[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H4437-H4445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 RECESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the 
Chair declares the House in recess until noon today.
  Accordingly (at 10 o'clock and 19 minutes a.m.), the House stood in 
recess.
  The following proceedings were held before the House convened for 
morning-hour debate:


  United States Association of Former Members of Congress 2015 Annual 
                           Report to Congress

  The meeting was called to order by the Honorable Jim Walsh, vice 
president of Former Members of Congress Association, at 8:06 a.m.

                                 prayer

  The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, offered the following 
prayer:
  Lord God of history, we thank You for this day when former Members 
return to Congress to continue, in a less official manner, their 
service to our Nation and to this noble institution.
  May their presence here bring a moment of pause where current Members 
consider the profiles they now form for future generations of 
Americans.
  May all former Members be rewarded for their contributions to this 
constitutional Republic and continue to work and pray that the goodness 
and justice of this beloved country be proclaimed to the nations.
  Bless all former Members who have died since last year's meeting, 30 
in all. May their families and their constituents be comforted during a 
time of mourning and forever know our gratitude for the sacrifices made 
in service to the House.
  Finally, bless those here gathered that they might bring joy and hope 
to the present age in supportive companionship to one another. 
Together, we call upon Your holy name now and forever.
  Amen.


                          Pledge of Allegiance

  The Honorable Jim Walsh led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows:

       I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of 
     America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation 
     under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

  Mr. WALSH. The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Hoyer), the distinguished Democratic whip.
  Mr. HOYER. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. I was glad to be here with 
Jim Walsh.
  I looked at the list. As I look around--I am not sure this is 
accurate--but I saw in the list there are about, I would say, 30 names 
on this list, and I think there are only two on the list, although that 
may be not accurate, with whom I have not served. Ron, you are one of 
them, and I think Lou Frey. Where is Lou?
  Mr. FREY. Over here.
  Mr. HOYER. The two of you, I think, are the only two former Members 
with whom I have not served.
  And, unfortunately, I never served with Speaker Michel. I served with 
Minority Leader Michel, but I wish I had served with Speaker Michel, 
one of the great Americans with whom I have served.
  I think Bob Michel is the quintessential example of what a Member of 
Congress ought to be: civil, committed to his party and to his 
principles, but committed above all to his country and to his family.
  Bob, it was an honor to serve with you, and it is an honor to be your 
friend. Thank you very much for your service.
  To all of you who made this institution what it is today and those of 
us who are continuing to make it what it ought to be, we are not doing 
that job very well, for the most part. Although, I will say this, that 
Speaker Boehner is trying to make that happen and, to the extent that 
we work together, we do. But it is harder and harder, as you know, 
because the ideological differences between the parties have become 
more substantial than they were, certainly when I came here in 1981.
  Jim Blanchard and I served on the Financial Services Committee 
together. It was then the Banking Committee. But we are trying to work 
together to do what is best for our country. I think the country 
believes its board of directors is not working nearly as well as it 
ought to.
  I want to thank all of you for staying engaged and for continuing to 
send the message to your colleagues, your friends, your neighbors who 
have great respect for you. And you have something that very few people 
have. You know, there are only about a little short of 11,000 of us who 
have served in this House of Representatives since the founding of the 
Republic, which is an

[[Page H4438]]

amazingly small number in a country that is now 320 million, give or 
take, people.
  So it was a wonderful, wonderful honor for us to be elected here. As 
you know, we can't be appointed to the House of Representatives.
  And as I look around this room on both sides of the aisle, 
Republicans and Democrats, so many people with whom I worked very, very 
closely, positively and productively in the Congress of the United 
States, it is always a privilege to welcome you back. And, of course, 
so many of you--Ron Sarasin is a permanent fixture, of course. We see 
Ron through his activity on the historic society working here on a very 
regular basis to make sure that Americans understand the history and 
the importance of their Capitol. Ron, thank you very much for that 
service and that leadership.
  Mr. Chris Shays is coming into the Chamber. Hi, Chris. Good to see 
you.
  Mr. SHAYS. We haven't voted yet, have we?
  Mr. HOYER. Now, there are some of you I need--and I am not sure that 
I would get all of you--but we haven't voted yet.
  I want to thank all of you for staying involved, staying true to the 
responsibility the people gave you; and when you no longer had that 
responsibility, in terms of being an elected Member of this body, you 
continued your fidelity to what this body means, particularly this 
body. I think all of us are very proud that we served, as we all say, 
in the people's House.
  This was the House that was designed to be most responsive to the 
passions and the fears and the aspirations and the hopes, the good and 
the bad, of the American people, where every 2 years we had to re-up. 
And I think that will never change. It will never change, first of all, 
because it was a good theory. And, secondly, it will never change 
because the Senators don't want to give us a free shot at them. So, you 
know, you have got the principle and then the practical combined in 
that way.
  But I always enjoy being with you, saying hello to you. Certainly my 
office, which is, as you know, just one floor down here in the Capitol, 
if we can do anything for any of you at any point of time, if you need 
a place to hang your jacket or make a telephone call or we have got a 
conference room that is vacant from time to time, you can use that. It 
was a privilege and an honor to serve with all of you and to continue 
to be your friends. God bless you. Thank you very much.
  Let me pay special honor to my Maryland colleague, Bev Byron. Jim 
Moran, I think, and John may be the most recent new Members of the 
former Members. Maybe some of the rest of you, I think. But Bev Byron 
and Mike McIntyre.
  Bev Byron and I started out--well, she may have been there 1 or 2 
years before I was there. But in 1962, we started in the Young 
Democrats together. Now, she wants me to sit down. She is saying ``now 
you are going to meddling.'' We love you, Bev. I love you. Thank you.
  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Whip, on behalf of all of my colleagues here in the 
U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress, let me say thank you 
for your loyalty to this group. You always come year after year. You 
share your wisdom. You give us a sense of what is happening, and you 
connect we, the former Members, with the current. And it is a great 
value to all of us. Thank you.
  I now call upon the distinguished president of the association, 
Barbara Kennelly, the gentlewoman from Massachusetts.
  Ms. KENNELLY. Thank you, Jim.
  I was pleased to represent Connecticut for 17 years.
  Mr. WALSH. Pardon me.
  Ms. KENNELLY. All those little States up there.
  And thank you, Leader Hoyer, for being with us this morning. I can 
always know where your seniority is because I was one behind you, and 
you were fortunate and you stayed.
  Anyway, we begin this meeting, and I thank everybody who is here with 
us this morning as we begin this wonderful day of former Members.
  We are back in this revered Chamber, which we all loved and worked in 
and had really such an honor to be here, and it is an honor to be here 
again today to present the 45th annual report of the United States 
Association of Former Members of Congress.
  I will be joined by some of our colleagues in reporting on the 
activities and projects of our organization since our last report, 
which was last July. Wait until you see how far we have come even since 
last year.
  I first would like the Clerk to call the roll.
  Mr. Blanchard of Michigan
  Ms. Buerkle of New York
  Mr. Bustamante of Texas
  Ms. Byron of Maryland
  Mr. Carnahan of Missouri
  Mr. Carr of Michigan
  Mr. Clement of Tennessee
  Ms. Dahlkemper of Pennsylvania
  Mr. Edwards of Texas
  Mr. Frey of Florida
  Mr. Frost of Texas
  Mr. Gingrey of Georgia
  Mr. Hertel of Michigan
  Mr. Hughes of New Jersey
  Ms. Kennelly of Connecticut
  Mr. Kolbe of Arizona
  Mr. Konnyu of California
  Mr. Lancaster of North Carolina
  Mr. Lungren of California
  Mr. McIntyre of North Carolina
  Mr. Mezvinsky of Iowa
  Mr. Moore of Kansas
  Mr. Moran of Virginia
  Ms. Morella of Maryland
  Mr. Sarasin of Connecticut
  Mr. Sarpalius of Texas
  Mr. Shays of Connecticut
  Mr. Skaggs of Colorado
  Mr. Stearns of Florida
  Mr. Sundquist of Tennessee
  Mr. Tanner of Tennessee
  Mr. Tierney of Massachusetts
  Mr. Turner of Texas
  Mr. Walsh of New York.
  Mr. WALSH. The Chair announces that 34 former Members of Congress 
have responded to their names.
  Ms. KENNELLY. Thank you all for joining us today.
  Our association was chartered by Congress, and one requirement of 
that charter is for us to report once a year to Congress about our 
activities. Wait until you see how many activities that we have.
  Many of you have joined us for several years on this occasion, and 
there will be numerous programs and projects with which by now many of 
you have become very familiar. This is a sign of our association's 
stability and purpose.
  We are extremely proud of our 45-year history, of creating lasting 
and purposeful programs to teach about Congress and representative 
government, and of our ability to take longstanding projects and to 
expand them and to improve them. We will report on our program in just 
a minute.
  During our annual meeting today, we will honor two of our colleagues 
with well-deserved recognition. In a few minutes, we will celebrate Lou 
Frey's accomplishments with our Lifetime Achievement Award. And later 
today, during a luncheon in his honor, we will bestow the 2015 
Distinguished Service Award to our dear friend, Amo Houghton. I 
certainly hope all of you in attendance and those coming later can join 
us for the luncheon since Amo has been an inspiration and a mentor to 
so many of us.
  While the ceremony is not going to take place right now, I do want to 
read into the Record the inscription of the plaque Amo Houghton will 
receive today:

