[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING AUSTIN J. BURKE, RECIPIENT OF THE 2008 AMERICANISM AWARD 
             FROM B'NAI B'RITH AMOS LODGE 136, SCRANTON, PA

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2008

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Austin 
J. Burke, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, 
recipient of this year's Americanism Award from B'nai B'rith Amos Lodge 
136 in Scranton.
  The Americanism Award honors outstanding community leaders for their 
dedicated public service. Mr. Burke was selected for this honor by past 
Americanism Award recipients and representatives of various service and 
community organizations including the United Way of Lackawanna County, 
Scranton Rotary and Lions Clubs and UNICO.
  Mr. Burke has worked in the community development arena since 1972. 
He was named president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce in 
1981. At the Chamber, he has worked with area leaders to craft 
responses to community needs with programs like Skills in Scranton and 
Leadership Lackawanna. Throughout the country, Austin is recognized as 
one of the most successful economic development leaders, and we are 
indeed fortunate that he chose to dedicate his career to serving 
Greater Scranton.
  He was an incorporator of Montage Mountain Inc. and worked to bring 
Steamtown National Historic Site to Scranton. He has participated in 
national convocations including the White House Roundtable, the U.S. 
Chamber Business Civic Leadership Conference and the American Assembly: 
Retooling for Growth.
  Mr. Burke is also a board member of the International Economic 
Development Council, Commonwealth Financing Authority and the Ben 
Franklin Technology Development Authority.
  He is the chairman of the Lackawanna County Workforce Investment 
Board, a past chairman of the Scranton Area Foundation and a member of 
the board of trustees of Marywood University. He is also a former 
trustee and chairman of the Facilities Committee of the University of 
Scranton which awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1998.
  A veteran of the United States Air Force, Mr. Burke received his 
bachelor's degree in economics from Dickinson College where he was 
elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He is a graduate of the Chamber of Commerce 
Institute for Organization Management.
  On a personal note, let me express my appreciation for the 
extraordinary friendship that Austin has extended to me over the years. 
I am grateful for his partnership in service to Northeastern 
Pennsylvania.
  A resident of Archbald, PA, Mr. Burke resides with his wife, 
Marianne.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Burke on this 
auspicious occasion. Mr. Burke's extraordinary contributions to his 
community have earned him a reputation as a leader among leaders and 
his efforts have greatly improved the quality of life throughout the 
northeastern Pennsylvania region.

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