[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 178 (Wednesday, December 9, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





           RECOGNIZING BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EMPLOYEES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LAMAR SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 9, 2015

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize three 
power linemen from the Bandera Electric Cooperative: Jay Rasberry, John 
Hernandez and Garrett Clark. These linemen volunteered for the National 
Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International Foundation 
and spent three weeks in northern Haiti building and upgrading power 
lines. These efforts have helped communities in Haiti receive 
affordable, safe and reliable energy.
  These three power linemen worked side by side with NRECA 
International on the United States Agency for International Development 
(USAID) funded Pilot Project for Sustainable Electricity Distribution. 
This project commercializes power from the Caracol Industrial Park 
generation station that is currently serving 8,000 consumers in Caracol 
and surrounding communities with electricity 24 hours a day. When the 
project is complete, a total of 10,000 consumers will have access to 
electricity.
  Less than 15% of the people in Haiti have access to electricity. The 
service and sacrifice of these linemen will impact the lives of 
thousands of Haitians resulting in improvements in healthcare, 
education, and economic opportunity.
  In appreciation of all they have done, Mr. Speaker, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in thanking them for their humanitarian efforts.

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