       The 2015 Distinguished Service Award is presented by the 
     U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress to Congressman 
     Amo Houghton.
       Congressman Houghton of New York is known for his civility, 
     intellect, and compassion. Amo valiantly served our country 
     as a United States Marine and for 18 years as a Member of 
     Congress. While serving in Congress, Amo was relied upon by 
     both Republican and Democratic Members for his keen mind, 
     unassuming nature, and unquestioned integrity to help find 
     solutions when others only saw impasse.
       He set the standard for good citizenship and a commitment 
     to the common good and continues to do so in his support of 
     educational and philanthropic endeavors. He is a voice of 
     reason that continues to resonate with all of those who care 
     deeply about Congress and the ideals of representative 
     democracy. His colleagues from both sides of the aisle salute 
     him as a distinguished and dedicated public servant.
       Washington, D.C.

  Please do join us this afternoon because I think the luncheon is 
going to be absolutely wonderful, and I hope you all can attend. I know 
there are

[[Page H4439]]

others that couldn't be with us this morning that will be with us this 
noontime.
  Now, back to our report. Our association is bipartisan. It was 
founded in 1970 and chartered by Congress in 1983. The purpose of the 
United States Association of Former Members of Congress is to promote 
public service and strengthen democracy, abroad and in the United 
States.
  About 600 former Members, Senators and Representatives, belong to 
this association. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents are united 
in this organization in their desire to teach about Congress and the 
importance of representative democracy.
  We are proud to have been chartered by Congress, and we are just as 
proud to take no funding from Congress. All the activities which we are 
about to describe are financed via membership dues, program-specific 
grants, sponsors, or via our fundraising dinner that you are going to 
hear about very shortly.
  Our finances are sound, our projects fully funded, and our most 
recent audit by an outside accountant confirmed that we are running our 
association in a fiscally sound, responsible, and transparent manner.
  It has been another successful, active, and rewarding year. We have 
continued our work of serving as a liaison between the current Congress 
and legislatures overseas. We have created partnerships with highly 
respected institutions in the area of democracy building and election 
monitoring. We have developed new projects and are expanding others. 
We, again, have sent dozens of bipartisan teams of former Members of 
Congress to teach about public service and representative democracy at 
universities and high schools both in the United States and abroad.
  Our most important domestic undertaking is teaching America's next 
generation about their government and responsibility of citizenship. 
After our report here in the Chamber this morning, we will inaugurate a 
new association project aimed at bringing civic education back to 
public school classrooms. The focus on civics has been ingrained in our 
association's DNA for over 30 years, most prominently as a part of our 
Congress to Campus program.
  I will yield to my good friend, David Skaggs of Colorado, who for a 
number of years, when our association was not able to administer this 
program on its own, stepped up to the plate and not only kept Congress 
to Campus going, but expanded it significantly.
  David.
  Mr. SKAGGS. Thank you very much, Barbara.
  I appreciate the opportunity to report on the Congress to Campus 
program. Although I have been affiliated with it for a long time, I 
want to recognize the co-chairs of the program who couldn't be with us 
this morning, Larry LaRocco of Idaho and Jack Buechner of Missouri. 
They have done a terrific job over the years in moving this program 
along.

