[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15475]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CIVILIAN 
                              TECHNICIANS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 10, 2010

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the 50th Anniversary of the Association of Civilian Technicians, which 
is headquartered in my district in Lake Ridge, VA.
  In 1960, Vincent J. Paterno and twelve fellow New York technicians 
banded together to establish the Association of Civilian Technicians. 
Their stated mission was to represent the interests of our country's 
National Guard Technicians. Today, ACT represents the 48,000 employees 
of the Air and Army National Guard who are classified as Title 32 
Civilian Technicians. A Title 32 Civilian Technician's duties and 
responsibilities are to maintain the working order of the aircraft, 
vehicles, tanks, helicopters and supporting equipment needed by the 
National Guard to carry out its mission. ACT members serve as 
mechanics, administrative personnel and technical support positions. 
They enable active duty personnel to keep our nation safe from attack 
and ensure that our military is always at the ready.
  Through vigorous advocacy efforts, ACT has helped secure a number of 
rights and benefits for civilian technicians. In 1968, President Lyndon 
Johnson signed into law ``The National Guard Technician Act.'' The 
legislation established the Technician Program and provided National 
Guard Technicians with fair and just compensation, employment benefits 
and access to a retirement system that is equitable to other federal 
employees. ACT honors the service of our nation's civilian technicians 
by fighting to deliver the care and consideration they deserve.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the 
50th Anniversary of the Association of Civilian Technicians. For half 
of a century, ACT has represented the best interests and welfare of 
America's National Guard Technicians and their families. I would like 
to extend my personal appreciation to ACT members for their service and 
contributions to our national security.

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