items. It remains committed to increasing the quality of life in Detroit and addressing the changing needs of its residents. The library provides programs for adults, children, and teens designed to increase literacy and technical skill, encourage lifelong learning, promote multiculturalism, and ensure the equitable access to information. This year it is proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Junior Great Books Program and the 75th anniversary of its Bookmobile. It has also continued to serve the entire State of Michigan through its outstanding special collections, which include the 100-year-old Clarence M. Burton Historical Collection, the E. Azalia Hackley Collection of African Americans in the Performing Arts, the Rare Book Collection, and the Ernie Harwell Sports Collection. As the Detroit Public Library moves into the future, I am confident it will continue to contribute to the intellectual capital, diversity, creativity and community spirit of a great city. I am pleased to recognize the Detroit Public Library's Sesquicentennial and wish it another 150 years of service to the City of Detroit.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, this amendment deals with another critical aspect of growing our economy. Certainly innovation and basic scientific research are the real drivers of long-term economic growth, but another very important aspect of that is international trade. The United States has the best workers in the world. We have the best entrepreneurs. We have the best innovators. We need to be in a position that we can continue to promote trade across the world. So I rise to offer an amendment that will support trade and travel through our U.S. ports of entry. As we all know, trade and travel drive economic development. In fact, they generate over $2 trillion in economic impact and support nearly 15 million jobs nationwide. However, it is unfortunate to say that many our busiest ports of entry are in need of modernization in order to safely and efficiently process travelers and goods. I speak about this with firsthand experience. In Michigan, our manufacturers and agricultural producers rely on efficient trade with Canada, which is our Nation's largest export market, our top customer, as well as our closest ally. However, existing infrastructure at our ports of entry often does not allow for the most efficient processing of trucks and cargo. We have two major crossings in Detroit--in Windsor, Canada, as well as Port Huron in Sarnia. Both of those trade areas need additional investment in their customs plazas to efficiently handle the trade between our two countries. Those investments are important investments in the future of this country and important in order to make sure we continue to expand trade and economic activity. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to support this amendment.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, this amendment is similar to the previous amendment in that it focuses on innovation. It focuses on what this country does best, which is create new products and advance the knowledge with scientific discoveries and new inventions. This amendment, however, deals specifically with scientific discovery and technological breakthroughs that drive our economy. We have known throughout human history that the drivers of that have been the big breakthroughs, whether it is the cotton gin or the internal combustion engine or the railroads. These have been inventions that have transformed the entire planet. We need to continue to have those innovations, but in order to do that, we need to invest in basic scientific research. Investments in basic research have resulted in countless innovations that improve our day-to-day lives and support the Nation's overall productivity and competitiveness. The Federal Government has long played a crucial role. This has always been, in the past, a very bipartisan issue, that the Federal Government invest in this basic, cutting-edge research and development. However, we have seen a very I think disturbing trend over the last few decades as R&D spending has fallen. The amount of money which the Federal Government puts into basic scientific research now is less than 1 percent of GDP. This is simply unacceptable. We have to look at basic scientific research as the seed corn for our economy. We need to invest in seed corn so we can harvest the rewards of that investment. This amendment would strengthen Congress's ongoing commitment to responsibly increasing investments in science, technology, and basic research and help ensure U.S. science and technology leadership in an increasingly competitive world. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this amendment to show our commitment to investing in basic scientific research so we can continue to make the U.S. economy the strongest in the world. Amendment No. 639 Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside and call up Peters amendment No. 639.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up Peters amendment No. 437.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, today I recognize William E. Rushing Jr. for his volunteer leadership to the American Concrete Institute, ACI, headquartered in Farmington Hills, MI, an organization whose work is fundamental to our Nation's critical infrastructure and economic competitiveness. I am honored to acknowledge Mr. Rushing for his career-long commitment to advancing knowledge of concrete in the United States and abroad. ACI has been a pioneer in all concrete-related fields: research and development, structural design, architectural design, construction, and product manufacture. With 100 professional chapters, 86 student chapters, and nearly 18,000 members spanning over 100 countries, the ACI provides knowledge and information for the best use of concrete. Through a host of activities including continuing education, certification, seminars, publications, and conventions, ACI plays an active and vital role in the concrete industry. Central to ACI's work is the development of codes and standards, which serve as a reference for building codes that impact many concrete projects in the United States. Further, in some 21 countries worldwide, the ACI 3I8 Structural Concrete Building Code provisions serve as a base for part or all of these nations' building codes. Mr. Rushing received his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Louisiana State University, LSU, Baton Rouge, in 1981. He is a licensed professional engineer in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Arizona. Mr. Rushing is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Structural Engineers Institute. He has been honored with election to the LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Hall of Distinction. Currently, William E. Rushing Jr. is a vice president with Waldemar S. Nelson & Co., Inc., New Orleans. He has been an active member of ACI for more than 30 years and was named a fellow of ACI in 1998. He previously served on the ACI board of direction, has chaired the ACI strategic plan drafting task group, and has skillfully managed institute finances for several terms as chair of the Financial Advisory Committee. As chair of the ACI Convention Committee, he has worked tirelessly to improve the experience for local chapters at its conventions. He has worked on several ACI technical committees that cover the full range of the institute's areas of knowledge and expertise. Through his work on ACI educational committees, he has been a strong promoter of ACI student activities programs. He also serves on the board of the ACI Foundation. Mr. Rushing will complete his term as president of ACI on April 16, 2015, at The ACI Concrete Convention and Exposition in Kansas City, MO. His year-long presidency has been marked by implementing and advancing the goals of engagement, outreach, structure, and leadership in the ACI Strategic Plan. The ACI University Program was launched as a new method to deliver online learning modules to bring education information to all concrete professionals. A major development during his presidency was the rollout of the reorganized ACI 318-14 Structural Concrete Building Code, the culmination of a massive technical undertaking which took nearly 7 years to complete. In his outreach capacity, Mr. Rushing engaged concrete industry professionals and their broader network of stakeholders on the benefits of the reorganized code. Over his decades of work in the concrete industry, Mr. Rushing has been honored with many awards for his outstanding leadership and service. In 2011, he was recognized with the ACI Henry L. Kennedy Award for his work on many of the institute's committees. He also received the Chapter Activities Award from ACI in 2003. As a member, of the board of direction for the Louisiana chapter--ACI, he received its Chapter Activity Award in 2004 and its Chapter Distinguished Member Award in 2010. His service has also been recognized in his selection as vice chair of the ACI Fall 1996 Convention and co-chair of the ACI Fall 2009 Convention. Mr. President, I am honored to ask my colleagues to join me today to recognize Mr. William E. Rushing Jr.'s leadership and service to the American Concrete Institute.