  This program, as many of us have participated in it well know, sends 
bipartisan teams of former Members to colleges and universities across 
the country and around the world. It engages our Members from all over 
the country in educating the next generation of leaders about the 
institution of Congress, the duties and responsibilities that we have 
as Members, and most importantly, the value of public service.
  Since our visits always involve a bipartisan team, they demonstrate, 
I think, pretty well that political debate can and should be 
respectful, dynamic, and courteous.
  Former Members volunteer their time leading classes, meeting with 
student leaders, meeting with community organizations, joining with 
student government meetings--all manner of activities on campus. The 
schools are encouraged to offer the program to the entire campus 
community to demonstrate how we do our work in the Congress.
  I have gone on many of these trips, most recently this spring with 
our former colleague Pete Smith of Vermont, on a visit to Evergreen 
State College in Washington State. I was again reminded of how valuable 
these programs are, and I learned a great deal from exchanges with Pete 
during the course of that visit.
  Speaking to the students renews our hope, I think, in the future of 
our country, and I hope and believe that Members will get as much out 
of this as the students do.
  We are delighted to report this year that we added some new schools 
to the program, as well as returning to many of our old favorites. 
During the last academic year, we visited over 25 schools, including 
Abilene Christian, Boston University, Palm Beach State, Tufts 
University, the U.S. Naval Academy, and Washington State University, to 
name just a few. Over 40 former Members participated, including several 
former Members who just left office last January, so it is great to get 
them involved very quickly.
  I want to thank everyone who made a visit and, most of all, those 
that have donated their time pro bono to this very important program of 
the association. I think Members will tell you that it gives them an 
opportunity in a very meaningful way to continue their public service.
  I hope all our colleagues, particularly those who may not yet have 
participated in the program, will consider making a visit. It is an 
opportunity to renew old friendships or make new ones. Maybe, if you 
can't make a visit yourself, you can put us in touch with your former 
alma mater or a school in your old district so that we can take the 
program there. Sharon Witiw, who is seated to my left, runs the program 
for the association and can provide all the information you may need.
  We especially want to recognize our continued relationship with the 
Stennis Center for Public Service and its associate director, Brother 
Roger. The folks at the Stennis Center have been a fantastic partner in 
keeping the program on track, both logistically and financially.
  We have expanded the program internationally. There were two 
delegations to the U.K. in the past year for weeklong visits with 
hundreds of British students. Members participated even in townhall 
meetings in Britain. I hate to think of how much more fun that is than 
townhall meetings here.
  It is reported that these visits have been one of the highlights of 
the students' semesters, and we want to thank Philip Davies with the 
British Library in London for all he does to make the program work over 
there.
  We have also incorporated Congress-to-Campus-like activities in a 
number of other international programs, including the Congressional 
Study Group on Germany. With the support of the German Embassy here in 
Washington, we were able to have a weeklong Congress and Bundestag to 
Campus program where former Members joined with members of the 
Bundestag and met with students from dozens of universities in the 
northeast.
  Last fall, a new program was piloted using technology to reach a new 
constituency. Thanks to an in-kind grant from iCohere, we had three 90-
minute Congress to Campus webinar sessions to an audience of community 
colleges across the Nation.
  The webinar platform allowed students from all over the country to 
participate and ask questions of the bipartisan panels of former 
Members. We are currently adapting the webinar platform to also serve 
high school government classes around the country and hope to have that 
program up and running this fall. Please consider participating in one 
of these programs that do not necessarily involve the 3-day commitment 
of a campus visit.
  The association has also continued to support the People to People 
program, which brings hundreds of high school students to the Capitol 
to learn about leadership and American Government. Several times over 
the past year, former Members have keynoted those sessions, and we have 
heard that many staffers on the Hill were first inspired into public 
service through their People to People experience.
  Thanks to everyone who has helped make this program the hallmark 
program of the association. An informed and engaged citizenry is 
absolutely essential if our democracy is going to work, and this 
program really contributes to that end.
  Thank you very much.
  Ms. KENNELLY. Thank you, David. Thank you for all you have done for 
one of our most successful programs.
  I can remember I got excited when I heard about these programs, and I 
really wanted to be part of it. At one time,

[[Page H4440]]

Nancy Johnson and I went to Annapolis, and I wondered if Annapolis 
students would be so interested in two women of age spending 2\1/2\ 
days with them.
  We had the best times, absolutely; and I really urge you to go. Nancy 
and I were always friendly, but it really gives you a chance to spend 
2\1/2\ days with someone from the other party who you might have known 
or you might not have known, and you will enjoy it.
  We have another new project, and the purpose of the Common Ground 
Project is to involve citizens in a dialogue about the issues of the 
day and have a vigorous debate that doesn't shy away from being 
partisan but, at the same time, manages to be productive.
  To give you more background on this Common Ground Project, I invite 
my colleague from New York, former Member Ann Marie Buerkle, to share 
her report.
  Ann Marie.
  Ms. BUERKLE. Thank you very much, Barbara, Mr. Speaker.
  One of the many joys of being active with this remarkable, effective 
association is that it brings together Republicans and Democrats in our 
many programs, whether it is a part of our board of directors, during 
our annual meeting and charitable government tournament, for panel 
discussions, as well as other presentations. All that this association 
does is bipartisan. Our board is divided evenly between Republicans and 
Democrats, and our leadership rotates between the two parties.
  Currently, our Congress, indeed, our country, is going through a 
period of polarization and partisanship. While we don't leave our 
political beliefs at the door when participating in association 
activities, we pride ourselves in creating an environment where an 
across-the-aisle dialogue is not only possible, but also the norm. We 
have institutionalized this approach in a program that we call the 
Common Ground Project.

