[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 369-370] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO CHARLES BEACH III ______ HON. HAROLD ROGERS of kentucky in the house of representatives Friday, January 5, 2007 Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an exceptional Kentuckian, Mayor Charles ``Charlie'' Beach III. After serving 32 years as mayor of the City of Beattyville, Kentucky, Mayor Beach is leaving office. I want to express my deepest gratitude for his many contributions and years of public service. Throughout his tenure, Mayor Beach has led a number of initiatives to improve the lives of Lee County residents, build hope in our Appalachian region, and serve as an economic and community development leader for the entire Commonwealth. Southern and Eastern Kentucky has been plagued with inadequate water and sewer infrastructure and poor housing opportunities. Mayor Beach has been the [[Page 370]] driving force behind construction of two water plants, a sewage treatment plant, and installation of necessary piping to serve and reach the rural residents of Beattyville and Lee County. In addition, Mayor Beach is well-regarded throughout the Commonwealth for his vision of providing quality, affordable housing. Since 2002, Mayor Beach has been a critical partner in our regional anti-drug initiative ``Operation UNITE.'' Beach was a key early supporter and critical ally in getting drugs off our streets and cleaning up our communities. He has consistently backed efforts to educate our children on the dangers of drug use and our program to help drug users find treatment options. In addition to his duties as mayor, Charles Beach is also the Vice- Chairman of the Peoples Exchange Bank where he provides business development and public relations leadership. He is the former President of the Kentucky League of Cities and has served as the Chairman of the Kentucky River Area Development District. These organizations promote the welfare and economic growth of Kentucky's rural and urban areas. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Mayor Beach for his selfless sacrifice and service on behalf of the people of the City of Beattyville, Lee County, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. His dedication and integrity are an inspiration to us all and I know his contributions will live on for many years to come. ____________________