[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2037-E2038]
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

                     Wednesday, September 24, 2008

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request to include the 
accompanying articles in the Congressional Record to supplement my 
remarks which were entered during the Special Order in honor of two 
Members of the Alabama Delegation who are retiring.

            [From The Montgomery Advertiser, August 5, 2008]

              Congressman Garners Praise for Local Support

                          (By Cosby Woodruff)

       Congressman Terry Everett's support for Maxwell Air Force 
     Base during his 16 years in Washington is one reason the 
     River Region benefits from the base's $1.6 billion annual 
     impact, said the head of the Montgomery Area Chamber of 
     Commerce.
       Chamber President Randy George said Everett's impact on the 
     area goes far beyond Maxwell, but any discussion of the 
     congressman's legacy must start with the military.
       ``You can't take that away from him,'' George said. ``He 
     has been a major player on Maxwell.''
       George said Maxwell is one of Montgomery's biggest economic 
     engines, but the base contributes to the region in ways that 
     can't be measured in dollars and cents.
       ``The societal impact to our area is at least as 
     important,'' George said. ``It makes us cosmopolitan.''
       Everett, who is retiring after eight terms in Congress, 
     spoke to the chamber for the last time as a congressman 
     Monday at its Eggs & Issues breakfast series.
       His speech focused more on national politics than on local 
     economics, but he did say sectors of Alabama's economy are 
     poised for growth--and he pointed to the space industry as 
     one area that could have an impact in years to come.

[[Page E2038]]

       ``We have never had a national discussion about what space 
     means to our economy,'' he said. ``Space is a $19 billion 
     global industry growing at 22 percent a year.''
       He suggested the industry's impact on Alabama is limited 
     only by the workers the state can supply.
       ``We need more young people interested in space, 
     engineering and math,'' he said.
       George pointed out Everett's contributions to the area that 
     go beyond his commitment to the military.
       ``Downtown, he helped us get the money,'' George said, of 
     the construction boom and renovations going on in Montgomery. 
     ``Much of that money came from federal grants that he has 
     been very supportive of. He has been an advocate for the 
     expansion of the airport.''
       Everett said he has supported the state's agriculture 
     industry, what he called its biggest economic factor, in 
     Congress.
       He said he made sure those interests were protected in the 
     recent farm bill.
       George said the congressman has been a friend to the 
     chamber and area businesses.
       ``Terry has been very responsive to the business 
     community,'' he said. ``We think he has done a great job.''

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