[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8265-H8268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 10 COMMUNITIES SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE 2004 ALL-AMERICA 
                               CITY AWARD

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 464) honoring the 10 communities 
selected to receive the 2004 All-America City Award.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 464

       Whereas the All-America City award is the oldest and most 
     respected community recognition program in the Nation;
       Whereas for 55 years the National Civic League has 
     encouraged and recognized civic excellence by honoring 
     communities of all sizes where business, citizens, voluntary 
     organizations, and governments work together to address 
     critical issues;
       Whereas the All-America City Award recognizes exemplary 
     grassroots community-oriented problem-solving, and is given 
     to communities that confront challenges and achieve results 
     cooperatively; and
       Whereas more than 4000 communities have competed and more 
     than 500 communities have been named All-America Cities: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress honors the cities of Concord, 
     North Carolina; Evansville, Indiana; Cottage Grove, Oregon; 
     Spokane, Washington; Springfield, Ohio; Montevideo, 
     Minnesota; Pembroke Pines, Florida; Stockton, California; 
     Philippi, West Virginia; and Hidalgo, Texas, on receiving the 
     National Civic League 2004 All-America City Award.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 464.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 464. This 
measure honors the 10 communities selected to receive the 2004 All-
America City Award. I commend our colleague, the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Hayes), for introducing this resolution.
  Each year the National Civic League announces the recipients of the 
All-America City Award, perhaps our country's most prestigious civic 
recognition program. In an effort to promote community development, the 
All-America City Award is given to communities where citizens, 
government, businesses, and nonprofit organizations work together to 
effectively achieve the highest levels of civic participation.
  Since 1949, more than 4,000 communities have applied for the award 
and about 500 have been selected as All-America cities. This year 10 
communities received this honor. The 2004 award winners are Stockton, 
California; Pembroke Pines, Florida; Evansville, Tennessee; Montevideo, 
Minnesota; Concord, North Carolina; Springfield, Ohio; Cottage Grove, 
Oregon; Hidalgo, Texas; Spokane, Washington; and Philippi, West 
Virginia.
  I offer my congratulations to these 10 communities. I urge my 
colleagues to join with the 10 co-sponsors of the resolution and myself 
in honoring these 10 cities for winning the All-America City Award.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 464, introduced by my 
distinguished colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes), honors 10 
American cities for receiving the National Civic League 2004 All-
America City Award. The American cities are Concord, North Carolina; 
Evansville, Indiana; Cottage Grove, Oregon; Spokane, Washington; 
Springfield, Ohio; Montevideo, Minnesota; Pembroke Pines, Florida; 
Stockton, California; Philippi, West Virginia; and Hidalgo, Texas.
  Established in 1894, the National Civic League is one of America's 
oldest community advocacy organizations. The league's motto is 
``strengthening citizen democracy by transforming democratic 
institutions.''
  Their mission is to make democratic institutions and systems more 
accountable, inclusive, and responsive to citizens in communities 
across the country by informing, uniting, and empowering citizens. The 
National Civic League's annual award, the All-America City Award, is 
America's original and most prestigious community recognition award.
  The award encourages and recognizes civic excellence by honoring 
communities of all sizes where community members, government 
businesses, and nonprofit organizations all work together to address 
critical local issues. Each year 10 cities are chosen to receive the 
All-America City Award. Each of the 10 cities demonstrates an efficient 
government, a willingness to help its less fortunate citizens, and a 
strong sense of community.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I commend again Concord, Evansville, Cottage 
Grove, Spokane, Springfield, Montevideo, Pembroke Pines, Stockton, 
Philippi, and Hidalgo for their awards. I commend the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) for introducing House Concurrent Resolution 
464.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes), the author of this 
resolution.
  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. 
Duncan) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for helping and 
supporting this legislation. I congratulate the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Hinojosa) for his city as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the people of Concord, North Carolina, 
and the other nine recipients of the 2004 All-America City Award.

