[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE HONORABLE CONGRESSMAN KERRY BENTIVOLIO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STEVE STOCKMAN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Mr. STOCKMAN. Mr. Speaker, as the 113th Congress comes to a close, I 
would like to recognize my good friend and colleague from Michigan's 
11th District, Congressman Kerry Bentivolio. We grew up in the same 
community and went to the same schools, only to meet years later in our 
nation's capital.
  He is one of five sons of a factory worker who put himself through 
college, eventually earning a Master's Degree, worked as an automotive 
designer, home builder and an exceptional, highly qualified vocational 
and general education teacher in both private and public schools. 
Married for 37 years to his wife Karen he raised two wonderful children 
and has four grandchildren. He's an effective legislator, a staunch 
defender of conservative values, and he, and his team, have provided 
constituent services that would be considered beyond exceptional by 
even the tenacious critic.
  Kerry's conservative colleagues aren't the only ones to recognize his 
work, many groups outside of the halls of Congress have taken notice.
  The National Taxpayer's Union honored Kerry with the Taxpayers' 
Friend Award and NFIB named him a ``Guardian of Small Business''. He 
earned recognition from the National Association of Manufacturing for 
his support of that industry. The Family Research Council gave him one 
of their highest awards.
  He received high ratings from Heritage Action for America, Club for 
Growth, and FreedomWorks for his voting record. The American 
Conservative Union named Mr. Bentivolio a ``top conservative'' for his 
defense of our limited-government values. And, his voting record has 
been recognized as the #1 in Transparency according to GovTrack.us.
  As a freshman legislator, a House historian pointed out Congressman 
Bentivolio was one of the most successful and effective first-term 
legislators in recent memory. He passed two bills as amendments, and 
his Safe and Secure Federal Websites Act unanimously passed the House 
with 100% bipartisan support. The Safe and Secure Federal Websites Act 
had 126 cosponsors--which is more cosponsors than any other freshman 
Republican bill secured during the 113th Congress.
  Kerry's successes didn't begin nor end in the marble halls of 
Congress. While legislators clamor for attention and dream of their 
next major network television appearance, Congressman Bentivolio and 
his team were working hard on behalf of their constituents. He and his 
staff received two awards for their constituent service--one from 
National Write Your Congressman for their superior constituent service 
and the Public Service Award from NASASP.
  He's the same man who volunteered as Santa Claus year after year, to 
the delight of neighborhood children. He's the same man--and only 
member of Congress--who served with honor in the combat arms in both 
Vietnam and Iraq and received 28 military awards, including the Combat 
Infantryman Badge which he proudly wore on his lapel every day as a 
member of Congress.
  The upstanding Congressman from Michigan's 11th Congressional 
District may not be returning to the 114th Congress, but Congressman 
Bentivolio's legacy will continue to shine long after his time here as 
he carries the torch for conservative values and maintains his 
community stewardship.

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