  The purpose of the Common Ground Project is to create venues and 
events where a bipartisan approach can involve the public in a dialogue 
on the issues of the day. Some of our longstanding programs, most 
importantly the Congress to Campus program we just heard about, already 
fit neatly into the goals of the Common Ground Project. There are other 
additional undertakings that were specifically created to further this 
project.
  We are extremely proud of our partnership with the National Archives, 
which, since 2010, has brought dozens of former Members--again, from 
both sides of the aisle--together with the public for panel discussions 
for a productive as well as a respectful dialogue. I have been 
privileged to participate in a number of our Common Ground Project 
activities, including Congress to Campus, as well as the National 
Archives panel series. I believe these dialogues are incredibly 
important.
  Since our last report to Congress, we continue to offer the public a 
number of opportunities to participate in conversations about the 
issues that concern our Nation. At the National Archives, former 
Members held discussions about the midterm elections, our current 
electoral system, and some of the issues that have caused this current 
partisan divide. Other public forums included presentations on money in 
politics, foreign affairs and international trade issues, the U.S. 
Constitution, and the accomplishments of women in leadership.
  As David Skaggs reported earlier, the Congress to Campus program 
included, for the first time, a number of webinars that reached a very 
specific audience, in this case, community college students, and gave 
them an opportunity to interact online with our bipartisan panels of 
former Members of Congress. After some introductory remarks, most of 
the webinar time was committed to giving the students an opportunity to 
ask questions online. We were thrilled with the positive response to 
this new initiative and believe that this concept will translate into 
furthering the goals of the Common Ground Project.
  Using modern technology, we can effectively reach audiences all 
across the United States of America to engage with them in a meaningful 
dialogue. This is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the great 
benefit that comes from differing opinions being aired, discussed, and 
dissected in order to find that common ground.
  We will explore, over the next year, additional ways to make use of 
webinars as a means of bringing the public together with our former 
Member teams. Our initial plan includes reaching out to high school 
audiences, in addition to college students. The program could then be 
expanded to include other constituencies who would be gathered in front 
of the computer, again, to participate in a webinar. This would allow 
us to include, among others, the VFW, chambers of commerce, and many 
groups who may not have access to an in-person discussion.
  There are quite a number of other activities that contribute to our 
Common Ground Project. Unfortunately, the list is too long this morning 
to include them all here. It is our association's most important 
undertaking to reengage the public in a political discourse that is 
productive, respectful, and yields solutions rather than sound bites.
  We, as former Members, can contribute greatly towards a better 
understanding of how the important issues of our day play out on 
Capitol Hill, and I view it as one of the responsibilities that comes 
with the privilege of having served in Congress. We have an opportunity 
to bridge the political gap and show the American people that we can 
have deeply held convictions and still have discussions and debates 
that find not only the common ground, but also seek solutions.
  Thank you so much.
  Ms. KENNELLY. Thank you, Ann Marie. And thank you very much for being 
willing to be active in our association and do a number of things for 
us.
  Ann Marie was on the panel. As you know, we have a very close 
relationship with the Archives. And we, our organization and the 
Archives, had a panel 2 days after election. And this shows that we 
really can be bipartisan. There were various views that came forth in 
that discussion, but it was absolutely wonderful. We had a full 
audience. And it just shows that bipartisanship can work, even 2 days 
after election. Some of us were happy, and some of us weren't.
  Another example of how powerful and productive bipartisanship can be 
is our annual Congressional Golf Tournament. It is chaired by our past 
president, Dennis Hertel of Michigan, and by fellow board member Ken 
Kramer of Colorado.
  I will now yield the floor to Dennis Hertel to give us a brief report 
about our charitable golf tournament.
  Dennis.
  Mr. HERTEL. Thank you, Barbara. I am still more comfortable over 
here.
  Congratulations, Barbara, on this great turnout today. And the annual 
dinner, what a great success it was, better than ever. You and Jim 
Walsh have done just fantastic and what you have accomplished for the 
association.
  Eight years ago, we took a 35-year-old tradition, our annual golf 
tournament, which pits Republicans against Democrats, and gave it a new 
and much bigger mission. We converted it into a charitable golf 
tournament to aid severely wounded vets returning from the battlefields 
of Iraq and Afghanistan. Our beneficiaries--Warfighter Sports, a 
program of Disabled Sports USA, and Tee It Up for the Troops--use golf 
and other sports to help our wounded veterans readjust to life after 
sustaining severe injuries. They involve the entire family in the 
sport, and they provide equipment and training.
  Our seventh annual event was held last year on July 28 at the Army 
Navy Country Club. And we have had more Congressmen, active Members, 
attend our tournament than all of these other golf tournaments that you 
hear about in Washington, D.C. There might be more in Washington, D.C., 
than any other place in the country as far as fundraisers, but we have 
more Members turn out for our cause.
  All together, these tournaments have raised over a half million 
dollars for these outstanding programs. During each of our past 
tournaments, we have had several dozen current and former Members from 
both sides of the aisle come together to support our wounded troops 
that day and throughout the year; and they have met with dozens of 
wounded warriors, many of whom play in our foursomes. Some double 
amputees included in their numbers have hit

[[Page H4441]]

