[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 63 (Friday, May 13, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING HON. JOSEPH J. CORCORAN ON THE OCCASION OF BEING HONORED 
AS RECIPIENT OF THE 53RD ANNUAL AMERICANISM AWARD BY B'NAI B'RITH AMOS 
                      LODGE NO. 136, SCRANTON, PA

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 2005

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the 
Honorable Joseph J. Corcoran, former Lackawanna County Pennsylvania 
Commissioner, who is being presented with the 53rd annual Americanism 
Award by B'nai B'rith, Amos Lodge No. 36.
  Mr. Corcoran's 28 years of public service to the people in Lackawanna 
County have produced an array of positive improvements to the quality 
of life in that region. Mr. Corcoran has been a leader in economic 
development, transportation planning, historic and architectural 
preservation, tourism and culture, care for the elderly and abused, 
library growth, family entertainment and environmental protection.
  Although I am relatively new to representing Lackawanna County, I 
have worked closely with Joe Corcoran on some of his projects but have 
seen the results of many of his projects firsthand.
  Joe always saw the big picture and his body of work reflected the 
values and work ethic of his constituency. He remained steadfast in his 
focus on long-range planning and leveraging local dollars with private, 
state and federal funding.
  A native of Scranton, Joe earned an associate degree in business 
administration from Lackawanna College and a bachelor's degree in 
business administration from the University of Scranton.
  In 1975, at the age of 24, he was elected as the youngest ever 
Scranton controller, serving two terms. In 1984, he became Lackawanna 
County majority commissioner, serving five terms, until 2004.
  In reviewing his accomplishments, he implemented the first-ever 
annual audit by national ``Big 8'' accounting firms which upgraded 
Lackawanna County's municipal bond rating. He created the County 
Railroad Authority, Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority, Solid Waste 
Management Authority, Performing Arts Center Authority and Heritage 
Valley Authority.
  He funded the start-up of the Steamtown National Historic Site; 
constructed a dedicated children's library in downtown Scranton and new 
libraries in the Abingtons, Carbondale and Mid-Valley; directed the 
opening of the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour, Lackawanna Valley Railway, 
Lackawanna County Recycling Center, Lackawanna County Visitor center 
and Lackawanna Trolley Museum. He also revived the 1905 Laurel Line 
Tunnel Electric Trolley Excursion and the Lackawanna Stadium on Ice.

  He championed the restoration of Court House Square, the Koch-Conley 
Building, the PG&W Building on Jefferson Avenue and the Adams Avenue 
County Administration Building. He managed the rescue of the Montage 
Mountain Ski Resort and development and operation of the Montage 
Performing Arts Center. He oversaw the development and financing for 
both the $35 million Lackawanna County Prison and the $8 million, 68-
bed, Alzheimer's Wing at the Lackawanna County Health Care Center.
  He chaired the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport Board of 
Control and helped develop the master plan and financing program for 
the current $65 million capital expansion underway at the airport. He 
implemented the region's first Tax Incremental Financing to fund 
construction of Glenmaura Corporate Center and to facilitate the Fleet 
Pennsylvania Services relocation on Montage Mountain.
  Mr. Corcoran recognized the future transportation needs of our region 
when he helped keep intact the rail connections between Lackawanna and 
Monroe counties for the eventual future resumption of rail passenger 
service between Scranton and Hoboken, NJ. But his most distinguished 
achievement is his key role in the funding and construction of the $25 
million Lackawanna County Stadium and the acquisition of the area's 
Triple A Baseball team, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.
  Mr. Corcoran is the son of the late John J. and Lucille M. Dougher 
Corcoran. He resides in his family neighborhood in Scranton with his 
wife, the former Jean Gallagher, and their son, Jack, a student at the 
University of Scranton.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Corcoran, one of 
the finest public officials I have ever had the pleasure of working 
with, on this proud occasion. The Lackawanna County community is far 
better off today because of the remarkable service record of Joseph J. 
Corcoran.

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