[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7715-S7716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF NIRMAL K. SINHA OF OHIO

 Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate and 
pay tribute to Mr. Nirmal K. Sinha of Worthington, OH, as a 2003 Ellis 
Island Medal of Honor recipient.
  The prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor award is presented 
annually to ``remarkable Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities 
in both their personal and professional lives,'' and ``who have 
distinguished themselves as citizens of the United States, while 
continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage.''
  Nirmal Sinha is such an American. In addition to creating a business 
in Ohio and being active in numerous civic organizations. Nirmal and 
his wife Tripta have maintained strong ties to the Asian Indian 
American community. I have often said, ``show me someone who is proud 
of their ethnic heritage and I'll show you a great American!''
  I am proud to say I have worked with Nirmal Sinha for many years. In 
1992, as Governor of Ohio, I appointed him to the Ohio Civil Rights 
Commission. I reappointed him in 1997, and I am gratified that Mr. 
Sinha served two 5-year terms, helping to enforce State laws 
prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, credit, and higher 
education. He has worked with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to 
develop outreach programs, particularly to Hispanic and Asian 
Americans.
  As mayor of Cleveland and as Governor of Ohio, I was close to the 
Asian Indian American community and knew of Nirmal's distinguished 
record as a business leader and someone who was active in a variety of 
civic organizations. Some of those organizations include the Asian 
Indian American Business Group, AIABG, of Columbus, founding member of 
the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, GOPIO, the Asian 
Indian Alliance of Ohio, and the Asian Indian Forum for Political 
Education.
  Mr. Sinha also has served as a member of the Ameritech Consumer 
Advisory Board, Columbus International Program, and Main Street 
Business Association, member of the advisory board to the Ohio State 
University's Department of Communications, and a director of the 
Central Ohio March of Dimes and the International Center in Columbus.
  Nirmal Sinha is an accomplished professional who always makes time to 
give to others. Mr. Sinha is active in

[[Page S7716]]

both the National Association of Human Rights Workers, NAHRW, and the 
International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies, IAOHRA.

  In 1998, the Columbus Dispatch awarded Mr. Sinha the Outstanding 
Community Service Award. In 1989, he received the Outstanding Community 
Service Award from the mayor of Columbus.
  Mr. Sinha's record in human rights is exceptional. In 1998, he 
initiated the first ever ``Asian Roundtable'' discussion on Civil 
Rights with joint efforts involving the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission and the Ohio Rights Commission. Also in 1998, Mr. Sinha 
received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Community Service to 
the State of Ohio.
  In his profession, Mr. Sinha is an accomplished mechanical engineer 
and has been involved in the design and construction of large electric 
power plants. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering 
from Jadavapur University in Calcutta, India, and a master's degree 
from the Polytechnic University of New York. He also studied management 
at the Ohio State University and computer science at Franklin 
University. Currently, he is president of Marketing USA Group, a 
consulting firm he founded which advises clients on energy, 
telecommunications, technology, and global business.
  As a humanitarian, Mr. Sinha is known for his quiet leadership. He 
has been called ``a humble man with a compassion for human and civil 
rights.'' Throughout his career, Nirmal Sinha has exemplified the 
highest American values, including good citizenship, and responsibility 
to his fellow man.
  Nirmal Sinha is very deserving of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. 
America is a nation of immigrants, and I believe our cultural and 
ethnic diversity helps make us strong.
  When I was Governor of Ohio, one of the goals that I set for my 
administration was to celebrate the cultural diversity of our State by 
seeking out individuals from nontraditional ethnic groups and giving 
them an opportunity to serve. I am proud that I appointed a number of 
Asian Indian Americans, such as Nirmal Sinha, to various boards and 
commissions, particularly in such fields, as medicine, manufacturing, 
and higher education.
  Mr. Sinha is in good company as a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal 
of Honor. Former recipients include four Presidents, several Senators 
and Congressmen, and Nobel Prize winners.
  As someone who has had the pleasure of knowing and working with Mr. 
Sinha, I can guarantee that his significant contributions to his 
community and to the State of Ohio will not stop, but will continue to 
grow. I also know that he does not seek recognition for his 
humanitarian service. Instead, he lives in accordance with his strong 
faith, and his commitment to education, his family, and his community.
  Nirmal Sinha is someone all of us would do well to emulate and I am 
pleased and proud to salute him and his wife Tripti and their two 
daughters.
  I congratulate Nirmal Sinha as a 2003 Ellis Island Medal of Honor 
winner. He is an outstanding American whose dedicated service to others 
helps improve the quality of life for his fellow Americans every 
day.

                          ____________________