further and straighter than a lot of our members--certainly me. It is 
an incredibly humbling, rewarding, and memorable experience to spend a 
day in the presence of these inspiring men and women.
  I want to thank everyone in the association, particularly Sharon 
Witiw, as well as Ken Kramer, our tournament's co-chair. Sharon just 
does a tremendous job week in and week out working on this all year 
long, and Ken has just been the mainstay of the program.
  Equally important, I am happy to report we have again secured the 
leadership of two of our most outstanding current Members who are co-
chairs to help us lead this effort: Congressman Jimmy Duncan of 
Tennessee and Congressman Gene Green of Texas. So some co-chairmen that 
many of us have served with have just been tremendous in opening up 
their offices and staff and working with us all the time.
  Gene replaces our past Democratic co-chair, Mike McIntyre of North 
Carolina.
  Mike, please stand up. We want to thank you so much for your hard 
work as co-chair.
  Mike really put us up on the map and got us higher as far as Members' 
participation, and it has really made a great difference. And Jimmy 
Duncan and Gene Green, we just can't thank them enough for what they 
have been doing and their constant encouragement of Members to come and 
play with us.
  That brings me to the point of our former Members. We are having, for 
the first time in the last few tournaments, more current Members play 
in the golf tournament than former Members when we are sponsoring it. 
So I hope that the great turnout today is an indication of having more 
people come to our golf tournament. Even if you don't want to play 
golf, just come and enjoy the day with our veterans. It is so 
convenient. It is right here at Army Navy. Don't worry about your skill 
level, you know. It is an honor for us to help such an incredibly 
deserving group in this small way.
  The next tournament will be July 27. We call it ``The Members'' 
tournament. But unlike the Masters, you don't need to play at the pro 
level to have a successful and enjoyable day. All you have to do is 
show up and help raise some money. I want to stress that, while this 
event is called a tournament, no one should be worried about their 
score or their skill level to participate. I am certainly an example of 
that.
  This event is 100 percent about helping wounded warriors. Nobody 
cares what your handicap is. Your individual score is not kept because 
we have a scramble format, which I am very much in favor of; so, you 
know, they don't really know how you did. But if you hit one good, they 
can use it, including a putt.
  So both current and former Members give it their time and attention. 
If you only play golf once a year, this should be the day you do it.
  So I want to thank all of you so much for all the help. And if you 
can play or if you can bring us a new sponsor, please let us know.
  Thanks very much.
  Ms. KENNELLY. Thank you, Dennis, for this report.
  We are so honored that we can play a small role in the rehabilitation 
of these amazing men and women. And as a golfer, I can tell you it 
doesn't matter if your handicap is 10 or if your handicap is 27; and I 
have been both places. And I promise you, in a scramble, no matter what 
Marty Russo does, he doesn't always win.
  In addition to the domestic programs we have just described, our 
association also has a very active and far-reaching international 
focus. We conduct programs focused on Europe and Asia; we bring current 
Members of Congress together with their peers in legislatures overseas; 
and we work with the Department of State to talk about representative 
democracy in our office with audiences abroad. To me, this is becoming 
one of the most important programs.
  As I remember, when I first became active in Association of Former 
Members, you really did not see many sitting Members of Congress. It 
was our association. We have expanded this, and as a result, a number 
of Members take part in our organizations that do go abroad and do 
study things abroad.
  The other day, the German Marshall Fund had put out a new report, and 
Pete put together a get-together. I was so impressed. We had scholars 
about Germany. We had a very interesting audience as well as the German 
Marshall Fund there.
  But what really impressed me was the number of Members--and this was 
one of the busiest days when they were doing the trade legislation--the 
Members that were attending; and even when they had to go out, they 
came back. My feeling is, if we get this new business of having present 
Members be active in our association, that means they will know our 
association before they are former Members.
  Psychologically, this is very good because they bring very new 
information, but not only that, we are not trying to get them to be 
Members. After they have left or lost, they know about us. I think this 
will be very healthy for the organization.
  One of our most valued partners in these undertakings is the Canadian 
Association of Former Parliamentarians. Our friendship with our 
colleagues in Ottawa goes back to 1987 when a group of former 
parliamentarians came and visited with us to learn about our 
association and our projects and used the lessons learned to create 
their own association in Canada.
  For almost 30 years, we have been friends and partners and we are 
honored to have as our guest today David Daubney, a former member of 
the Canadian Parliament and an officer of our sister organization.
  Welcome, David, if you are here this morning. Thank you, David. We 
are so pleased you can be with us.
  I have not had the opportunity, and former Members have asked me to 
go up to Ottawa to join in their big event, like our dinner, and I got 
into the airport in Ottawa, and that is the day that they had a very 
sad bomb scare.
  Very fortunately, I didn't get out of the airport because if I had, I 
wouldn't have gotten home for a couple of days because the airport was 
locked down. I was sorry I couldn't be there. I thank you for the good 
times we have had in the past year with the Canadian delegation. You 
are going to hear more about that.
  Via the former Members association, I have met with numerous groups 
of legislators from emerging democracies who have come to Washington 
for a better understanding of our representative government and our 
form of democracy. These conversations and meetings are always two-way 
streets. I have to say that I learn as much, if not more, from our 
visitors than they do from me.
  Just last month, our association hosted at our offices a large group 
of young professionals from ASEAN, countries including Vietnam and 
Indonesia, and we had a great dialogue about running for office and 
serving our constituency.
  Our association also has a long-standing partnership with a great NGO 
Legacy International, bringing young professionals from the Middle East 
and north Africa to the United States. Our most recent group just 
completed their 6 weeks in Washington. They stay 6 weeks.
  The group is composed of young professionals from Morocco and 
Tunisia. Most of these visitors work in the NGO sector in their 
countries, and they come to the United States to learn about the 
interaction between government and nongovernmental sectors.
  I would like to take this moment to thank former Congresswoman Bev 
Byron because she has been very, very generous in opening up her house 
to students for dinner, and it is much appreciated by the association.
  The goal of this program is to seek a better understanding between 
cultures and establish an avenue of dialogue between nations. It is a 
unique opportunity to create a constructive political and cultural 
discourse between the United States and north Africa. I am very proud 
that our association is part of this vital dialogue.
  In addition to hosting visiting delegations, our association 
organizes former Member delegations to travel overseas and engage 
students, government officials, NGOs, and corporate representatives. 
You have already heard about the Congress to Campus programs and the 
very international component that it has.
  We brought the program to numerous universities in countries such as 
Turkey, the United Kingdom, other overseas delegations; we call them 
ExDELs.

[[Page H4442]]

We have traveled to countries where a dialogue is often difficult, but 
nonetheless incredibly important--for example, China, a country to 
which we have now sent seven ExDELs over the past 4 years.
  In addition to these former Member international programs, our 
association supports Congress' international outreach in a meaningful, 
productive, and bipartisan way via our congressional study groups. 
These are all programs that involve current Members of Congress, and I 
now invite my good friend and my predecessor, and I thank Connie for 
helping me begin my presidency, and I enjoyed her presidency, Connie 
Morella.
  Ms. MORELLA. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you very much, 
Barbara. I just want to say it has been great working side by side with 
you for the 2 years when you were vice president, and you are doing a 
great job. It is nice to continue to be involved with all the wonderful 
programs that the former Members offer.
  I appreciate the opportunity to briefly speak to you about the work 
of Congressional Study Groups on Germany, Japan, Turkey, and Europe. 
They are flagship international programs of the former Members of 
Congress for over three decades. The study groups are independent, 
bipartisan legislative exchanges for current Members of Congress and 
their senior staff, and they serve as educational forums and invaluable 
tools for international dialogue with the goal of creating better 
understanding and cooperation between the United States and its most 
important strategic and economic partners.
  Each study group has a membership roster of between 75 and 125 
Members of Congress, current Members of Congress, and is led by a 
bipartisan, bicameral pair of co-chairs. I want to acknowledge the 
service of all of our co-chairs for their hard work and dedication to 
these critical programs, and I hope they are watching.
  The Congressional Study Group on Germany is led by Senator Jeff 
Sessions, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Representative Charlie Dent, and 
Representative Ted Deutch.
  The Congressional Study Group on Japan is led by Senator Mazie 
Hirono, Senator Lisa Murkowski, Representative Diana DeGette, and 
Representative Billy Long.
  The Congressional Study Group on Turkey is led by Representative 
Gerry Connolly and Representative Ed Whitfield.
  The Congressional Study Group on Europe is led by Senator John 
Boozman, Senator Chris Murphy, Representative Jeff Fortenberry, and 
Representative Peter Welch.
  Our co-chairs are true leaders, who not only serve in their role at 
official study group events, but are also called on by various 
embassies and countless outside organizations to speak on panels, 
attend roundtables, and meet with visiting delegations.
  The study group model focuses on high-level dialogue on pressing 
issues surrounding security, energy, trade questions, and financial 
questions that affect our key bilateral and multilateral relationships 
with our partners abroad.
  Programming celebrates active discussion among all participants, 
avoiding lengthy speeches or formal presentations, in order to create 
the kind of atmosphere that promotes personal connections. We believe 
that the network of peers created via our programs have acted to renew 
and expand areas of mutual cooperation.
  The congressional study groups are not the only program dedicated to 
this mission, but they are unique in their year-round outreach to 
Capitol Hill. Unlike other formats, we provide long-lasting staff 
support and maintain a well-respected reputation as independent and 
nonadvocacy.
  As a result, our network attracts a large, diverse groups of 
legislators and policymakers who are committed to international 
dialogue more broadly and don't have to shy away from our programming 
lest they be asked to support a particular policy position. What is 
most important for us is that they join the discussion.

