[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2630]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  WELCOMING CHAPLAIN MAJOR JIM HIGGINS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Scott) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. We have had the pleasure of having the 
distinguished guest chaplain for today from my district in Georgia. 
Each year, the Reserve Officers Association presents a Chaplain of the 
Year Award, which is selected by the Chief of Chaplains of each 
military service.
  And the award goes to a chaplain--a special chaplain--with special 
qualities. He is selected for extraordinary contributions to the 
welfare, the morale, and effectiveness of the Military Reserve 
Services. This year, the award went to Military Chaplain Major James 
Boren Higgins, who delivered our wonderful prayer this morning.
  Dr. Higgins graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1983. He 
earned his master of divinity degree in 1986 from Candler School of 
Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his 
doctor of ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in 
Decatur, Georgia. And he has received the following outstanding awards. 
And, America, listen to these rewards.
  He is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal. He is a recipient of the 
Meritorious Service Medal. Dr. Higgins is a recipient of the Army 
Commendation Medal. He is also the recipient of the Army Achievement 
Medal. And he is the recipient of the Global War on Terrorism Service 
Medal. And for his distinguished duty in Iraq, he received the Iraq 
Campaign Medal.
  What an extraordinary minister. Not just a minister of God, but a 
minister of the world. A minister to bring peace and comfort to his 
fellow soldiers at a time of great stress on the battlefields, as well 
as here at home.
  Reverend Higgins currently lives in my district in Powder Springs, 
Georgia, with his lovely wife Pam and their three children. Reverend 
Higgins is the senior pastor and chief executive of the 3,200 member 
McEachern Memorial United States Methodist Church in Powder Springs, 
Georgia.
  We are so proud to have Pastor Major James Boren Higgins as our guest 
chaplain of the day for the United States Congress. What an 
extraordinary individual at an extraordinary time, who has given an 
extraordinary service. We are so proud to have him serve as our guest 
chaplain of the day.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I want to thank my colleague, Representative 
David Scott, for allowing me to say a few words also about Reverend Jim 
Higgins, as we have the privilege of really sharing him in our two 
adjoining districts. And, as David Scott has said, Madam Speaker, Dr. 
Reverend Major Jim Higgins, as we know, has brought us a very inspiring 
message as we open business today in the United States House of 
Representatives as our guest chaplain of the day.
  But, as Representative Scott said, his service to us and to his 
constituents in Powder Springs and to our country goes much beyond just 
the spiritual. When you think about his service as a chaplain in the 
United States Army and, as David Scott was just saying, his service in 
Vietnam, and his tour of duties, Madam Speaker, of 18 months.
  Now, today, the Marines limit rotation to 7 months and the Army to 12 
months. But Jim Higgins' rotation in Vietnam--a pretty tough place--was 
18 months. Of course, he has this week, as has been said, been 
recognized as the United States Military Reserve Chaplain of the Year.
  So we really are indebted to this great man, not only for his 
spiritual leadership, Jim, but great service to your country.

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