[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 69 (Thursday, May 8, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2861-S2863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SAMUEL J. HEYMAN SERVICE TO AMERICA MEDALS FINALISTS

 Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, people often wonder why they pay 
taxes. Well, the short answer, former Associate Justice Oliver Wendell 
Holmes, Jr. famously wrote in a 1927 Supreme Court decision, is that 
``taxes are what we pay for civilized society,'' (Companniia General de 
Tabacos de Filipinas v. Collector of Internal Revenue. The longer 
answer is that people pay taxes for government goods and services that 
make their families, businesses, communities, and the United States of 
America stronger, safer, and more prosperous. The people who provide 
government goods and services are public servants.
  This week is Public Service Recognition Week, an opportunity to 
acknowledge and thank the 21.9 million men and women who work in local, 
county, State, and Federal Government. Each day, these people teach our 
children; patrol our borders and ports; protect our food, land, air, 
and water; care for our veterans and senior citizens; develop 
treatments and cures for illness and disease; fight fires and respond 
to natural disasters; make our communities safer; help domestic 
manufacturers compete abroad; enforce our laws and administer justice; 
advance human understanding of the smallest particles, the vastness of 
the universe, and the origin of life; and promote and defend American 
values and ideals abroad.
  The knowledge, expertise, skill, and commitment of our public sector 
workforce is one of America's greatest assets. No other nation can 
match our public workforce's professionalism and level of 
accomplishment. Yet, too often public servants are disparaged and 
denigrated. Too often public servants bear the brunt of deficit 
reduction. Too often, public servants are asked to do more and more 
with less and less. We need to strengthen and encourage our public 
workforce. We should always strive to make government better, more 
responsive, more efficient.
  On May 6 I had the honor of delivering brief remarks at a breakfast 
organized by the Partnership for Public Service to announce the 
finalists for the 2014 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals. 
These individuals and teams have been chosen for their commitment to 
public service and because they have made ``a significant contribution 
in their field of government that is innovative, high-impact and 
critical for the nation,'' according to the partnership.
  I would like to take a few moments to talk about the finalists. If 
Americans want to see their tax dollars at work, what follows are a few 
examples.
  Call to Service Medal finalists are Federal employees whose 
professional achievements reflect the important contributions that a 
new generation brings to public service.
  Jonathan Baker, Delta IV launch systems deputy chief engineer, U.S. 
Air Force Space & Missile Systems Center Launch Systems Directorate, El 
Segundo, CA saved taxpayers more than $4 billion on the purchase of 40 
new rockets and led the engineering team responsible for launching 13 
Air Force satellites into orbit.
  Anthony Cotton, Amanda Femal, Jason Fleming, J.P. Gibbons and the 
Development Credit Authority Transaction Teams, Africa team leader, 
Cotton; Asia and Middle East team leader, Femal; Latin America/
Caribbean and Eastern Europe team leader, Fleming; and Strategic 
Transactions team leader, Gibbons, U.S. Agency for International 
Development, Development Credit Authority, Washington, D.C. generated 
nearly $1 billion in aid for 60 projects in 42 developing countries 
during the past 2 years through an innovative, public-private loan 
guarantee program.
  Sofia Hussain, senior forensic accountant, Division of Enforcement, 
Securities and Exchange Commission, Boston, MA, helped Federal 
investigators crack intricate securities fraud cases and return 
hundreds of millions of dollars to investors by introducing cutting-
edge technology and data analysis.
  Sara Meyers, director, Sandy Program Management Office, Department of 
Housing & Urban Development, Washington, DC, created sophisticated data 
analysis systems to evaluate the performance of Federal housing 
programs and set up processes to track $13.6 billion in economic 
stimulus and $50 billion for Hurricane Sandy disaster recovery;

[[Page S2862]]

  Miguel O. Romaan, research physical scientist, Terrestrial 
Information Systems Laboratory, National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD--provided 
timely and reliable information on wildfires, storm damage and global 
energy consumption to help scientists and policymakers better 
understand and respond to natural disasters and climate change.
  This is your tax dollars at work.
  Career Achievement Medal finalists are Federal employees with 
significant accomplishments throughout a lifetime of achievement in 
public service.
  Scott Gerald Borg, head, Antarctic Sciences Section, Division of 
Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA, directed a 
world-class research program in Antarctica that led to important 
scientific discoveries about climate change, the origins of the 
universe, previously unknown sea life, and two new dinosaur species;
  Thomas Browne, Deputy Director, Office of Anticrime Programs, 
Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law 
Enforcement Affairs, Washington, DC, transformed drug prevention and 
addiction treatment programs in 70 countries around the world, 
providing special care and assistance to women and children;
  Robert A. Canino, regional attorney, Dallas District Office Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission, Dallas, TX, pioneered the use of 
civil rights laws to try human trafficking cases when criminal 
enforcement and labor laws proved ineffective in defending foreign-born 
and intellectually disabled workers who were abused and exploited:

