[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H2658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           COMMENDING WESTERN WISCONSIN COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise this evening to honor 
the many flood relief volunteers who have worked tirelessly these past 
few weeks throughout my home congressional district along the 
Mississippi River in western Wisconsin. Through their many acts of 
selfless dedication, they rose as one to meet the challenges of 
adversity brought on by the flooding waters.
  In fact, Madam Speaker, Tawni and I are kind of redefining the term 
``feel your pain,'' because on Easter morning, Tawni and I and our two 
little boys, Johnny and Matt, woke up to discover that the Mississippi 
River was to the east of us rather than to the west of us. We thought 
now may be a good time to load the boys in a canoe and paddle to high 
ground to seek safe shelter elsewhere. In fact, many of the church 
bulletins on Easter morning read ``He has risen and so has the river.''
  While some of us had to temporarily leave our houses and others lost 
possessions, I believe all of us gained something very valuable being 
witness to the extraordinary efforts made by friends, neighbors and 
strangers alike, all helping each other in a shared time of need.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to specifically commend both the American 
Red Cross, who provided over 10,000 meals to residents, emergency 
workers, and volunteers, as well as providing much-needed temporary 
shelter for those displaced from their homes, as well as the Salvation 
Army, who provided additional assistance by preparing meals for weary 
workers and residents.
  In addition, I wish to recognize the men and women of Wisconsin's 
fire departments, police departments, the National Guard, and all other 
emergency personnel who worked unceasingly to pump the water out and 
man the barriers to stem the force of the flooding.
  Madam Speaker, lastly, the faith I have always had in our Nation's 
youth proved to be well founded when the students from the Challenge 
Academy at Fort McCoy, Fountain City High School, Winona High School, 
Boscobel and Prairie du Chien High School, as well as students at the 
University of Wisconsin La-Crosse, Winona State University, and a 
number of other schools spent their time and, for some, their spring 
breaks to help fill and stack sandbags and man the dikes and levees 
during this time of need.
  Madam Speaker, the multitude of ways residents of western Wisconsin 
found to help each other was truly inspiring. It is at times like these 
when one better appreciates what Wisconsin people are all about. There 
is still work to be done to recover from this year's flooding and to 
assure that we are well prepared if such events occur in the future, 
but we know that the community spirit fostered by the acts of 
generosity and the selflessness by people of Wisconsin's Third 
Congressional District will be long remembered long after the mighty 
Mississippi returns to its gentle and peaceful pace.
  I wish to also extend thanks to community leaders who reacted quickly 
and effectively to control the flooding and provide aid to those 
directly affected by it.
  Special thanks need to go out to the mayors of these water 
communities, as well as county emergency government officials, who made 
advanced flood preparation and coordinated relief efforts as possible.
  I especially want to recognize a few individuals by name: Crawford 
County Emergency Government Director Roger Martin; Grant County 
Emergency Director Steve Braum; La Crosse County Emergency Director Al 
Spalding; La Crosse Public Works Director Pat Caffrey; Trempealeau 
County Emergency Government Director William Zagorski, who had just 
started the job 2 weeks prior to the flooding. Talk about getting your 
feet wet in a new position. Buffalo County Emergency Director Monica 
Herman, Pierce County Emergency Director Myrna Larrabee, Vernon County 
Management Director Cindy Ackerman, St. Croix Emergency Management 
Director Jack Colvard, and Pepin Emergency Management Director John 
Egli.
  All served the people of western Wisconsin extremely well, and I 
extend my gratitude to them.
  Much appreciation and thanks go out to the members of the community 
and of the region who pulled together during the time of need. It truly 
was inspiring seeing how people in a particular region can really come 
together for a common cause.

                          ____________________