[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 70 (Thursday, May 19, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S3168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO KRISTINE SCHUMAN

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, this week marks the 48th annual 
celebration of National Small Business Week, a time to honor the 
enormous contributions of small businesses to our nation's economy. We 
know that small firms are truly our country's greatest job creators, 
responsible for two-thirds of new jobs annually, and they have 
consistently led us out of economic downturns historically.
  Presently, we have thousands of servicemembers returning from Iraq 
and Afghanistan each month. As these proud veterans attempt to reenter 
civilian life, many seek to start their own business. For the past 
several years, veterans in the midcoast region of Maine have had a 
counselor and advocate named Kristine Schuman helping them achieve 
their goals. In recognition of her outstanding commitment to these 
brave men and women, Kristine recently received the Maine Veteran Small 
Business Champion of the Year award from the U.S. Small Business 
Administration. Today I applaud Kristine for her selfless service, and 
offer my sincerest thanks for her work.
  A resident of Topsham, Kristine is the manager of the Base 
Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, Transition Center at Naval Air 
Station Brunswick, or NASB. The town of Brunswick has been home to NASB 
since 1943, when it was constructed to assist in the Allied effort 
during World War II. Over the years, thousands of Navy officers and 
civilians have worked and trained at NASB, contributing to a sense of 
community at the base. Regrettably, NASB was recommended for closure by 
the 2005 BRAC Commission, and is expected to close later this year.
  As the local community undertakes efforts to redevelop the base, many 
who have served at NASB over the years have stayed in the Brunswick 
area and now call it home. Indeed, Maine boasts the second highest per 
capita veteran population in the Nation, and those looking to start 
their own business or learn new job skills have a phenomenal counselor 
in Kristine Schuman. Since 2008, Kristine and her staff have assisted 
in the retraining and transitioning of over 1,000 servicemembers and 
their family members, as well as civilian workers, in the midcoast 
region. Furthermore, Kristine has served as the project manager for the 
military spouse career advancement account at the base, helping close 
to 200 military spouses receive the training necessary for placement in 
new employment opportunities.
  Our Nation owes our veterans in Maine, and throughout the country, a 
debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid. Regrettably, the 
unemployment rate for veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq is 
12.5 percent--a full 3.5 percent higher than the national unemployment 
rate for the overall population. That is what makes the work of 
Kristine Schuman and people like her all the more critical. I thank 
Kristine for her incredible work, and wish her success in future 
endeavors.

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