  A few highlights from the discussion in the last 12 months include 
the 31st Annual Congress-Bundestag Seminar hosted by Representative 
Charlie Dent in Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District in September 
2014; the 32nd Annual Congress-Bundestag Seminar hosted by our German 
counterparts in Berlin, Dresden, and Leipzig in May 2015; the 2nd 
Annual Congressional Member Study Group tour to Japan in February 2015; 
three senior congressional staff study tours to Germany in partnership 
with the Embassy of Germany; one senior congressional staff study tour 
to Japan, which visited Tokyo, Fukushima, and Hiroshima; and 21 high-
level roundtables here in Washington, D.C.
  That is quite a list of very important meetings and study groups and 
trips. The work of the congressional study groups is complemented by 
our diplomatic advisory council. Initially focused on European nations, 
the diplomatic advisory council is now comprised of four dozen 
ambassadors from six continents who advise and participate in our 
programming.
  Their interest and commitment to multilateral dialogue is a valued 
addition to the congressional study groups and provides a valuable 
outreach beyond our four core study groups.
  In the past year, we have also formed the congressional staff 
advisory council. As former Members of Congress, we know the value of 
good staff. I always say my rod and my staff, they comforted me and 
prepared the papers for me in the presence of my constituents.
  The staff advisory council formally recognizes the mutually 
beneficial relationships we have in offices across Capitol Hill. We are 
very grateful for the staff who participate in and support our 
programming, as we are for the Members of Congress.
  Finally, I want to thank the institutions, foundations, and companies 
which support our mission. We would like to give particular thanks to 
Admiral Dennis Blair, Ms. Junko Chano of Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, 
and Dr. Karen Donfried and Ms. Maia Comeau of the German Marshall Fund 
for their support as our international funders of the congressional 
study groups in 2015.
  The congressional study groups are also grateful for the support of 
the international business community here in Washington, D.C., 
represented by each study group's business advisory council. I am going 
to briefly mention the companies of the 2015 business advisory council 
because they are the supporters. We do not get any money from Congress, 
and so it is those people who care very much about the work of the 
former Members' international programs.
  They are Allianz, All Nippon Airways, Airbus Group, B. Braun Medical, 
Central Japan Railway Company, Cheniere Energy, Daimler, Deutsche 
Telekom, DHL, Fresenius, Hitachi, Honda, Lufthansa German Airlines, 
Marubeni America Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui, 
Representative of German Industry and Trade, Sojitz, Toyota Motor North 
America, United Parcel Service, and Volkswagen of America.
  Because of their support, our activities not only help to build vital 
bilateral relationships between legislatures, but also build bipartisan 
relationships within our own Congress. Mutual understanding and shared 
experiences among legislators are crucial to solving pressing problems, 
whether at home or abroad.
  As former Members of Congress, we are proud to bring the important 
services provided by the congressional study groups to our colleagues 
still in office, and we are very proud to play an active role in our 
continued international outreach.
  Thank you very much.
  Ms. KENNELLY. Thank you, Connie.
  In addition to these substantive and issue-specific international 
projects, our association also offers its members the opportunity to 
participate in group travel where our staff puts together the logistics 
and participating members assume all the costs. These trips are unique 
because they combine a tourist experience with more formal meetings 
that involve current and former government officials in the country we 
are visiting.
  I will now yield to my good friend from North Carolina, Martin 
Lancaster, to report on his combined delegation.
  Mr. LANCASTER. Thank you, Barbara.
  For the 2014 fall study group, a contingent of former Members visited 
the beaches of Normandy, as well as World

[[Page H4443]]

War I battlefields in northern France and Belgium. The trip was to 
commemorate those troops who gave their lives during World War I and 
World War II on the 100th and 70th anniversaries of those horrible 
wars. The group of former Members and their spouses were privileged to 
share this moving experience with a group of former members from the 
Canadian Parliament and their spouses. This was our first and what we 
hope will be many joint study tours with our friends to the north.
  At the opening reception in Paris, the two groups of former 
legislators first learned how their nations' sacrifices had a direct 
impact on the lives of Europeans when a friend of a former Member 
recounted her story of how her family was liberated by the Allies 
during the war.
  After gathering in Paris, the group traveled to Normandy, first to 
Juno Beach, where the Canadian military landed for the D-Day invasion. 
It was an incredible experience to explore a German bunker and to walk 
the beaches where young Canadian soldiers landed 70 years ago. The 
following day the group spent a day on the Utah and Omaha beaches in 
the sands where the U.S. military landed, and we were humbled by the 
staggering number of losses reflected in the cemetery for the American 
soldiers.
  The former Members held a moving wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb 
of the Unknown Soldier and spent quite some time walking around the 
grounds and reflecting on the sacrifices made by so many.
  While in the Normandy region, our group was treated to the 
hospitality of Count Denis de Kergorlay of Canisy at his chateau, which 
has been in his family's possession since the 11th century. The Count 
has been a friend and partner of our association for over 10 years, and 
many of you have had a chance to meet him during our Statesmanship 
Awards Dinners where, since 2004, he so generously has offered a four-
night stay at this magnificent chateau at auction for our fundraising. 
I certainly want to thank him on behalf of the association for his many 
years of support and friendship.
  Staying at Chateau de Canisy is like stepping back in time. This 
welcoming and memorable location provided a warm atmosphere for the 
national borders and the party affiliations within our international 
group to completely fade away. Each evening during dinner, 
conversations revealed our shared experiences as legislators and the 
moving common history of World War I and World War II. One special 
night, Count de Kergorlay treated us to a musical performance at the 
chateau thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended and hailed as one of the 
highlights of the trip.
  The final two days of the trip were spent in northern France and 
Belgium, and the focus pivoted toward World War I. En route, we stopped 
briefly at the Normandy Museum in Cannes. A brief detour was made 
to Hallu, a small village in northern France where the recent discovery 
of the identity of several World War I soldiers in the backyard of a 
home there revealed they were from the same regiment as the president 
of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians, Leo Duguay, who 
was traveling with us. The group gathered in the home's backyard for a 
moving wreath-laying ceremony and flag presentation. Afterwards, the 
group was entertained at the mayor's office in Hallu.

