[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 162 (Thursday, December 9, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING CONGRESSMAN PARKER GRIFFITH FOR HIS SERVICE TO NORTH ALABAMA

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                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 9, 2010

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the distinguished 
service of my colleague and friend, Congressman Parker Griffith, who 
has tirelessly represented the people of Alabama's Tennessee Valley 
region during the 111th Congress.
  A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Parker Griffith spent much of his 
career in medicine before turning to public service later in life. In 
1970, he earned his medical degree from the Louisiana State University 
Medical School and served in residency at the University of Texas' M. 
D. Anderson Cancer Center.
  His medical career includes the LSU Service Charity Hospital in New 
Orleans and the University of Texas Medical Branch, UTMB, in Galveston, 
Texas. Dr. Griffith also served as a Medical Corps captain in the U.S. 
Army Reserve from 1970 to 1973, before later moving to north Alabama.
  Dr. Griffith was the first radiation oncologist in north Alabama and 
a pioneer in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. He 
established the first Comprehensive Cancer Center in north Alabama to 
treat all types of cancer. As a physician, he provided free and 
discounted care to patients without insurance.
  Parker retired from medicine in December 1992, and with his wife, 
Virginia, he co-founded the Griffith Family Foundation, which awards 
cash grants to elementary school libraries in northern Alabama. Since 
its establishment in 2005, the foundation has donated over $50,000 to 
area schools.
  Dr. Griffith's political career began in 2006 when he won a seat in 
the Alabama State Senate, representing the 7th district, including the 
Huntsville area. During his term in the State Senate, he worked to 
improve Alabama's healthcare system, lower taxes and expand early 
childhood education programs.
  In 2008, Dr. Griffith was elected to Congress, representing Alabama's 
Fifth Congressional District. In the U.S. House, he was selected as a 
member the influential Energy and Commerce Committee, widely considered 
one of the three most powerful in the House of Representatives. He also 
served on the Oversight and Investigations, Energy and Environment and 
Communications, and Technology and the Internet subcommittees.
  During his time in Congress, Dr. Griffith advocated for NASA and the 
Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal and the TVA--all vital 
to his district. He also proudly voted to lower taxes, invest in 
education and create jobs.
  As Parker and his wife, Virginia, leave public service for now and 
return to Alabama full time, I thank them on behalf of the people of 
Alabama for their esteemed service and I wish both of them the very 
best.

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