[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE MICHAEL G. OXLEY UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE 
                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I have the honor to recognize a fellow 
colleague from the Great State of Ohio, Chairman Michael Oxley. 
Chairman Oxley has served with distinction in this House for 25 years 
and is retiring at the end of the 109th Congress.
  Many people know Chairman Oxley either from his work on the Financial 
Services Committee, his tireless work for the constituents of the 
Fourth District of Ohio, or his years of participation as a player and 
manager of the Republican Baseball Team. Chairman Oxley is also a 
tireless advocate of the military and especially the Joint Systems 
Manufacturing Center--Lima, formerly known as the Lima Army Tank Plant.
  The Joint Systems Manufacturing Center--Lima traces its history back 
to WWII when it prepared and processed more than 100,000 combat 
vehicles. The plant today is the sole producer of the M-1 Abrams tank.
  Chairman Oxley worked with the Department of Defense over the years 
to encourage the utilization of the workforce and available space at 
the facility. Through his efforts, the plant has grown beyond its 
original mission, providing a wide variety of cutting-edge military 
vehicles for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
  Most recently, Rep. Oxley was successful in working with Task Force 
LIMA during the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure to ensure the Joint 
Systems Manufacturing Center remained a strong and continued asset for 
the Nation, the State of Ohio and the greater Lima community. Chairman 
Oxley was also able to restore funding for the modernization of the M-1 
tank, further ensuring our men and women in uniform remain the best 
equipped fighting force in the world.
  Chairman Oxley is a distinguished member of the Ohio Delegation and 
of this House. He has made his mark on this Nation not only through his 
ardent support of the financial service industry, but also his 
unwavering support of the military. His tireless support of the Joint 
Systems Manufacturing Center--Lima has placed it in a strong position 
for the future. As Chairman Oxley sometimes quotes former President 
Reagan's farewell address, ``My friends, we did it. We weren't just 
marking time. We made a difference.'' For 25 years, Chairman Oxley has 
made a difference not only for Ohioans but for all Americans. The House 
of Representatives has benefited from his ideas and leadership.

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