[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 134 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         TRIBUTE TO JIMMY MEANS

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, today I congratulate Mr. Jimmy Means 
of Massachusetts for the quality of his service with the Massachusetts 
Highway Department and his contributions to the beautification of the 
Commonwealth.
  Mr. Means began his career with the department as a toll collector on 
the Massachusetts Turnpike. And for the past 10 years, he has overseen 
the department's programs for collecting litter and beautifying the 
roadways in his native Worcester County.
  This kind of public service is vital, because we know all too well 
that roadway litter remains a problem despite decades of antilitter 
efforts. Last year, more than 582 tons of litter were collected from 
along State roadways--an expense in the millions of dollars to 
Massachusetts taxpayers.
  Massachusetts, like most States, encourages volunteer efforts to keep 
State roads and highways litter-free. At least once a month, from April 
15 to November 15, volunteers ``adopt'' a 2-mile section of highway and 
remove litter.
  But as important as the volunteers are, the beautification of 
Massachusetts highways depends largely on the work of people like Mr. 
Means. And in Worcester County, Mr. Means' friends and colleagues 
report that he in particular has built a reputation for responding 
quickly and efficiently to any highway blights, receiving praise from 
the local officials and the office of the Governor.
  I congratulate Mr. Means for his work on behalf of the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts--work that all of us can take pride in and appreciate 
even more this time of year as tourists flock to New England to view 
our beautiful fall foliage. I applaud his efforts and his dedication in 
keeping Massachusetts roadways clean and safe--and wish him many more 
years of contributing to Massachusetts.

                          ____________________