[[Page H8266]]

  It has been my distinct honor to represent the people of Concord 
since I was first elected to represent the 8th Congressional District 
of North Carolina. This opportunity is especially dear to me because 
this is my hometown and where much of my family still resides.
  In fact, my family has called Concord home for decades, centuries now 
that I look at it; and we have had the privilege of watching this 
community grow. Concord personifies the term ``Southern hospitality'' 
and is home to some of the most engaging, welcoming and civically 
responsible citizens of the State of North Carolina.
  Through close relationships I have forged with citizens of Concord 
and the pride I have in this community, it is truly an honor today for 
me to highlight this great city.
  Because of Concord's hard work, the rest of America is getting to see 
the positive spirit of accomplishment that I have been fortunate to 
witness and experience my entire life. All-America City Award is a 55-
year-old program that is sponsored by the National Civic League that 
recognizes excellence. The award is given annually to 10 communities 
that exemplify and display a positive spirit of grass-roots involvement 
and collaborative problem-solving in an effort to better the community.
  The cities selected to receive this award exhibit the American spirit 
of hard work and cooperation as they seek to identify and correct 
community-wide challenges. Concord is a community where citizens, 
businesses, volunteers, and government officials work together to 
address the issues that are vitally important to their citizens.
  Concord should take pride in the fact that they are in contention for 
recognition by this national organization for their hard work. Truly, 
Concord is a great example for other communities to emulate as other 
communities seek to meet the many challenges that face us all, 
communities large and small.
  To qualify for the award, Concord representatives submitted a 
detailed application highlighting the city's three most pressing 
challenges. They are medical needs of the uninsured and underinsured, 
eliminating substandard housing in the community, and extending the 
mentoring and civic responsibilities of the Boys and Girls Club of 
Concord.
  Programs such as Community Care Plan, Cabarrus Housing Partners, and 
the Boys and Girls Club of America have been designed and implemented 
to ensure the aforementioned areas are addressed.
  I am pleased to represent such a fine community where the citizens 
come together to solve problems at a local level rather than waiting on 
someone else to fix things. A wise man once said there are three types 
of people in the world: those who watch what happen, those who make 
things happen, and those who wonder what happened. Rest assured, the 
people of my hometown, Concord, North Carolina, are people who make 
good things happen. It is my honor and privilege to represent these 
good folks.
  I am proud that the National Civic League will recognize the city of 
Concord's success by awarding them the All-America City Award.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is easy to see why the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes), especially from Concord, is 
such a distinguished gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa), a proud representative of Texas.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I wish to acknowledge and thank the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Hayes), as well as my good friend and colleague, the 
ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in support of H.R. 464, honoring 
the 2004 All-America City Award winners. One of these year's 
recipients, Hidalgo, Texas, is in my congressional district. The city 
of Hidalgo, Texas, is a small town of about 7,500 residents located 
along the U.S.-Mexico border.

                              {time}  1700

  It is home to the fourth largest U.S. port of entry and has become a 
vibrant center of trade and commerce since the implementation of NAFTA.
  Under the leadership of Mayor John David Franz, this community has 
created a business-friendly environment that has led to the opening of 
new businesses and the creation of good-paying jobs. Taking advantage 
of the natural resources and rare wildlife of the Lower Rio Grande 
Valley, the city of Hidalgo, Texas, has fostered ecotourism which 
brings bird watchers from throughout the world to the region's world-
class birding centers.
  Outstanding leaders such as former President Carter was one of the 
latest visitors to this beautiful city.
  Recently, Hidalgo opened the new Dodge Arena, a $20 million 
multipurpose complex featuring a 6,800-seat arena that will be a venue 
for ice hockey, football, soccer, and first-class concerts. For the 
past 27 years, the city of Hidalgo has played host to the Borderfest, 
the largest and oldest heritage and music festival in south Texas. This 
annual festival draws thousands of visitors from all over the world.
  In receiving this year's All-American City Awards, the city of 
Hidalgo had to compete with communities throughout the country. The 
selection committee looked at a variety of factors, including community 
achievements, creative leveraging of community resources, participation 
of the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and the development of 
quality community projects.
  I want to congratulate Mayor Franz and all of the people of the city 
of Hidalgo on receiving this prestigious award.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hostettler) to speak on behalf of 
Evansville, Indiana.
  (Mr. HOSTETTLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. HOSTETTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor those communities 
designated as All-America Cities, particularly the city of Evansville 
in my district.
  Evansville is to be commended and should take pride for being 
recognized by the National Civic League as an All-America City. 
Evansville, like all of southwest and west central Indiana, is a 
wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. The city has a rich 
heritage and its citizens hold dear Hoosier values like faith, family 
and hard work.
  The All-America City Award recognizes in Evansville an exemplary 
grass-roots community approach to problem-solving where community 
members, government businesses and nonprofit organizations work 
together to address critical local issues.
  The National Civic League recognized Evansville, Indiana, as a 
community that cooperatively tackles challenges and achieves results.
  The All-America City Award is America's original and most prestigious 
community recognition award.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and the other cosponsors 
of this resolution in commending Evansville and the other cities 
honored by the National Civic League.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he might consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), one 
of the other proud sons of Texas.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time, and I 
am pleased to join in support of this resolution.
  The All-America City Award is the oldest and most prestigious 
community recognition program in this Nation, and I am particularly 
pleased that this year one of the cities chosen, the only city chosen 
from the State of Texas, is right on our U.S.-Mexican border, and that 
is the city of Hidalgo.
  Hidalgo is quite literally a representation of America's future. With 
a population that is nearly 98 percent Hispanic, Hidalgo is at the 
forefront of a demographic that is occurring rapidly in many of our 
Nation's cities. Also, with nearly half of its residents in elementary, 
middle or high school, Hidalgo is today comprised of the youth that 
will be the leaders of America tomorrow.
  Hidalgo is one of the oldest cities in the State of Texas, and it 
started as a small trading post and ferry landing opposite Reynosa, 
Mexico, many years ago. Over the years, it has grown to the fourth 
largest U.S. port of entry, a

