[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 51 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E617-E618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        JOHN KEBLES HONORED BY PENNSYLVANIA CREDIT UNION LEAGUE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 31, 2003

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of the 
House of Representatives to the long record of service to the community 
of a constituent of mine, my good friend John Kebles. John is president 
and chief executive officer of Choice One Federal Credit Union in 
Wilkes-Barre and outgoing chairman of the board of the Pennsylvania 
Credit Union League for 2001-2002. The league will thank and honor him 
for his service at its annual convention, to be held from April 24 to 
26, 2003.
  I grew to know John well in 1998 during the fight to pass the Credit 
Union Membership Access Act, better known to many as H.R. 1151. The 
enactment of this law showed the power of average citizens to influence 
Congress, and, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that John is an excellent 
example of those dedicated souls who exercised their Constitutionally 
guaranteed right to petition their government.
  As chairman of the state credit union league, he has successfully 
urged credit union members to become more involved in their government, 
setting an example for other credit union members around the nation. 
Another example of the league's many accomplishments under his 
leadership is the enactment of a state credit union parity bill last 
year to expand opportunities for state-chartered credit unions. Also 
during his tenure, the league has launched CU BizSource, a new product 
and service to offer business loans to members. This is a fine example 
of the democratic--``little D''--access to capital that credit unions 
are intended to provide.
  In the Wilkes-Barre area, John has been a leader in several 
community-minded initiatives, including spearheading the effort by 
several

[[Page E618]]

credit unions to build a Habitat for Humanity house in Ashley and 
seeking a community charter, which has made Choice One better able to 
serve more lower-income people. I am proud to claim him as a 
constituent and to call him a friend.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of 
Representatives the honor being accorded to John Kebles by the 
Pennsylvania Credit Union League, and I wish him and his family all the 
best.

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