[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E101-E102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF LAURA STEELE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 2006

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to pay tribute to 
Miss Laura Steele, an Auburn University student who recently led an 
effort to change the University's ``Holiday Tree'' back to its more 
traditional name, ``Christmas Tree.''
  In December of 2005, Miss Steele took issue with an attempt to rename 
the school's traditional tree. In a widely publicized initiative, 
Steele, a senator-at-large and Chairwoman of the Auburn College of 
Republicans, introduced a resolution before the Student Government 
Association calling for the more traditional ``Christmas Tree'' name to 
be restored for use at Auburn.
  Her campaign gathered hundreds of signatures in support of the 
effort, and led to more than 20,000 calls of support to student 
leaders. She garnered the support of our state legislators, Governor 
Riley, and influential leaders across our state and around the world. I 
was delighted to see her resolution adopted, and am pleased that next 
year Auburn's tree will once again be known as its Christmas Tree.
  We are indeed proud of Miss Steele. Her efforts to recognize and 
promote the true meaning of Christmas here at Auburn should serve as a 
reminder for us all that our belief in the Almighty is one of the core 
strengths of our nation. I applaud her efforts, and congratulate her 
for her leadership, her courage, and abiding faith.

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