[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING GARY BATTON, CHIEF OF THE CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA, FOR 
     RECEIVING THE GLOBAL CITIZEN AWARD FROM HAPPY WORLD FOUNDATION

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                             HON. TOM COLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 29, 2019

  Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a fellow Oklahoman and 
Native American, Gary Batton, for receiving the Global Citizen Award 
from the Happy World Foundation.
  After receiving a bachelor's degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State 
University in 1989, he accepted the position of Deputy Director of the 
Choctaw Nation Housing Authority. He then went on to serve his tribe as 
Executive Director of health and later appointed Assistant Chief in 
2007. On April 28, 2014, Gary Batton became the 47th Chief of the 
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Through his career, Chief Batton has 
represented the Choctaw Nation and the State of Oklahoma through 
numerous national boards and committees. Currently, he serves on the 
Oklahoma Hall of Fame Board, the State Chamber of Oklahoma Board, the 
Texoma Medical Center Board of Directors, among other roles.
  As a proud Oklahoman and member of the Chickasaw Nation, I have 
always been passionate about advocating on behalf of Native Americans 
here in Washington, D.C. Therefore, I am very grateful that there are 
Oklahomans like Gary Batton who have committed themselves to promoting 
Native American heritage. He has rightfully earned recognition for his 
role as an ambassador for Native Americans, and I hope that he 
continues his great work in the years to come.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Dennis Gary Batton and 
his lifelong work to promote and preserve Native American culture.

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