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I wish to honor Girl Scouts of the USA. As the proud father of two Girl Scouts, I join them as they celebrate Girl Scout Day. On this day in 1912, Juliette Gordon Low founded the first Girl Scout troop with just 18 girls in Savannah, GA. Over 100 years later, Girl Scouts serves 2 million girls and has 59 million alumnae across the United States. Juliette Gordon Low believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. Gordon sought to bring girls out of isolated home environments and into community service in order to become well rounded members of society. By building courage, confidence, and character, Girl Scouts raised awareness on important issues. They became leaders and made their way into American hearts. Girl Scouts today participate in numerous activities that foster and strengthen their leadership abilities, financial literacy, outdoor and environmental awareness, and teach them the value of service. They learn new skills that help them develop their full individual potential, and take action to improve the world around them. Girls who earn the Gold Award, the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn, take extraordinary steps to effect positive change and make a sustainable impact in their communities and beyond. Today's Girl Scouts are tomorrow's leaders. Former Girl Scouts are at the top of their fields in science, media, medicine, business, and politics. With one-half of the women in the 114th Congress being former Girl Scouts, it is evident that Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence and character. On this Girl Scout Day, I wish to applaud the work of Girl Scout councils throughout Michigan and across our country. Their commitment to diversity and service, tied with their dedication, makes them true leaders of society.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Elijah McCoy in honor of Black History Month. Mr. McCoy was a 19th-century African-American inventor whose innovation was crucial to our modern-day transportation system. Throughout the month of February, we come together as Michiganders and as Americans to celebrate Black History Month and reflect on the tremendous contributions African Americans have made to our country. African Americans have helped shape and enrich our communities, and their many contributions serve as a constant reminder that diversity is one of our country's greatest strengths. Elijah McCoy was born in Ontario, Canada, to fugitive slaves who had escaped to Canada through the Underground Railroad. Showing an interest in engineering from a young age, Mr. McCoy traveled to Scotland at the age of 15, where he took an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering. When he returned to the United States, racial barriers prevented him from finding work. Mr. McCoy then became a fireman and oiler for the Michigan Central Railroad. Through this job, he developed his major invention. Through analyzing the system of oiling axes, Mr. McCoy came up with a lubricating cup that evenly distributed oil over the engine's moving parts. He was granted a patent for his invention, thus allowing trains to run continuously for long periods of time. Railroad engineers came to ask for this equipment by name, requesting ``the real McCoy'' system--a term used to this day to describe quality and originality. Receiving approximately 60 patents throughout the course of his life, Mr. McCoy later formed the Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company and changed the course of transportation history. Mr. McCoy is an example of true innovation and ingenuity. Elijah McCoy is buried at the Detroit Memorial Park East in Warren, MI, and it is fitting that we honored his legacy by naming the U.S. Patent and Trademark satellite office in Detroit after him. As we observe Black History Month, we should take a moment to recognize how far we have come as a nation and yet how far we still have to go as we work together to achieve true equality. The civil rights movement changed the course of our Nation's history for the better and left a lasting legacy that touches our lives every day. In honor of Black History Month, let us recommit ourselves to the goal of making America a place where anyone who works hard and plays by the rules has the opportunity to succeed. As we continue to work toward equality, we must carry that legacy forward.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I wish to recognize the victims of the mass murder of Armenians 27 years ago during the state-sponsored pogroms in Sumgait, Azerbaijan. The citizens of Nagorno Karabakh peacefully petitioned to be reunited with Soviet Armenia and spoke out against the arbitrary borders established by Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union. This democratic exercise of free speech expressing a natural desire for self- determination was met with 3 days of violence and brutality against Armenian civilians, who were hunted down in their homes. Security forces in Soviet Azerbaijan turned a blind eye, allowing the mass murder of Armenians in a futile attempt to defeat this movement. The massacres of Armenians did not stop in Sumgait but were followed in other Azerbaijani towns such as Kirovabad in November 1988 and the capital Baku in January 1990. The U.S. Congress strongly condemned these massacres at that time. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians fled Azerbaijan, many finding their home in my State of Michigan, where there is a monument to the victims of the Sumgait massacres. True democracies must respect the rights of the minority, allow citizens to peacefully speak freely, and protect the human rights of all residents. The people of Nagorno Karabakh and the victims of this senseless massacre played a critical role in promoting a democracy movement which helped to end the Soviet Union. Today, I remember the victims and ask my colleagues and the American people to join me in honoring their memories.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss my amendment that was made pending by my friend and the ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Senator from Washington, Ms. Cantwell. The amendment I have offered, amendment No. 55, is a simple, commonsense amendment. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency to complete a study on the potential environmental and health impact of byproducts from tar sands oil that would be transported across our country by the Keystone XL Pipeline. One of these byproducts of tar sands oil is a black, powdery substance known as petroleum coke or petcoke. It is a residual from this tar sands oil and large amounts of it are produced in the refining process. In fact, it is estimated basically for every barrel of oil we get from tar sands, one-third of the material is this dark substance called petcoke. If we are transporting an awful lot of oil through the Keystone Pipeline, it naturally follows that we are going to get massive amounts of this petcoke. I have had an experience with this petcoke in my previous House district in the city of Detroit, where we had petcoke from the refining process of this tar sands oil being piled up along the Detroit River. We had a pile there that was at some times several stories high, a city block long. It was stored along the river in an uncontained fashion. It was blowing into people's homes, it was blowing into businesses, and it was also draining into the Great Lakes watershed. It caused all sorts of problems. I had complaints from constituents who talked about this substance going into their homes. I had businesses talking about--for example, restaurants in the area--their wait staff getting respiratory problems as a result of breathing this in. In fact, we had a video to explain how problematic it can be. I had a video taken by a Canadian resident across the Detroit River that showed the petcoke piles. With some wind blowing, a massive black dust cloud was blowing off of these petcoke piles. In the distance you could see the Ambassador Bridge, which is the bridge that connects Canada to the United States. The dust was so thick and so black it obscured the bridge as it was blowing into the neighborhoods, into the river, and then into Canada. It is a completely unacceptable situation, which is why I believe it is important as we move forward with this legislation that we have a couple of studies. One, we need to understand what are those environmental and health risks associated with petcoke. It is clear this is particulate matter, and if it is not contained, it gets into people's lungs and creates a dust layer throughout communities. It is very important as well in the study not only to study the environmental and health impacts, but what are the best practices to handle this material. With the massive amount of tar sands oil that will come through the Keystone, we will also get massive amounts of petcoke, a substance that has been problematic not only in Detroit, but it has been problematic in the city of Chicago and other places across the country. So I believe it is very important that we get these kinds of information as this project moves forward, and it is certainly my hope that we can assure that what happened in Detroit, what is happening in Chicago and other places across this country doesn't happen, that we understand what this substance is, and we understand what those best practices are to handle and to transport this material safely. I urge my colleagues to support amendment No. 55. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. PETERS. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, as Michiganders, Senator Stabenow and I know firsthand how important the Great Lakes are. The lakes are a vital natural resource and an economic engine for our State, region, and the entire country. Unfortunately, Michiganders also know firsthand the environmental dangers and risks when it comes to pipeline leaks. We had the worst inland pipeline leak in our Nation's history near Kalamazoo, MI. Cleanup has taken over 4 years and has cost $1.2 billion. There is a 60-year-old pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron come together. I cannot even fathom what would happen if there were an accident that contaminated the Great Lakes. The results would be catastrophic not only for the Great Lakes but also the entire country. That is why we need to act now and act quickly, and I urge my colleagues to support the Peters-Stabenow amendment.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up amendment No. 70, which is at the desk.

Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, this is a very commonsense amendment based on a simple premise. Before Congress intervenes to approve this new pipeline that is before us, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, PHMSA, the Federal agency which oversees pipeline safety, should certify that it has the resources required to carry out its duty. Specifically, the amendment before the Senate requires PHMSA to confirm that it has the resources to oversee pipelines in the Great Lakes and provide recommendations for special conditions for pipelines in the Great Lakes just as it provided recommendations for special conditions for the Keystone XL Pipeline. The people of Michigan know why it is so important that we ensure these pipelines are safe. We had a pipeline spill in Kalamazoo, MI, in 2010 that spilled over 800,000 gallons of tar sands into the Kalamazoo River. The cleanup has now taken over 4 years at a cost of over $1.2 billion. A pipeline accident in the Great Lakes, where we have some of these pipelines located now, would be absolutely catastrophic. We have to remind folks that the Great Lakes now provide drinking water to over 40 million people and support 1.5 million jobs. It would be a disaster not just for folks in the State of Michigan, but throughout the Great Lakes region and throughout the country, if there were a pipeline break. We know it firsthand from what happened in Kalamazoo, the most expensive pipeline break in the history of this country. We have to ensure that the pipelines that operate in the Great Lakes, particularly in the Straits of Mackinac, which connect the Upper Peninsula with the Lower Peninsula, have the protections they need. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment to make sure we protect the Great Lakes, not just for today but for future generations. I yield back.

