Mark Schauer

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Philip Maring of Grass Lake, Michigan, for his service in the United States Army. His courage and commitment while serving as an infantryman in Vietnam is truly deserving of our respect and admiration. Mr. Maring enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17 upon finishing high school. He volunteered to serve in Vietnam and was deployed with the 196th Infantry Brigade in 1972. In July of that year, Mr. Maring was severely wounded by skilled enemy explosives. He remained in the Army despite his injuries and returned home for duty with the 4th Mechanized Infantry Division. Because of his outstanding service in Vietnam, he earned both the Air Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. Later, Philip Maring was honorably discharged, and he moved to Michigan. He is now retired and enjoys time with his six grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, hundreds of thousands of Americans still carry the wounds of Vietnam with them. They are deserving of our constant recognition and support, and I am pleased to be able to have shared just one of their stories today. May the United States Congress and all Americans thank and recognize my constituent, Philip Maring of Grass Lake, Michigan, for his service to our great Nation and for the injuries he sustained while serving as a U.S. Army infantryman in Vietnam. May God bless Philip Maring and his family.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Speaker, while we can argue over the details of health care reform legislation, we know one thing for sure: Costs are guaranteed to increase if we do nothing. The status quo is unsustainable and unacceptable. Unfair trade deals and skyrocketing health care costs have devastated manufacturing in my State of Michigan over the past decade. Last month, in my district, I heard from a small manufacturer at a health care forum in Tecumseh, Michigan. Karalyn Roesch told me that her manufacturing firm employs seven people in Lenawee County and that it covers 100 percent of her employees' health care insurance costs. She said, ``We are trying to do the right thing for our employees. Yet we have to compete with those who provide little or no health care.'' She said that a quality, affordable health care system that covered every American would not only provide needed care for the uninsured but that it would also help level the playing field for small business owners like her. It's time to put partisan politics aside on this issue and put companies like Roesch Manufacturing first. We need a uniquely American health care system that costs less and that covers more to help small businesses compete in our global economy.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Today I want to tell you about Ray Roddy from Hillsdale, Michigan. Ray was laid off from his job making engine components and realized he would need further education to find another job. He enrolled at Jackson Community College and is working hard to become a nurse. Ray isn't alone. In the last 2 years, 6.5 million Americans have lost their jobs and many remain unemployed. In today's economy with rising unemployment, it is critical to invest in our future by increasing the number of college graduates. That's why I support President Obama's American Graduation Initiative. This initiative will help prepare Americans for the jobs of the 21st century. It will help people like Ray gain the education and skills they need to compete in the global economy. It will also establish new grants to help community colleges improve access to education and build ties to businesses to increase graduates' chances of gaining employment. With the American Graduation Initiative, the number of unemployed Americans will be dramatically reduced in the next 10 years by helping 5 million people earn more college degrees. Ray Roddy needs a job, and he is going to get one. Thanks to this exciting initiative, so will 5 million other Americans.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Jackson County Intermediate School District (JCISD) Superintendent, Dr. John Graves upon the occasion of his retirement. After an accomplished 40-year career that started as a teacher and a coach at Grass Lake High School to a principal at Beaverton and included leading four different school districts, Dr. Graves is retiring to go back to school. He will begin classes at the University of Michigan Law School, where he was initially accepted in 1968 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in economics. Dr. Graves has led the 450-employee JCISD since 2001. He is most recognized for his organizational leadership and his foremost concern was always how well students performed and achieved. For the past 40 years, Dr. Graves has earned both the respect and admiration of other educators, colleagues, staff, and community members for his skillful and honest leadership. Dr. Graves is a model of patriotism and well deserves our respect and appreciation for his many years of dedication and distinguished service in education. His intellect, eagerness, and vision will be sincerely missed by not only Jackson, but also the many other communities he has touched. May he know of my sincerest best wishes in all his future endeavors.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. I thank Mr. Tonko. It's an honor to be part of this discussion on behalf of a new group of Democratic Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. I am from Michigan. The Seventh Congressional District is seven counties in southern and central Michigan in a State with an unemployment rate of 12.9 percent. To me, energy policy is about two things. It's about protecting our planet, being stewards that we need to be to hand this planet to our children and grandchildren, but energy policy in my State is jobs policy, and that's how it must be and that's how my constituents look at it. I'm here to offer that and magnify reality in Michigan. Yesterday, the news from General Motors was very difficult for my State when they announced seven plants that would be closed. Based on that forecast, the fiscal analysts in Michigan have projected that our unemployment rate will reach 17 percent. That is really horrific, and for every family experiencing that, that's 100 percent unemployment and very, very devastating. So our State has lost over 400,000 jobs since the turn of this century, and we have much to do to