[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E483-E484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO CHAIRMAN DANIEL O'CONNELL AND THE SENIOR CITIZENS LEAGUE 
                           BOARD OF TRUSTEES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 2, 2008

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I am here to congratulate 
the Board of Trustees of The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) that works 
to educate the public about issues important to older Americans. The 
Senior Citizens League represents over 1 million members nationwide and 
over 2,500 in my congressional district.
  Five retired enlisted association men work tirelessly as non-paid 
volunteers to help the plight of our most elderly and low income 
seniors: The Senior Citizens League Chairman Daniel O'Connell, Vice 
Chairman Nash Mines, Treasurer Marvin Stout, Secretary Thomas 
O'Connell, and PAC Treasurer Larry Hyland.
  Chairman Daniel O'Connell spent a distinguished 29-year career in the 
U.S. Air Force including service as the Training NCO for the Queens 
College ROTC Program. Subsequently he served in protocol at the Air 
Force Space Command in Colorado Springs where he retired as Director of 
Protocol, an attribute that has come in handy when the chairman meets 
with dignitaries on Capitol Hill.
  Vice Chairman Mines had a 23-year military career concluded by 
service as the Training NCO for Oklahoma State University's ROTC 
Program. Later, he worked as general services manager for a Colorado 
brokerage firm and for a Denver-based retirement investment company. 
His military experience as a senior master sergeant gave him the calm 
reasoned approach to problem-solving on the TSCL Board.
  Treasurer Marvin Stout had a 26-year military career that concluded 
with medals for meritorious service. He has also worked as an owner of 
an income tax consultant firm bringing his expertise to use for the 
TSCL Board finances.
  Secretary Thomas O'Connell served in the U.S. Army including service 
as Division Logistics NCO. And his experiences as a former high school 
teacher and librarian have facilitated his work as TSCL Secretary.
  TSCL PAC Treasurer Larry Hyland retired from the U.S. Air Force as a 
senior master sergeant before launching a small business. He also re-
entered the civil service overseas before returning to the states.
  The organization's objectives are to encourage Congress to protect 
earned benefits of seniors (i.e., Social Security and Medicare), and to 
cosponsor bills that secure these promises to seniors and improve the 
quality of life for older Americans.

[[Page E484]]

  The TSCL Board of Trustee members visit Washington every quarter to 
personally meet with members of the U.S. House and Senate to consult 
with them about senior's issues including the Social Security Notch and 
cost-of-living adjustment, Medicare, drug importation, Alzheimer's 
research, and the Lock Box of Social Security Trust Funds.
  The Senior Citizens League is a non-profit organization headquartered 
in Alexandria, Virginia, that strives to educate millions of seniors 
via direct mail, e-alerts, senior faxes, and publications including a 
monthly newsletter The Advisor. On a day-to-day basis, TSCL operations 
are run by Executive Director Shannon Benton, with legislative 
activities guided by TSCL Legislative Consultants David and Betty 
Funderburk and Legislative Director Jamie McMillen.
  Under the recent leadership of Chairman Dan O'Connell and Vice 
Chairman Nash Mines, TSCL has made significant progress in representing 
its seniors. The TSCL legislative team (with the Board of Trustee 
members on a quarterly basis) has met with over two-thirds of the 
Members of Congress and their chief staff members during the past 3\1/
2\ years.
  In the 110th Congress, a new Notch Resolution was introduced in the 
Senate by Sen. Norm Coleman with Sen. Richard Burr as an original 
cosponsor. This was the first such Notch resolution in almost 5 years.
  Notably more Members of the House have cosponsored Representative 
Ralph Hall's (Social Security) Notch Fairness Act, H.R. 368, than ever 
before, setting a new record. It is a tribute to the continuing 
dedication of all of the TSCL Board members and to the leadership of 
its Chairman Dan O'Connell. The fact that more than 117 Members of 
Congress have already in this session of Congress cosponsored H.R. 368 
proves the legitimacy and premise of the organization's fight for Notch 
victims. It reflects the fact that Chairman O'Connell has been 
dedicated and persistent in his desire to see TSCL have legislative 
success on the issues important to seniors.
  In addition to support for the Social Security Trust Funds Lock Box 
and opposition to Social Security funds going to those who worked in 
the U.S. as ``illegals'' (via the U.S.-Mexico Totalization Agreement), 
TSCL has pledged to help promote Alzheimer's research.
  It is a pleasure for me to pay tribute to the leadership of the 
Senior Citizens League, in particular its Chairman Daniel O'Connell, 
whose vision and determination to help the most worthy and needy of our 
citizens, are commendable.
  I also thank each of these board members for their military service 
to our country. May God richly bless them for their continued 
contributions to seniors, to their communities and to our great Nation.

                          ____________________