George Radanovich

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, nobody drives a snowmobile to go to Yosemite. We live in the West under 4,000 feet elevation. We do not get much snow in the wintertime. I am sure they could drive one but it would be kind of stupid.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Chairman, people do not use snowmobiles to get into Yosemite National Park as they would in Yellowstone National Park. They do not use snowmobilies to access Yosemite. I mean it is not a way one gets in there because it is not the only way that one can get there in the wintertime.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jane Gyer posthumously for her years of service to her community. Jane recently passed away on Tuesday, June 1, 2004. Jane was known for her extraordinary work in the arts. Considered by many art critics as the first lady among contemporary painters of Yosemite, she was renowned for her elaborate paintings of Yosemite National Park. A San Francisco native, Jane grew up in Los Angeles and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of California at Los Angeles. She lived in the Oakhurst area for nearly 50 years. Jane's accomplishments are numerous and distinguished. She was a founding member of the Guild of Mountain Artists and active in the Educational Enhancement Foundation. She is listed in ``Who's Who of American Women,'' and was a recipient of the first National Park Service Director's Award for her illustrations in the book, ``Discovering Sierra Trees.'' Jane collected a second Director's Award for her poster design created for the Yosemite Fund. She is survived by her husband Jack Gyer and her five children. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jane Gyer for her remarkable effort and service to her community. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring her posthumously for her accomplishments and commitment to bettering this world through various charitable organizations, touching lives both in the Central Valley of California and worldwide.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Mariposa County Courthouse on its 150 years of service to the needs of the community of Mariposa. The courthouse is holding numerous anniversary events throughout 2004 leading up to the actual anniversary. Founded on September 8, 1850, the courthouse was built on land donated by Mr. John C. Fremont and cost a mere $9,300 to construct. Throughout the last century and a half, the courthouse underwent several additions, including a clock tower in 1866, its first telephone in 1895, and electric lights in 1907. In 1958, the courthouse was officially recognized as a California State Landmark and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The court has operated continuously ever since it's opening in 1850, making it the oldest, active courthouse west of the Rocky Mountains. Today, the original clock keeps the residents of Mariposa on time, just as it had done for the last 100 years. In addition, the services of the court have expanded into seven departments, including criminal, family law, small claims and traffic. Mr. Speaker, it is my sincere pleasure to congratulate and honor the residents of Mariposa for their preservation and dedication to the Mariposa County Courthouse for the last 150 years. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing the Mariposa County Courthouse many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the resolution paying tribute to President Ronald Reagan who once said, ``America is too great for small dreams.'' Whether through his faith in God's providence, his deep love for his wife, Nancy, his career as an actor, his service as Governor of the State of California and ultimately as our Commander in Chief, President Ronald Reagan envisioned and achieved big dreams. These dreams included lowering the tax burden on citizens through his advocacy of smaller government and striving for peace in the tenuous times of the Cold War. As a boy in the fourth grade, I had the honor of shaking Mr. Reagan's hand at the Mariposa airport when he was on his way to Yosemite after he became the Governor of the great State of California. He is the very reason that I later became a Republican and devoted my life to public service. President Reagan died on the very weekend of the commemoration of D- Day where just 20 years ago he heralded the heroes that lay before him in Normandy as those who ``helped end a war.'' Fittingly, we now herald this American hero for his unmatched achievements, including ending the Cold War. History will forever remember him for removing this threat of nuclear holocaust. There are good men in the world, and there are great men. Great men employ their power humbly and create peace quietly. President Reagan embodied these traits and reminded us to believe in ourselves as the greatest country in the world.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Assistant Sheriff Richard Breshears for 35 years of dedicated service to Stanislaus County. Richard will retire from the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department and will be honored at an event held in California on June 23rd. Richard began his career as a Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriff in 1970 where he worked in Patrol and Adult Detention. He was assigned to the Investigations Crimes Against Persons Unit in 1973. He was in this unit for almost 18 years, starting out as an investigator and moving up the ranks to Lieutenant. In 1991 Richard was promoted to Captain and served as Commander in both the Custodial Division and the Operations Division. In 1997 he was appointed to Assistant Sheriff and he currently commands the Operations Division. Mr. Breshears graduated from the FBI National Academy in Virginia in 1982. He has also been a member of numerous law enforcement committees. He is an alumnus of Leadership Modesto, a training program for up and coming community leaders. Richard has served for a number of years as chair of the Law Enforcement Day. He is currently President of the Stanislaus County Police Activities League, a position he has held for 8 years, and he is a member of the Stanislaus County Advisory Board on Substance Abuse. Richard has served on the US Attorney's Eastern District Law Enforcement Executive Council for many years. In 1999 he received the Sheriff's Department ``Medal of Merit'' for exceptional meritorious service, the second highest award presented by the department. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Assistant Sheriff Richard Breshears upon his retirement from public service. Although his career in public service has ended, his contributions will be felt for generations to come. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Richard a fulfilling retirement.