[[Page H8267]]

major entry point for trade and commerce from throughout two continents 
and a city that is intimately involved with our country's relationship 
with Mexico.
  Hidalgo is often the first taste of America for many visitors to this 
country. This, combined with the fact that it is one of the country's 
southernmost cities, makes it not surprising that Hidalgo is sometimes 
referred to as being ``where the U.S. begins.''
  The city has flourished under the leadership of very committed city 
council members Alvin Samano, Dan Dillard, Pedro Fonseca, and Siglinde 
Franz. Their hard work and dedication to serving the people of Hidalgo 
has contributed much to the community's success. Hidalgo works because 
Hidalgo works together.
  Unfortunately, as a gateway to the United States, many people have 
seen Hidalgo only in traveling through it. Now, the people of this fine 
city have done much, through innovation and hospitality, to make 
Hidalgo a destination.
  Project: Tour Hidalgo, a comprehensive and collaborative initiative 
that focuses resources, ideas, the spirit of volunteerism and community 
outreach, has increased tourism, tourism that focuses on the culture of 
Mexico and the United States, on ecotourism, a number of hike-and-bike 
trails to be built along the border and, of course, the many other 
aspects of the city that come alive during the holiday season.
  I remember last year at the great Posada, with the Grammy-award-
winning Hidalgo resident, Ramon Ayala, that we had around 7- or 8,000 
spectators. It was quite a happening, and it drew people throughout 
Texas to share in the joy of the holiday season.
  Borderfest also pulls in not only Texans but winter Texans from all 
over the country for a 4-day festival in March. Last year, about 50,000 
people participated, five times the population of the city. It begins 
appropriately with an abrazo at the international bridge between the 
mayor of Hidalgo and the mayor of Reynosa, indicating the close 
relationship between the two countries.
  In the 1980s, when advancements in technology made the city's old 
irrigation pumphouses obsolete, it was preserved as a museum that is 
now recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
  With a sense of humor to accompany the other pleasant qualities of 
this community, when a few years ago it was noted that Hidalgo was the 
first place that the Africanized honey bee came, instead of avoiding 
this apparent bit of trouble, the city created a 10-foot-tall, 2,000-
pound, full-color statue of the feared killer bee, and since that time 
the killer bee statue has become a tourist attraction. The Killer Bees 
became the name of the professional hockey team at the far southern 
edge of the United States. That is one winning team.
  At the same time, Hidalgo has made substantial and impressive efforts 
to improve the standard of living for its residents. Almost half of all 
the families in Hidalgo are sustained on incomes below the poverty 
level.
  It has been a long-time goal of the city to attract industries that 
will provide its citizens with a living wage. That is why the city 
created Team Hidalgo, a program through which the city and private 
businessmen and -women work with economic development experts and 
nonprofit groups to improve the economy of the area. To date, Team 
Hidalgo's greatest achievement has been the development of Dodge Arena, 
the spectacular 7,000 seat facility that is now drawing people 
throughout south Texas not only to the winning Killer Bees hockey team 
and an arena football team, but to a number of high-profile 
entertainment activities.
  The students of Hidalgo spend their days in schools run by two 
separate and quality school districts, the Valley View Independent 
School District led by Superintendent Leonel Galaviz and School Board 
President and the Hidalgo Independent School District, led by 
Superintendent Daniel King and School Board President Noe Reyes. These 
are school districts with leadership on their boards and in the 
administration that devote their efforts to educational excellence.
  The city is one that I hope to represent beginning in January. It is 
a place that I have visited a number of times and with whose leadership 
I have continued to work on a number of local projects. It is wonderful 
that the National Civic League has recognized these fine attributes of 
the community by naming it an All-America City.