Mr. PETERS

Mr. PETERS. I appreciate the Senator from California yielding for a question, as I am listening to this debate and hearing from my colleague, the Senator from Michigan, as to the importance of pipeline safety, as we are now debating a very comprehensive bill to give approval for one specific pipeline in this country, which I think is very much an unprecedented type of vote in the Senate. My question is: Why do we not have an opportunity, or would the Senator not agree that we should have an opportunity, to offer amendments? I know I am new to the Senate, but I was informed this would be an open amendment process. My idea of an open amendment process means you can actually offer amendments. It means you can also actually debate amendments. That is an open process, particularly something as important as protecting our Great Lakes, this incredible, immense body of freshwater, one of the largest bodies of freshwater in the world. We have a pipeline that goes through there, above the lakebed, that could potentially be catastrophic if there is a break. As Senator Stabenow mentioned, in Michigan we have already had the most expensive pipeline break in history--4 years of cleanup of Canadian tar sands oil, oil that sinks to the bottom of the river. It is more expensive to clean up--over $1.2 billion in cleanup. So you can imagine if we had a pipeline break in the middle of the Great Lakes. It would be catastrophic to this country, it would be catastrophic to the State of Michigan, but really catastrophic to the entire world. It is a risk we cannot take. That is why we have authored a commonsense amendment that says we should ensure that there is adequate inspection, that PHMSA has the resources they need in order to inspect this, and if there are special requirements to protect the Great Lakes, as there were special requirements for Keystone, it should also be available to other pipelines, particularly in sensitive areas such as the Great Lakes. That is why, in the spirit of an open amendment process, in the spirit of this great deliberative body, where people are allowed to debate the big issues affecting our world, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment so that I may call up my amendment No. 70.

