[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 154 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE BUD CRAMER AND THE HONORABLE TERRY EVERETT ON 
                     THEIR RETIREMENT FROM CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wedesday, September 24, 2008

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the outstanding career 
of my friend, the Honorable Robert ``Bud'' Cramer, for his service to 
the people of Alabama and the United States House of Representatives. 
Congressman Cramer has represented the 5th Congressional District of 
the State of Alabama for the past 17 years ably and with distinction.
  Born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Bud earned a bachelor's 
degree and a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama. Bud is also a 
military veteran, where he served our country as an Army tank officer 
at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
  Of all of his many achievements, Bud's work on behalf of abused 
children is perhaps his greatest legacy. Before his election to 
Congress, Bud served for 10 years as Madison County district attorney. 
It was during this time that Bud founded the National Children's 
Advocacy Center. The Center provides complete services and support for 
abused children, a fundamentally different approach to these types of 
cases, and now serves as the national model for over 600 programs in 50 
States and the District of Columbia.
  Following his election to Congress, Bud continued to be a leading 
voice for children. He authored the landmark law, the National 
Children's Advocacy Program Act, which provided funds to expand and 
enhance the children's advocacy program into new communities. He is 
also a member of the Advisory Board for the National Center for Missing 
and Exploited Children.
  As a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the powerful 
Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Bud has been an ardent supporter 
of NASA and missile defense. With Redstone arsenal and NASA's Marshall 
Space Flight Center both located in the 5th District, Bud has led the 
fight for many of NASA's programs including the international space 
station. In 2002, Bud was awarded the National Space Club's Von Braun 
Memorial Award for Space Exploration.
  Bud has also overseen defense and national security intelligence 
issues as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence. He was recently appointed to the newly created Select 
Intelligence Oversight Panel of the Appropriations Committee.
  In Congress, Bud is perhaps most known for his independence. He is a 
founding member of the Blue Dogs, a coalition of more than 40 
conservative House Democrats.
  Bud has also worked hard to bring jobs to north Alabama. In fact, he 
has played a key role in bringing thousands of jobs to Alabama's 5th 
District, most notably, International Truck & Engine, Skyhook, Target, 
HiSan, West Teleservices, and Toyota as well as helping persuade Boeing 
to build a $450 million rocket booster plant in Decatur in the 1990s. 
Bud was instrumental in the decision to restart Browns Ferry Nuclear 
Plant Unit 1.
  Make no mistake; his work has not gone unnoticed. He was named ``one 
of America's best Congressmen,'' by Money Magazine.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a devoted 
leader and friend to many in this body. I know his family, his 
daughter, Hollan; his three grandchildren, Dylan, Mason, and Patricia; 
and his many colleagues and friends join me in commending his 
accomplishments and extending thanks for his service over the years on 
behalf of the State of Alabama and the United States of America.
  Bud will surely enjoy the well deserved time he now has to spend with 
his family and his beloved constituents. I wish him the best of luck in 
all his future endeavors.

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