[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 16, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REPORT FROM INDIANA--BLOOMINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID M. McINTOSH

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 1999

  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give my ``Report from 
Indiana'' where I honor distinguished fellow Hoosiers who are actively 
engaged in their communities helping others. Today, I want to mention a 
special group of people from Bloomington, Indiana who I had the 
privilege of meeting recently.
  Mr. Speaker, it has always been my strong belief that individuals and 
communities can do a better job of caring for those who need help in 
our society than the federal government. The wonderfully kind and 
committed Hoosier who I have met traveling around Indiana has not 
changed my view.
  Ruthie and I have met hundreds of individuals who are committed to 
making our communities a better place in which to live and raise our 
children--we can them ``Hoosier Heroes.''
  I met these genuine Hoosier Heroes in Bloomington, Indiana recently. 
They are the Bloomington Rotary Club. They are men and women who, with 
no desire for recognition, reenergize their communities, and help those 
in need.
  They have made Bloomington a better community through their voluntary 
efforts and have even made the world a better place through their drive 
to eradicate polio throughout the world. This chapter raised over a 
hundred thousand dollars and we are seeing the fruits of their labor. 
Since 1988 polio cases have been reduced by 90% world wide.
  The Bloomington Rotary Club work has given so many people the most 
precious gift possible, hope. They don't do it for the pay, which is 
zilch; they do it for the smiles and laughter. They are true heroes in 
my book, doing good works for others with no other motive than 
Christian charity.
  The Bloomington Rotary Club deserves the gratitude of their country, 
state, and nation and I thank them here today on the floor of the House 
of Representatives.

                          ____________________