[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12836]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ORDINARY MAN, EXTRAORDINARY DAD

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2006

  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, ``Just a truck driver and daddy from Florida'' 
is how Mark Lunsford describes himself. Being a single father, he 
worked many long, hard miles on the road to provide a good life for his 
children. He is just an average Joe. He has always loved his kids with 
every fiber of his being and he always made sure they were safe.
  Nine-year-old Jessica, or ``Jessie'' as her daddy calls her, lived 
with Mark and his parents, where she could be closely watched and 
protected, even when he was on the road. She was a bright, energetic 
child who loved her grandparents, adored her father, and had been 
spared of the darkness of society. That beautiful innocence, however, 
was violently shattered in the dark of night on February 23, 2005.
  Unbeknownst to Mark and his parents, a serial-convicted sex offender 
lurked right across the street. This vile snake laid in wait, slithered 
into the Lunsford home, and abducted little Jessica from her own bed. 
He took her safety, he took her innocence, and in the end, he took her 
life. Sadly, one month later, the devastating discovery of Jessica 
Lunsford occurred.
  As any father would be, Mark was inconsolable at the news of his 
daughter's death. Mark realized, however, that he had to prevent 
another father from feeling this immense grief and another child from 
experiencing such violence. Mark immediately began working with the 
Florida State Legislators in enacting legislation aptly named, 
``Jessica's Law.'' ``Jessica's Law'' requires a minimum sentence of 25 
years incarceration for first time sexual offenders of children. The 
law also requires that these predators must be monitored for life, if 
they are released from prison.
  A man who never imagined that he would be involved in politics, Mark 
became Jessica's voice throughout State governments. His fatherly 
instincts drove his passion to protect our Nation's children from these 
dangerous sexual predators lurking among us. During the last 15 months, 
due to his dedication, ``Jessica's Law'' has been enacted in 16 States, 
with 9 additional States enacting legislation similar to Jessica's 
Law.'' He is soft-spoken about his achievements and accomplishments, 
maintaining his victories are ``Only Jessie's.'' He has stated to me on 
many occasions, he will not stop until every State enacts ``Jessica's 
Law.'' Her memory is his strength.
  On Tuesday, June 20, 2006, Mark was awarded the equivalent of the 
Nobel Prize in public and community service--The Jefferson Award. 
Specifically, he was awarded the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for 
Outstanding Public Service Benefiting the Local Community. This award 
was named after Jefferson Award co-founder, and former First Lady, 
Jacqueline Kennedy, and is considered to be one of the most prestigious 
of all of the Jefferson Awards.
  Mr. Speaker, as a father and grandfather to 6 girls, Mark's 
devastating loss hits very close to home. I have the privilege of 
knowing Mark and consider him one of my good friends. He was a man who 
never imagined such a horrific tragedy could befall his daughter, and 
that his family could be victimized so cruelly; however, he refused to 
stand there and do nothing. He became an advocate; he became Jessica's 
voice. This ordinary man became an extraordinary dad and I am truly 
honored to pay him this tribute.
  That's just the way it is.

                          ____________________