Mr. PETERS of Michigan

Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a valued public servant to the people of Michigan, my dear friend, State Representative Vicki Barnett. After twenty years of service to the residents of the Greater Farmington area at both the local and state level, Vicki is preparing to embark upon new endeavors. Prior to her embarking upon her journey of public service, Vicki worked as a financial planner, helping her clients realize their goals through making sound investments, a profession she has continued during her tenure as an elected official. Vicki is also a licensed accident, life and health insurance agent. As a person who cares deeply for the well-being and vitality of her community, Vicki sought to make a difference in Farmington Hills, one of Oakland County's most populous and diverse cities, and was elected to the Farmington Hills City Council in 1995. She went on to serve as a Councilwoman for eight years before the voters of Farmington Hills elected her their mayor in 2003. While serving as mayor, Vicki worked to revitalize her community by creating a long-term economic master plan that focused on encouraging mixed-use developments and increasing commercial density--plans which put Farmington Hills at the forefront of these efforts. In recognition of her strong record of service and results, she was named the President of the Michigan Municipal League from 2006 to 2007 and was named one of Detroit's most influential women by Crain's Magazine in 2007. Following her time in city government, Vicki went on to continue the legacy of another great Farmington Hills Mayor in Lansing and public servant, Aldo Vagnozzi, a man who also served as her mentor. I know it was a great honor for Vicki to be entrusted to succeed Aldo both as Mayor and later as Farmington and Farmington Hills' voice in Michigan's House of Representatives in Lansing. In that role, she has continued her exemplary commitment to public service, working across the aisle as an advocate for strengthening public schools, leveraging Michigan's resources to draw new industries to the state, and protecting communities' abilities to provide essential services to their residents. In recognition of her outstanding leadership, she was named the 2012 Legislator of the Year by the Police Officers Association of Michigan. I have been so fortunate to have a partner at the state level like Vicki, who has been a strong voice and valuable resource for the people of Michigan. With experience that transcends multiple levels of government, her advice on the issues affecting the state of Michigan has been invaluable. Mr. Speaker, as a public servant, I know that our local elected officials are dedicated to the communities they serve. Vicki has demonstrated this throughout her tenure of service to the people of the Greater Farmington area and Michigan. I know her passion and reason will be greatly missed by her colleagues in the Michigan Legislature, but as someone who cares deeply for her community, I know Vicki will continue to be involved in endeavors that seek to strengthen the City of Farmington Hills and other municipalities across Michigan. I wish her success in her new endeavors and look forward to continuing to work with her for the people of Michigan.

Mr. PETERS of Michigan

Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Brenda Lawrence, Mayor of the City of Southfield, who will be leaving office at the end of this year to represent Michigan's 14th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Mayor Brenda L. Lawrence is a long-time resident of the City of Southfield. A product of Michigan's public school system, Mayor Lawrence is an alumna of Pershing High School and received her BA in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. Ms. Lawrence was elected Mayor of the City of Southfield in November of 2001. She is the first African American and first woman Mayor of Southfield, a city with a population of over 78,000 residents, a budget of $143 million, and 833 employees. Mayor Lawrence is committed to diversity, fiscal responsibility, education, and keeping a clean and safe city. Mayor Lawrence has been a community advocate for many years, both as an elected official and a private citizen. She has served on the Southfield City Council, where she was elected president in 1999. As a Councilwoman, Ms. Lawrence gained experience in managing a multi- million dollar budget and demonstrated fiscal responsibility. Ms. Lawrence has also served on the Southfield Public School Board of Education as President, Vice-President, and Secretary. Her love for community involvement has been evident through her previous service as a volunteer in various capacities on the Parent Youth Guidance Commission, Oakland County United Way Advisory Committee, and Oakland County AIDS Council. Since becoming Mayor, Ms. Lawrence has initiated the following community programs: The Mayor's Walk community health program; Mayor's Roundtable--a citizen driven forum where residents can discuss one-on- one topics of concern; Southfield Reads!--a program designed to promote reading literacy in the City of Southfield; Annual Flower Day; City- wide Blood Drive; and Today's Woman--a cable show featuring respected women in and around Southfield. As a result of her initiative to create a more environmentally friendly community, Mayor Lawrence joined over 600 other Mayors in signing the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and with Council support has created the Southfield Green Committee. Mayor Lawrence has received many honors for her leadership skills. She was recognized in October 2007 as one of Crain's ``2007 Most Influential Women.'' She is the recipient of the ``2004 Wand Award'' for breaking new frontiers for women and minorities, the Jewish War Veterans-State of Michigan ``Brotherhood Award,'' the Leadership Detroit ``Challenging the Process'' award, the ABWA Millennium Chapter ``Woman of the Year Award,'' the Detroit Historical Society's ``Enterprising Women'' award, Leadership Oakland's 2004 Distinguished Leadership & Future Leaders Award for Exemplary Leadership, and the ``Black Women Achiever Award.'' Mayor Lawrence has also been named to the Women's Informal Network ``List of the Most Influential African American Women in Metropolitan Detroit'' and CORP Magazine's ``95 Most Influential Women in Michigan.'' Mayor Lawrence is a member of the Oakland County Chapter of the NAACP, a member of the Michigan Association of Mayor's Advisory Board, the U.S. Conference of Mayors Advisory Board, the American Heart Association's ``Go Red For Women,'' the Michigan Suburbs Alliance Executive Board, Women Officials Network Board of Directors, Birmingham YMCA Advisory Board, the Pepsi Community Advisory Board, MBN TV, Radio Advisory Board and the Board of Governors of the Renaissance/Skyline Club. Mr. Speaker, as a former city councilman, I know first-hand how communities benefit from dedicated elected leaders. Brenda's years of dedicated service to the residents of Southfield is a testament to her character and I know that her experience will serve her well as a member of this legislative body. As I close, I can say with confidence that our community is a better place thanks to the ongoing, selfless service of people like Mayor and now Congresswoman-Elect Brenda Lawrence.