  Edwin Kneedler, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, 
Washington, DC, argued 125 cases and helped shape the Federal 
Government's legal position on hundreds more before the Supreme Court, 
while setting a high standard for integrity and protecting the long 
term interests of the United States;
  E. Ramona Trovato, Associate Assistant Administrator, Office of 
Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, 
DC, helped transform national environmental health policy by focusing 
attention on the impact of pollutants on children, and by devising 
strategies to respond to biological, chemical and radiological 
contamination from a terrorist attack;
  This is your tax dollars at work.
  Citizen Services Medal finalists are Federal employees who have made 
a significant contribution to the Nation in activities related to 
citizen services, including economic development, education, health 
care, housing, labor and transportation.
  Michael Byrne, former geographic information officer, Federal 
Communications Commission, Washington, DC, put detailed data about our 
Nation's broadband availability and communications systems in the hands 
of citizens and policymakers through the use of interactive online maps 
and other visualizations.
  Marcia Crosse, Director, Health Care, Government Accountability 
Office, Washington, DC, directed congressional attention and prompted 
reforms to the Food and Drug Administration's global role in the 
regulation of drugs and medical devices to help the agency better 
protect public health.
  James D. Green, project officer, Division of Safety Research, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, collaborated with the ambulance 
manufacturing industry and multiple Federal agencies to create 
ambulance crash standards to help reduce injuries and fatalities among 
EMS workers and patients;
  Douglas James Norton, senior environmental scientist, Watershed 
Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, engaged 
citizens, scientists, and State agencies in protecting their local 
streams, lakes, and rivers by providing access to water quality data 
and assessment tools via the Web;
  Guunter Waibel, Adam Metallo, and Vincent Rossi, Director, 
Digitization Program Office, Waibel, and 3D program officers, Metallo 
and Rossi, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, made iconic 
treasures from the Smithsonian's vast collection accessible to 
students, teachers, historians, and curious visitors everywhere through 
the use of computerized 3D imaging and printing technologies.
  This is your tax dollars at work.
  Homeland Security and Law Enforcement Medal finalists are Federal 
employees who have made a significant contribution to the Nation in 
activities related to homeland security and law enforcement, including 
border and transportation security, civil rights, counterterrorism, 
emergency response, fraud prevention, and intelligence.
  Omar Peerez Aybar, Reginald J. France, and the Miami HEAT teams, 
assistant special agents in charge, Miami Regional Office, Department 
of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Miami Lakes, 
FL, led hundreds of Medicare fraud investigations that have resulted in 
more than 600 convictions in South Florida, recovering hundreds of 
millions of dollars and providing an investigative ``roadmap'' for 
other jurisdictions to follow.
  Susan M. Hanson, senior resident agent, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, Dothan, AL, brought to justice four prison guards who 
brutally beat and murdered an inmate, and exposed a culture of abuse in 
Alabama prisons.
  Anthony Regalbuto, Chief, Office of International and Domestic Port 
Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, DC, assessed the 
vulnerabilities of hundreds of marine facilities and created 
comprehensive security plans for domestic and international shipping 
ports to guard against terrorist attacks.
  Gilbert Bindewald, Alice A. Lippert, and Patrick Willging, program 
manager, Advanced Grid Modeling Research, Bindewald; senior technical 
advisor, Energy Infrastructure Modeling and Analysis, Lippert; senior 
logistics specialist, Willging, Department of Energy, Office of 
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Bindewald and Lippert; 
Office of Petroleum Reserve, Willging, Washington, DC, helped 
government authorities and power companies deliver emergency services 
and restore electricity following widespread natural disasters by 
creating critical information sharing and assessment tools.
  This is your tax dollars at work.
  Management Excellence Medal finalists are Federal employees 
demonstrating superior leadership and management excellence through a 
significant contribution to the Nation that exemplifies efficient, 
effective, and results-oriented government.
  Sonny Hashmi, Acting Chief Information Officer, General Services 
Administration, Washington, DC, led the General Services 
Administration's ``Cloud Initiative,'' improving employee 
effectiveness, reducing agency costs, and creating a model for other 
Federal agencies to follow.
  Alan J. Lindenmoyer, program manager, Commercial Crew and Cargo 
Program, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space 
Center, Houston, TX, transformed NASA's space travel programs, helping 
the United States continue important space research while reducing 
taxpayer costs and stimulating the commercial space industry.
  Marion Mollegen McFadden and the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task 
Force staff, senior attorney for disaster recovery, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development Washington, DC, in the months following 
Hurricane Sandy, coordinated efforts of numerous Federal agencies to 
help rebuild stronger and safer communities.
  Ronald E. Walters, Acting Principal Deputy Undersecretary for 
Memorial Affairs; Department of Veterans Affairs Washington, DC, 
honored our Nation's veterans by delivering the pinnacle of care and 
service at their final resting place, while increasing availability and 
access to burial sites throughout the country.
  This is your tax dollars at work.
  National Security and International Affairs Medal finalists are 
Federal employees who have made significant contributions to the Nation 
in activities related to national security and international affairs, 
including defense, military affairs, diplomacy, foreign assistance and 
trade.
  Jill Boezwinkle, senior program manager, Development Innovation 
Ventures, U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, 
guided a U.S. initiative to provide safe drinking water to 5 million 
people in Kenya

