[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 105 (Thursday, July 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    HONORING JAMES L. MARTIN, PRESIDENT ``THE 60 PLUS ASSOCIATION''

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                            HON. TODD TIAHRT

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 2010

  Mr. TIAHRT. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a man who has fought for 
the honor of millions of Americans.
  Jim Martin has a distinguished track record of public service that 
began as an United States Marine from 1953-1958. He then went on to 
have a successful career in politics and journalism. In 1992, Jim 
founded ``the 60 Plus Association'' an organization that has become an 
influential voice for seniors all across the nation. Jim has been a 
fierce advocate for all issues facing seniors, especially the solvency 
of Social Security, energy independence and the ``Death Tax.''
  Jim has been the voice of our nation's seniors in Washington, 
reminding Congress of the importance of taking action to ensure Social 
Security is able to meet the needs of seniors who depend on the 
program, while at the same time ensuring our children and grandchildren 
have the same opportunity for a retirement safety net. Grandparents are 
just as concerned with their grandchildren's future as with their own 
welfare.
  Over the past year, Americans have been feeling additional strains on 
their budgets with the increased energy prices--this is especially true 
for seniors. The increase in energy prices has a burdening effect upon 
those with fixed incomes who struggle to pay bills and are too often 
forced to make difficult choices between food, medicine and 
transportation costs. Jim knows and understands their concerns and has 
been a leading proponent for energy security.
  Jim has also led the charge against one of the most egregious taxes 
in our tax system, the estate tax. Jim is credited for reframing the 
debate over the estate tax by renaming the tax to the more appropriate 
term, the ``Death Tax.'' As a result of this tax, a business that has 
been in a family for generations can be lost overnight because of the 
enormous burden of the death tax. When a business leaves its family 
roots, there is a loss of pride in the fundamental traditions that 
helped make the business successful. This is not the legacy parents 
want to leave their children and grandchildren.
  On behalf of all Americans, I want to thank Jim Martin for his 
service to our country. On behalf of our nation's seniors, I want to 
thank Jim and the 60 Plus Association for their efforts to ensure the 
solvency of our Social Security system, protecting seniors against 
rising energy costs, and permanently eliminating the ``Death Tax.''

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