rebuild our economy. I want to talk about a couple of things relating to a clean energy economy in Michigan and around the country. First is in the auto industry. Michigan has the highest concentration and the most by number of automotive and advanced manufacturing research and development of anywhere in the country, in fact anywhere in this continent, and that is an asset that we must build upon. I was at an event in my good friend and colleague John Dingell's district in Ann Arbor. My district is immediately adjacent to his and shares Washtenaw County, with a company called Sakti 3. This was a company that was a direct spinoff from the University of Michigan's School of Engineering, that this entrepreneur has developed the second generation of automotive battery technology before the first generation of that technology has actually been built. Everyone knows, I'm sure, that the Chevy Volt will be built here in this country. The reality of the truth is General Motors chose a Korean supplier of that battery. They developed the chemistry there. Sadly, they were ahead of us here in the U.S. That battery will be built in the U.S. That's the first generation. This electric car that will be developed will be able to travel up to 40 miles without using a single drop of gasoline. Talk about reducing our carbon footprint. That is amazing. And of course, in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act there is a generous tax credit to help drive down the cost of those electric vehicles. But I was mentioning this other new startup, and I want to mention that a number of battery technology companies in my State are seeking some of the $2 billion that we approved in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for automotive battery technology. So the first generation is about to be built for the new Chevy Volt. The second generation is already being developed by a company immediately adjacent to my district, and it will employ people from within my district. And this is, I think, an example of how good energy policy is good jobs policy. This is what we need, and we candidly need, to do our part in Congress to partner with a new General Motors, new Chrysler, Ford and other auto companies to innovate. Representative Tonko talked about an innovation policy, innovation economy, and that's exactly what we can do in the domestic auto industry, and we must do, and I certainly will be making the case that Michigan should be the center of that new technology and our commitment to not only reducing our carbon footprint but to creating jobs. I'm optimistic about what we can do. It's going to take all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work together with our President to make sure that we make the right investments--the right strategic investments in protecting our planet and creating jobs. We certainly need that in Michigan. We need that in every part of the country during this deep recession. Thank you. I yield back my time to my good colleague from New York, Representative Tonko.

Mr. SCHAUER. Thank you, Representative Tonko. I want to tell you about what can happen when governments work together with the private sector. Obviously the ideas, the innovation comes from the private sector. It's often led by our great universities, and we all come from incredible States. But the State of Michigan has an amazing system of public universities, public higher education. I've talked about the University of Michigan a little bit. There are others, including Michigan State University, that are doing amazing things in biofuel and bioenergy. But I want to tell you what can happen when everyone makes a commitment to developing these new energy technologies. Having recently come from the Michigan legislature, some of these incentives are very real to me. The State of Michigan made more than $500 million in incentives available to prospective advanced battery manufacturers. The State of Michigan has already attracted four of these advanced battery manufacturing companies. They plan to invest $1.7 billion--with a B--and create more than 6,500 jobs. Now, to stand here the day after General Motors announced some very difficult cuts in my State and in other States around the country, the prospect of 6,500 jobs from advanced battery manufacturers to propel our vehicles with clean energy to reduce our carbon footprint is exactly what we need to be doing. I will mention one other thing that I have been working on in my office, and I gather each of my colleagues here have been working with companies in their States. We all have assets regardless of our region. Some are sunnier. Some have stronger winds. In Michigan we have the most fresh water shoreline in the country that we need to take advantage of from an energy standpoint. But I've also been working with some wind energy companies and solar energy companies. There is a company in my hometown of Battle Creek that is developing a facility to build the state-of-the-art photovoltaic material. I think to the credit of President Obama and through the work of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we will move more aggressively to see that our Federal buildings--and I'd like to see that include our military buildings--use that photovoltaic material to reduce energy costs. That's a job creator. And certainly with a company like United Solar Ovonic that's building a facility in my district, that's a job creator. But I'll mention briefly, before I yield to Representative Connolly from Virginia, that wind energy in a State like Michigan provides incredible job opportunities. I am working with a company that is an automotive supplier, that is one of those shops that's been in business for multiple generations. In this case, in Eaton County, the company is called Dowding Industries in Eaton Rapids. They made the leap about a year ago to start building windmill turbine hubs, creating new jobs. They partnered with a company to build the machining. They're the industry standard. But they're ready to do more, and they're talking about creating thousands of jobs with a new technology to build wind turbine blades right in a State that has lost hundreds of thousands of jobs due to the decline, the transformation of the auto industry. So this is about energy policy. But to me, this is about economic policy and jobs policy. I thank the gentleman from New York for the opportunity to talk about jobs, talk about Michigan and talk about energy policy.

