[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1122]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING BENSON'S BATTALION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MELISSA A. HART

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 4, 2004

  Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
praise a valuable organization based within the Fourth Congressional 
District of Pennsylvania which has made a significant improvement in 
the lives of western Pennsylvanians. I am proud to represent the 
congressional district which is the headquarters for Benson's 
Battalion, a charitable organization created to fight terror and 
provide financial support to Pennsylvania police, fire and other 
related public safety groups.
  Kris Benson, a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, along with his 
wife Anna founded Benson's Battalion in October 2001 following the 
tragic events of September 11, 2001. Since the creation of the 
organization, Kris and his wife have donated a significant amount of 
time and money to benefit local firefighters and police agencies. 
Benson's Battalion has provided local police stations with over $3,000 
in funds matched by the government for new equipment and over $5,000 in 
grants for local firefighters to assist in the purchase of new 
equipment as well. This is truly an organization that makes the lives 
of Western Pennsylvanians better every day.
  I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in 
honoring this fine organization and the volunteers who support it. It 
is an honor to represent the Fourth Congressional District of 
Pennsylvania and a pleasure to recognize Benson's Battalion for its 
efforts to improve the safety of western Pennsylvanians.

                          ____________________