Mr. PETERS of Michigan

Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the first responders of the Hamtramck Fire Department (HFD) as the community celebrates the department's centennial anniversary. This historic milestone in HFD's history is a testament to the thirty-one brave men of the department and their predecessors, who have made the safety of their community their livelihood. First responders are a critical part of communities across our nation--dedicated individuals who are putting themselves in harm's way to ensure the safety of our communities. For the HFD, the roots of this deep commitment to its community extend all the way back to 1857, before Hamtramck was even incorporated as a village. It was then that the Hamtramck Spouters first organized and formed the Spouters Company Number Eleven. Forged with a mission of protecting the citizens of Hamtramck and their property, it formally became the Hamtramck Fire Department in 1914, and has diligently dedicated itself to fulfilling its mission. Like all first responders, the HFD provides support and protection to the residents of its community in their moments of greatest need. This support and protection includes: responding to fire emergencies, preventing fires, mitigating hazardous situations, investigating fire emergencies for potential arson and providing emergency medical services--in 2011, the HFD responded to over 3,000 emergencies. As the HFD has grown, it has continued to obtain and incorporate new technology, equipment and training, to strengthen its ability to protect the community. All of these resources, along with those of neighboring fire departments in Detroit and Highland Park, were put to the test on August 6, 1984, when the HFD responded to a five-alarm industrial fire. The HFD and the other responding departments were instrumental in containing this fire and preventing its spread to neighboring residences and properties. It serves as a poignant example of the important role of first responders in protecting the safety of our communities. For the firefighters of the HFD, their commitment and dedication to their community are principles which motivate their actions, both in their first responders' duties and in the other endeavors they lead to strengthen Hamtramck. These efforts include: raising funds to support breast cancer research, leading community clean-up days and providing the support necessary for Hamtramck to hold Independence Day festivities for its residents. Mr. Speaker, our first responders deserve our admiration, our respect and our unending gratitude for the incredible responsibility they shoulder on a daily basis. They provide the security and protection that help bind our communities together, both in their official duties and their volunteer endeavors, which are often focused on supporting the members of our communities that are most in-need. It is my honor to congratulate and thank Fire Chief Paul Wilk, the firefighters of the Hamtramck Fire Department and their families who support them, for the incredible impact they have made and continue to make on their community. The centennial of the HFD is a significant milestone in its history and I wish all of its firefighters and their families continued success and safety in their endeavor to protect the residents of Hamtramck.

