[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MAYOR, THE COMMON COUNCIL AND THE RESIDENTS OF 
  THE CITY OF LACKAWANNA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                     THEIR MUNICIPAL INCORPORATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2009

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay 
tribute to the Mayor, the Common Council and the residents of the City 
of Lackawanna on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of their 
municipal incorporation.
  The fortunes of this great City are emblematic of the struggles of 
the entire region. Having experienced the difficulties associated with 
the decline of heavy industry in recent decades, Lackawanna has turned 
the corner and now demonstrates a new spirit of hope and optimism under 
the leadership of its esteemed Mayor and Council.
  Due in significant part to the diligence and hard work of the Mayor 
and the Council, the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant--long a 
symbol of post-industrial decay and disinvestment, is now a beacon of 
progress as it is home to the nation's largest urban wind farm. This 
project is a testament to the tenacity of the Mayor, the Council and 
the people of this great city, and has been a symbol of the resurgence 
of the entire region. Through this effort, Lackawanna has demonstrated 
that the time has come to build upon our industrial past and move 
toward a prosperous, green future.
  On this 100th Anniversary, I would like to congratulate the great 
City of Lackawanna on its recent successes and to thank the leadership 
for shepherding innovative ideas to preserve and enhance the Great City 
of Lackawanna. I commend and thank Lackawanna residents for the example 
they have set for other communities in Western New York. As we 
celebrate our history, we also acknowledge that our best days are 
immediately in front of us, and that progress and prosperity are on the 
horizon. I wish the leadership in the City of Lackawanna and its people 
the best of luck in the future as it continues to grow and prosper.

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