[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING DR. STEVEN BREM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 19, 2013

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. 
Steven Brem and all those who have come to America, worked hard and 
embraced this great country as their own. We are truly a nation of 
immigrants and many of us have a story to tell about how our families 
came here, some dating back to the discovery and settlement of the 
continent and others more recent, but all are proud of the day they or 
their ancestors were welcomed as citizens and finally called themselves 
Americans. The process can be hard, and the journey difficult, but the 
stories of immigrants like Steven and his family continue to enrich our 
country and exemplify what so many seek to achieve when they come here.
   Dr. Steven Brem was born Szmul Szaja Brem, in a displaced persons 
camp in Germany following World War II. His parents were survivors of 
the Holocaust and, in 1949, the family traveled to the United States on 
a troop support boat. The Brem family embraced this country as their 
own and they were grateful for the opportunities they were provided, 
especially the access to an education, which was denied in the 
concentration camps. His parents instilled the value of education in 
Steven and maintained that in America success would come to those 
willing to work hard to achieve their goals. Steven took his parents 
philosophy to heart and, upon deciding he wanted to pursue a degree in 
medicine, worked hard, and received his degree from Harvard Medical 
School in 1972.
   I first met Steven when he was helping one of my employees fight a 
brain tumor. He was serving as the Chair of Neuro-Oncology at Moffitt 
Cancer Center in Tampa and proved an invaluable resource during that 
difficult time. Although she ultimately lost her battle, Steven was 
there for her during her struggle, exemplifying all the traits one 
could wish for in a doctor. His kindness and caring for his patients 
made a lasting impression, and our families have become good friends. 
Steven has since moved to Pennsylvania and is now serving in the 
Department of Neurosurgery at Penn Medicine as Professor of 
Neurosurgery, Chief of Surgical Neuro-oncology and Co-Director of the 
Penn Brain Tumor Center. He is recognized as one of the preeminent 
doctors for the treatment of brain tumors, recently receiving the Joel 
A. Gingras, Jr. award from the American Brain Tumor Association for his 
work to advance the understanding and treatment of brain tumors.
   Mr. Speaker, I believe that the story of the Brem family is one of 
the most positive stories of the American experience I have ever heard. 
As Steven has said to me many times ``we want to make a stronger, more 
beautiful America by passing down from generation to generation the 
love of learning and service to our fellow man.'' I am proud to call 
Steven my friend and ask my colleagues to join with me today in 
recognizing the contribution he and his family have made to our great 
nation.

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