Mr. PETERS of Michigan

Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Golden Opportunity Club, which was established as a venue for senior citizens in the Greater Pontiac community to connect and learn. Founded with the philosophy that increasing age does not need to impact an individual's quality of life, the Golden Opportunity Club is a community organization that directly engages senior citizens in the City of Pontiac to support a wide variety of activities that keeps them both mentally and physically active. Founded in October 1964, the Golden Opportunity Club first met at the Lakeside Homes Center in Pontiac with ten original members in attendance. Its supervisor, Mrs. Johnson, immediately recognized the club's unique potential and engaged in efforts to expand its reach within the community. After much debate, she came up with the club's signature name under the presidency of Mrs. Annie Thompson. Two locations and thirteen presidents later, the thriving Golden Opportunity Club is now comprised of 400 members. To carry out its mission, the club arranges activities and events for all people aged fifty-six and up. Club members participate in recreational gatherings including: trips, picnics and parties. In addition, the club offers its members a forum to use their compassion and desire to others by participating in charitable events to support their community. The Golden Opportunity Club also reaches out to ill, hospitalized and homebound members by providing financial and emotional support to them and their families. Under the leadership of its current president, Carolyn Price, the Golden Opportunity Club has continued to stay focused on its mission of engaging seniors in activities that encourage civic activism and promote an active lifestyle. Recently, the Golden Opportunity Club has allied with Community Network Services and other organizations to ensure that their charitable contributions are benefiting the community. The funds that the Golden Opportunity Club raises through its events are used to make a significant impact on the residents of Pontiac. Specifically, the Golden Opportunity Club uses some of these funds to award annual scholarships to graduating high school seniors, as well as an annual contribution to the God U-C Youth Group, which is committed to inspiring and enriching the lives of youth in Pontiac. In conjunction with annual donations, the Golden Opportunity Club is committed to improving Pontiac as it continues to grow and develop. This past year it made significant contributions to Coats for Kids, and the WHRC Elementary School when its roof caved in. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the remarkable impact the Golden Opportunity Club has made over the last 50 years on the lives of senior citizens in the City of Pontiac. As more and more members of the Baby Boomer generation become seniors, the health and happiness of senior citizens will become increasingly important to sustain robust communities. The Golden Opportunity Club is vital to this work in the Pontiac community. I congratulate the Golden Opportunity Club on its many achievements and wish its members continued success in fulfilling their mission and encouraging the spirit and vitality of Pontiac's seniors.

Mr. PETERS of Michigan

Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my dear friend, Oakland County Commissioner Mattie McKinney Hatchett, as she prepares to step down from the commission at the end of her term. When her tenure ends in December, Commissioner Hatchett will have completed more than a decade of service to the people of Pontiac as their elected representative to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and will end the most recent chapter in her more than five decades of public service to the City of Pontiac. In 1963, Commissioner Hatchett began serving her community as an employee and volunteer in the Pontiac Public School District. As an education professional, Commissioner Hatchett has been involved in Pontiac Public Schools for more than fifty years and currently serves as a Trustee on the Pontiac Board of Education. During her time in Pontiac Public Schools she has held a variety of positions from teacher to elementary school principal, and several high-ranking administrative roles. Through Commissioner Hatchett's many public service endeavors in the Pontiac community, she has become a leader, mentor and passionate advocate for her constituents, friends, and neighbors. Her extensive work in the community includes service as the Chairperson of the Pontiac General Hospital Building Authority, an Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency Counselor for Youth Corp., Deputy Mayor of the City of Pontiac, and as a member of the Golden Opportunity Club. She has also been a member of many national organizations like the National Congress of Black Women and the National Baptist Congress. In her most recent role as Oakland County Commissioner, Commissioner Hatchett has continued to be a staunch advocate for the Pontiac community. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that the voices of her constituents are heard and has been involved in finding solutions to the issues affecting them. She has been an active member of the National Association of Counties and, in 2011, was named the first African-American Woman to serve as President of the Michigan Association of Counties. As an elected representative, I have been honored to serve the residents of Pontiac in my time as a Michigan State Senator and Member of Congress, and I have been so fortunate to have Commissioner Hatchett as a local leader with whom I have been able to work to address many issues affecting our constituents. Commissioner Hatchett's leadership has earned her countless awards and recognition from local community organizations--she has been honored as the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Woman of the Year, a 2014 Wonder Woman Award recipient and the 2013 IMAGE AWARD recipients from Northern Oakland County NAACP. In recognition of the profound impact Commissioner Hatchett has made on the Pontiac community, in 2008, First Lady Michelle Obama acknowledged her as the ``Mother of Pontiac''. Mr. Speaker, the people of Pontiac have been so fortunate to have a passionate advocate and leader as their voice to Oakland County for the last twelve years. Commissioner Mattie McKinney Hatchett's commitment to public service and decades of engagement with Pontiac residents to find solutions for the issues affecting their city and Oakland County are an example of the important work done by our locally elected officials. I know Commissioner Hatchett's voice on the Oakland County Commission will be greatly missed by her peers and by her constituents and wish her well as she begins a new chapter in her service to the people of Pontiac.