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, never before have American seniors been able to go to one place to price, shop, and compare their prescription drug options. America's seniors are now eligible to receive a Medicare- approved drug discount card at their local pharmacies to save between 10 and 40 percent off the price of most drugs, particularly generics. It is important to mention the Department of Health and Human Services is the authorized distributor of these nationwide-accepted prescription drug cards. Seniors should be sure that the cards they acquire are approved by the HHS. Millions of low-income seniors will receive an additional $600 on their discount card to help pay for prescription drug medicines. Any unused amount of the $600 credit in 2004 will carry over to the next year. The competition between organizations offering cards will also help drive down prices. It is time to afford the Greatest Generation the quality prescription drug coverage that they deserve.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to honor Michael Doyle who was former Knight Journalism Fellow at Yale Law School and recent author of The Forestport Breaks: A Nineteenth-Century Conspiracy along the Black Forest Canal. I have had the pleasure of forming a relationship with Michael Doyle because of his continued fair and balanced Washington Politics Beat coverage in my district newspaper, the Fresno Bee. Doyle's latest literary achievement follows a string of exceptional work including numerous articles for McClatchy Papers in California's Central Valley. The Forestport Breaks: A Nineteenth- Century Conspiracy along the Black Forest Canal depicts a conspiracy to sabotage part of the Erie Canal system along the Black River Canal. A Publisher's Weekly Review called the work ``carefully researched and nimbly written . . . Doyle's account of a 19th-century conspiracy to sabotage part of the Erie Canal system is a delight to read. Completed in 1825, the Erie Canal was an engineering marvel that vastly improved commercial transportation. In 1856, canal boats carried over four million tons of goods--more that twice the load of the railroads. But by 1869, the tide had turned in favor of New York's railroads; the canal had fallen into disrepair and was subject to costly breaks that flooded the countryside. In 1895, New York voters approved $9 million in improvements--but a subsequent investigation revealed that all but $25,000 of the money had been spent, but only one third of the work was complete. The subsequent scandal made heads roll, including the governor's. After Theodore Roosevelt was elected in 1898, he appointed Colonel John N. Partridge as superintendent of public works. Aware that Forestport in Oneida County (which was along the Black River feeder canal) had acquired an unsavory reputation, Partridge hired the Pinkerton Detective Agency to investigate. The locals fought the Pinkertons as enemies of the working man, but the latter eventually uncovered a plot that involved nearly every family in Forestport (and, in the words of one prosecutor, had `no parallel in viciousness') in which the canal was `the plaything of the politically connected' while the working men assigned to protect it damaged it for a tiny slice of the pie. In the end, 13 men went to jail for sabotaging the canal in an effort to rob the state treasury. History and mystery fans should enjoy this well-told tale.'' Again, I would like to thank Michael Doyle for his continued service to the Central Valley of California and the general public through his work in journalism and his latest example of literary excellence in The Forestport Breaks: A Nineteenth-Century Conspiracy along the Black Forest Canal, enlightening us to some of the history that marks the only time New York state officials have charged men with conspiring to destroy canal property and detailing the evolution of this important transportation waterway.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3768) to expand the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Florida, as amended.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 3768, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw) and amended by the Committee on Resources, would authorize the expansion of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in the State of Florida by 8.5 acres. The additional land, much of it known as American Beach, would be donated by the Amelia Island Plantation Company. American Beach, established by Florida's first insurance company, the Afro-American Life Insurance Company, is the only remaining example of a beach resort established for use by African Americans during the divisive Jim Crow 1930s. In addition, the beach includes the Nana, the tallest natural dune on Amelia Island and habitat for the threatened loggerhead turtle. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3768, as amended, is supported by the majority and the minority of the committee, the Nassau County Board of Commissioners of Florida, and the administration. I urge adoption of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw), who is the sponsor of this important legislation.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2201.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2201, introduced by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), would authorize the establishment of a national database for purposes of identifying, locating and cataloging the many public memorials and permanent tributes to America's veterans of armed service. Once completed, this database will provide our Nation with an excellent educational resource for future generations to learn about the contributions made by members of our Armed Forces. It will also serve as yet another reminder of the sacrifice so many Americans have given to defend our country and the freedoms that we hold so dear. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2201 is supported by the majority and minority of the committee, and I urge adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2201) to authorize the establishment of a national database for purposes of identifying, locating, and cataloging the many memorials and permanent tributes to America's veterans.