[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11740]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING CHERI REZAK

  (Mr. KLINE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts of a 
constituent who looked at tragedy and saw an opportunity to improve 
lives.
  In the wake of last December's tsunami in southeast Asia, Cheri Rezak 
and a group of like-minded Minnesotans volunteered their time and 
resources to travel between Sri Lanka and the United States every 6 to 
8 weeks to provide medical care, food, and encouragement to affected 
communities.
  Under the name HelpSriLanka.US, these individuals have already helped 
the men and women of Sri Lanka to build houses and establish and 
operate a soup kitchen which feeds nearly 500 people each day. They are 
also purchasing boats, taxis, and sewing machines to re-establish 
fishing, transportation and garment industries. Their goal is to repeat 
this community revitalization in villages throughout Sri Lanka.
  In addition, Cheri has personally dedicated herself to providing a 
temporary home, and much needed respite, to children directly affected 
by the tsunami. Thanks to her diligence in securing temporary visas, 
the first of her charges is currently living with her family in 
Minnesota.
  Cheri and her fellow volunteers rose above this disaster to help 
create a better life for the people of Sri Lanka. I commend them for 
their work and wish them much continued success.

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