Mr. SCHAUER. Thank you. This is why we are here. I came to Congress to help fight for Michigan's economy, help move our country in a new direction, and energy policy is going to help us do that. We have touched on so many of those pieces this evening. As new Democratic Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, we will continue to lead to make sure we invest in our country, invest in protecting our planet, and invest in new clean energy jobs in this country.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SCHAUER. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise to a offer an amendment to address a pressing need in my community and in many communities around the country. We need to help small businesses succeed in this difficult economy. It's not enough to simply survive this downturn; we need to expand and grow jobs, and small businesses are the best way to do that. I'm so pleased that this bill has been brought forward. I thank the chair for her leadership and the sponsor of this bill to address these pressing needs. In Michigan, we've been fighting this economic fight for 9 years. One of the bright spots in our fight has been the Small Business Development Center program. In my State, our SBDC has a great record of achievement. In 2007, more than 11,000 businesses were served by this program, and these companies created more than 3,000 jobs. In 2008, more than 12,000 businesses were assisted through SBDCs. These businesses included 515 veteran-owned businesses, 2,200 female-owned businesses, and 2,500 startups. Counseling provided by SBDCs helped create more than 3,400 new jobs in Michigan, despite the economic turmoil that my State has been facing. Clearly, this program works, and my amendment grows this program to help small manufacturers that have been pummeled by this recession. Specifically, Mr. Chair, my amendment creates a $2.5 million pool of funds to establish a grant program. It's a new section in the Small Business Act to create the Small Manufacturers Transition Assistance Program to provide technical assistance and expertise to small manufacturers that are seeking opportunities in different industrial sectors. For example, if a small machine shop wants to shift from automotive contracting to aviation or aerospace contracting, my amendment provides funding for Small Business Development Centers to provide help with that transition. And this isn't just a hypothetical situation. This is a very real one in my State where struggling manufacturers are looking to new opportunities to survive and grow. The SBDCs have had real success in this area, but more resources are needed during these tough times for American manufacturing. That is why I offer this amendment to create the Small Manufacturers Transition Assistance Program. Mr. Chair, these are services that 11,000 to 12,000 businesses a year use in my State, and they're desperately needed at this time. I hope my colleagues will support this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHAUER. I thank my colleagues for their support. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor today the Michigan Central Railroad Passenger Train Station in Jackson, Michigan as they celebrate the Second Annual National Train Day and the 140th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad. On May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the ``golden spike'' was driven into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, ceremonially creating the nation's first transcontinental railroad. These railways provided jobs for thousands of Americans. Now, 140 years after the ``golden spike'' connected east and west, there's never been a better time to take the train. In an era of many constant challenges and changes that face our daily lives and at a time when we all share the same pressing concerns about environment and energy conservation, trains are a more energy-efficient mode of travel than either autos or airplanes. The historic Michigan Central Railroad Passenger Train Station opened its doors to the public on September 1, 1873 and is the nation's oldest train station in continuous active use. I am proud to join with the Jackson community in honor of this coast- to-coast celebration of the way trains connect people and places.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud and it is my distinct privilege today to honor the men and women who have served our country. President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday, Armed Forces Day, for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country. On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department--the Department of Defense--and acknowledges the sacrifices Americans have made for freedom. Armed Forces Week has been celebrated every May since 1950. This period of time gives civilians a chance to appreciate the sacrifices of the men and women currently on active duty, those serving in the Guard and Reserve, and all those who served before them. Sons and daughters of Michigan have answered their nation's call. We are humbled by those who show us that there is no greater love than this: to lay down your life in service to your neighbor. We honor those who take this risk every day. Today we remember those who have shown this greatest love and remember their families. As we gather today let us honor and commend the men and women who have served and currently serve in the military, for which we are forever grateful. May they know of the high esteem in which they are held by their family, their friends, their community and the great State of Michigan.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SCHAUER. I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, first, let me congratulate my distinguished colleague from New York for her leadership on bringing forward this important and timely bill. I'm proud to be a cosponsor of the credit cardholders' bill of rights. I've heard from many of my constituents in Michigan, as I'm certain all of you have heard from your constituents, who have found themselves being misled by the credit card companies and being subjected to usurious rates. Americans are hurting, Michiganders especially, and they need our help. This bill is a critical step in providing that relief. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is a simple, two-part amendment that will help consumers make good choices when they get a credit card. First, it requires credit card companies to post their agreement disclosures on their Web sites. Second, it requires a company to transmit that information to the Federal Reserve Board so that the board can compile those agreements and post them on the board's Web site. Together, these provisions provide important disclosure and transparency to the public, and they are an important resource for consumers so that they can easily be informed of tricks and traps that may exist within their credit card contracts or so that they can shop for the best possible deal for credit cards. The goal is to provide consumers with direct public information and transparency regarding the interest rates that companies charge for their credit cards. This will allow one-stop shopping for good, fair rates. Mr. Chairman, our people are hurting. Unemployment in my State is approaching 13 percent, and it's much higher than that in parts of my district. My amendment is a simple, straightforward step, and I ask for your support. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHAUER. I appreciate the comments from the gentleman from Texas in support of the amendment. My amendment doesn't change the content of the disclosure, only its dissemination through a Web site that the Federal Reserve Board would collect and post those disclosures. Mr. Chairman, I am happy to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez).

Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Chairman, I ask that my colleagues support this amendment. I yield back my time.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud today to honor a truly outstanding public servant, Napoleon Township Fire Chief Jay Hawley, as April marks the 35th anniversary of his service as a Napoleon firefighter. Jay's unwavering dedication to the community, the breadth of his experience, the depth of his knowledge, and his skill as a leader are cornerstones the Napoleon Township Fire Department's long success rests on. He is endlessly creative in finding ways to do more with less--stretching every local dollar through regional cooperation, obtaining financial grants from a wide array of external sources, and the old fashioned approach of just plain spending every fire department dollar wisely. Jay is open to new ideas, willing to listen, ready to change, and always ready to cooperate for the larger good. He has been a tireless leader at the regional level on initiatives to improve emergency responder communications, strengthen training, pool fire resources, and enhance safety. He is never concerned with who gets credit for success, only that success is achieved. How many millions of dollars in property were spared and how many dozens of lives were saved through Jay's efforts may never be known, but Napoleon Township and surrounding communities know he is owed a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor and congratulate Michael W. Dawson upon his recognition as Mason of the Year by the Battle Creek Lodge #12 Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan. Since being raised a Master Mason in 2005, Mike has served as Senior Deacon, Senior Warden and is now serving his second year as Worshipful Master. He also has served on the Finance Committee and is active on the lodge's MDOT Adopt-A-Highway program. Mike is appreciated by other area lodges for his many visits and willingness to help in their degree work. He is active in his church and serves as a Greeter and Usher. Mike also is a past President of the local Optimist Club where he has presented monthly awards to outstanding middle school students. Mike and his wife, Elizabeth (Betty), are both retired from the Federal Government, DOD. It is with deep appreciation of the significance of this recognition that I commend Michael W. Dawson upon being named Mason of the Year and wish him well in all his future endeavors.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor a truly exemplary public servant, Chief Michael G. Curry, as April marks the 35th anniversary of his service as Napoleon Township Police Chief. Mike's unflagging dedication to the community, his extensive knowledge and experience in police work, and his effectiveness as a leader are keys to the long and continued success of the Napoleon Township Police Department. Mike has always placed the welfare of children as his highest priority. That emphasis is reflected in a long list of local initiatives he has championed: child safety training, pedestrian and bike safety programs, SAVE (school active violence event) training for students and teachers, student finger printing, driving safety training, uniformed police officers taking children out to shop at Christmas, and numerous other initiatives. He is especially resourceful in finding ways to maximize the benefit Napoleon residents receive from every local dollar spent on law enforcement--obtaining financial grants from many different external sources, leveraging resources through regional cooperation and consortiums, staffing the department with highly experienced officers who are willing to work part-time for Napoleon, and closely managing every expenditure large or small. A recognized leader at the regional level, he is a past president of the Village and Township Police Association, past chair of the 911 Board, as well as current board member and chair of the curriculum committee for the Jackson and Lenawee County Training Consortium. Mike treats every resident issue, no matter how small, as important because every resident is important to him. Napoleon is a safer and more desirable community to live in, its children are better protected, and its residents are served by a highly effective Police Department thanks to Chief Curry. How many lives have been saved, traffic accidents prevented, injuries avoided and crimes deterred through his efforts may never be known, but we as a community know we owe him a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Schuler's Restaurant & Pub in Marshall, Michigan as they celebrate 100 years of dedicated service. Schuler's was opened in 1909 by Albert Schuler, Sr. and is a family-owned restaurant. Four generations of Schuler's have built the family reputation and have helped to maintain traditions that grow out of good, honest work and a love of food, people, and the community. Along the way, each generation has shown a flair for imagination and innovation in the hospitality and food industry. In an era of many constant challenges that face our daily lives, the tireless efforts of establishments like Schuler's help to make our community, state and country an outstanding place to live and work. It is with deep appreciation of the significance of this milestone that I commend Schuler's Restaurant & Pub as they celebrate 100 years of exemplary service to the Marshall community and the State of Michigan.