[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 53 (Thursday, April 18, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S2794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     TRIBUTE TO GERALDINE MITCHELL

 Mr. BROWN. Madam President, I rise to commemorate Geraldine 
Mitchell of Toledo, OH.
  Ms. Mitchell saved a woman's life during her work day as a bus driver 
in Ohio's fourth most populous city. Every day, hundreds of Toledoans 
take public transit to work, to the doctor's office, to school.
  As a driver for the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority with some 
16 years of experience, Ms. Mitchell keeps a watchful eye--for children 
chasing balls into the street, for passersby crossing busy roads in 
front of on-coming traffic. So, on an afternoon in March, Ms. Mitchell 
did not hesitate to act as she witnessed a woman attempting to commit 
suicide along the bus route. Ms. Mitchell immediately stopped her bus 
and ran to the woman's aid.
  Bus passengers and Corey Bush, an off-duty police officer from a 
neighboring jurisdiction, also ran to help as Ms. Mitchell performed 
CPR to keep the woman alive before emergency responders arrived. 
According to the Toledo Police Department, the victim would have died 
if not for Ms. Mitchell's quick actions.
  A police officer responding to the incident entered the woman's home 
and found a man unconscious. Both individuals were taken to Mercy St. 
Vincent Medical Center--and they are alive today.
  Ms. Mitchell and her fellow citizens are heroes whose actions saved a 
life, potentially two. They didn't give any thought to their own 
safety. They did what many of us hope we would do by acting swiftly 
when a fellow citizen was in danger. Together, they exhibited the 
courage worthy of recognition here today. In addition to receiving the 
Toledo Police Department's Meritorious Public Service Award, it is my 
honor to commend Ms. Mitchell on the Senate Floor.

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