[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E64]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO THREE POWER LINEMEN VOLUNTEERS

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. COLLIN C. PETERSON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 13, 2017

  Mr. PETERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize three of my 
constituents, Mr. Anthony Spaeth, Mr. Lucas Bakken, and Mr. Troy Seter, 
who volunteered three weeks of their time to build and upgrade power 
lines in Haiti. They work for Lake Region Electric Cooperative in 
Pelican Rapids, MN.
  These men decided to put their skills to work as power linemen in an 
area that desperately needs help. They were selected and sent to Haiti 
by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) 
International, a non-profit development corporation which helps build 
energy distribution infrastructure in regions of need.
  Mr. Spaeth, Mr. Bakken, and Mr. Seter worked side-by-side with NRECA 
International on the U.S. Agency for International Development-funded 
Pilot Project for Sustainable Electricity Distribution in Haiti. This 
project is commercializing power from the Caracol Industrial Park 
generation station that is currently serving more than 10,000 Haitians 
in Caracol, a community in northern Haiti. These volunteers provided 
their expertise to NRECA International to eventually connect 20,000 
Haitians in the local area with electricity.
  Only thirteen percent of Haitians currently have access to 
electricity. This alarming statistic provided an opportunity for these 
three men to impact the lives of thousands of Haitians who depend on 
reliable electricity for health care services, education, and economic 
expansion. Today, I urge lawmakers to join me in commending Mr. Anthony 
Spaeth, Mr. Lucas Bakken, and Mr. Troy Seter for their service.

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