[[Page S2863]]

and Uganda, saving lives and preventing illnesses for thousands of 
individuals.
  R. Patrick DeGroodt, deputy product manager, Department of the Army, 
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, MD, helped America's war fighters 
achieve mission success and stay out of harm's way by developing and 
deploying a new mobile communications network that gives Army units 
continuous connectivity on the battlefield.
  Jonathan Gandomi, former field representative for the counter-Lord's 
Resistance Army mission, Department of State, Bureau of Conflict and 
Stabilization Operations Washington, DC, coordinated U.S. efforts to 
end the atrocities of the Lord's Resistance Army, one of Africa's 
oldest and most brutal extremist groups, and help victims overcome 
decades of violence.
  Dr. Rana A. Hajjeh and the Hib Initiative Team, Director, Division of 
Bacterial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
Atlanta, GA, led a global campaign to convince some of the world's 
poorest countries to use a vaccine to fight bacterial meningitis and 
pneumonia, an initiative that is estimated to save the lives of 7 
million children by 2020.
  Sean C. Young and Benjamin J. Tran, electronics engineers, Air Force 
Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH saved 
U.S. soldiers' lives in Afghanistan by creating and deploying a new 
aerial sensor system to help Army and Special Forces units detect and 
destroy deadly improvised explosive devices.
  This is your tax dollars at work.
  Science and Environment Medal finalists are Federal employees who 
have made significant contributions to the Nation in activities related 
to science and environment, including biomedicine, economics, energy, 
information technology, meteorology, resource conservation, and space.
  William A. Bauman, M.D. and Ann M. Spungen, Ph.D., Director, Bauman, 
and Associate Director, Spungen, National Center of Excellence for the 
Medical Consequences of Spinal Cord Injury, Department of Veterans 
Affairs, James J. Peters VA Medical Center Bronx, NY, greatly improved 
the health care and the quality of life of paralyzed veterans by 
developing new ways to treat long-overlooked medical problems.
  William Charmley and James Tamm, Division Director, Assessment and 
Standards Division, Charmley, and Chief, Fuel Economy Division, Tamm, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Charmley; National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, Tamm, Ann Arbor, MI, Charmley; Washington, DC, 
Tamm, led an interagency team that developed standards for cars and 
light trucks that will double fuel economy by 2025 and reduce carbon 
dioxide emissions by 6 billion metric tons;
  John Cymbalsky, program manager, Appliance and Equipment Standards, 
Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
Washington, D.C., brought together industry and environmental groups to 
adopt new efficiency standards for appliances and commercial equipment 
that will save consumers money and reduce energy consumption and air 
pollution.
  Richard Rast, senior engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, 
Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, NM, developed a new, low-cost 
method of locating and tracking space debris that could severely damage 
or destroy spacecraft and vital communications, navigation, and weather 
satellites.
  Jeffrey Rogers, program manager, Ret., Defense Advanced Research 
Projects Agency, Arlington, VA, created a wearable sensor that provides 
real-time information on the risk of traumatic brain injuries to 
soldiers exposed to bomb blasts, resulting in quicker medical treatment 
and uncovering previously undiagnosed injuries.
  This is your tax dollars at work.
  The individuals I have just named are the best of the best. But they 
would be the first to acknowledge that they stand on the shoulders of 
many colleagues. Yet these men and women who have done so much in 
service to the American people have endured pay freezes, furloughs, 
benefit cuts, a government shutdown, and shrinking budgets. The Service 
to America Medals finalists--and countless other dedicated public 
servants across our country--strive to serve their fellow citizens 
every day. They remind us why we pay taxes. It is important that we 
pause to reflect on their contributions, celebrate their successes, and 
give thanks for their service and their devotion to helping create and 
sustain a civilized society.

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