  As the city said in its application, despite being closer to Mexico 
than it is to many other cities in the United States, Hidalgo is truly 
all-American.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I have no other speakers on this.
  Let me close simply by saying that the All-America City Award was a 
program that was carried on for many years by Look magazine, one of our 
largest national circulation magazines, and I am very proud that in 
1962 my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, received one of the very 
earliest All-America City Awards.
  My father served as mayor of Knoxville for 6 years, from 1959 to 
1964, and Look magazine recognized Knoxville not only for many civic 
improvements but also because of my father's work in leading the 
peaceful integration of the city, which made sure that Knoxville did 
not go through many of the troubles that most other cities in the North 
and the South went through during that time period.
  So this is a great, great award. It is one that the people of 
Knoxville were always proud of; and these cities should be proud of it, 
too.
  I thank the sponsor the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes) and 
the cosponsors. I urge passage of this resolution.
  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 464 honoring the 10 cities named 2004 All-America Cities, 
and I would like to thank Representative Robin Hayes for his leadership 
in introducing this resolution.
  Each year, the All-America Cities Award recognizes communities whose 
residents have been successful at identifying problems and working 
cooperatively to solve them. While all 10 cities named All-America 
Cities this year are deserving of this honor, I am particularly proud 
that Springfield, Ohio, my hometown, is one of them.
  Springfield is a city that typifies an American heartland community. 
While it embraces its manufacturing past, Springfield has a clear goal 
of transitioning to a more diverse economy. This new focus emphasizes 
research and development. Recently, the Springfield Technology Park was 
established, which includes the new Lexis-Nexis data center and the new 
Ohio Supercomputer Center. Other high technology businesses are 
following. Not only is Springfield securing its economic future, it is 
developing proactive solutions to the other challenges it faces.
  Springfield's All-America Cities application highlighted three 
programs that were designed to meet these challenges. The projects 
truly demonstrate the positive results that can be achieved through 
cooperation between public and private entities.
  First, the Neighborhood Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield is 
an organization dedicated to making residents' dreams of home ownership 
come true. Government, private foundations, lenders, corporations, and 
realtors have all come together to provide financial assistance and 
support services to first-time homebuyers.
  The second program, the Clark County Literacy Coalition, is a 
community partnership designed to help adults to acquire literacy 
skills. The Springfield-Clark County Chamber of Commerce, the Warder 
Literacy Center, and the Clark County Public Library are just three of 
the groups working cooperatively to help the residents of Springfield 
improve their reading and parenting skills.
  A third organization, Rocking Horse Center, provides comprehensive 
health care services for children and young families. The local 
government, local hospitals, and other community organizations have 
come together to provide health services and child care advice to the 
community and to ensure affordable health care to those children who 
need it most.
  In closing, I would like to congratulate the City of Springfield, the 
Springfield-Clark County Chamber of Commerce, and the Neighborhood 
Housing Partnership of Greater Springfield for their hard work in 
making sure that Springfield's All-America Cities application would be 
successful. The citizens of Springfield are also to be commended for 
making Springfield such a great place to live and work.
  Mr. Speaker, I join today with my colleagues, the proud citizens of 
Springfield, and the residents of the other nine 2004 All-America 
Cities in support of this resolution.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.

[[Page H8268]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
464.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________