[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 139 (Thursday, October 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE BATTISTO AS HE RECEIVES THE 
FIRST LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE MONROE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, 
                               DEMOCRATS

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 27, 2005

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to former 
Pennsylvania State Representative Joe Battisto, of Monroe County, on 
the occasion of receiving the first annual Lifetime Achievement Award 
from the Monroe County Democrats.
  Joe Battisto distinguished himself during 18 years of public service 
in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives following a career as 
public school teacher and chairman of the language arts department of 
the Pocono Mountain School District.
  Despite moving to the realm of public service, Joe was well known for 
maintaining his connection with the youth in his community and 
frequently served as mentor for young people who were behaviorally 
troubled.
  Prior to being elected to the State House of Representatives, Joe 
served in the public arena first as a borough councilman in the Borough 
of Mount Pocono, rising to become the council president. He also served 
as mayor of Mount Pocono Borough.
  Joe Battisto subsequently was a driving force in the formation of the 
Pocono Mountain Library and in the construction of a municipal sewage 
system.
  He founded the Monroe County Litter Control and Beautification Task 
Force.
  During his nearly 2 decades of service in the State House of 
Representatives, he served on the Education and Appropriations 
Committees and rose to become chairman of the Transportation Committee.
  While serving as a State Representative, Joe launched the 
reconstruction of the Pocono Mountains Welcome Center, led the efforts 
to build the badly needed Marshalls Creek Bypass, and ensured the 
environmental cleanup of major industrial and disposal sites in Monroe 
County.
  He also obtained funding for an open space trail system and for 
highway safety and signalization projects. He fought to preserve rights 
of way for possible future rail service to major metropolitan 
destinations.
  In addition, he obtained funding for street lights in downtown 
Stroudsburg and streetscaping work in the Delaware Water Gap.
  Joe Battisto was the first lawmaker to receive the prestigious East 
Stroudsburg University's ``Legislative Fellow'' award created to 
establish a stronger bond between the university and elected state 
officials. The award was especially meaningful to Joe because he 
graduated from ESU in 1956.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Joe Battisto on this 
auspicious occasion. The quality of life in Monroe County, 
Pennsylvania, has been made far better due to the achievements of Joe 
Battisto and others like him. His integrity and commitment to his 
community serve as wonderful examples of what it means to be a true 
public servant.

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