  Upon arriving in northern France, the group visited Vimy Ridge and 
the Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial, where we toured the trenches 
and learned about the pivotal battle that occurred in 1917 when the 
Canadians lost more soldiers than any battle in their history.
  We also spent a few hours visiting the interactive Flanders Field 
Museum in Ypres, Belgium, which is an incredibly marvelous educational 
experience. The last event of the trip was participating in a ceremony 
in the town of Ypres at the Menin Memorial Gate to the Missing, where 
every night at 8 p.m. for the last 100 years, the road is closed and 
buglers sound ``The Last Post'' in memory of those whose graves are 
unknown. This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony by a number of 
organizations, including our own. What a breathtaking way to conclude 
our travels.
  This fall we are planning to travel to Havana, Cuba, for our study 
tour. There is such interest by our membership in this destination that 
we will offer a second trip in January. While our Canadian friends 
cannot join us in October, we would love to partner with them again 
maybe for the one in January because it was a great pleasure to get to 
know them and to form these friendships across the border.
  Thank you, Barbara.
  Ms. KENNELLY. Thank you, Martin.
  The experience you had in Normandy with our friends from Canada 
certainly was extraordinary, and I have heard all about it. I am sorry 
I had to miss it, but I am signed up for the Cuba trip.
  All of the programs you have heard about clearly require funding, and 
we have been very successful in growing our fundraising capabilities 
along with our programming. The most impactful single fundraising 
mechanism we have created is the Annual Statesmanship Awards Dinner. In 
March of this year, we hosted our 18th dinner. And just like the 
preceding 17, it was chaired by our good friend, Lou Frey of Florida. 
Lou was supported by a number of other co-chairs, including me, former 
Members Dennis Hertel, Martin Frost, and our association CEO, Pete 
Weichlein. I would like to invite Lou Frey to report on the highly 
successful 18th Statesmanship Awards Dinner, and I think you realize 
that Lou has been chairman of all of the 18 dinners we have had.
  Lou Frey.
  Mr. FREY. Barbara, thank you for all of the hard work you have put 
in. We have had many, many people working on this. This is an absolute 
great way to explain to your kids in terms of doing something. If you 
are going to do it, make sure you are going to be able to carry it 
through because this started with an idea of raising maybe $100,000, if 
that. We had no other source, we were going basically broke over a 
period of time. The idea, though, grew on its own. Not because of me. 
It didn't grow because of me, but it grew because each and every one of 
you, we are all winners. We are all people who succeeded in the 
toughest market going, and it has been just a wonderful thing to see 
how it has grown and how many people are now involved in it.
  I just messed up someone's long, hard work in terms of what I said. 
But, Pete, you never thought I would stick to the script. No, I knew 
you wouldn't think that.
  The last dinner, we had over 500 tickets sold. We raised more money 
than any of the preceding 17 dinners. It was just incredible. We had 
wonderful people up on the stage. We have decided to go ahead and 
present the next dinner under a theme of Salute to Service where we 
have different people involved in this process like we did the last 
time, like with Bob Dole's, and that will be the next one.
  The highlight of the evening, I think, came when they had the debate 
or discussion, but the evening is a wonderful way to showcase our 
association and recognize outstanding public service. That is the whole 
basis of the dinner. If it makes it, we are in great shape. If it blows 
it, we are in bad shape. It is pretty black and white. We have a good 
base. I am looking forward to doing it. I would like to say and put it 
on the record, this is not Federal money. This is not government money. 
This is our money that we are using. It is money that is reaching out 
where nobody can criticize it. It came admittedly from an idea that I 
had to start with, and it is an idea that has really worked.
  I think I ought to give you a little information about next year's 
dinner. I know we are looking at the clock, but I have more information 
about next year's dinner that you ought to know about. Again, it will 
be at the Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue. What a great place 
to have a meeting, and we are going to do it there again. The theme of 
the 2016 dinner will be to honor individuals and entities who are 
actively supporting our men and women in uniform. Most all of us are 
involved in that. I am involved in Florida with a particular golf 
tournament that puts money back in through the program by playing golf. 
Dennis Hertel was here and talked about the tremendous job he is doing. 
Remember, we are raising this money. It is our money. That is the money 
that is going in.
  The 19th dinner will be a different experience for me because it will 
be the first one in 19 years where I can actually sit back and relax. 
It has been my

[[Page H4444]]

special pleasure to work for the last 18 years to make this annual 
dinner the great success it has become. I have been able to enjoy a 
recent event, taking the family to Montana for awhile and spending time 
with kids whose names I now recognize, and one of them is here today. 
The dinner is an important event, and obviously we are not going to let 
the association down. I am not walking away, but 18 years, in all 
fairness, I have put some time in.
  What we are doing in the event, and part of the event, is allowing 
the association to get the money we need so the association can fill 
all these great programs. But again, let me say again just in case you 
haven't heard me, if we don't raise the money with nongovernmental 
money, we are broke. Okay, just so we are all on the same page. Moving 
forward, I am going to do what I can while I am still able to do, and 
we have a great team. We have a great bunch of people working on it. It 
is nice to think they need me, but they really don't need me. In one 
sense, we're all part of it, however. We are turning over a machine 
that is really well oiled and can work well, a machine that knows how 
to do it, and it knows when to call out to people when something isn't 
going quite as well as it should. But that never happens with this.
  Basically, I just want to also say that I can't tell you what an 
incredible feeling of involvement, of joy, of sorrow, continuing 
feeling that my life is better because of each and every one of you who 
I have been able to work with and we all have been trying to work with. 
We are doing God's work. We are putting back into what we have in this 
country. We will never put back 100 percent, but it really is part of 
it. So when we come to the 19th dinner, we have somebody rooting like 
heck for you on the sideline. But it is going to take people continuing 
to be involved. Thank you, thank you, thank you again.

  Ms. KENNELLY. Thank you, Lou.
  I can't even imagine chairing 18 dinners. But I will say I might not 
miss Lou Frey's calls when he tells me I haven't done a good enough 
job.
  But Lou, you are not leaving us. In recognition of your 18 years 
chairing the Statesmanship Awards Dinner, and in recognition of your 
service on our board of directors for almost two decades, and in 
recognition of the great contributions you made to the organization as 
its president, the board of directors and the members of the United 
States Association of Former Members of Congress wish to bestow upon 
you our Lifetime Achievement Award.
  There is no plaque large enough to hold all of the accolades you 
deserve based upon your service to this country, first in our military, 
then in Congress, and currently leading the charge to restore civic 
education in our Nation's classrooms. Your initiative on behalf of 
civic education is the foundation upon which we are basing a new 
association program, the Lou Frey Forum on Civic Engagement, which will 
translate the tremendous strides you have achieved in Florida into a 
nationwide effort utilizing our former Members network across the 
country.
  I, therefore, cannot overstate how appreciative the leadership and 
membership of our organization are for all you have done for us, 
particularly as chairman of the Statesmanship Awards Dinner for 18 
years. This Lifetime Achievement Award is one way we wish to recognize 
your tremendous service.
  Also, we want to tell you there is going to be a Lou Frey Civics 
Scholarship, which will benefit a student at Winter Park High School, 
just a couple miles from your home. For the next 3 years, a graduating 
student who has taken AP civics and is accepted at a community college 
or university will receive a $1,000 scholarship in your name to help 
defray his or her college costs.
  Lou, this Lifetime Achievement Award is highly deserved, and the 
plaque reads as follows:

       This Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon the 
     Honorable Lou Frey, Jr., for his exemplary and inspiring 
     service to his country as well as to the United States 
     Association of Former Members of Congress. Lou Frey's public 
     service began in the United States Navy in 1955 and 
     culminated in a political career that spanned over three 
     decades. He represented his Florida constituents with 
     dedication, integrity, and dynamism. His optimism and can-do 
     attitude never diminished in his post-congressional career, 
     and transformed our association during his years as 
     president, board member, and Statesmanship Awards Dinner 
     chairman. For his lifetime of bringing about positive change, 
     his friends and colleagues from both sides of the political 
     aisle salute him.

