[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Goss] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I will not use the 5 minutes, but an important 
event has happened in our district. When the results were in on the 
citizens referendum to incorporate Fort Myers Beach into a town, a 
resident remarked ``This is the will of the people. This is democracy 
in action.''
  I rise today to salute the new municipality in my district in 
Florida, to commend the citizens on both sides of the incorporation 
debate for their sincere interest in bettering their community and to 
wish the newly elected town council well in its endeavor.
  It was more than 20 years ago that my own community of Sanibel, FL, 
took the same important step into home rule. We felt then, as a 
majority of Fort Myers Beach residents feel now, that home rule would 
give residents greater access to and control over the governance of 
their community. I was proud to have been involved in Sanibel's efforts 
of democracy in action, and I am proud today of the newest municipality 
in my congressional district. Fort Myers Beach has always had a 
distinctive character and charm. Even though we have many beautiful 
beaches in Lee County, FL, when somebody refers to ``the beach'' down 
our way they usually mean Fort Myers beach. That unique personality 
will no doubt flourish as the town of Fort Myers Beach sets out on the 
course to take charge of its own destiny.
  I know others in Congress join me in offering a warm greeting to 
southwest Florida's newest town. Welcome to the town of Fort Myers 
Beach.

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