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor SSgt. Richard Howard Hemenway, Jr. of the 110th Fighter Wing Chaplain's Office in Battle Creek, Michigan on the occasion of his retirement. SSgt. Hemenway has been a dedicated member of the armed forces for 21 years, five of which were active duty, including four tours to the Middle East. He was commended twice for this service, among many other honors. In October of 2000, SSgt. Hemenway was presented the Leadership Award by his peers for Outstanding Academic and Leadership Performance Air Force Sergeants Association Cereal City Chapter 774. In 2005, SSgt. Hemenway was named Base Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. He has done all of this as a loving husband to his wife, Kathy, and dedicated father to his children. SSgt. Richard Howard Hemenway, Jr. is a model of patriotism and well deserves our respect and appreciation for his many years of dedication and distinguished service.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor Patrick Garrett, President and Chief Executive Officer of Battle Creek Health System (BCHS) as he transitions into a new executive role as Vice President of the Operations Performance Leadership Department with Trinity Health. Pat has served as President and CEO of Battle Creek Health System (BCHS) since July of 1999. His legacy includes strong community involvement, a growing partnership with medical staff and marked improvements in finances, quality, and service. During Pat's tenure, BCHS was honored for outstanding clinical outcomes by HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent health care ratings company and the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer. It was named one of the nation's leaders in development of an electronic medical record by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. BCHS has also been recognized for five consecutive years as one of West Michigan's ``Best and Brightest Places to Work'' by Michigan Business & Professional Association. For the past nine years, Patrick has earned both the respect and admiration of medical staff, associates, and community members for his skillful and honest leadership. Patrick is a model of patriotism and well deserves our respect and appreciation for his many years of dedication and distinguished service.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Speaker, first, I rise to thank Representative Jackson-Lee for her leadership of her resolution today in honoring Sojourner Truth. As the Congressman representing Battle Creek, Michigan, I rise on behalf of a community that is proud of its citizen Sojourner Truth, who lived her last 26 years there. My hometown was home to a pilgrim born into slavery, unable to read or write, who traveled the country, eloquently confronting the injustices of slavery and the unequal treatment of women. She spoke truth to power, and she changed the world. Her life is testimony to the endurance of the human spirit. Every day that I come to work at my office, I sit across from a portrait of Sojourner Truth, which hangs on my wall. It lifts me and it grounds me, and I know that the memorial in Emancipation Hall, along with a monument at her resting place in Battle Creek, will do the same for the millions of citizens who will view them over the years to come.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor today Adrian College on the occasion of their Sesquicentennial Celebration. Adrian College evolved from a theological institute founded by the Wesleyan Methodist denomination in 1845. On March 28, 1859, Adrian College was chartered by the Michigan legislature as a degree-granting institution with Dr. Asa Mahan as its first President. For almost 100 years, the campus consisted of several brick buildings stretching along Madison Street. In the mid-1950s, the College, encouraged by the generosity of Ray W. Herrick, embarked in a building program that established the basis for the current campus. Today, when students walk in the area bounded on the east by Madison Street and edged by Downs Hall, North Hall, Cornelius House and Herrick Tower, they tread on the same ground that students hurried across in 1859. In an era of many constant challenges that face our daily lives, the tireless efforts of educational institutions like this one, help to make our community, state and country an outstanding place to learn, live and work. It is with deep appreciation of the significance of this milestone that I commend Adrian College on the occasion of their Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Mr. SCHAUER

Mr. SCHAUER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor today the Adrian Dominican Sisters on the occasion of their 125th Anniversary. The Adrian Dominican Sisters are a Roman Catholic Congregation of more than 850 vowed religious women who trace their heritage to St. Dominic in the 13th century. Also serving with them are around 195 associates, non-vowed men and women who are committed to sharing in their mission and vision. They minister in 31 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and in the nations of Canada, the Dominican Republic, Italy and Swaziland. The Adrian Dominican Sisters serve in a variety of ministries depending on the needs of the people to whom they are sent. They also sponsor numerous schools, hospitals, retreat centers and a variety of many other businesses and institutions. The weekend of May 15th through the 17th of 2009 will mark the 125th Anniversary of the Adrian Dominican Sisters' establishment of their permanent presence in the city of Adrian, Michigan. It is with deep appreciation of the significance of this milestone that I commend the Adrian Dominican Sisters on the occasion of their 125th Anniversary.