[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 194 (Thursday, December 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



               E X T E N S I O N S   O F   R E M A R K S


[[Page E 2305]]


          BERNARD BOUSCHER, UPPER PENINSULA PERSON OF THE YEAR

                                 ______


                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 1995

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate Bernard Bouschor, who has been named the Michigan Upper 
Peninsula's Person of the Year by the Upper Peninsula Commission for 
Area Progress. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives and the 
citizens of Michigan, I commend Mr. Bouschor on this achievement.
  Mr. Bouschor is chairman and executive director of the Sault Ste. 
Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, a position he has held since 1987. The 
role of the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress is to promote 
economic and human development, and Bernard Bouschor has been 
instrumental in this role.
  In the last 4 years alone, Sault Chippewa tribal business revenue has 
grown from $32 million to $228 million a year. Additionally, the number 
of employees has grown from 400 to more than 2,700, making the Sault 
Chippewa the Upper Peninsula's largest employer. This is from a tribe 
that was not even federally recognized until 1975.
  Much of this success can be attributed to Bernard Bouschor's 
tenacity, perseverance, and hard work. Mr. Bouschor grew up in Sault 
Ste. Marie as one of nine children in a home without running water. 
Despite missing 2 years of school after contracting polio as a 
teenager, Mr. Bouschor was the only one of his siblings to attend 
college. It was from this experience that he learned the importance of 
self reliance, a lesson he now carries to his leadership of the tribe.
  While many native American tribes that have casino gambling make cash 
payments to tribal members, Mr. Bouschor refuses to do this. Instead, 
profits are invested in a variety of business ventures that will 
support the tribe if there is ever a decline in casino gambling 
revenue. These investments include two auto parts plants, a neon 
factory, and various real estate purchases.
  To achieve this diversity of business ventures, Bouschor created an 
independent commission composed of tribal members and outside business 
people to locate potential investments. In this way, the tribe was able 
to draw on business expertise from outside the local area.
  Mr. Speaker, with Bernard Bouschor's leadership, the sky's the limit 
for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Again, I 
congratulate Mr. Bouschor on being named the Michigan Upper Peninsula's 
Person of the Year.

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