Mr. PETERS of Michigan

Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend Doctor James C. Perkins on his election as the new President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Beginning his service as an ordained minister in 1974, Dr. Perkins has served as pastor of Greater Christ Baptist Church for the last thirty years. Under his leadership the congregation of Greater Christ Baptist has grown deeper in its fellowship and in it is outreach to the Greater Detroit community. As a strong believer that faith requires a person to care about both their spiritual well-being and the well-being of their community, Dr. Perkins has led his congregation in the creation of ministries that have been making a difference in the Greater Detroit region. Among the many projects these ministries have supported are the Fellowship Nonprofit Housing Corporation, which serves the community as a force for economic development and the Benjamin E. Mays Male Academy which opened in 1993 and operated for 17 years with the mission of providing access to education for young males in the Greater Detroit community. As a result of these efforts, the Providence Place complex, which provides housing to fifty low and middle income families, hundreds of young men have seen their quality of life improve. In addition to these accomplishments, Greater Christ Baptist runs a food pantry that provides vital food products to families in need, a political awareness ministry that fosters community interest in civic participation and the Progressive Matrons ministry that supports homeless women. Realizing that his role as a spiritual leader is one that intersects with other community interests, Dr. Perkins also serves on the boards of a number of community organizations. These organizations include: the Michigan Progressive Baptist Convention where he served as president, the Detroit Baptist Pastors Council, the Detroit Chapter of the NAACP, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and the Steering Committee of the Detroit Jobs Alliance. For his work he has been recognized with many awards, including: the Gandhi King Ikeda Award from Morehouse College, the Pastor of the Year Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Charles Andrew Hill Award from the Michigan Progressive Baptist Convention. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Perkins' elevation to the presidency of the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC) is a recognition of the profound impact his leadership has made on the Greater Detroit community, and the inspiration that leadership has instilled in his congregation and other members of the PNBC. I congratulate him on achieving this important milestone in his service to the congregation of Greater Christ Baptist Church, the PNBC and the Greater Detroit community. I know he will continue to be a strong leader and staunch advocate for his congregation and the Southeast Michigan community, and wish him continued success in his future endeavors to strengthen the Greater Detroit region.

Mr. PETERS of Michigan

Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bishop Charles Ellis on his reelection as the Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) earlier this year. This milestone in Bishop Ellis' service to the PAW and his congregation of Greater Grace Temple in Detroit is a recognition of the significant impact his spiritual leadership has made on the Greater Detroit community and on the broader community of PAW worshippers around the world. As the son of a pastor, Bishop Ellis grew up with a deep appreciation and understanding of the power that spiritual leaders have to be agents of positive change within their communities. After graduating from Mumford High School and Wayne State University, he went on to serve the congregation of Greater Grace as its main financial administrator. Upon the death of his father, then Elder Charles Ellis was elevated to pastor of congregation at Greater Grace, where the congregation has continued to grow it is present membership of nearly 6000. It was just a few years later that he was appointed as a Bishop in the PAW, becoming the second youngest bishop in its history. Under Bishop Ellis' leadership, Greater Grace Temple has developed more than 300 ministries that offer vital support to the Greater Detroit community--leading efforts to assist others that include issues of: education, the arts, families in need, victims of domestic violence and seniors. The impact of these ministries has been significant, and as a result, Bishop Ellis and the congregation of Greater Grace Temple have been honored with recognition from many organizations. These honors include being named: Distinguished Leader of the Year by DTE Energy, Michigan Pastor of the Year by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Black Alumni of Year by Wayne State University. In addition to his leadership at Greater Grace, Bishop Ellis also serves on the boards of many local organizations, volunteering his energy to the success of community groups that improve the quality of life in the Greater Detroit region. Among the organizations he serves as a board member are: the Detroit Zoo, the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, Sinai-Grace Hospital and the Booker T. Washington Business Association. Mr. Speaker, throughout his decades of service to the congregation of Greater Grace Temple, the members of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World and the Greater Detroit community, Bishop Charles Ellis has made an impact that has affected thousands of lives. I congratulate him on his re-election as the Presiding Bishop of the PAW and wish him and his congregation continued success in their mission of fellowship and service to the Southeast Michigan region.