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3505) to amend the Bend Pine Nursery Land Conveyance Act to specify the recipients and consideration for conveyance of the Bend Pine Nursery, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3505, introduced by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), would amend the Bend Pine Nursery Land Conveyance Act to specify the recipients and consideration for conveyance of the Bend Pine Nursery, and for other purposes. This bill will bring closure to an administrative process that has already taken far too long to complete. Specifically, the bill will convey 170 acres of the Bend Pine Nursery site to the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District and would also convey an additional 15 acres to the Bend-La Pine School District to construct an elementary school. The bill also contains a reference to an updated Forest Service map at the request of the administration. I urge adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. J. Carl Hornberger on the occasion of receiving the Stanislaus Medical Society John Darroch Memorial Award for Physician of the Year. A ceremony honoring Dr. Hornberger will be held at the Stanislaus Medical Society Annual Dinner Meeting on Thursday, May 27, 2004. Dr. Carl Hornberger received his MD from the University of Rochester. He completed his Medical Internship, Residency, and Traineeship in Cardiology at the National Heart Institute: University Hospitals of Cleveland, OH. Carl has been practicing medicine for 55 years and has been an active Internal Medicine Physician with Gould Medical Group in Modesto since 1955. Carl's care and concern for the community and medicine are reflected in the wide variety of leadership roles he has held for the Stanislaus Medical Society and the Stanislaus Foundation for Medical Care. He has served as president for both boards and for the United Foundations of California. Carl has been chair of the bioethics committee at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto since 1997. Dr. Hornberger describes bioethics as, ``all issues regarding quality patient care. It's the recognition that patients are in a dependent position, they are scared, they don't know what is going on. Bioethics is about the realm of care for people who are dependent and in need of care, how you are spoken to, how you are treated.'' Carl says the thing about doctoring he enjoys most is patient contact. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. J. Carl Hornberger for his excellence and dedication as a physician. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Carl many years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, CA, on the occasion of celebrating 150 years of dedication and service to the needs of the community. The church is holding numerous anniversary events throughout 2004, culminating in the observance of the actual founding on December 19. The First Presbyterian Church was founded during the Gold Rush in 1854 and is one of California's oldest Presbyterian churches. The first pastor, John Brodt, started out with 15 worshipers and together they organized the church in the gold mining camp of Columbia. The historic church of the 49ers is located in Tuolumne County and has been a landmark in the restored mining town of Columbia, which has been a California State Historic Park since 1945. Over the years, the church has had many renowned pastors. Henry Palmer delivered a eulogy in 1866 to then recently assassinated President Abraham Lincoln to a crowd of over 1,000 worshipers. Pastor Hugh Furneaux was designated ``Shepherd of the Hill'' by regional newspaper editors because of his efforts to go to remote camps with his two donkeys to deliver inspirational messages. Today, First Presbyterian Church is the only regular place of worship in Columbia offering weekly services. The church also offers a variety of other services to the community including: music ministry, youth ministry, adult bible study, preschool, parish nursing, small groups, Presbyterian women ministries, and interfaith social services. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to congratulate the First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, CA on the occasion of their 150th anniversary. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing First Presbyterian Church many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nancy Schreiber on the occasion of receiving the Central Valley Coalition of Nursing Organizations' 2004 RN of the Year Award for Advanced Practice. A banquet honoring her and three other award winners will be held Friday, May 7th at the Radisson Hotel in Fresno, California. Nancy Schreiber is a skilled, experienced nurse practitioner who provides exemplary care. She is currently a Perioperative Advanced Practice nurse at Community Medical Centers in Fresno and is an adjunct faculty member at Fresno City College. Nancy was a clinical nurse educator and neurosurgical coordinator. She holds a Master of Science degree in Nursing. Ms. Schreiber has been a significant part of Community Medical Center's surgical services for over 17 years. She is a genuinely thoughtful person who is not only doing her job to help others, but also, trying to make an impact on their lives. She is a founding member of the Fresno/Clovis/Madera OR Educators Group. Nancy is fluent in Spanish and provides classes in Spanish for Perioperative Services Providers and has developed an English-Spanish phrase manual for use in the Perioperative areas. She is also a ``hands-on'' educator and has been involved in the design and implementation of the Operating Room Scrub Class. Nancy has been involved in the process of writing two nursing standardized procedure manuals, The Nurses Pre-operative Screening of Patients by Criteria, and Assisting Endoscopic PEG Insertion. She has also contributed to nursing research in numerous projects and provided legal consultation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nancy Schreiber for her excellence in the field of Advanced Practice. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Nancy many years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cynthia Dolata on the occasion of receiving the Central Valley Coalition of Nursing Organizations' 2004 RN of the Year Award for Outstanding Education. A banquet honoring her and three other award winners will be held on Friday, May 7th at the Radisson Hotel in Fresno, California. Cynthia Dolata shows a strong dedication to the nursing profession. She has taught in a variety of healthcare, academic, and community settings. Cindy began her career as a staff nurse in Gynecology at Saint Agnes Medical Center in 1999. While maintaining her position in the Gynecology department she was also a clinical nursing instructor at California State University, Fresno and Fresno City College. In 2003 Cindy became a Breast Health Educator, a position she continues to serve in today. As a Breast Health educator, Ms. Dolata meets with patients and their families prior to breast surgery and listens to their fears and anxieties while providing support. She also received grant money to purchase books for patient's family members. Her latest project was creating a video tape for women with breast cancer called, ``A Patient's Journey.'' The video takes a patient with breast cancer on a journey from diagnosis through postsurgical follow up. She has also developed ``comfort kits,'' a bag that includes educational materials and other items for her patients. Her lifelong achievements are reflective in her love for the profession and for the welfare of all people. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cynthia Dolata for her excellence in the field of Outstanding Education. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Cynthia many years of continued success.