  Thank you, Lou.
  Mr. FREY. Some of my family is here, and I want to thank them.
  I am especially pleased to have my good friend and former chief of 
staff, Oscar Juarez, and his wife, Nancy, here representing those who 
made our congressional office a happy and productive place to work.
  It really was. What a great opportunity.
  Ms. KENNELLY. I also want to thank the many partners and supporters 
that made this possible. We are truly lucky to have this assembled 
group of corporations and foundations that believe in our work.
  Also, I would be remiss if I did not thank the other members of our 
association's executive board: our vice president, Jim Walsh; 
treasurer, Martin Frost; secretary, Mary Bono; and our past president, 
Connie Morella. You have all made this association a stronger and 
better organization than it was ever before. I thank you for your time 
and energy. To administer all of these programs takes a staff of 
dedicated and enthusiastic professionals.
  I am going to quickly mention them. They are wonderful.
  Sean Pavlik is part of the international team and runs our 
Congressional Study Group on Japan. Unfortunately, we are losing Sean. 
He is pursuing an MBA at the University of Michigan, and we wish him 
the best.
  Rachel Haas is our CEO's right-hand person, runs the entire office, 
makes sure that our money is spent appropriately and wisely, and played 
a huge role in making our Statesmanship Awards Dinner such a beautiful 
and memorable event.
  Andrew Shoenig, our associate director of international programs, 
started out as an intern with us about 4 years ago and now is the 
linchpin in our incredibly successful program focusing on Germany, the 
EU, and all of the Ambassadors who participate in our Diplomatic 
Advisory Council.
  Sharon Witiw, our domestic program director, oversees the smooth 
operations of projects such as the Congress to Campus program. She also 
is the one who keeps our membership updated through our Web site, email 
notifications, and the year-end newsletter.
  Sabine Schleidt is our managing director, who spends most of her time 
on the current Member international programs, but also a lot of hours 
on implementing the strategic vision and fundraising goals.
  And Peter Weichlein.
  Peter, you are, to me, the most outstanding chief executive officer.
  Peter has been with our association for 16 years. I am old enough for 
anything, but I am old enough to remember before Peter, and this 
organization has come so, so far. He keeps his enthusiasm. His staff is 
not that large. It is amazing that they can have all these programs and 
all these success. Peter is wonderful to work with.
  Like many of you, I have been on many boards. In fact, for the last 9 
years, I ran a board and had to report to a board of directors. Peter 
is exceptional. He keeps the board happy; he keeps the staff happy; and 
he never stops working. We are, indeed, fortunate to have Peter as our 
chief executive officer.
  Also, every year at our annual meeting, we ask the membership to 
elect new officers and board members. I therefore will now read the 
names of the candidates for board members and officers. They are all 
running unopposed. I ask for a single ``yea'' or ``nay'' as I present 
to you the list of candidates as a slate.
  For the association's board of directors:
  Dave Camp of Michigan
  Jim Coyne of Pennsylvania
  Barbara Kennelly of Connecticut
  Ken Kramer of Colorado
  Ray LaHood of Illinois
  Jim Matheson of Utah
  Jim Moran of Virginia
  Jim Slattery of Kansas
  Karen Thurman of Florida.
  All in favor of electing these former Members to our board of 
directors, please say, ``aye.'' Any opposed? Hearing none, the board 
has been elected.
  Next, we will elect our executive committee. As president, I serve 2

[[Page H4445]]

years. I have already done 1 and will end my term in 2016. However, the 
other three elected members of the executive board are up for 
reelection for a 1-year term.
  The candidates are:
  Jim Walsh of New York for vice president
  Martin Frost of Texas for treasurer
  Mary Bono of California for secretary.
  All in favor of electing these three former Members of our executive 
committee, please say, ``yea.'' Any opposed? Hearing no opposition, the 
slate has been elected by this membership.
  The executive board is completed by Connie Morella, who is an 
unelected officer in her capacity as immediate past president.
  Now it is my sad duty to inform the Congress of those former and 
current Members who have passed away since our last report in July. I 
ask all of you, including the visitors in the gallery, to rise as I 
read the names. At the end of the list, we will pay our respect to 
their memory with a moment of silence. We honor these men and women for 
their service to our country. They are:
  Donald Albosta of Michigan
  Bruce Alger of Texas
  Herman Badillo of New York
  Edward Brooke of Massachusetts
  M. Caldwell Butler of Virginia
  Thomas Cass Ballenger of North Carolina
  Don H. Clausen of California
  Phil Crane of Illinois
  Lane Evans of Illinois
  Bill Frenzel of Minnesota
  Robert Griffin of Michigan
  George Hansen of Idaho
  Herbert Harris of Virginia
  Jim Jeffords of Vermont
  Robert W. Kastenmeier of Wisconsin
  John Krebs of California
  Arch A. Moore, Jr., of West Virginia
  John M. Murphy of New York
  John T. Myers of Indiana
  Alan Nunnelee of Mississippi
  Peter Peyser of New York
  Marge Roukema of New Jersey
  Fernando J. St. Germain of Rhode Island
  Robert Tiernan of Rhode Island
  James A. Traficant of Ohio
  Jim Wright of Texas
  C.W. Bill Young of Florida
  Please observe a moment of silence.
  That concludes the 45th report to Congress by the United States 
Association of Former Members of Congress. We thank the Congress, the 
Speaker, and the minority leader for giving us the opportunity to 
return to this revered Chamber and to report on our association's 
activities. We look forward to another active and productive year.
  Thank you.
  Mr. WALSH. The Chair again wishes to thank all former Members of the 
House for their presence and this continuing commitment to this high 
calling of public service.
  Before terminating the proceedings, the Chair would like to invite 
those former Members who did not respond when the roll was called to 
give their names to the Reading Clerk for inclusion on the roll.
  This concludes our meeting today. We stand adjourned.

                          ____________________